How To Move A Gun Safe Down Stairs?
Since you stumbled upon this post, you’re considering moving your gun safe down stairs. Moving a gun safe from one place to another is not an easy task, but it can be done with the right equipment and a little bit of know-how.
Gun safes are primarily heavy but that depends on the size of your safe. Moving a gun safe requires planning, the right gear, and someone cable to help you out with the safe.
If you want to contact a professional mover, you can go ahead and do that too, but it may cost you a fortune. But if you don’t want to spend a lot of money on moving your safe, you can follow this guide on how to move your gun safe downstairs.
The weight of a gun safe can vary from one model to the next. As such, it is important to know how much weight you are moving before you start.
Moving A Gun Safe Down A Flight Of Stairs
Movement of gun safes down steps must be done with care as they are very heavy and can cause serious injury to the person moving them or damage to the stairwell or flooring. With that out of the way, let’s get to moving a gun safe down a flight of stairs.
Firstly
The first thing you want to do is get some people to help you out. Your friends or your neighbors, if needed, pay them a couple bucks for helping you out.
As a gun safe is often a large object, attempting to carry one will cause back injury, leg or arm injuries if you are trying to trying it on your own.
Particularly if you wish it to move downstairs may be in the basement or to the garage. Thus, make sure you have a minimum of two people to assist you in carrying a gun safe.
Secondly
The second step is to get the right tools, including a dolly with a strap that has a rating of 1200+lbs. The straps assist you in pulling the gun safe, so you cast off the want to lift it from one room to another or down the stairs.
If you discover a dolly designed explicitly for the stairs, this is better; if not, consider using a ratchet strap or a rope. Ensure that the straps are hooked at the lowest of the dolly to build up the stableness of the gun safe while transferring it down the stairs.
How Do You Use A Safe Dolly To Move Your Gun Safe Down Stairs?
If you need to move a large or heavy gun safe, you should use a proper dolly or hand truck to move it.
Before using a dolly, make sure that you choose the right one, including the number one tip not to buy the cheap ones and the one with inflatable wheels.
Also, ensure that you get a dolly with a quality steel hand truck that will help it take any weight that you put on it.
An important thing to point out is that no one should be in the way of the gun safe while moving it down. Make sure that everyone stays on the upside of the safe. Now follow these steps.
- Lift the safe and place it on the dolly
- Strap the safe properly
- Hold the dolly thoroughly and place it on the top of the stairs, wheels first, and every one of the guys properly grips the straps.
- Carefully push the dolly at the edge of the stair while keeping it at a 45-degree angle to the downward slope, which eases the gun safe’s movement momentum with the dolly
- Take it easy while pushing the dolly down to avoid damage on the stairs and the risk of the gun safe detaching from the dolly.
Remember to grip the straps of the dolly tightly until you reach the final stairs, as losing the straps can be quite a devastating scene.
Can You Lay A Gun Safe On Its Back?
Yes, you can lay a gun safe on its back as long as you tip it safely. For this, you need to take some time to prep to ensure the contents inside the safe aren’t damaged while laying it on its back.
First, empty the safe if you’re planning on tipping the safe, or else the guns inside the safe will be flying around. It is recommended to remove any shelves or organizers if they are movable to prevent them from being thrown inside the safe.
Loose items inside are liable to break and can cause damage to the interior of the safe. Check that your safe can fit through the door without laying it on its back.
That is because after laying it down, you will have to pick it up again, which is quite the toll on your back. And a quick tip, wrap your safe with plastic or a blanket to protect the safe from any bumps or scrapes.
How Much Does The Average Gun Safe Weigh?
The basic level safes can weigh around 200-600 pounds, mid-level weighs from 600-1000, high level weigh from 100-1600, and commercial grade safe weighs anywhere from 2000-5000.There are several deciding factors which decide the weight of the gun safe.
Size
In general the more significant the safe, the heavier it will be. And the obvious answer is that it requires more steel, more fireboard if it is a fire-resistant safe, more shelving, etc., to build a bigger model.
A gun safe model comes in different sizes. So, as the size goes up hence the weight of the safe. There are exceptions, though; that is to say, a more giant safe might have thinner steel and less fireboard, making it less heavy than a budget pistol safe.
Gauge Of Steel
A gauge is used to measure the thickness of the steel. So the lower the thickness number the thicker the steel actually is. So, for example, a 10 gauge steel is thicker than 15 gauge steel, and the thicker the steel, the heavier it is.
Note: Smaller safes like a travel gun safe will have thinner steel compared to large gun safes.
Layers of Fireboard
Many safes are sheathed to help protect the valuable inside against heat and flame. Safe models with better fire protection mean that multiple layers of fire boards have been used, thus making it heavier.
So the more layers of fireboard, the better the fire protection and the heavier the safe will be.
Safe Design
Yes, some design variations make a difference in the weight of the safe. The primary two are additional layers of steel and concrete or composite liners. These two design features can add extra weight, making the safe price a bit higher.
The type of lock will also add to the price. For example, smart gun safes tend to pricier than regular gun cabinets.
Tips For Moving A Gun Safe Downstairs Safely
When relocating your gun safe, keep these tips in mind. They will keep you and your friends safe.
- When a safe is about to topple, letting it fall and hit the ground is always better than risking injury.
- It is always a good idea to tighten the straps of the safe to prevent it from becoming dislodged or tipping.
- Finally, whenever you move a heavy object, particularly a safe, take things slowly and don’t rush.
Final Words
Moving a gun safe is a hefty task, so be prepared accordingly and gather the necessary tools and the labor to assist you in the task. If you do not have a lot of guns, consider getting a nightstand with safe.
Moving the safe down with caution should be your top priority because once the safe falls over, it can cause you some money in damage repairs and could potentially hurt someone.
The best thing to do in this case is to contact professional movers who have experience in moving these heavy objects.
If you feel like it might be risky to move the safe downstairs, contact professionals, which should cost ranging from $175-$525 based on the size, weight, and shape of the safe.
They will have all the tools and equipment necessary for transporting your safe from one place to another, and they will know how to handle it with care so that you don’t end up with any damage.
