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Help, need ideas on moving a heavy raised bed.
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Posted by
prairiemoon2 zone 6a/MA (
My Page) on
Wed, Apr 9, 14 at 16:28
| The last time we made raised beds they were 4ft x 4ft and easily moved. We made a much larger 4x12 bed and didn't realize how heavy it was going to be when finished. I think this Eastern Hemlock is heavier than pine too. We should have assembled it where it was going to stay, but it now needs to be moved into position. The rest of the beds will certainly be assembled in position, but now what? I don't want anyone to hurt their back trying to pick it up. I can't think of what I can do. We might have one of those wood on wheels that is fairly low to the ground, for using for car repairs, but the bed is on grass and not sure the wheels will work. Wheelbarrow, doesn't seem like it will work either. Hand cart seems inadequate. I'm out of ideas. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Help, need ideas on moving a heavy raised bed.
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| One person on each corner should be pretty easy. You have 32 linear feet of frame so each person is only carrying the weight of 8 linear feet. Maybe I am missing something. Let us know what you do. |
RE: Help, need ideas on moving a heavy raised bed.
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| Well, that is worth a try. We didn't have four people and tried it with two people, four would be better. Okay, that is definitely the next thing we'll try. That might work out fine. I'll let you know how it works out. Thank you! |
RE: Help, need ideas on moving a heavy raised bed.
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| Agree - you just need more people. For that length even 6 pairs of hands would be better. Have some friends over for supper and say, "Oh, by the way would you...". :) Dave |
RE: Help, need ideas on moving a heavy raised bed.
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| LOL….good suggestion, Dave. Before they eat right? [g] |
RE: Help, need ideas on moving a heavy raised bed.
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| Pipes. Set pipes on the ground. Once you get the first one under then you can tilt it up and roll onto the others. You keep removing a pipe from one end and carry it to the front end. I would think a 2 inch pvc would work if you had to buy something if you don't have stuff laying around. Or if you have round fence posts. You might buy a few and use somewhere in your garden. |
RE: Help, need ideas on moving a heavy raised bed.
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Take it apart and reassemble on spot .
I make mine first in 4 pieces (2 end + 2 sides) and then assemble it. |
RE: Help, need ideas on moving a heavy raised bed.
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| Oh great, more ideas. I knew there was some technique that should work, but all I could think of was a fulcrum and that didn't sound right. The rolling pipe I think is the technique I was trying to remember. One of those things they probably taught us in school and I'd long ago forgotten. They probably used something like that building the pyramids. [g] Thanks Vicki. Seysonn, we are using 6" wide boards to make a 12" high bed, so how are you assembling the sides and ends first? We used the 4"x4" posts to assemble. The last time we had 12" high boards and just screwed them into each other at the corners, which we could get away with I guess in a 4ft x 4ft bed. We could take it apart. We might have to. Thanks. |
RE: Help, need ideas on moving a heavy raised bed.
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| Will it parallelogram if you tip it onto a long side? I would have thought it would be easier to shift on edge than flat, whatever technique you use. |
RE: Help, need ideas on moving a heavy raised bed.
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| Even with four people you might find sliding tow ropes (or they actually sell moving ropes for this) under each side and lifting with those make it easier as you don't have to lift as high or be in an awkward position as long. Another trick we've used to move heavy things is two dollies, one on either side. Lift and roll. On occasion we've had to use both methods to move something. Good luck. |
RE: Help, need ideas on moving a heavy raised bed.
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| It's a simple structure, probably take 10 minutes to take all screws out, take one piece at a time and reassemble.. |
RE: Help, need ideas on moving a heavy raised bed.
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Did I say that normal space recommendation should be
20 square feet? %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
I use the same size lumber, width wise( 2 pces. of 5 1/2" = 11") I join the length and width by a corner piece( 2x2, 2x3, or 2x4 ..). I first install those on the either the ends or sides. I brace the long sides couple of places. Now they look like an old barn door (consisting of just two boards). Now I have two side pieces and two end pieces. put them together on spot. . Here an sketch I just made on PAINT. |
RE: Help, need ideas on moving a heavy raised bed.
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| More good suggestions. Amazed at how many different ideas you’ve all come up with. [g] We’re going to tackle it this weekend and I’ll let you know how it works out. Seysonn, thanks for the drawing and the explanation. That’ll work too. |
RE: Help, need ideas on moving a heavy raised bed.
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| I just add more beds that are in the sun! ;) |
RE: Help, need ideas on moving a heavy raised bed.
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| Well, success! The bed is in place and ready to work on the second bed tomorrow. We have the entire vegetable plot marked off with stakes and string and the rest of the beds will be assembled where they will end up. [g] It wasn't as bad as we were expecting. We didn't disassemble because the corners were glued. We discussed all the different ideas offered and we had four people and the bed was sitting up on wood blocks, so we tried just pushing the bed onto more blocks until we got it where it had to go. It moved quite easily on the blocks without any strain on anyone. It also didn't have to go far, maybe 5ft. Exciting to be making progress. Thanks for all the help!! Great ideas and I will remember them in many different situations where something needs to be moved. |
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