How to move or wheel around a cargo container? Jack? other options?
Question:If you have a big cargo container, how can one position it without a forklift? I was told you can use a car jack or something, but unsure. has anyone done this themselves? car jack, dolly, or little cart with castor wheels? hmmm...
Answers:
If it is on your property and you just need to move it to a different location, then it can be moved rather easily if the ground you are moving across is flat and solid - not sand. You will need several poles or fence posts to act as rollers for the container - the more you have the easier things will go. They can be the full width of your container or you can use two rows of poles on each side as long as they are the same diameter.
Once you have your poles, jack one end of the container up and place the poles under it -- Make sure container is supported to prevent it from falling. You will have to get poles under the whole container so you may have to work from both ends with the jack and poles.
After you have the poles under the container, it should be easy to roll around. As the container rolls off one pole place another in front to keep the container moving. Turning corners id tricky but can be done just make sure that as you turn that you keep the poles turning also.
Once in the location you want it, remove the poles in the same manner as you put them under the container.
This is the "old-school" way of moving structures. I was taught this by a man who used to move barns and silos in the same manner. Even if you have to buy the poles, I think it will be much cheaper than hiring someone to move it. Just make sure that you or anyone who helps you DOES NOT GET IN A HURRY. That is when accidents and injuries happen.
I actually bought a 40' container in January to make into a workshop. They are great for storage, but they are very heavy (Mine is about 8500lbs). I had a man with a small bulldozer move mine into place, with space being fairly tight. If you have more space you may try to have a wrecker service move it for you. In my area, this cost about $50.00 an hour. Even if you have a 20 foot container, it is going to be very heavy. I don't think that trying to move it without some form of heavy equipment would be safe or effective.
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