Need help figuring out how to move a tiny sugar shack

[Galena]

Hey all I have an 8x10ft sugar shack made of pallets and sheet metal.

My insurance company is making me move it so it's 50ft from the house. I have a section of property cleared to put it, but how to move it safely without damaging my weeping field? There is approx a 20-ft wide alley between where it is now and where it needs to go. Something like a kind of min-float would work. Any other ideas? Would like to have it moved the sooner the better!!

ETA Saw on wikihow a good idea under #2. Any thoughts? Or anyone with some solid steel pipe in my area?

https://www.wikihow.com/Move-a-Shed

[n8hutch]

Lay down some boards for runners on the ground, get some schedual 40pvc conduit the grey stuff, shorts will work, roll your building on the pieces of conduit.

I have moved some surprisingly heavy stuff this way, moved some small sheds, moved my fully bricked 2.5×10' arch . The heavier the pieces the more rollers you need.

As you travel along just keep putting pieces of pipe ahead of you.

[Potters3]

any chance you could jack it up and get a trailer under it ? Like a double wide skidoo trailer. I moved a similar size shed that way.

[maple flats]

n8hutch is right. I also have moved heavy things on schedule 40 PVC, and I used 2" white PVC. Going over the leach field will require planks to roll on, 2x6 or heavier should be fine.

[Galena]

Hey all, thanks for the feedback. Looks like rollers of some sort will be the best way to go, and I think a friend has suitable 2x6 or close enough. I might even have some PVC pipe though doubt it's long enough. Also thought of jacking it up and somehow getting it onto something like a double-wide sled trailer, but hey if planks and rollers are all the ancients used to move blocks for the pyramids and Stonehenge....figure it should work for me :-)

[maple flats]

I moved a 12x16 shed once using 3' long PVC rollers. Just do your best to keep them 90 degrees to each wall, the roller does not need to reach across the whole width, that can be 2 pieces. In fact correction, they were 30", on the ones I cut from 10' lengths I made 4 rollers each.

[Mead Maple]

I’ll chime in since I’ve been on a bit of a hiatus since the hit began.

If you got to many mobile home outfits, you can buy tires and axles from them used. My neighbor and I picked up two axles and 4 tires for $230. He used them to replace old axles on a trailer but would work great for this application. I plan to do this with a chicken coop I picked up!

20198


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[maple flats]

When you move it, you will be wise to cross brace it well. You want to support the bottom as you lift any part of the walls. V braces, from high on the end down to the bottom at mid point and back high on the other end will support the middle, just the opposite, low on each end to high in the middle of each wall will help support an end if more lift is towards the center of a wall. If you already have sound bottom and top plates or plywood siding that may not be necessary.

[Galena]

I moved a 12x16 shed once using 3' long PVC rollers. Just do your best to keep them 90 degrees to each wall, the roller does not need to reach across the whole width, that can be 2 pieces. In fact correction, they were 30", on the ones I cut from 10' lengths I made 4 rollers each.

Hmm actually I think my lengths of PVC or whatever I use - I'm hoping someone I know may have some old metal pipe - would have to be the width of the shack as it doesn't have a floor. It's 4 walls and a roof sitting on a slab made from old paving stone. Good idea on the cross bracing though!

Also what diameter was your PVC pipe...my ex installed central vacs so there is some 2in kickin around but doubt it's enough. Or I'll need a lot of it.

[n8hutch]

You dont need to go the width of your building, the pipe in the center section isn't doing anything. You just need it under your wall plates. Also PVC works good because it's slick and even if your roller gets hung up on something the wood will slide on it. All you need to do is get it up on the rollers and move it slow with a come along.

[Galena]

Great, good to know about the PVC width. What size do you recommend? I was thinking 4in PVC. And pretty sure my friends have a come-along.

[maple flats]

I used 1.5 and 2" in my projects. If you are rolling on planks, that will be fine. If the ground was hard and even, 4" might be better if you do not have the planks to roll on, but planks will make it much easier. If you need to buy it, I would not get 4", if you have some already, then use what you have. On planks even 1.5" will be good.

[Galena]

I have access to planks approx 2x6in for runners and I do have 2in pvc pipe. Ground a little uneven but fairly hard, and new location is on a downslope.

[Pdiamond]

Galena,
I am seeing lots of good information for you on the how to of moving your building. Are you getting any assistance from family and friend to help with this project?

[Galena]

I have some friends who will loan me their come-along and will probably help when it comes time to move it. Another friend has old planks I can use for runners and old cedar rails which may help for rollers.

[Pdiamond]

Galena,
That makes me feel better. I ended up on long term disability for my back because I had to do things myself or thought I was indestructible.
Now I rely on my wife and kids a lot to help with things I normally would do. We have simplified the sugaring operation by using more pumps to move sap along with the new evaporator. That really made a world of difference. I wish you the best of luck in getting your building moved. Maybe you'll even make improvements you hadn't noticed before.

[Galena]

Thanks Pdiamond, though I doubt there will be much extra done to the shack once it's moved :-)

[Galena]

Well I know everyone's been holding their breath...the Shack Whacky move was a success and it now sits on a paving-stone slab well away from the house. I do have to get the secateurs and polesaw out to clear around it a bit more so it's safe, but now the insurance company should be happy :-)

[maple flats]

I like it when a plan comes together. Good job!

[Pdiamond]

Yeah. Glad all went well for you.