Moving a shed - Got any ideas?

[ErrolFlynn]

I have a small shed that's about 2.5 m square that I want to move. It’s resting on dirt, in so far as I know. I want to move it about 100 m along a track. I’d rather not dismantle then rebuild it. Probably four people could carry it, but there are only two of us.

A trailer would have been good, particularly a large flatbed, but I don’t have one. So, that’s that.

I have a ute. I was thinking of bolting a couple of pieces of timber to the bottom of the shed and using them as skis to drag it behind the ute. But the rough old track might shake it apart.

Maybe, same as above, but lifting one end onto the ute, securing that end, and dragging it along. It might still get shaken around too much.

Maybe, as above, but fitting a couple of old bike wheels to the timber runners. Turning the shed into a trailer.

I briefly thought of four bike wheels, but I have this image of a shed careering down the track out of control like something from some Keystone Cops movie.

A framework secured to the ute that's bigger than the shed base might do the trick, but stability might be an issue. Though, this idea is forming as the best solution, but I'm open to your own ideas.

[droog]

If it is a regular garden shed ie one that comes as a flat pack and the side sheets all clip into a sheet metal channel, the biggest issue when dragging them around is kinking the bottom channel.

Have moved a couple but only 10m or less by laying lengths of decking on the ground. Still have to watch not to kink the channels but you can support them with some other lengths of timber screwed through the sheets.

With the above method moved a standard 3x3m garden shed one side of the yard to the other single handed.
How flat is the ground ?

[GraemeCook]

... Probably four people could carry it, but there are only two of us. ...

You are in Canberra!

Ring Albo and tell him that you have a photo op for him and a couple of minders. Should make the news both here and overseas.

[ErrolFlynn]

The ground varies between clean soil to exposed rocks. I think it does have channels at the bottom of it.

Track.JPG

[ian]

You are in Canberra!

Ring Albo and tell him that you have a photo op for him and a couple of minders. Should make the news both here and overseas.

[GraemeCook]

ian wants picture(s) for this post

Ring Albo's press secretary; how many pictures do you want?

[ian]

I have a small shed that's about 2.5 m square that I want to move. It’s resting on dirt, in so far as I know. I want to move it about 100 m along a track.

I'm open to your own ideas.

you could also try repeating how fletty's moved his LGS

The little green shed (LGS) which has been in 3 other locations on my block and 2 prior locations on my next door neighbours', still refused to fall apart.

However, I needed somewhere to store 'stuff' that was going back into the new shed so LGS was moved to its 4th location to soldier on for a while yet.

To move it, l fell back on an old Chinese method. I cut 4 holes in the walls, passed 2 timber beams through the holes and, with the aid of 3 neighbours, it was lifted from inside and carried down the block.

you might be able to move a 2.5 x 2.5 m shed with two people.
It's weight should be manageable by two people. Do the move in stages, say 25 to 30 m each move?

[ErrolFlynn]

Yeah, that would work. And, funny, as that photo could be my LGS. But this one in the pic has four people carrying it. There are no neighbours to help out. Just me and the missus. The dogs are lazy; they won’t help. And I had to laugh. I want to move my LGS next to a larger shed that I have. That 2^nd photo is almost how I want mine to be – next to one another.

[419]

If you could give it a secure flat floor frame along the bottom channels, perhaps by screwing 90x45 or bigger timber to the bottom channels and or wall sheets, it should be easy to move on rollers such as 100mm diameter pine or other posts. You could probably do it by hand, which would give you precise control, or perhaps towing it with someone behind to guide it and put the next couple of rollers in front of it as you proceed. Half a dozen rollers would probably do. I've moved a 6m x 2.4m site office that way with a Bobcat and heavy concrete sleepers and other things I can't lift with a Dingo. But they all have a solid base, unlike your shed as it is.

If you have an Amish community nearby, they could move it for you with just a few blokes. Amish Shed Move - YouTube

[ErrolFlynn]

What a brilliant video. It gives new meaning to the term 'raising a barn' (or, well, shed). It was a human caterpillar. I guess the first test would be to see how heavy my little shed is. Perhaps the two of us could do it.

I won't be attempting the move for a couple of weeks, and the weather is an issue. If I'm successful I'll post a photo.

[419]

What a brilliant video. It gives new meaning to the term 'raising a barn' (or, well, shed). It was a human caterpillar. I guess the first test would be to see how heavy my little shed is. Perhaps the two of us could do it.

I won't be attempting the move for a couple of weeks, and the weather is an issue. If I'm successful I'll post a photo.

Note the internal framing, and especially the false floor done for the human lifters, on a human caterpillar shed before it could be moved. Amish building move! - YouTube Beats me how they managed to keep it square all around with just a few props while moving it.

[ErrolFlynn]

Beats me how they managed to keep it square all around with just a few props while moving it.

Maybe this guy calls the shots:

amish guy.JPG

He's probably also looking around for anyone who gets into trouble (eg. trips and a falls).

[Bushmiller]

EF

I think the only way for the resources you have easily available is to drag/skid/roll the shed on three or four pieces of pipe. Probably 50mm diameter would be sufficient, but if you have something bigger that would be better again. Because of your rocky ground the pipes will not roll easily, although in some spots they might roll. However, it will skid on the metal surface

However, the garden shed you are describing is relatively flimsy so I would temporarily reinforce the bottom edge on three sides with a timber beam. Use hex head screws to secure the timber: It could be on the inside or the outside. Drag the shed from the side opposite the door and if possible this timber piece should be a little more substantial than the side bits. I would make the front beam where you will be towing from at least 100 x 50 hardwood or bigger if softwood. Attach a rope and the two of you should be able to move the shed in this way. Just take your time. You will have to toss a coin to see who gets to bring the pipe around to the front.

Regards
Paul

[GraemeCook]

Nice suggestion Paul. I have seen some very heavy fishing boats moved like that - surprisingly easy when you know what you are doing. As the prefab garden sheds are so light, some 3 m sections of poly pipe would probably be adequate, and easier to manhandle - possibly 100 mm or even 150?

I like your idea of the reinforcing beam, say pieces of 4x2:

• If it protruded below the shed walls then it would further protect it from damage,
• If it is on the inside of the shed then you could add a triangular piece of MDF webbing in the corners to keep it all square.

But calling in the Amish does have a certain appeal!

[ErrolFlynn]

Actually, I made a mistake in my measurements (the distance I have to move it).

I've welcomed the suggestions. The reason I was thinking about skis was to make it easy to drag. The terrain from the shed's current position to the track is about 40m and it's not smooth but flat-ish which will help, but there's a lot of undergrowth. Not much is going to roll on that. Unless I get really big pipes. Then there's about 300 m up the track to its new spot. It'll probably roll on the road. Most of it. There are some smooth sections but there are certainly a few rocks around the place.

shed.JPG