Gun Safe moving, how too?

[lancem]

I have a safe I need to move from one building to another, it weighs around 500# empty. It is currently in my garage with concrete floor and will go out down the concrete driveway. At the end of the driveway it will have to go about 30' through dirt to the back door of the house, where inside is currently T&G ply flooring it will have to travel over to get to it's final resting spot.

Currently my tractor w/loader and forks is down for the count. I'm looking for experienced suggestions on how to accomplish this task. I really don't want to involve any friends as no one knows about this safe and I'd like to keep it that way. I don't mind having to purchase some equipment if it means being able to accomplish this task safely and easily.

Thanks in advance.

[NSB]

I’ve moved them with a heavy duty dolly and strap. Some were pretty big and as long as I had room to maneuver I had no problem if I got a couple of guys to help.

[WILCO]

Typically a two man job, but anything can be accomplished with straps, chains and a come along winch.
Last safe I moved had been tilted and slid into a pick up.
Removal was done in reverse order and once the back edge was on the ground, backed the truck up to stand it upright.

[deltaenterprizes]

I did it with a Harbor Freight 2 wheel dolly. Put 3/4” plywood on the grass, make a ramp to get it into the house.
I did it by myself but a spotter will make it safer!

[G W Wade]

Rent a refrigerator cart Another tip I got from the person who delivered my safe is remove the door if possible, the door is almost half of the weight o the safe. GW

[contender1]

Sadly,, I've been roped into helping move a few safes. A heavy duty dolly with a strap is a must at the very least especially inside a house. You can lay plywood or OSB on the ground to cover moving across dirt. And to help protect the house floor, you can also lay down cloth & plywood to move across.
The movement across the concrete can also be done with a dolly.
But due to the weight,, only YOU can determine if it's a one man job or not. As mentioned above,, at minimum, a spotter to avoid pitfalls or to help in the event of an accident.

If none of that appeals to you,, how about a professional moving company? Hiring a few strangers from out of the area, who move these things all the time? They move enough of these things to where they aren't likely to "talk" to others about an empty safe.

[John Wayne]

I have moved my 1225# safe 3 times. It is threaded in the top for a lifting eye but absent that you could use straps. Just make darn sure they don't slip inwards and the safe fall right out. I lift with a large engine hoist (with giant tractor weights for ballast) and place it on a pallet and strap real good. Have an all terrain forklift delivered or find a working tractor you can put your forks on cause you have dirt. I have rented a skid steer with forks and tracks to move a large lathe across a grassy area and put plywood down because the guy worried about his lawn.
Hope this helps, be careful and no alcohol that day ;^)

[Shawlerbrook]

Get a keg and tell your friends once the safe is moved the keg is tapped. But in all seriousness, the above suggestions are spot on and even though you already know this…be careful !

[ascast]

I have moved a big lthe nd very heavy wood stove by myself. Rollers of 2" iron pipe, minimum 3 but 4 or five is better. I put down 2 x 10's or 12's I had on hand as a "road", put stove on 2x12 base plate and used engine hoist or bottle jack to get stove on it then on to "road". Moves easy enough, block and tackle for slopes. Harbor F. has a variety of winches that would pull that 500#'s and 5 more just like it in one pull. Remote sensor is very handy. Direction is easy by angling rollers .

[Sasquatch-1]

When I had mine delivered, 1000# + empty, there were two people, and they had an electric stair climbing 2 wheel hand truck. Even with this they almost lost it taking it down the outdoor stairs to the basement. I would definitely have some help and if your friends are that untrustworthy, I would definitely look for new friends.

[country gent]

Theres nothing that cant be moved with the proper use of explosives.

Now seriously, A good dolly inflate the tires to 45-60 psi you want them hard. a couple sheets of plywood to go over the dirt if its soft. leap frog them this gives a good surface to roll over. I would also put runners over the plywood flooring to help support it spread the load over more area. A couple 2 x 12s will spread the load over more of the floor joists and reduce the risk of breaking thru the plywood. Have some pinch bars, prybars, blocking handy and ready to go, if its there you wont need it but if its not for sure you will.

[country gent]

When we brought the big drill in ( 7500 lbs) 2 mill wrights brought it in the building on a fork lift, then set it on skates and they rolled it in the shop. A skate made with 4-8 castors and a flat platform to set on would work well but getting the safe up on it and then down again is the trick.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Most gun safe dealers provide moving service. I have a friend local to me, who is a member here (but is not active) that is a gunsafe dealer...he has the right equipment to move them.

[725]

As a former bomb tech, I agree with country gent. Barring zoning issues, my alternative is to do it like the Egyptians. Several round bars (ie: 1/2 PVC or similar) and just roll the safe from place to place. Works great if you go from flat to flat. Stairs - not so much.

[Gtrubicon]

I’ve moved several large safes with pvc pipe.

[shootinfox2]

Check out Rhinocart at Amazon.

[Froogal]

30 feet across dirt?? I will suggest investing in some 3/4" plywood.

[wildwilly501]

Good time to get your tractor fixed.

[murf205]

I moved a couple of mine with 1" wooden dowels from Lowes. I pulled mine out of my van which sits lower than a pick up. I used my sons pickup to tie the come a long to and once it was on the rollers, it's pretty easy. Use plywood for the grassy spots and if it is level you can keep it standing upright. If not, lay it down for the grass/plywood. If you use larger rollers, it gets pretty dicey if you let it get off the rollers. Remember, DO NOT DO THIS IF YOU ARE BY YOURSELF!

[Misery-Whip]

Host a Bbq for the football team. Get those strong young backs to move it.

[MaryB]

Best thing a friend did was put steel casters under his safe, if he needs to move it he lays down plywood to protect the floor, muscles it up onto it(he cuts an edge at a slope to help), then rolls it to a different room. Any stairs he rents an appliance hand truck that is battery operated and has "feet" that walk it down stairs. Make sure the feet are solid and not sloppy, and any rubber tread is in good shape, if it is smooth they can slip!

https://youtu.be/ifWSXhCJFkE?feature=shared&t=77

[Winger Ed.]

500 pounds isn't really that heavy.
A regular dolly will work. An appliance dolly is better.

A pry bar or even a big screw driver will go in under the safe to get the dolly's shoe in under it.

Strap it to the dolly with the door against the dolly, and pad it with old blankets or towels.
Then put a couple 2x4s between the dolly and the door to protect the handle and lock from hitting the dolly frame.

One piece of 3/4" plywood cut in half to cross the dirt.
As you roll across each piece, put the next piece's edge under the last one.
It's easier to drop down onto the next piece than to climb up onto it.

[Slugster]

Getting old and wimpy, so I just paid 200.00 to have it delivered and moved into the house by a couple of pro safe movers. That is what they do and are danged good at it. The two smaller safes I can still move if needed with dolly, straps, and a cherry picker if needed.

[1I-Jack]

When I bought my safe the delivery guys laid down a "railroad track" of slide sticks (2x4's that had teflon strips attached to the tops) across my wood floors to protect them. One guy could push the safe across those teflon strips.

Ask at the stores selling/delivering safes to see if they have something like that.

[45DUDE]

I agree with Froogal 3/4 plywood and a tow strap and comealong. Use you pickup to pull-not your back. I hired a 1 ton winch truck to move mine. <dangled in the air with nylon tow strap.>

[lancem]

Thanks guys/gals for the ideas they are all helping. To help you all understand my plight better I live in a place where my nearest neighbor is a mile or more away. I really don't have that many friends, more like acquaintances, most that have never been invited to my home. The nearest town is over an hour away, safe seller that delivers probably 4-8 hours away, probably the same for moving companies. I knew this when I moved here and I don't have a problem with it, just sometimes I have to think about things a while when it comes to getting things done. I'm forming a plan with your help and it is seeming to get a little easier with each suggestion!

[country gent]

Walk the area where the safe is to be moved make a skeleton form of the safe length width and hold it in front of you. This will highlight any tight areas that may be an issue. Dont just jump in sit and think on it each step of the way. A couple 2x4s under the safe on the dolly or moving platform may help as you can use pry bars and blocking to raise and lower it down easier. Most safes are a narrow foot print so be careful not to tip it to much they are top heavy. While 500lbs dosnt sound like a lot if it gets away from you its going you wont stop it. On slopes or grades saftey ropes to limit it are needed.

[Winger Ed.]

If it gets to be overwhelming, open the door 90 degrees, then you can lift it off.
That will reduce the weight by approx. 1/3.
Put a pencil to it--- 1/4" steel plate weighs right around 11-12 or so pounds per square foot.
With all the guts of the door, figure 13-14 pounds per sq. ft.
An engine crane will make it pretty easy, especially for getting the door back on.

Also, pull the dolly while walking backwards. Don't push it unless ya have to.

[DougGuy]

I moved a Nissan 4.0L V6 engine with my engine crane, set plywood down across the legs set the engine down on the plywood and move the whole thing like a dolly. Since I learned that trick I moved an 800lb milling machine the same way.

I have one of those nice welded aluminum ramps from a vintage U-Haul truck, I used that to go into my basement which is about 8" lower than the driveway. It's so long it's cumbersome at times but I figured out how to put half of it outside on the driveway, i set the weight down on this while it is sitting flat, then once it crosses the threshold it tilts down like a see-saw and makes contact with the basement floor, you BETTER be holding on tight cause it will want to take off once it is tilted down.

[deltaenterprizes]

When I bought my safe the delivery guys laid down a "railroad track" of slide sticks (2x4's that had teflon strips attached to the tops) across my wood floors to protect them. One guy could push the safe across those teflon strips.

Ask at the stores selling/delivering safes to see if they have something like that.
Harbor Freight has a set of 4 “Sliders “ that allow stuff to slide across a smooth surface that I used on a cement floor. They worked but the cement made them wear a bit.

[HARLOWPARKENFARKER]

I've moved two. The first one by backing a pickup across the sidewalk, jacking up at the front to tilt the bed and two of us lowered the safe on its back into the bed of the truck. Unloading was the reverse, with a plank to, "catch," the wheels of the safe as it slid out of the bed of the pickup. The second one (Much heavier) required a wrecker to pick it up haul it.

[Plate plinker]

Second using a couple sheets of plywood to get across rough terrain. Would probably mod a refrigerator cart so you don’t accidentally lay it down.

[Froogal]

Thanks guys/gals for the ideas they are all helping. To help you all understand my plight better I live in a place where my nearest neighbor is a mile or more away. I really don't have that many friends, more like acquaintances, most that have never been invited to my home. The nearest town is over an hour away, safe seller that delivers probably 4-8 hours away, probably the same for moving companies. I knew this when I moved here and I don't have a problem with it, just sometimes I have to think about things a while when it comes to getting things done. I'm forming a plan with your help and it is seeming to get a little easier with each suggestion!

You and I are pretty much in the same boat. Wife and I alone moved our new safe into the house using my antique tractor and loader. We got it done. What did not occur to me at the time was the job might have been easier if we had simply removed the door from the safe.

[Scrounge]

As a former bomb tech, I agree with country gent. Barring zoning issues, my alternative is to do it like the Egyptians. Several round bars (ie: 1/2 PVC or similar) and just roll the safe from place to place. Works great if you go from flat to flat. Stairs - not so much.

May not work too well on soft dirt, either. I've got a 900lb cast iron drill press, and a couple of pieces of 5/8" hardware store steel round bar I use to move it around on the concrete floor, which is not too level. They will work over plywood, too. More would be better, and if you can lay the safe on it's back it won't fall as easily. If you're also using the plywood, PVC pipe would probably be fine if you have several pieces to share the weight. DO NOT try to roll it up stairs. Pulling it up stairs with a winch or come-along can work, but you need a good spot to anchor the winch or come-along. A couple of A-frames could come in handy, too.

You do need a better grade of friends, too. ;) The comment on removing the door is also a good idea, especially if you're doing all this alone. Got an engine hoist? They're quite useful in projects like this too. I mostly do this stuff alone, as well. Bad back, getting worse. I manage with a 1-ton HF engine hoist, some medium crowbars, a couple of sizes of furniture dollies, and some of the airbag lifters.

[contender1]

Some of the better appliance hand trucks actually have a set of extra wheels & arms to stabilize the dolly once it's tilted. Makes moving stuff safer. Get the safe/appliance on the dolly, strap it on, fold out the extra legs with wheels, and tilt it until it's a 4-wheeled dolly.

[MaryB]

Some of the better appliance hand trucks actually have a set of extra wheels & arms to stabilize the dolly once it's tilted. Makes moving stuff safer. Get the safe/appliance on the dolly, strap it on, fold out the extra legs with wheels, and tilt it until it's a 4-wheeled dolly.

We used these to move top heavy slot machines on bases at the casino. 300+++ pounds. 1 person could do it easily once it was tilted back, that required someone to push from the other side. Heaviest machine I walked across the casino was 900 pounds...

[M-Tecs]

Check out Rhinocart at Amazon.

That might come in handy. Thanks.

[Sasquatch-1]

You have neglected to say how many steps, if any you have to deal with. That will be the killer for one person.

[lancem]

You have neglected to say how many steps, if any you have to deal with. That will be the killer for one person.

Luckily no steps, a couple of 3/4" thresholds otherwise all flat surfaces.

[gunther]

3 or 4 friends; indoors: 2 inch schedule 40 pvc pipe 3 feet long, 4 or 5 of them. Outdoors, a dolly with big tires for dirt, or a refrigerator dolly if you get 1/2 or 3/4 plywood to cover the dirt. Stair step: refrigerator dolly. Flip the plywood (dirt side up) to cover the floor inside. Carpet or rugs, the pipe rollers won't hurt. This will do a 500# safe, but an 1800# safe, you gonna need something like two 3/4 inch sheets of plywood for every 8 feet of dirt outside. Steps are best approached with a custom made ramp.

[lancem]

M
You do need a better grade of friends, too. ;)

OK guys, did some figuring and here's where I'm at, county has over 6035 square miles with one city. The total population is 9546, city population is 6035 and covers 4.8 miles, leaving us with a little over 6000 square miles and 3511 people living on it. So about 1 person for every 1.7 square miles, not a lot of people to rub shoulders with. Most of you probably have 3500 people living within a couple of miles of you making finding good friends pretty easy I would think :)

[WRideout]

500 pounds isn't really that heavy.
A regular dolly will work. An appliance dolly is better.

A pry bar or even a big screw driver will go in under the safe to get the dolly's shoe in under it.

Strap it to the dolly with the door against the dolly, and pad it with old blankets or towels.
Then put a couple 2x4s between the dolly and the door to protect the handle and lock from hitting the dolly frame.

One piece of 3/4" plywood cut in half to cross the dirt.
As you roll across each piece, put the next piece's edge under the last one.
It's easier to drop down onto the next piece than to climb up onto it.

Voice of experience.

Wayne

[redriverhunter]

I thought I was pretty cool when they delivered my safe. my safe weights 976 pounds. my floor is allure flooring, they backed up to my porch and moved from the truck into my house with what looked like 4 inch pvc pipe, I thought for sure the pipe would not make it but it did. once in the house they took a rug and laid it out upside down and moved the safe onto the rug and drug/pushed it into place. I was amazed.

[MaryB]

OK guys, did some figuring and here's where I'm at, county has over 6035 square miles with one city. The total population is 9546, city population is 6035 and covers 4.8 miles, leaving us with a little over 6000 square miles and 3511 people living on it. So about 1 person for every 1.7 square miles, not a lot of people to rub shoulders with. Most of you probably have 3500 people living within a couple of miles of you making finding good friends pretty easy I would think :)

13 per sq mile here LOL

[blackthorn]

The upside down rug trick has been around for a long time and it works! Moving heavy objects may take some thought and planning but it is not really an insurmountable project. Lots of good ideas in this thread. As far as making friends, the concentration (or not) of population is not any kind of factor in making "good" (dependable/honest) friends! Years ago I read an article that said that if you make 10 real friends in a lifetime you were one lucky SOB. Friendly acquaintances yes but real friends---not so much. Good luck with your move and remember, safety first!

[Winger Ed.]

Voice of experience.Wayne

My last job (for 11 years) was working for a high security safe company.

We did stuff other companies wouldn't touch.
Like putting 4-5,000 pound safe up into, and through the windows of multi story buildings.
Some were too heavy for the elevators even with the 2,000 pound door removed.
It's easy enough unless the window is not as tall as the safe it, and has to go through diagonally.

Or going OVER a house from the front yard to be able to get it through a back door.

Or taking a 3-5,000 pound one up or down a flight of stairs.

Fun times.....

[Froogal]

I thought I was pretty cool when they delivered my safe. my safe weights 976 pounds. my floor is allure flooring, they backed up to my porch and moved from the truck into my house with what looked like 4 inch pvc pipe, I thought for sure the pipe would not make it but it did. once in the house they took a rug and laid it out upside down and moved the safe onto the rug and drug/pushed it into place. I was amazed.

Mine has the upside down carpet still under it. Made it possible to just slide it across a hardwood floor.

[Mk42gunner]

500 pounds? Get a couple of teenagers and tell them they can't do it.

That doesn't work well with nobody knowing about it though.

I moved several 1015 pound safes when I was in the Navy. The easiest way is to get three pieces of pipe for rollers, anywhere from one to two inches od. TO cross the dirt, a couple of pieces of 3/4" plywood should work, and if you are careful, you should be able to get them out of one 4x8 sheet.

If it starts to get away from you, let it go and figure some thing else out after the adrenaline settles.

Good Luck,

Robert

[Rockindaddy]

Safe moving is an art! I have 5 big safes. All full of guns. The last one required some steel 2" pipe. Laid the safe on its back and used a winch and a strap. Just have to have a helper sliding the 2" pipe under the safe to keep it rolling. However my big safe is a 4800 pounder. Good thing I had an old Pettibone 36,000 lb crane on the farm. Easy move!

[Winger Ed.]

Safe moving is an art!

Very much so, and I never get tired of watching it being done.

When we moved out of the city, my neighbor and long time friend who is also a safe mover did it.

For the 6,000 pound safe- he used a 7500 lb. capacity power pallet jack.
It raised the (full) safe up, and drove it onto a 'lift a load' trailer that the bed drops all the way down to the ground.
Instead of regular axles, it has what looks like the front steering/suspension parts for a heavy truck.

Then put it into our new garage.
Handling it on & off the trailer took about 4-maybe five minutes on each end.

Something cool to watch was when we'd get in a big/heavy safe that the door hinges had worn out from never being greased.
We'd turn it over on its back with straps & a forklift.
Move it into the shop, then cut off the old door hinges and weld on new ones.
Then stand it back up, repaint & put on a new lock.
The tolerance for getting the door positioned right was about the thickness of a business card all around it.
At the time, there was about 6 guys at 3 different companies in the US that could, or would do it.

We got paid to make them 'go away', then when re-furbished, they were sold with a regular warranty
for about 75% the price of a new one like it.

Another cool trick was to convert one from a right hand swing door, to left hand swing.
'All ya gotta do' is cut off the right side hinges, weld on left hand swing ones,
then stand the safe back up---- but upside down.

[Wayne Smith]

You have neglected to mention if any slope is involved. Believe me, if you thought there was none, you will find it if it is there!

[lancem]

You have neglected to mention if any slope is involved. Believe me, if you thought there was none, you will find it if it is there!

Luckily no, as far as I can tell we are all on even ground one place to another. With all of the comments I think I pretty much have a plan, just trying to decide whether to go the pipe method or weld up a dolly to go under the safe as I have heavy short casters that would work.

[MaryB]

My radio desk is over 500 pounds with all the stuff on it. Moving it was a pain when I needed to get behind it to work on cables... I added 4 caster you push down on a lever and it lifts each corner and locks in place.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07X2DSJF4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

[fivegunner]

Alot of good advice here, My take, I moved one safe 1 time, next time I will buy a new safe and have the professional people install it. probably $3,5oo to 5 grand , The people who buy my house will have a nice safe .

[lancem]

My radio desk is over 500 pounds with all the stuff on it. Moving it was a pain when I needed to get behind it to work on cables... I added 4 caster you push down on a lever and it lifts each corner and locks in place.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07X2DSJF4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

Mary you may be the prize winner with this one. I'm going to have to study a bit but I'm thinking these attached to angle iron that I can slip under the corners of the safe and strap on.... Yes have to think about this a bit.

[country gent]

1 1/2 x 1 1/2 x 1/8 angle cut and bend into a square 1/8'-1/4" bigger than the safe cut 45* and bend then weld. weld the caster on the bottom. At 500 lbs get casters at least rated for at least 125 lbs and weld them on.Once sat down in this it can stay right there in it ready to go.

[jimlj]

"I really don't want to involve any friends as no one knows about this safe and I'd like to keep it that way" he said on the world wide web.


A 500 lb safe is about 150 lb heavier that an average refrigerator. A fridge dolly should move it fairly easy with one helper, especially if you can remove the door.

[txbirdman]

I heard a guy say he had moved one using golf balls under it as rollers. But I have no first hand knowledge as to whether that will work.

[scattershot]

I think some one mentioned it already, but taking the door off makes it a lot easier to move.

[Elmer Fudd]

Sorry if this is a duplicate response. I read through post 20 is all.

Try using golf balls under the safe on a hard surface. Use garden hose or 2x4s to corral the balls as you go. Obviously have to leap frog them as you would pipes, but spinning the safe is much easier on balls. Use plywood/OSB over the lawn or any other rough or soft surface. A pry bar is invaluable, especially the wide ones with a curve and a thickness taper (like a chisel) at the end. Use a pipe at the very end because it is safely removed without placing your hand under a teetering hand smasher.

[1006]

When I bought my safe, I removed the door—was not sure I could when I started. The door was 1/3 of the total weight. So, I recommend taking the door off if you can. Mine weighed about 500 pounds before removing the door. Just be careful not to drop the door on your foot.

[murf205]

lancem, will the safe be on a concrete floor when you get it moved into place? Don't forget to anchor it down from the inside. I used 3/8" wedge bolts for all 3 of mine. I know a guy that had his safe and collection removed intact by a theft. They tore up a couple of door frames but when your stealing something, time is the main thing. He thinks they just pushed it over on it's side and onto a couple of dolly's and away they went.

[Winger Ed.]

If you can move a refrigerator, you can move a common/regular gun safe.... unless it's bolted down.

The big difference is-- Being about 2-3 times as heavy, it takes two guys instead of one.

[Idaho45guy]

When I needed two safes moved from my dad's shop to my storage unit, I hired a local moving company and 3 young men with a heavy duty dolly and hand cart showed up. Cost me $300 and I tipped them each $20 afterwards because they were so professional and pleasant. Best money I ever spent.

Why not put them in my house? Because they were too heavy for the floor joists. That's another thing to take into consideration when putting a safe in an older home.

[Rickf1985]

When I got my safe, around 600 lbs., my neighbor stopped by as I was unloading it from my truck with my loader. He asked if I needed a hand and I said I think I have it. He stuck around to watch the show and I could tell he was amused. Then he asked, "have you figured out how you are going to drive that tractor through the back door"? We are talking about a 36" regular door. I just looked at him and said I haven't quite thought about that one yet. He said get all that crap off of that thing and get out of the way. He wrapped his arms around it and carried it into the house!!!!!! Did I happen to mention this is a BIG man? Prison guard who I doubt has ever had any problems with his prisoners. Real good guy to be friends with.

[Winger Ed.]

"have you figured out how you are going to drive that tractor through the back door"?

Years ago, Mrs. wanted her own safe. I scrounged a used, small-ish, high security one and rebuilt it.
The walls on it are about 3" thick, and it weighs something like 800 pounds, maybe more.

I got it in the truck with a forklift. I got it out with a engine crane.
Then I thought to myself, 'Now what'?

I ended up cutting off a broom handle into a couple pieces, and rolling it through the house
to a closet on them- one in front of the other, like the Egyptians did those big stone blocks.

[Petander]

The older I get, the more often I tend to hire professionals.

A gun safe or a piano, or a motorcycle from abroad like last year. Yes pro work costs but those guys know what they are doing, have insurances -and I won't invalidize myself.

[murf205]

The older I get, the more often I tend to hire professionals.

A gun safe or a piano, or a motorcycle from abroad like last year. Yes pro work costs but those guys know what they are doing, have insurances -and I won't invalidize myself.

Not to mention not collapsing a disc in your back! My strong man (stupid) tricks from my youth are haunting me today!!

[Rich/WIS]

My safe is int 500# range and found it was easy to move, called the local movers and they did it. When I moved from WI to KY the moving company moved it. They had me leave the door open and removed the door and then put it back in place when the set it p,ace here. While still in WI had to move it to a different spot, so removed the door and rocked it onto a piece of carpet and my 100# DIL and her friend who went all of maybe 90# slid it around like it weighed nothing at all. Only advice I can give is remove the door, plan your route and if it gets away from you GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY. Might be a good idea to check what is under your floor, a short beam of spiked together 2X8s and a jack post will prevent the floor from sagging over time.

[Winger Ed.]

One of our safe movers got a job one time where a customer wanted a big safe moved into his house,
but didn't want to pay for a 'sight check' where someone comes out to see what will be involved for the move.

No big deal. He told the guy to get a piece of cardboard the same size as the safe's 'foot print'
and slide it along the floor along the path the safe would need to take.

When he got to the guy's house, brought the safe in, down the hall, and found it wouldn't fit through the bedroom door.
He asked the guy if he'd done the deal with the piece of card board.
He said, "Yes I did, but I had to turn up one corner to get it through this door.

Our guy explained that he couldn't really do that with the safe.
Customer, "Wait here. I'll be right back".
He went and got a sawz-all. Then cut out enough wall and door frame to get the safe into the room.

Our mover got back to the shop he said
it really stressed him out by not being able to laugh at the whole adventure
and trying to get done and out of there before the customer's wife came in.

[john.k]

I put my safe in through the back door into the hallway with an old mobile crane with the boom (lattice type) out flat ,or close to.......one man job ,very careful not to damage the house before her indoors came home.

[MaryB]

One of our safe movers got a job one time where a customer wanted a big safe moved into his house,
but didn't want to pay for a 'sight check' where someone comes out to see what will be involved for the move.

No big deal. He told the guy to get a piece of cardboard the same size as the safe's 'foot print'
and slide it along the floor along the path the safe would need to take.

When he got to the guy's house, brought the safe in, down the hall, and found it wouldn't fit through the bedroom door.
He asked the guy if he'd done the deal with the piece of card board.
He said, "Yes I did, but I had to turn up one corner to get it through this door.

Our guy explained that he couldn't really do that with the safe.
Customer, "Wait here. I'll be right back".
He went and got a sawz-all. Then cut out enough wall and door frame to get the safe into the room.

Our mover got back to the shop he said
it really stressed him out by not being able to laugh at the whole adventure
and trying to get done and out of there before the customer's wife came in.

We dismantled 2 door frames to get a safe into a house LOL guys wife was freaking out... we pulled nails, put it all back together using the original nail holes... she couldn't tell we had it apart

[lightman]

I have moved and helped move several safes in the 400-500# weight range. I used an appliance dolley with straps. I put the safe on the dolley where the narrowest sides would be the ones passing through doorways. It helps to have a helper! I handled the dolley and the helper was on the other end to help push or to steady it if necessary. I can't stress that a helper needs to be there.

In your situation I might look at renting an engine hoist. And as everyone else suggester, buy a few sheets of plywood to make a road across that bare ground.

I can't stress the helper thing enough! Good Luck!!!

For what its worth, I hired a safe company to move my 2000# one when we moved recently.

[MOshooter]

I've had my Browning safe(900#) since the early 90's and picked it from the store, unloaded it in a detached garage/shop. Later moved into our house, just 2 steps up and in. Last move after I built our home 23 years ago, but have since moved it in the home a few times in the garage.

I agree with the plywood on the ground to move your safe. Also an appliance dolly can be helpful, I've also used regular dollies and strapped to the dolly. I also always used moving blankets when trucking with a dolly. On concrete or other hard surfaces, I've used several steel pipes as rollers, normally 4 to 6 steel pipes 3/4"- 1" pipe, like steel gas line pipe.
I moved this one, and my Dad's same safe after he passed, I've always moved these by myself.

[MrWolf]

Not to mention not collapsing a disc in your back! My strong man (stupid) tricks from my youth are haunting me today!!

I moved mine in my garage six months after my L4-5 surgery four years ago. I am having surgery next month on L3-4. I may be Polish but I am not making those same mistakes again and am actually listening to my doc this time. Have a safe in plain view with a few don't care guns in it and have the good stuff in a hidden area in the house. Just sayin...