Fermo Vending Posted April 10, 2023 Share Posted April 10, 2023 Hey everyone , Has anyone had any experience moving a vending machine down a small incline? I'm moving two machines into a car service center, but the box truck they'll be on is too large to fit into the entrance. I figured we could unload the machines on the street, put the machine on a pallet jack, and then use the entrance of the service center to roll the machine into where they're going. Would a hand truck be safer? I understand this can be dangerous, but want to mention it's not a huge pitch of a decline. There will be a total of three guys to help with this part of the move. Has anyone done something like this before? Any recommendations or safety tips would be appreciated. Also, not sure a pick up with a utility trailer is an option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYCandyMaN Posted April 10, 2023 Share Posted April 10, 2023 use trailer with ramp from uhaul, for $35, do not lay the machine down, 3 ppl should be enough to support the machine with a pallet jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cvending Posted April 10, 2023 Share Posted April 10, 2023 What type/make of machines are they? A dolly would be my choice for a drink machine but pallet jck for a snack, depending on model Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fermo Vending Posted April 10, 2023 Author Share Posted April 10, 2023 It's one combo machine and one drink machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orsd Posted April 10, 2023 Share Posted April 10, 2023 2 minutes ago, NYCandyMaN said: use trailer with ramp from uhaul, for $35, do not lay the machine down, 3 ppl should be enough to support the machine with a pallet jack Wrong again. Uhaul ramps will likely be a bigger incline than the driveway/entrance. I’ve moved machines up and down typical residential slopes driveways before. Just have to be really careful. If you have a Dutro dolly (special vending dolly, not just a normal appliance dolly they would be preferred, for machines with legs take some short 2x4s and stack them on the toe plate until they reach the bottom of the cabinet itself. Otherwise a pallet jack will work ok just have to be extra careful. If you have a Sunbelt rentals nearby they rent lift bed trailers where the entire deck of the trailer lowers down to ground level. Might work for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fermo Vending Posted April 10, 2023 Author Share Posted April 10, 2023 How much do Dutro Dolly's usually go for? I'll look into Sunbelt Rentals in my area see if that's an option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fermo Vending Posted April 10, 2023 Author Share Posted April 10, 2023 22 minutes ago, cvending said: What type/make of machines are they? A dolly would be my choice for a drink machine but pallet jck for a snack, depending on model I do think having three guys and a pallet jack should be enough, but I was mostly checking to see if anyone had tips to add another measure of safety Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orsd Posted April 10, 2023 Share Posted April 10, 2023 2 hours ago, Fermo Vending said: How much do Dutro Dolly's usually go for? I'll look into Sunbelt Rentals in my area see if that's an option. Dutros are around 1200-1400 new. If your buying new get the top strap hook style not the wraparound strap style, and preferably a 79” model. Mine was well used but only cost me 200 bucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orsd Posted April 10, 2023 Share Posted April 10, 2023 2 hours ago, Fermo Vending said: I do think having three guys and a pallet jack should be enough, but I was mostly checking to see if anyone had tips to add another measure of safety Be very careful, take it slow, and don’t try to catch a falling machine. Also if these are full sized/5 wide snacks I’d use a regular full width pallet jack, not a a narrow one that a lot of vendors prefer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fermo Vending Posted April 10, 2023 Author Share Posted April 10, 2023 48 minutes ago, orsd said: Be very careful, take it slow, and don’t try to catch a falling machine. Also if these are full sized/5 wide snacks I’d use a regular full width pallet jack, not a a narrow one that a lot of vendors prefer. Unfortunately a 4 wide combo machine and a dixie narco 276e, so a wider pallet jack probably won't work. I'm going to look for an actual pallet to put on the jack to give a little extra stability. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZVendor Posted April 11, 2023 Share Posted April 11, 2023 Don't put them on a pallet. They are much more stable with the jack on the underside of the machine. You'll want to back down the the pallet jack but go real slow with your two helpers on each corner of the machine because if the steer wheels of the jack hit anything they can turn sideways. And remember that there isn't anything for the machine to lean against or fall against - it will just be your two helpers holding the corners up. Definitely get a Dutro for the soda machine. It's time for you to do that anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fermo Vending Posted April 11, 2023 Author Share Posted April 11, 2023 https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/H-1387/Hand-Trucks/Steel-Appliance-Hand-Truck-4-Wheel?pricode=WA9183&gadtype=pla&id=H-1387&gclid=CjwKCAjw586hBhBrEiwAQYEnHYlo06WHbPhZTTWYe-dxe5-rGv-08itF47puVmYl_IUu8Ne9gkk-bxoCOSQQAvD_BwE something like this? I don’t have the money for a Dutro right now. How dangerous do you think it would be to move the drink machine on the pallet Jack? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZVendor Posted April 11, 2023 Share Posted April 11, 2023 That dolly is only okay. It would do the job for you but they generally don't last very many years. The Dutro will outlive you and you have to spend money to make money. I never had substandard equipment so I would always have the right tools since it was my business to do so. If you're paying someone to move these for you, as it sounds, then the onus is on them to get it done safely and with the right equipment. Otherwise, the lowering trailer would be the next best thing to a Tommygate on a pickup or service body truck (what I used.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fermo Vending Posted April 11, 2023 Author Share Posted April 11, 2023 I am paying someone to help, but I know he will not have a Dutro handtruck. He'll have a regular handtruck. Do you think that will suffice for this one time move of the drink machine? What do you think for the combo machine? I don't think the handtruck will catch the bottom of the machine since it's on legs, and not flat on the ground like the drink machine. I'm gonna look into places that might rent pick up trucks with tommygates on them to hopefully remove a lot of the concerns I'm having. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZVendor Posted April 11, 2023 Share Posted April 11, 2023 A two wheel dolly WILL NOT suffice. If you tilt the soda machine to the side and put 4x4s under it (the second tilt is tough) then you can lift it with the pallet jack and then drop the jack all the way down to keep the CG low. Then it will be about as safe as you can get it, but it will take a narrow pallet jack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fermo Vending Posted April 11, 2023 Author Share Posted April 11, 2023 I do have a narrow pallet Jack so that’s what I plan on using in general. I expect the combo machine will be more problematic bc it’ll be higher off the ground, but I think with three people and going extremely slow it will work. Do you agree? What does CG mean? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZVendor Posted April 11, 2023 Share Posted April 11, 2023 CG is center of gravity. You can probably get both down there but you need to plan for things like this in the future if you are planning on remaining in the business. Be professional with the right equipment. It's safer for you and your machines and for the location as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fermo Vending Posted April 11, 2023 Author Share Posted April 11, 2023 Definitely will. I’m still in the first year of business and I’m learning as much as I can as fast as I can. there’s a lot of equipment I need that I plan on buying when the time is right. I appreciate all the help you give on these posts AZ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABCVending Posted April 11, 2023 Share Posted April 11, 2023 +1 on the platform lift/drop deck trailers from Sunbelt Rentals, make your life a lot easier with beverage machines. For a 4 wide snack and three guys - back a pickup truck as close as you can get and tip it in on it's back. Two wheel hand trucks are dangerous with a 500-700lb pop machine - dropped one doing that and won't do it again. You can use a full size pallet jack on a snack but have to go in at a 45 degree angle - can't pick it straight on. We have 2x4's & 4x4's cut to length of the pallet forks with velcro on them - if machine is too tall for the jack, just shim with the boards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYCandyMaN Posted April 16, 2023 Share Posted April 16, 2023 On 4/10/2023 at 12:28 PM, orsd said: Wrong again. Uhaul ramps will likely be a bigger incline than the driveway/entrance. I’ve moved machines up and down typical residential slopes driveways before. Just have to be really careful. If you have a Dutro dolly (special vending dolly, not just a normal appliance dolly they would be preferred, for machines with legs take some short 2x4s and stack them on the toe plate until they reach the bottom of the cabinet itself. Otherwise a pallet jack will work ok just have to be extra careful. If you have a Sunbelt rentals nearby they rent lift bed trailers where the entire deck of the trailer lowers down to ground level. Might work for you. not true, think about it again and use some physics this time, a trailer parked against the a hill will become part of the hill, meaning it will be a very small incline, i am not familiar with these sunbelt dollies, and would assume that they are not cheap, i use furniture lifters when i move my machines, the difference between using a trailer and and a liftgate is that the the trailer is rippled and the liftgate is not, but even if i were to use a liftgate on a steep angle i would do the same with the truck and put it against the slope, go again , i am not wrong, but you do need think about it. i stick to my decision of using a trailer, all he's got to do is pus the trailer all the way into the drive, so there wont be much to travel with the actual machine, but it will be a bit harder to get it out of the actual trailer, because even though the trailer will be at an incline, the ramp will actually be straight once opened Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYCandyMaN Posted April 16, 2023 Share Posted April 16, 2023 On 4/10/2023 at 8:21 PM, Fermo Vending said: https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/H-1387/Hand-Trucks/Steel-Appliance-Hand-Truck-4-Wheel?pricode=WA9183&gadtype=pla&id=H-1387&gclid=CjwKCAjw586hBhBrEiwAQYEnHYlo06WHbPhZTTWYe-dxe5-rGv-08itF47puVmYl_IUu8Ne9gkk-bxoCOSQQAvD_BwE something like this? I don’t have the money for a Dutro right now. How dangerous do you think it would be to move the drink machine on the pallet Jack? i think theres one called roughneck, its about $175 from northerntool.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fermo Vending Posted April 24, 2023 Author Share Posted April 24, 2023 Following up to let everyone know turns out I worried over nothing. The pickup truck & utility trailer I rented were able to fit into the service area. Two machines are up and running on location. Thanks for everyone's help! One other lesson learned from this however; you can't have two compressors pulling on one circuit otherwise it'll pop. Had to tack down an extension cord to the other side of the room to run the drink machine on a different circuit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZVendor Posted April 24, 2023 Share Posted April 24, 2023 DO NOT use an extension cord or you'll burn up your compressor. Move the machine to the other side of the room or add a circuit to the side your machines are on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fermo Vending Posted April 24, 2023 Author Share Posted April 24, 2023 I don't think moving the machine to the other side of the room is an option. The machine is in a customer waiting area and the manager there is big on the 'ambience' of the room. Is it easy to add a circuit to the side my machines are on? Is that done in the circuit breaker panel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZVendor Posted April 24, 2023 Share Posted April 24, 2023 (edited) Yes, a new circuit needs to be added to the room on the wall with your machines or you need to remove one machine. Edited April 24, 2023 by AZVendor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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