Moving a Generator

[ElectricianJeff]

I just got my first "turn-key" generator job where I am providing the generator. It will be a Generac Model#5530 weighing in at around 425 lbs.

I almost always work by myself but I know I will need some manpower to set this baby and move it a 200' accross these peoples yard from the street. Our ground has thawed here so trucking it is not an option. I'm thinking me and another guy and my refrigeration dolly can get the job done. Am I dreaming?

I need to get my ducks in a row on this. Any tips, tricks or suggestions would be welcome.

[r_merc]

Generac Sells a generator dolly made so that 1 person can lift and set a genny.

Rick

[hillbilly1]

I have several different custom built trailers that I used when we installed the residental generators. One was a heavy duty wagon that you pull by hand that I bought from Northern Tool. I replaced the bed with a piece of 3/4 pressure treated plywood. Works good up to 15 KW air cooled. I built another using tandem go-kart axles with golf cart tires for up to 20 KW water cooled units. I pull it with a 4 wheel drive Suzuki four wheeler. Both fit through most standard gates. Then I have a larger tandem trailer that uses 2k Lb axles with high flotation tires for gensets up to 80 KW. Any thing bigger I use a crane. Most of my installs end up being down a bank behind a house, or some other weird place. You flatlanders just don't know how easy you got it.

[Pierre C Belarge]

I just got my first "turn-key" generator job where I am providing the generator. It will be a Generac Model#5530 weighing in at around 425 lbs.

I almost always work by myself but I know I will need some manpower to set this baby and move it a 200' accross these peoples yard from the street. Our ground has thawed here so trucking it is not an option. I'm thinking me and another guy and my refrigeration dolly can get the job done. Am I dreaming?

I need to get my ducks in a row on this. Any tips, tricks or suggestions would be welcome.


Since you are going through the yard and do not want to have to pay for lawn repair, I would rent a dolly with the largest tires you can find. The larger the better, ripping up someone's lawn and spending so much extra time dragging the generator will cost much more than the rental.

[Rewire]

the generator dolly sold by generac is a gfood investment if you lack manpower to move the generator

[BLACK4TRUCK]

This is the system I built for moving and installing generators.. I have used it 15 times so far and never got stuck in the dirt :grin:

[bradleyelectric]

I use forks on a tractor bucket.

[satcom]

We pay a sub contractor the $300 on average.

[charlietuna]

I could do it by myself with two sheets of plywood................

[aline]

If you think you'll be doing more of these in the future it may be worth investing in one of these.
http://www.homepowersystems.net/catalog.asp?prodid=301524

[little sparkie]

Jeff, I gather from your post that your customers' yard is all squishy mud. The way I usually move air-cooled generators is me, my working partner, and another guy plus 4 or 5 4-foot lengths of Schedule 80 2" PVC conduit (bell ends removed!). You roll the thing along on the conduit, guy #3 picks up the rearmost piece of conduit and sticks it under the front end of the generator, keep repeating that process. It's usually pretty simple. But in mud that won't work (DUH) so I'm thinking what you need is a trackloader with a fork attachment. Something that won't get bogged down in the mud and can place the unit precisely where you want it.

Sorry I don't have a quick & cheap suggestion. I generally don't set generators alone and this is one huge reason why not!

By the way I weigh 82 (not a typo, I am the size of an average 11-year-old), and I'm one of the people pushing the machine, not the conduit-stick lifter. Yes I can lift 200 but in terms of sheer mass to push against I am limited...thus the 3 guys to move the genset...and I have been told by guys much bigger than me (which is virtually everybody else :D) that it takes 3 of THEM to do the job!! Anyway good luck.

[electricalperson]

ive moved generators using levers, pieces of pipe and a couple guys. maybe you can lay down planks on the ground, put some pipe to use as rollers and get a few guys to help

sorry little sparky didnt see your post

[ElectricianJeff]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

In my travels in the next couple of days and am going to check out a couple of the rental centers and see whats out there.

I like the PVC roller idea. We have had some very unusual warm weather here and things are a mucky mess. That will change when the temps return to normal. :mad:

Thanks again to all that took the time to respond.

[masterinbama]

2 sheets of plywood and some pipe works well. So does a skid-steer with tracks.

[sgr1]

I agree with the plywood and the pipe I have moved alot of large equipment by myself or with one helper with 3/4 inch rigid conduit.

[Fulthrotl]

This is the system I built for moving and installing generators.. I have used it 15 times so far and never got stuck in the dirt :grin:

hm. the shuttlecraft docking into the mothership...:D

[charlietuna]

Two years ago when i built my house the A/C contractor rented a very small "track unit" that had forks to pick a pallet up about two feet off the ground. He used it to set my A/C compressor units. The rental was about $200. and the trailer held the two compressors and the "track unit" and had a ramp for loading. I thought that was a neat setup! The "track unit" was made by a lawn mower manufacturer but i can't remember who????

[jimmyglen]

our supply house sells a ton of generators and their driver brings it out on a lift gate truck

they also use a cart like from Northern tool and they help you get it around to the place you want it