When it comes to securing your firearms, there’s no doubt that a gun safe is one of the most comprehensive and effective ways of keeping them in one place. However, while a perfect secure solution, they are not designed to be moved too often. Gun safes can be very heavy, especially when they’re fully packed. They can weigh thousands as pounds, as much as a small elephant. Moving them can not only be challenging, but dangerous if it isn’t done correctly.
Here, we’re going to look at the plans you can formulate to ensure that you move the safe as safely as possible. These guidelines ensure as little risk of personal injury, as well as no damage to the safe itself. Here are some tips for a safe and efficient move with your gun safe from The Safe Depot, Jacksonville’s premiere gun safe manufacturer and supplier.
Step 1: Call a professional, don’t do it yourself!
As gun safes are particularly heavy, even compared to other safes, they can also be particularly heavy. That’s why our first recommendation is to never try and move the safe by yourself. As mentioned, safes are heavy, and moving them by yourself can be dangerous not only to yourself, but also to the valuable equipment inside. By using a company with plenty of experience in moving safes, you can already feel a lot more at ease than when you attempt to DIY it.
Step 2: Empty the safe
Since the gun safe is going to weigh a lot more when it’s fully packed with firearms, it’s only common sense that you should remove everything within it before moving it. Not only will it reduce the weight, but it also minimizes the potential damage that could be done to firearms with the jostling that can happen even within the safe, which can end up with you having to pay for expensive repairs. Although it may not need stating for many readers, it’s important to remind ourselves not to move loaded guns inside the safe, as the threat of an accidental discharge is very real.
Step 3: Make sure the team has the right equipment
Moving a safe isn’t as simple as carrying it from point A to point B. Even the strongest team of movers will have difficulty shifting it efficiently without the right equipment. Make sure to collaborate with your moving team early to ensure they have the equipment they need. A dolly is most often used to transport safes, but different dollies are able to handle different weight thresholds. Ask what weight your moving team’s dollies are able to handle and read the manual or call the manufacturer of the safe to see what weight it is when it is empty. The dimensions of the dolly matter, too, it must be able to secure the entire size of the safe without concern. If your moving team doesn’t have an appropriate dolly, you may want to hire one to help them along. Similarly, you should look at the potential of straps to secure the safe to the moving equipment if there are any steps, bumps, slopes, or uneven ground they need to move it across.
Step 4: Prepare the exit route
As the safe is one of the most cumbersome items in any household, it’s likely to be one of the last objects to be moved. Regardless, it’s worth looking over the path that the movers are going to take when removing the safe from the home. Make sure that you know the optimal path by measuring doorways, hallways, stairwells, and more to ensure that the entire dimensions of both the safe and the moving equipment are able to pass through them without issue. Ensure that any obstacles in the way are moved, as well. Clear the exit route of any furniture or possessions which may serve to block the gun safe’s removal.
Step 5: Inform the team of any stairs
Moving a safe down a flight of stairs can be a very tricky challenge and moving it up a flight of stairs can be even worse. However, there is equipment to help, provided your movers are prepared for it. If they don’t have their own motorized stair-climbing dolly, you may have to rent one yourself. Again, ensure you have the appropriate straps to fully secure the safe and choose a dolly that comes in the right size and shape to be able to hold the entirety of the safe while still being able to pass through the exit route completely.
Step 6: Be willing to offer a helping hand
Letting the professionals do their work is always the preferable option, and most moving teams are going to ensure they have the right amount of people for the job. However, being there to offer some help can make the process much easier. You can identify and deal with potential obstacles in the way so that the movers don’t have to stop the actual process of moving the safe, or you can simply help take over pushing the dolly if one of the movers needs a break. Moving around such a heavy object can be incredibly taxing. While you should let them handle it to the best of their abilities, you can still be of some help.
Step 7: Don’t rush, always keep safety in mind
Brute force might seem essential when it comes to moving such an unwieldy object, but finesse and better planning will always win the day. Even with the right equipment, the potential for injury is not negligible. If you’re helping to move the safe, always keep in mind your fingers and toes and make sure they’re not in a position to get caught or trapped between the safe and the floor, walls, stairs, or doorways. If the safe falls, let it drop. No one person on the moving team is going to be able to stop a falling safe.
Hopefully, the tips above have helped you get a better idea of how to plan the moving of your gun safe. Remember, your number one priority is to let the experts handle it, but your preparation and understanding of your needs is just as important. Make sure both you and your movers are aware of the size, shape, and location of the safe, so you can come up with the best plan to move it.