Moving a big tank down stairs

[jamarini]

My sons and I moved a couple 180s with thicker glass down our steps a few years back using the appliance dolley method plus straps.  That worked okay but there were some scary moments as the stairway was long.  Since my sons have grown up and moved away I've looked at those tanks and wondered how I going to get them OUT of the basement again some day in the future !

[Steve]

BTW, either day works for me but if it's Sunday, I'll be busy watching Daytona....but I can come out and say "Hi" real quick LOL.

I forgot Daytona was coming up already. Yeah if we do it this coming weekend it'd be Saturday rather than Sunday then, I'll let ya know for sure later this week Tony.

[NorthernAquatic]

Since my sons have grown up and moved away I've looked at those tanks and wondered how I going to get them OUT of the basement again some day in the future !

If you might sell the house, just add the tanks to the price of the house.

[Regalblue]

Since my sons have grown up and moved away I've looked at those tanks and wondered how I going to get them OUT of the basement again some day in the future !

If you might sell the house, just add the tanks to the price of the house.

Or.... don't move until your sons  come to visit.

[Rob S]

My 8 ft. tank is acrylic so obviously lighter but I bought a couple of sets of those moving suction cups and it made a world of difference. I live in a quad level house so their were two sets of stairs to turn and manuever and having those handles was a God-send.

[Steve]

Well picked up some new ratchet straps, a blanket to cover the tank with since it's 1ft longer than the trucks 6ft bed, screwed some 2x4's down on the steps and bought a furniture dolly. I'm thinking about hoping on the dolly and seeing how fast I can ride it down the slide now....although the 4" dia cast iron drain pipe directly inline across from the bottom of the stairs may pose a problem since there's no brakes

[hezekiah]

forget all that put carpet down on the steps. i brought down a 150,125 and 100 gallon glass tanks by myself. also as mentioned much lighter a 300 gallon acrylic and a 125 gallon acrylic. now the carpet is gone, i think thats the wife way of not letting me have any more tanks.

[Steve]

Well this sucks and I am 110% completely frustrated now. Had a few guys lined up to help as well as my bro in laws pick up. Long story short....last night his truck decided the water pump he just replaced was gonna die again, at the last minute two of the "friends" decided to cancel on me, and on top of that I had to try to move a stuck car in my driveway with a dead batt so after rocking it back and forth to get it out of the snow my already bad rotator cuff in my left shoulder went from already bad to worse, now I can't hardly even raise my arm above my head at the moment....ain't life grand?

ANYWAY..... after all this I am sick of all the problems and trying to get 4-6 friends together at the same time, trying to get a truck with 8ft bed or trailer, and now this messed up shoulder, so I'm seriously considering getting a some movers to just come and do it and not have to deal with the headache myself. Does anyone know of anywhere reliable that would move a 7ftx2ftx30" 400lb tank (including down 13 stairs) and would not charge an arm & leg?

If so let me know I'm all ears.

[Stan M.]

i have a van if that helps.maybe a few of mca members could help you out.i wouldnt mind at all.

[four_by_ken]

I've got a pickup with a 6.5' bed and am willing  help.  Just can't Wednesdays.

I work days also.

[dm3475]

If it is a saturday i can help move

[Regalblue]

Sounds like Steve's going to have a party.... this mention How we have to move this tank at the last minute, Lol
If I'm available I'll help.

About your rotator cuff... You've been hanging out with those cats too long, I haven't been able to raise my elbow above my head for well over 10yrs.  Should I grab you something out my wife's medicine cabinet before heading over? 

[Steve]

Wow. Guys, I gotta say I'm a bit amazed. For you guys to offer you're help to someone here whom you have never meet and don't even really know...I'm really amazed guys. I mean it when I say this, what a great group you guys are here, you guys are something else, I'm really proud to be a part of this site, I mean that.

I did some calling earlier and I think I may have found a place to move the tank for me (on the referral of a LFS). Price is "okay" I think. But at least now with my messed up shoulder I wont have to deal with the headache at all so that will be worth it IMO long as the tank gets put downstairs. It does sucks getting old though, I think I came to that realization finally today after blowing out my shoulder. 15 yrs ago I probably could have pushed the car no prob, and got the tank downstairs with just me and 1 other guy no prob. I'm a very big dude, use to bounce at bars blah blah blah But.....not now at what point did I get old?? (says the 41 yr old man lol)

I'll let you guys know how it goes, heck you'll see pics for sure once the tank is in place and I start building it into the new home office wall. Seriously though, I REALLY can't tell you guys enough just how much the offers of help mean to me, that's really cool. I gotta get to some meetings soon to meet some of you guys

About your rotator cuff... You've been hanging out with those cats too long, I haven't been able to raise my elbow above my head for well over 10yrs.  Should I grab you something out my wife's medicine cabinet before heading over?

hehe....seriously Blair, that's how mine is, it was bad before this, but now it's totally screwed. I can't hardly raise it above eye level for more than a few seconds. Been poppin IBpro all day now as well as heat like crazy, but not helpin at all yet. So pop that cabinet and come on over

[NorthernAquatic]

Steve,

Speaking of helping, back in the day, if the neighbors saw a moving truck, or a pickup with some stuff on it, they would just come out and help. But these days, people tend to just look the other way, and ignore things.

If I was down your way, I would offer my help as well, because I might need some help someday myself.

The offers of help on here, just go to show the good and helpful nature, of those in our hobby.

And yes, it's a weird feeling realizing that your getting old, I feel for you, but heck, you are younger than me. It gets worse. LOL

For your pain, try some naproxen, aka aleve. I get mine from the va in big bottles since I am a regular there.
It seems to work fairly well, depending upon what is hurting that day.

I save the hard stuff for when I can't get to sleep bcuz of the pain, or when I wake up in pain. They are starting to get stingy with that stuff. 

A cortisone shot might provide some relief as well. Also, try using cold, instead of heat some times.

[runawaypencil]

If you or some one in the area Westland wanted to give me a lift I can help? me and my brother put 180 in his up stairs with just the 2 of us, it wasn't easy but we did it...  normally home around 5pm and any time on weekends,    Stan lives near me if you take him up on his offer to have him help we can car pool.