Question: To all you glass tank owners that had your tank shipped to your door......

[nanoguy]

I am about to order a 4'x3'x2' glass tank and had a couple of question about shipping. I was told that the shipping companies will only drop the tank off in your driveway and will not even bring it into your garage. Is this true? I'm guessing the tank will be on a wood palate correct? How do you large glass tank owners get your tanks onto your stand? Do you have to rent some type of lift or do you just have a bunch of your friends throw out their backs trying to get the tank on there for you?

 

[reefnetworth]

i got some strong co-workers, a case of beer, and 2 large pizza's. :lol:
JDM

 

[bucky145]

i agree with reefnetworth a bunch of friends and free food and beer always does the trick.

 

[bignick]

With my 210 it took 4 guys to lift it off a truck and two of us to SLIDE it down a flight of stairs. I think that the tank will way somewhere around 200-270lbs A few freinds and some food and you should be all set.

 

[mflamb]

It took 10 guys to get my 390 in the door and 18 to get it "in" the stand?

 

[Ebmorri]

I'm not the owner of the tank just one of the helpers but this should give you an idea.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=960991

 

[nyvp]

my 560/g 120x36x30 3/4" bottom and 1/2"sides was moved by 8 people with rented suction cups.

 

[sabodish]

based on my bad experience, make sure you specify a truck with a lift gate! when i ordered my tank, they sent it on a regular 18 wheeler the first time and we had NO way of getting it off the truck. i had to have my tank sent back to the shipping company's warehouse, let it sit over the weekend, and they reloaded it to a different truck...apparently it costs the tank manufacturer extra to specify a lift gate truck.

 

[Acrylics]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9868275#post9868275 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sabodish
based on my bad experience, make sure you specify a truck with a lift gate! when i ordered my tank, they sent it on a regular 18 wheeler the first time and we had NO way of getting it off the truck. i had to have my tank sent back to the shipping company's warehouse, let it sit over the weekend, and they reloaded it to a different truck...apparently it costs the tank manufacturer extra to specify a lift gate truck.

Good advice, it costs an average of $150 to specify residential delivery w/ liftgate, worth every penny IMO, esp on these larger tanks.

James

 

[Manta]

I used a piano-moving company with 4 guys, very expensive but well worth it.

 

[nanoguy]

Thanks for all the info everyone. So, did the shipping company help bring the tank into the garage or do they just unload it on the sidewalk/driveway? I'm assuming they will open up the contents for inspection before signing off on the package?


NYVP....where did you rent the suction cups at?

 

[nyvp]

regular tool rental store rents em

 

[sabodish]

the shipping company who delivered mine helped me, but i built a small rolling rack to sit the tank on which helped a ton. im sure if i didnt have that, i would have been screwed.

 

[JB NY]

I paid the extra $100 for a lift gate and to make sure they brought it into my garage. The guy from the shipping company brought the tank into my garage with a pallet jack.

 

[SpacedCowboy]

I paid the extra $100 for a lift gate and to make sure they brought it into my garage. The guy from the shipping company brought the tank into my garage with a pallet jack.

How big was the tank ? And how long was the jack ?

I'm soon to take delivery of an 8' tank (which will be on a 10' pallet, I believe). Most of the jacks I've seen would have trouble with that length.

Thinking of buying a U-line 72" dolly, but then wondering where on earth I'd store it afterwards...

Simon

 

[SpacedCowboy]

the shipping company who delivered mine helped me, but i built a small rolling rack to sit the tank on which helped a ton. im sure if i didnt have that, i would have been screwed.

That's a great idea... Looking at http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_124864_124864 , I can get 6 casters for ~$8 each, add some 2x4 length-ways and across-ways and the ~750 lbs tank ought to be handleable...

Cheers
Simon

 

[sabodish]

simon..thats exactly what i built..i now use it to move around my 40 gallon trashcan i use for water changes.

 

[bullitr]

I pick up my 435 gallon tank by myself using a pallet jack
Putting on a stand it take 6 guys and to move it to it's location ( inwall) mostly me and a little help from my wife.

 

[phuzzykins]

Thanks for all the info everyone. So, did the shipping company help bring the tank into the garage or do they just unload it on the sidewalk/driveway? I'm assuming they will open up the contents for inspection before signing off on the package?


NYVP....where did you rent the suction cups at?

They left it in the driveway; couldn't get it into the garage with just a pallet jack. It's going to be one guy on the delivery truck... don't expect a lot of help. If it's off the truck and somewhere on your property, that's all they're obligated to do.

They WILL NOT open the crate for you, and will do everything possible to get you to sign off without opening it.

 

[ast]

I am about to order a 4'x3'x2' glass tank and had a couple of question about shipping. I was told that the shipping companies will only drop the tank off in your driveway and will not even bring it into your garage. Is this true? I'm guessing the tank will be on a wood palate correct? How do you large glass tank owners get your tanks onto your stand? Do you have to rent some type of lift or do you just have a bunch of your friends throw out their backs trying to get the tank on there for you?

thread going at http://www.reeftank123.com/blog/