What is the best method to transport big pieces of furniture? It's something we frequently hear. Having to move heavy, bulky things like dressers, bookcases, and entertainment units inside and out of your home may be a frightening prospect.
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do safely. A furniture dolly may not seem to be anything special at first. It's simply a box on wheels. He's barely six inches tall. There are no handles or straps of any kind. Probably constructed of wood and lacking in the ability to move straight when pushed.
Its unassuming appearance might trick you, but a furniture dolly can help transport just about anything. When it's time to move again, this will be your best back-saving friend.
Can I Put My Bedroom Furniture on a Dolly Pallet?
You bet! A decent furniture dolly can bear a thousand pounds or more, far exceeding the needs of most individuals and even most people. (No matter how many pals they've recruited to assist.) Even a less-expensive dolly may handle a few hundred pounds. Just be sure to verify the specs before you bring it home and start using it.
Is it possible to transport tall objects like bookcases or long sofas using a furniture dolly?
The simplicity of a furniture dolly makes it ideal for transporting items of all shapes and sizes. It's great for hauling stacks of boxes, long chest of drawers, tall china hutches, and bulky armoires with ease. With its four wheels, you can move your belongings over long distances quickly and easily - without all the effort and strain.
Rental prices for a furniture dolly can vary depending on several factors.
Depending on the weight limit you need, a furniture dolly usually costs between $20-40.
Did you know that most rental truck companies offer furniture dollies for only $7?
The following is a guide on the basics of how to load.
Installing a piece of furniture on a furniture dolly is as simple as putting it on. Lifting an item and placing it near the center-most flat surface of the furniture is all there is to it.
But it's not that simple.
Yes, some stuffs can be stored on a dolly in the same manner they would be if left on the floor. There's no need to put it on its side or turn it completely on its head as long as there is a flat bottom surface that can support the weight of the object.
Other situations may demand that the furniture be loaded in a different way. Here are some pointers to keep in mind.
- To where you're loading it, make a map of your escape route. This is a potential disaster that must be avoided. If you can't angle that big dresser into a hallway, there's no sense in keeping it horizontal. Similarly, if your armoire just barely clears the top of the entranceway on its own, you won't be able to push it through on a dolly.
- Determine which side of the piece of furniture you'll put against the wall. The pros follow this rule: sit tall things like bookcases and armoires on their sides, and long things like dressers upside down. It won't rest properly sitting upright if it has legs or a hollow interior. You will likely have to rotate the furniture, or even turn it upside down. Also, keep in mind that many pieces of furniture are not created to hold a lot of weight on their back sides, so use your best judgment before flipping it over.
- Before you try to load armoires and bookcases, make sure to empty them out first. However, with a chest of drawers, as long as there's nothing inside except for clothes, then feel free to leave the contents in and simply move it. It'll be noticeably lighter and more manageable this way - so always weigh your options.
- Use large mover's rubber bands or lengths of string to secure any doors and drawers that might fall or slide open. Wires and cables are sturdy, flexible materials that can be woven through the legs of a chair to create an effective seating solution. They'll keep your furniture in place when you're moving it, but remember that while furniture pads are important, they might make it more difficult to maintain a firm grip if you have to carry it up or down a flight of stairs!
End-loading your longer pieces.
The most dangerous way to move a piece of furniture on a dolly is by using this method, as it goes against the laws of physics.
But as I said, it's the best way in slim spaces and when you're close to other members of your team. Here we'll go through the scenario with two people because loading a piece without help can be dangerous.
- Set your dolly down on the floor near (but not right up against) the side of your dresser (or longer piece). Tell your friend to stand close by and pay attention.
- Clear any obstructions from the wall and path to your dolly, then pick up the side of your dresser nearest the dolly and lift until the down-facing side of your furniture rests on top of the moving platform.
- Raise the dresser onto the dolly while your buddy holds it in place until it's vertical, maintaining a solid grip to prevent it from tipping or rolling off. Don't be afraid to drop the dresser back down if need be, allowing your friend to shift the dolly's position. You must make sure that the dresser is balanced and straight on the dolly when finished. (You may have to try a few times.)
- For rolling it down the hall and across the floor, we recommend two pairs of hands. The person in front steers and watches for obstacles, while the individual behind pushes gently (carefully). To guarantee that the object doesn't begin to tip ever so slightly, you should both be on guard at all times.
If your dresser's top extends beyond the edge of the side that rests on your dolly, allow it to hang over the edge so that it sits flat and vertical.
If loading your large piece on its side, make sure to...
The same loading process applies here, although it is easier to manage on your own with the right tools. (However, four hands are always better than two.)
- Place your dolly next to the side of the piece that is facing down.
- From the side of your dolly, pull the top of the piece toward you. Lower it gradually while watching your dolly and prodding it into a location where your work will be balanced after it has fully rested on the dolly.
- Maintain control by keeping the dolly in place with your foot. The higher the piece, the more difficult this is, so be careful to keep both yourself and your workpiece stable. As in the prior example, if you don't have someone help you raise your piece, your dolly may kick out as it bears down on it due to its weight, so make every effort to get assistance.
- Push it! If your artwork is positioned square and balanced on the dolly, pushing it across the floor should be a breeze. Just be cautious while navigating those angles since the top and bottom extremities are now protruding far in front and back of the dolly.
Because furniture with legs is not easily transportable, it's best to get this in your head from the start. When moving heavy pieces of furniture with legs, be sure you're aware of how much weight your load has. The longer and thinner the legs are, the better chance they will break under the weight. Grab a pal or two to assist you keep the weight off those limbs as you lower the item onto your dolly if at all possible.
Make sure you have enough room on your sofa to sit down and relax.
This might be the simplest problem to solve, or it may be a disaster in the making. It is determined by what lies beneath your sofa's surface.
- If the back of your couch has a solid surface, simply center your dolly and tip the couch onto its back - you're ready to go!
- If your sofa's frame creates a lot of space under the upholstery, it will be much harder to find a dolly that can support the sofa without tearing through anything.
- What can I use to bring my sofa back? Many of us have had the experience of needing to move our sofas for various reasons. It's important not to overdo it, though, or you'll wind up with a broken piece! To compensate for what your sofa lacks, consider placing a hinged plywood panel on top of your dolly or another flat source of support. A pair of two-by-fours laid crossways on your dolly will provide enough support for the job, as will a few flattened moving boxes.
A little tip: you can use the same strategy of plywood, cardboard or lumber to create a wide, flat surface when you're stacking boxes on your dolly! Or when you need to move large items like exercise machines and paintings.
Be wary of the following:
You think everything's good once that dresser or sofa has been rolled safely out the front door, down the driveway, and into the truck. But pushing that item up a ramp and onto the back of the vehicle poses some dangers.
- Keep one eye on the ceiling to make sure you don't smash any overhead light fixtures or smoke alarms. Also be on the lookout for anything potentially high up on the walls, such as smoke alarms or fuse boxes.
- If your door doesn't swing a full 180 degrees, the edge of the door will intrude into the room, taking up whatever clearance is available minus one-half inch.
- It's important not to bang your knuckles against the door jamb! It Hurts. (I assure you it does.)
- You must also keep an eye on the floor. Even something as little and inconspicuous as a Lego block may prevent your dolly from moving forward, even if whatever is sitting on top of it keeps progressing.
- It's not the best idea to try and force your furniture up a ramp. If an article of furniture is low to the ground and lengthy, it might rip as you attempt to squeeze it at an upward angle on the driveway-ramp interface . A better strategy would be to turn your dolly ninety degrees so you can push the piece of furniture sideways up the ramp. Just be careful not to tilt it too much or those drawers and doors will start facing downwards!
A helpful tip: Furniture dollies are utterly impractical on staircases and will only result in a costly mistake. Sure, it may be tempting to get creative with your furniture moving methods, but trust me - four-wheelers and staircases do not mix. Grab some friends and carry the heavy piece of furniture slowly and carefully up or down the stairs.
What Does It Mean to be a Leader in Your Industry?
UrMove companies have been moving furniture for years, and they can tell you from experience that some people are better off hiring professional help. It's not easy work, after all. But if you insist on doing it yourself, just be sure to follow the instructions above so neither you nor your belongings get injured in the process.