Please help me make a plan to Move from Tampa To Chattanooga with shipping containers.

[Freshstart]

If this delemma was mine i would dig a 40 or 50 foot gradual slopeing ramp 4 ft at the deep end on both properties start looking at load boards (where truck drivers look for freight out of a certain area ) and lucky for you outbound flat bed freight is non existant out of florida so you can usally get stough moved cheap to get the trucks out of florida back into a freight rich enviroment ! either get/barrow 2 tractors or what ever one on each side of the container at the front with the truck backed into the ramp and drag them onto the trailer other end drag them off probably just one tractor at the back to get the unloaded . just make the ramps real compact and pour a little gravel in them so the truck doesent have to work very hard to get out when loaded

I like the logic. The sandy soil on the florida end would be an issue. The rest is solid idea

 

[Mullaney]

BEAT ME! BEAT ME!...LOL I won't get butt hurt. I want a plan that will work.

I am getting a feeling that equipment failure is a real concern. I normally would think 8k miles on a low miles diesel truck would not be a concern. Is it because of the age of the truck?

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The difficult thing about these low mileage trucks is that they get used. There is a motor-pool sergeant that will not hesitate to stick his boot in your asprin. But the way it works is that the replacement trucks are not generally all replaced at one time. Arbitrarily, ten trucks are replaced and those can sometimes be cannibalized to repair some that were already sidelined. So a few become parts trucks. Some are cobbled together with the replacement parts. Like any other mechanic - there are the good ones and the "slap and go" mechanics. Then some trucks are just ridden hard and put up wet.

But most of all, even the good trucks sit. Then they sit some more and even more. There is no fuel shortage, so trucks sit there with diesel in them growing green crap in the tanks. Gas goes bad. These sidelined trucks sit for years out in the boiling hot or freezing cold. The rubber gets dry and cracks develop. The cab bushings rot, the cute little wiper rings one the cab jack rots away too and water creeps into the system. They might sit in "disposal limbo" for years before going to the auction block.

There are the stupid things that shouldn't happen, but that leaky turret cover or maybe the canvas top on the M939 Series trucks didn't get any sealer applied to them. Leaks cause electrical problems. AND it just has to be said again that the sun is a real killer. For the most part, 8k is nothing. Even 50k or even double that on a truck that is running daily and well maintained is nothing. Sitting for years while the vultures are perched on the hood is where the problems happen.

We have guys in the outfit who will sell you that could easily be driven half way across the country. There are other folks who will buy an auction truck, do a little work and sell it off. It runs, the brakes work, it got a squirt of paint. All in all ready to go, but is that truck ready to drive that far with no problem? I personally have purchased several trucks. It seems to me that every thing that I fix definitely improves my vehicle. I also discover that as I fix "X" chances are that I find "Y" that also needs my attention. Since I am in no hurry, I have been steadily fixing and maybe by the end of winter - my repairs will be complete. Truck has stayed roadworthy throughout the fixing. Mostly because I personally need some sort of reward for the wrench turning... A spin around the block does that for me

If you bought a 1984 convertable (RagTop 5-Ton) and drained the fuel, then changed all the filers and fluids. Then replaced every last piece of rubber on the truck from rubber hoses to rubber seals on the window frames, you might be able to do what you want to do. With a few shakedown runs of 50, then maybe a hundred then double that (miles) - you could start to trust the truck. OR you could talk to the right folks who already do that and make a living that way and jump straight to the test drives. (by the way, it ain't me!)

There is more, but my brain got tired. If you want more, I am sure the others will pitch in with opinions.

 

[chucky]

I like the logic. The sandy soil on the florida end would be an issue. The rest is solid idea

Then on the florida end do the reverse make a ramp to push the container up to trailer high and use some hvy wall smaller pipe for the container to roll on the trailer itself so to not mar up trailer floor

 

[chucky]

I like the logic. The sandy soil on the florida end would be an issue. The rest is solid idea

Remember when you start putting pen to paper figuring what this will cost to start off with for the price of your round trip fuel and other cost plus allow for wear and tear on your truck you can have it delivered with no stress for the same price. Your wrecker does not make sence to make moves that far that many times to me just load all of them equally as you can and get out there and practice how to pick them up on one end to see if you can lift it loaded with your wrecker enough to back a step deck under the container you can lift one end and put a stack off cross ties 3 ft high then pick the other end up and hold while they back under them ! There are 50 different ways to get em on the trailer and off just see which one of them you can do . But let the truckers do the trucking you will be glad you did !

 

[Freshstart]

Have to do the math.
Steel shipping containers, if you could get them, are way MORE than expensive right now.
All that shelving I see breaks down to pickup truck loads.
You are going to re-arrange it all anyway.
For all the small heavy stuff you can mail 700lbs of stuff in 10 boxes for $219 bucks in large USPS boxes.
There is four different sizes of the free large and small shipping boxes to mail with tracking at $21.90 each.
Anything up to total 70 pounds each box. Think about that.
If You already have the 40 foot containers You could sell them and have new ones brought into your new place and maybe do good. A smaller trailer from u-haul one way loaded with tractor and such is not all that expensive for 600 miles with no drop off fees. Perhaps at your new place, in time the cost of containers will come down from the huge markup as it is now, buy a used F-350 dually and trailer? Build a nice shop at your destination?
Just a few ideas........... Maybe pay and get it down to two containers for the shop shipping?

Priority Mail Flat Rate® Large Box - LARGEFRB | USPS.com

Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box

store.usps.com

Medium boxes up to 70 pounds mail at 15.50 each.

Rated one of the best

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[Freshstart]

.
The difficult thing about these low mileage trucks is that they get used. There is a motor-pool sergeant that will not hesitate to stick his boot in your asprin. But the way it works is that the replacement trucks are not generally all replaced at one time. Arbitrarily, ten trucks are replaced and those can sometimes be cannibalized to repair some that were already sidelined. So a few become parts trucks. Some are cobbled together with the replacement parts. Like any other mechanic - there are the good ones and the "slap and go" mechanics. Then some trucks are just ridden hard and put up wet.

But most of all, even the good trucks sit. Then they sit some more and even more. There is no fuel shortage, so trucks sit there with diesel in them growing green crap in the tanks. Gas goes bad. These sidelined trucks sit for years out in the boiling hot or freezing cold. The rubber gets dry and cracks develop. The cab bushings rot, the cute little wiper rings one the cab jack rots away too and water creeps into the system. They might sit in "disposal limbo" for years before going to the auction block.

There are the stupid things that shouldn't happen, but that leaky turret cover or maybe the canvas top on the M939 Series trucks didn't get any sealer applied to them. Leaks cause electrical problems. AND it just has to be said again that the sun is a real killer. For the most part, 8k is nothing. Even 50k or even double that on a truck that is running daily and well maintained is nothing. Sitting for years while the vultures are perched on the hood is where the problems happen.

We have guys in the outfit who will sell you that could easily be driven half way across the country. There are other folks who will buy an auction truck, do a little work and sell it off. It runs, the brakes work, it got a squirt of paint. All in all ready to go, but is that truck ready to drive that far with no problem? I personally have purchased several trucks. It seems to me that every thing that I fix definitely improves my vehicle. I also discover that as I fix "X" chances are that I find "Y" that also needs my attention. Since I am in no hurry, I have been steadily fixing and maybe by the end of winter - my repairs will be complete. Truck has stayed roadworthy throughout the fixing. Mostly because I personally need some sort of reward for the wrench turning... A spin around the block does that for me

If you bought a 1984 convertable (RagTop 5-Ton) and drained the fuel, then changed all the filers and fluids. Then replaced every last piece of rubber on the truck from rubber hoses to rubber seals on the window frames, you might be able to do what you want to do. With a few shakedown runs of 50, then maybe a hundred then double that (miles) - you could start to trust the truck. OR you could talk to the right folks who already do that and make a living that way and jump straight to the test drives. (by the way, it ain't me!)

There is more, but my brain got tired. If you want more, I am sure the others will pitch in with opinions.

This gives me insight to what I have to look for and why.

I am use to doing everything myself. My goal is basic, decent house, workshop low overhead and security. Moving 600 miles makes it more complex. I have been using semi trailers for my workshop for years. Summertime in Florida inside a semi trailer is brutal. I genuinely am thank full for everyones input. Here are some pictures of my current workshop (long and skinny LOL), and new workshop ideas.

 

[Mullaney]

This gives me insight to what I have to look for and why.

I am use to doing everything myself. My goal is basic, decent house, workshop low overhead and security. Moving 600 miles makes it more complex. I have been using semi trailers for my workshop for years. Summertime in Florida inside a semi trailer is brutal. I genuinely am thank full for everyones input. Here are some pictures of my current workshop (long and skinny LOL), and new workshop ideas. View attachment 844706View attachment 844707View attachment 844708View attachment 844709View attachment 844710View attachment 844711View attachment 844706View attachment 844707View attachment 844706View attachment 844707View attachment 844708View attachment 844709View attachment 844710View attachment 844711View attachment 844712

.
I really like ALL of those ideas. The quonset hut idea looks really neat. There are even cloth versions of that setup. Moving to Florida - I would think you might really need to have a closed in version if "a big blow" shows up in your neighborhood...

That is one heck of a workshop (several)

 

[Freshstart]

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I really like ALL of those ideas. The quonset hut idea looks really neat. There are even cloth versions of that setup. Moving to Florida - I would think you might really need to have a closed in version if "a big blow" shows up in your neighborhood...

That is one heck of a workshop (several)

Yes the quonset one is one of my favorites

We are moving away from florida ...cost of living and over crowding make it not so great any more. We may have a buyer for our property. . During the busy season 20,000 cars drive by a day.... I want it cooler and not so congested.

 

[Mullaney]

Yes the quonset one is one of my favorites

We are moving away from florida ...cost of living and over crowding make it not so great any more. We may have a buyer for our property. . During the busy season 20,000 cars drive by a day.... I want it cooler and not so congested.

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Ha! I mis-read the Chattanooga as the end result. Still going to be hot here too, but maybe a little cooler sometimes. We have humidity in spades though!

I found a quonset hut style building that has some really deep grooves that create a self supporting building. They look pretty amazing. The price point isn't awful either. Being able to stack containers and make use of those walls should save you some money.

Thinking more about your move, I keep thinking that the move and a wrecker truck almost need to be two separate things. These containers on a Landoll could work because they would tilt up and slide off. I drove around the corner to a company that does nothing but haul containers. Big parking lot and the company is a couple of guys with a construction trailer that do nothing but dispatch contracted independent truckers. I spent a little time talking about how to do what you want to do. They have a HUGE forklift that will lift a loaded Connex, the trailer pulls out and they stack them when empty. They have another piece of business where they stack and store loaded boxes too. I thought I was onto something but when we started to talk weight, they don't really know any thing more than 50,000# is their max loaded weight including the container.

Thinking out loud, I wonder if there is some sort of BIG rough terrain lift truck in Tennessee that you could rent.

 

[Freshstart]

.
Ha! I mis-read the Chattanooga as the end result. Still going to be hot here too, but maybe a little cooler sometimes. We have humidity in spades though!

I found a quonset hut style building that has some really deep grooves that create a self supporting building. They look pretty amazing. The price point isn't awful either. Being able to stack containers and make use of those walls should save you some money.

Thinking more about your move, I keep thinking that the move and a wrecker truck almost need to be two separate things. These containers on a Landoll could work because they would tilt up and slide off. I drove around the corner to a company that does nothing but haul containers. Big parking lot and the company is a couple of guys with a construction trailer that do nothing but dispatch contracted independent truckers. I spent a little time talking about how to do what you want to do. They have a HUGE forklift that will lift a loaded Connex, the trailer pulls out and they stack them when empty. They have another piece of business where they stack and store loaded boxes too. I thought I was onto something but when we started to talk weight, they don't really know any thing more than 50,000# is their max loaded weight including the container.

Thinking out loud, I wonder if there is some sort of BIG rough terrain lift truck in Tennessee that you could rent.

The way I figure if I can just get them on to ground in Tenn. I will pay a crane service or rent an all terrain fork truck on moving /stacking day and set them in place. I know it will be expensive but with planning I can minimize the amount of time needed.

A special thanks to you for taking your time to talk with the people that move containers for a living. Taking time out of your day to help someone is not that common any more! .......

 

[Freshstart]

Container lifting jacks- fast and easy unloading

Check container lifting jacks for load and unload containers from a truck without a crane. Take your container logistics to the next level!

www.logistics-moveit.tech

 

[Mullaney]

Container lifting jacks- fast and easy unloading

Check container lifting jacks for load and unload containers from a truck without a crane. Take your container logistics to the next level!

www.logistics-moveit.tech

.
On a concrete (or brick in the propaganda sheet) I could see that working, Total of about an hour from "connect to raise" and then lower and disconnect. Rated at 78,000#, we know it would lift the box for sure. Those are pretty amazing pieces of equipment!

 

[Freshstart]

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On a concrete (or brick in the propaganda sheet) I could see that working, Total of about an hour from "connect to raise" and then lower and disconnect. Rated at 78,000#, we know it would lift the box for sure. Those are pretty amazing pieces of equipment!

I think I could build a set of them. for a fraction of the cost. Not as automated but functional

 

[Mullaney]

I think I could build a set of them. for a fraction of the cost. Not as automated but functional

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Could be - and with fatter and bigger wheels - it might be workable.
My only concern about that setup is what about brakes. Something more than just a concrete block tied to a chain

There is a military container mover and if memory serves me, it is the M-1022. Don't know what kind of weight it supports. The picture I found was to move a 20 foot Connex. Might be useful and for all I know, there might be a bigger one to handle 40's. (maybe 45's and 53's or not).

Maybe we can run down the TM for this thing and learn what it will do. If it is for moving empty's it might just be an "aim, fire and a miss" .



Looking at those tires, it is hard to say that container is loaded.

 

[Freshstart]

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Could be - and with fatter and bigger wheels - it might be workable.
My only concern about that setup is what about brakes. Something more than just a concrete block tied to a chain

There is a military container mover and if memory serves me, it is the M-1022. Don't know what kind of weight it supports. The picture I found was to move a 20 foot Connex. Might be useful and for all I know, there might be a bigger one to handle 40's. (maybe 45's and 53's or not).

Maybe we can run down the TM for this thing and learn what it will do. If it is for moving empty's it might just be an "aim, fire and a miss" .

View attachment 844788

Looking at those tires, it is hard to say that container is loaded.

I think this would work to lift the container for loading depending on lifting height. It appears that the forks would fit in the side pockets as well. A balanced load would be essential

 

[chucky]

I think this would work to lift the container for loading depending on lifting height. It appears that the forks would fit in the side pockets as well. A balanced load would be essential

I dont picture you getting a forklift deliverd that would pick up 50 thousand pound containers unless you catch one of the military container handlers on govplanet and theyre cat 988/ D43 basically with the front bucket replaced with a fork lift and and probably weighing 120 thousand pounds by itself and remember the forks have to 8 ft long at least to go all the way across the floor so that leaves big rough terrain crain and i think hes going to have to be close to the container so picking straight up so he only has to turn and not boom out any distance to stack these loaded boxs for you

 

[Freshstart]

I dont picture you getting a forklift deliverd that would pick up 50 thousand pound containers unless you catch one of the military container handlers on govplanet and theyre cat 988/ D43 basically with the front bucket replaced with a fork lift and and probably weighing 120 thousand pounds by itself and remember the forks have to 8 ft long at least to go all the way across the floor so that leaves big rough terrain crain and i think hes going to have to be close to the container so picking straight up so he only has to turn and not boom out any distance to stack these loaded boxs for you

The top containers would not be the heavy ones

.
Could be - and with fatter and bigger wheels - it might be workable.
My only concern about that setup is what about brakes. Something more than just a concrete block tied to a chain

There is a military container mover and if memory serves me, it is the M-1022. Don't know what kind of weight it supports. The picture I found was to move a 20 foot Connex. Might be useful and for all I know, there might be a bigger one to handle 40's. (maybe 45's and 53's or not).

Maybe we can run down the TM for this thing and learn what it will do. If it is for moving empty's it might just be an "aim, fire and a miss" .

View attachment 844788

Looking at those tires, it is hard to say that container is loaded.

 

[Freshstart]

Well .............PLAN 2.0: Point out the flaws please!

1. Find a way to weigh the existing container and plan load weight of future containers.
2. Search the trucking boards for a good price to haul the heavy containers to Tenn. Possible multiple truck for same day loading.
3. Method for loading Heavy containers on to semi flat bed: TBD
A. Rotory wrecker
B. Crane/Fork Truck/Track Hoe
C. Ramp/winch Method
D. Container lift system
E. Magic Wand
4. Method for loading and transport of light containers, tractor, Implements and large items (possible semi transport depending on cost)
A. Step trailer with or without dolly depending on truck to haul with. 30K max
B. F350/450/5 Ton truck or wrecker with detailed attention to rubber parts parts.
C. Loading/Unloading Method -Ramp/winch Method if possible on to cleared land in Tenn.
D.
5. Construction of shop
A. Prep. Concrete and or pilons to place containers in place awaiting "Stacking Day"
B. Rent or Crane service for one day for stacking construction day

Pricing to follow for transport, lifting, truck, trailer, and fuel

 

[Mullaney]

Well .............PLAN 2.0: Point out the flaws please!

1. Find a way to weigh the existing container and plan load weight of future containers.
2. Search the trucking boards for a good price to haul the heavy containers to Tenn. Possible multiple truck for same day loading.
3. Method for loading Heavy containers on to semi flat bed: TBD
A. Rotory wrecker
B. Crane/Fork Truck
C. Ramp/winch Method
D. Container lift system
E. Magic Wand
4. Method for loading and transport of light containers, tractor, Implements and large items (possible semi transport depending on cost)
A. Step trailer with or without dolly depending on truck to haul with. 30K max
B. F350/450/5 Ton truck or wrecker with detailed attention to rubber parts parts.
C. Loading/Unloading Method -Ramp/winch Method if possible on to cleared land in Tenn.
D.
5. Construction of shop
A. Prep. Concrete and or pilons to place containers in place awaiting "Stacking Day"
B. Rent or Crane service for one day for stacking construction day

Pricing to follow for transport, lifting, truck, trailer, and fuel

.
I am chewing on these new ideas.
Hope to have something more useful to say a little later.

---

We have a big wrecker company (several actually) here in the big city. They get calls for all sorts of things, but big truck rolled over is a common thing for them. They have three smaller Rotators and one really big one. They also have several large fork lifts. Trailer gets chewed up in an accident and they either hand unload everything - or pick the entire trailer and drop it onto a lowboy.

It might be worth looking and talking to local folks on both ends who deal with that kind of work regularly.
The local highway patrol guys have the list of wrecker companies and who can do what.
Kinda rent equipment and brain power rather than buying it...

 

[chucky]

The top containers would not be the heavy ones

View attachment 844795View attachment 844794View attachment 844793View attachment 844792

Oh this contraption is cool i never seen one will it pick up loaded 40 footer?