Billy121168 Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 I want to be totally self sufficiant and thought about purchasing one of these hand trucks.I have watched videos on this and dosent seem like a bad idea.Anybody have any experience with them or comments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZVendor Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 Billy, are you planning on moving lots of machines up flights of stairs? Are you planning to use it to load machines on your truck? Those are the only two uses of these that I think you'd find useful. Using a stairclimber is tricky and landings can be a golpher. Stairs aren't designed for tilted vending machines. Using one to load a machine on your truck means that you can only load one machine as then the stairclimber is stuck between the cab and the machine. Then to unload the machine you have to muscle the machine away from the cab so you have room to tip the machine again. You will also find that the Lectro and Escalera (you should check them too) are very expensive at around $1700-$2000. My recommendation for self sufficiency is to put a liftgate on your truck with the deepest platform you can get (about $2000). Then get a soda machine dolly that allows the machine to be tipped back on 4 wheels (I use Dutro Brawny Brute, about $600, get a 4 wheel flat dolly with 5" wheels (about $150) and get a 24" wide pallet jack (about $500). That will move 98% of your machines unless you plan on doing lots of stairs. Then pay someone else who has a stairclimber to move the machine up the stairs. The one guy here in the Phoenix area that has one charges $5/step and $10/landing and it's money well spent. Now if you aren't going to move many machines at all, just pay the local vending mover to do it for you. It will cost between $50-$80 per machine but they know what they are doing and you won't get hurt moving them yourself. If you have your mind set on a stairclimber, go to the NAMA trade show in Vegas on April 22-24 and you can actually test and use the stairclimbers that will be on display. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZVendor Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 I posted incorrect dates for the NAMA OneShow in Las Vegas next month. The correct dates for the tradeshow are April 24-26. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TKK Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 That things looks like you need a dolly to move a dolly. I wouldn't get it. For $5,000 you could easily get a boxtruck w liftgate and a vending dolly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walta Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 They are a great tool if you and the same partner use it each and every week. If you use it only a few times with deferent helpers it is a recipe death and dismemberment. Never start up a stare case without 2 fully charged batteries on sight. Often it is necessary to change batteries in between landings. In my opinion anything you pay a well trained, insured and experienced moving team is a bargain. Walta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moondog Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 I want to be totally self sufficiant and thought about purchasing one of these hand trucks.I have watched videos on this and dosent seem like a bad idea.Anybody have any experience with them or comments. Yep Billy, I own a Powermate L1 stairclimber. It's not their biggest model but will lift a soda machine up onto the back of a pickup truck and up and down stairs. Unfortunately, it's still not a one man job as the main challenge for me is "breaking" the machine over to the tilt back position and keeping the machine from flipping out backwards once I've got it lifted up to the tailgate. As AZ pointed out, once the machine's in the back of the truck, the stairclimber is pretty much stuck there so you can't move more than one machine at a time this way (even if you are feeling lucky ). I've rigged a "come-along" system to help reign in the machine in as I'm raising it up, but it's still "touch and go". I'm probably going to sell the Powermate as I don't use it that much. For me, plan B is to get a Dutro handtruck (the tall one) and a drop bed trailer to move machines. I'm not knocking stairclimbers, but for moving big vending machines you're still looking at a two man job. A flat bed with a lift gate would be the ideal vehicle for transporting but now you're talking big bucks and for most of us, just hiring a machine mover makes more economic sense. Ps. I'm 5'8" and weigh 150 lbs. - maybe if you're a really big guy you might actually be able to use one of these things Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteRoom Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 As a newbie, I am interested in this topic. As I start out I have planned to use movers. However, my longer term theory is to use a smallish trailer with room for two machines and an escalera forklift/dolly http://www.escalera.com/models/index.htm The thing can be used as a high lift forklift to get them in and out of the trailer and the same piece of equipment is also a vending machine dolly with the flip out back wheeled legs. 1200lb capacity. Confirgured this way it is about $1600, or a grand more than just a dolly. But, it should take the place of your liftgate, pallet jack and 5" wheeled flat dolly. No need to worry about breaking machines over on the trailer, just jack them up a bit and move them around vertically. I imagine the ribs on the bed of a truck would cause problems, but since I have an SUV rather than a truck I was planning the trailer route. I am not planning on messing with stairs, but if you get the basic model and later decide you want to add the stairclimber mechanism, I believe you can. My feeling is that this would be very straightforward for snack machines, soda machines would be a bit more trouble but should work with planning. Fire away and poke holes in my theory - fortunately I have a while to decide on this plan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TKK Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 $1600 isn't bad did u see the ones with the long legs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mission vending Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 As a newbie, I am interested in this topic. As I start out I have planned to use movers. However, my longer term theory is to use a smallish trailer with room for two machines and an escalera forklift/dolly http://www.escalera....odels/index.htm The thing can be used as a high lift forklift to get them in and out of the trailer and the same piece of equipment is also a vending machine dolly with the flip out back wheeled legs. 1200lb capacity. Confirgured this way it is about $1600, or a grand more than just a dolly. But, it should take the place of your liftgate, pallet jack and 5" wheeled flat dolly. No need to worry about breaking machines over on the trailer, just jack them up a bit and move them around vertically. I imagine the ribs on the bed of a truck would cause problems, but since I have an SUV rather than a truck I was planning the trailer route. I am not planning on messing with stairs, but if you get the basic model and later decide you want to add the stairclimber mechanism, I believe you can. My feeling is that this would be very straightforward for snack machines, soda machines would be a bit more trouble but should work with planning. Fire away and poke holes in my theory - fortunately I have a while to decide on this plan. Had one of those for about 3 years, hated it. Yes it can lift a machine up into a truck but a lift gate is faster and more importantly SAFER. It weighs about 200 lbs, extra weight you don't need once the machine is one the ground so instead of moving a 800 lb soda machine you are pushing and pulling on 1000+ lbs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteRoom Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 Thanks for the hands on info, I hadn't yet talked to anyone who used it for vending machines. I imagine the full on stairclimber with battery probably weighed that much, but the web says the model I was looking at is 128lbs... not too much more than a Dutro vending dolly at around 100lbs. Ideally a box truck with a lift gate would be great, but I don't see one of those in my future, at least for a while. And I don't think you can put a lift gate on a trailer. What else did you hate about it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mission vending Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 Thanks for the hands on info, I hadn't yet talked to anyone who used it for vending machines. I imagine the full on stairclimber with battery probably weighed that much, but the web says the model I was looking at is 128lbs... not too much more than a Dutro vending dolly at around 100lbs. Ideally a box truck with a lift gate would be great, but I don't see one of those in my future, at least for a while. And I don't think you can put a lift gate on a trailer. What else did you hate about it? See post #5, I don't think that there is anything in the vending world less stable than a 800+ lb soda machine sitting on this thing 3 ft in the air as you push it forward into the truck. You've got to be absolutely certain there is not even a grain of sand in the rolling path because the wheel will stop and the machine might not. I never could get comfortable around the thing while lifting or lowering a machine. It is not nearly as maneuverable as a vending dolly so you will probably wind up buying one, or a pallet jack, anyway to move around inside the building. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moondog Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 See post #5, I don't think that there is anything in the vending world less stable than a 800+ lb soda machine sitting on this thing 3 ft in the air as you push it forward into the truck. You've got to be absolutely certain there is not even a grain of sand in the rolling path because the wheel will stop and the machine might not. I never could get comfortable around the thing while lifting or lowering a machine. It is not nearly as maneuverable as a vending dolly so you will probably wind up buying one, or a pallet jack, anyway to move around inside the building. Amen I'm not sure if my previous post made this clear but it's that transition point where you get the machine lifted up to bed height that's extremely tricky - when the only thing holding that 800 lb sucker is you (you definetly don't want anybody underneath it) trying the manuever the beast back into the truck enough to catch the lip so you can readjust the wheels. If you're looking for adventure, take up skydiving - it's safer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CajunCandy Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 Thanks for the hands on info, I hadn't yet talked to anyone who used it for vending machines. I imagine the full on stairclimber with battery probably weighed that much, but the web says the model I was looking at is 128lbs... not too much more than a Dutro vending dolly at around 100lbs. Ideally a box truck with a lift gate would be great, but I don't see one of those in my future, at least for a while. And I don't think you can put a lift gate on a trailer. What else did you hate about it? My friend has a liftgate on a a small well constructed trailer he use to move cold drink machines around with, three will fit on it. Only thing is he will not let me take pictures of it. I think he will try to market it for vending. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moondog Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 My friend has a liftgate on a a small well constructed trailer he use to move cold drink machines around with, three will fit on it. Only thing is he will not let me take pictures of it. I think he will try to market it for vending. He's probably afraid the picture will show it in the mouth of some giant jaw or something Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TKK Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 Why not just get a utility trailer w a longer ramp and use a dolly or palet jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ANDERSONVENDING Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 My friend has a liftgate on a a small well constructed trailer he use to move cold drink machines around with, three will fit on it. Only thing is he will not let me take pictures of it. I think he will try to market it for vending. I seen a trailer with support legs you put down before using the power liftgate.Don't remember where I seen it though.John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CajunCandy Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 I seen a trailer with support legs you put down before using the power liftgate.Don't remember where I seen it though. John Yes his has legs you put down to support back of trailer, the trailer he has is built from scratch, it has mobile home trailer tires, real heavy duty springs on it with a wood floor, it has a tommy lift gate attached to back of it. You can tell it is home made just by looking at it. He bought two cold drink machines from me today and loaded machines with ease. He also put machines on heavy duty pallets he got from some beer company. mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteRoom Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 Thanks for all the thoughts and ideas guys. In my mind, moving machines to the back of the trailer, straight up 12-18" on a forklift and then forward a few feet seemed much safer than fighting a machine up a ramp. Guess I will keep thinking it through and work with movers for the time being. I don't have the welding skills to build a liftgate trailer and a liftgate box truck is not going to work yet. I am sure there is a safe option. A pallet jack going up a ramp seems a little dicey, all the pallet jacks I have used don't have anything to secure a machine to and I don't know that they would clear the transition from ramp to trailer bed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ANDERSONVENDING Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 Thanks for all the thoughts and ideas guys. In my mind, moving machines to the back of the trailer, straight up 12-18" on a forklift and then forward a few feet seemed much safer than fighting a machine up a ramp. Guess I will keep thinking it through and work with movers for the time being. I don't have the welding skills to build a liftgate trailer and a liftgate box truck is not going to work yet. I am sure there is a safe option. A pallet jack going up a ramp seems a little dicey, all the pallet jacks I have used don't have anything to secure a machine to and I don't know that they would clear the transition from ramp to trailer bed. I also seen a trailer that had 2 C channels turned upside down on the ramp to fit the wheels of the hand truck to guide the machine up the ramp with a winch at the front of the trailer to pull the load up.John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moondog Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 Thanks for all the thoughts and ideas guys. In my mind, moving machines to the back of the trailer, straight up 12-18" on a forklift and then forward a few feet seemed much safer than fighting a machine up a ramp. Guess I will keep thinking it through and work with movers for the time being. I don't have the welding skills to build a liftgate trailer and a liftgate box truck is not going to work yet. I am sure there is a safe option. A pallet jack going up a ramp seems a little dicey, all the pallet jacks I have used don't have anything to secure a machine to and I don't know that they would clear the transition from ramp to trailer bed. The ramps on the drop deck trailers are quit long creating a shallow incline. The preferred tool to use with this trailer would be an appliance dolly where the machine is strapped to the dolly. If you still can't get it up the ramp, a "come-a-long" should do the trick - just attach it to the front of the trailer at one end and the dolly on the other, then just crank it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Action Vending Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 We use a 6x12 trailer with 1' of extra height and we can move anything. We even got a big bass wheel in it. It has a ramp door. For the really big moves we rent a box truck with a lift gate. Not sure why so many of you think you need a truck with a lift gate or a trailer with a lift gate? IMO the enclosed trailer with a ramp door is the only way to go and most importantly it keeps the machines out of the weather. Oh we have a lecktro truck also and like others said it is a two man job for going up and down flights of stairs and is not much fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteRoom Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 Action, just for the record, how are you moving the machines up the ramp? Is the trailer also your route supply vehicle? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cvending Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 Please let me weigh in here. We have used a power dolly for years.I use it for stairs and for moving soda machines in the warehouse. Yes, you will need additional help on most stairs. But I have done many without a helper. Around the warehouse it makes it easy to tip the machine back for moving. The model we use is an UltraLift, made in San Jose, CA. Aluminum frame, very well built. Downside is that it will cost you $3500. For snacks we use a narrow/short pallet jack. We also have a truck with a 40" liftgate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moondog Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 Please let me weigh in here. We have used a power dolly for years.I use it for stairs and for moving soda machines in the warehouse. Yes, you will need additional help on most stairs. But I have done many without a helper. Around the warehouse it makes it easy to tip the machine back for moving. The model we use is an UltraLift, made in San Jose, CA. Aluminum frame, very well built. Downside is that it will cost you $3500. For snacks we use a narrow/short pallet jack. We also have a truck with a 40" liftgate. All the pro movers around here use the UltraLift - it's probably the best one out there but prospective buyers have a hard time finding it as Ultralift's website is none too prominent and they don't do much other advertising. The Powermate I own does just fine on stairwells (with help). I think our main objection to these things is their unwieldiness when trying to get a machine up onto a tailgate. I doubt that anyone with a liftgate at their disposal would have any problems using a stairclimber. Like Billy (the original poster of this thread), I bought the Powermate thinking it would "do it all" versus buying a lot of other equipment. Sadly, this has not been the case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.