Moving stable rubber - any hints and tips please

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Greylegs

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I'm going to be moving my lad to another yard very soon and will need to lift 5 sheets of rubber flooring across to the new yard. It fits lying flat on the floor of my trailer and I seem to be able to get hold of it better with something like a pair of pliers or a mole wrench, but it's still very heavy and awkward to move (and, of course ... my lad has been peeing and pooing on it for 6 months ...!!).

Is there an easy way that I've missed, of is it just a matter of putting my back into it and heaving it around ... all hints and tips gratefully received.

Thank all.
 
Invest in a EZ grip mat mover? I can just about move the solid rubber mats by myself by grabbing each short edge corner in turn, takes an age though – much easier having two people picking up in the middle of each long end and letting the length drape!

It will be worth it once they are moved lol. Can't stand those smelly foam mats!
 
Snuffles said:
When I moved mine I rolled it and tied it with the ever useful baler twine, then stuck a pole down it to lever it into the lorry. It was bloomin hard work though
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I do the rolling and tying up with baling twine. I then push them up onto their side and onto a sack trolley to move them.
 
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eggs said:
I do the rolling and tying up with baling twine. I then push them up onto their side and onto a sack trolley to move them.
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I've just invested in a sack truck, so can press that into service. Never heard of the tool Merlod suggested. Off to google it now ....

Thanks all. Have asked other liveries of they want to buy it but no takers ... would be much easier to get a local supplier to deliver a new lot straight to the door of the new stable.
 
I find the quick-action ones bend quite easily.

An ordinary cheap 4" G clamp works wonders....any DIY shed will sell them for a few quid! Use two for an easy haul.
 
turnbuckle said:
I find the quick-action ones bend quite easily.

An ordinary cheap 4" G clamp works wonders....any DIY shed will sell them for a few quid! Use two for an easy haul.
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This is an inspired suggestion. Thank you... we have a really good hardware shop just down the road so off there in the morning. OH also suggested a mole wrench to get hold of it, so might arm myself with one of those as well.
 
Merlod said:
Invest in a EZ grip mat mover? I can just about move the solid rubber mats by myself by grabbing each short edge corner in turn, takes an age though – much easier having two people picking up in the middle of each long end and letting the length drape!

It will be worth it once they are moved lol. Can't stand those smelly foam mats!
Click to expand...

£49.99 each on Amazon? Must be able to get a cheaper version?
 
After several moves in the last year I gave up and sold mine. I just could not face moving one more one more time!

If I get any more it will be the lightweight ones.

I alternated between clamps or rolling them up with bailing twine and threading a broom through them. Backbreaking either way.
 
No tips on moving them but regards the mess, if you empty the stable and wash everything down then leave to dry, you'll find they're still wet underneath. I flip one end over so it's folded in half, wash down the exposed underside of the mat and the stable floor, leave to dry then flop the mat back down and flip the other side up to repeat. In summer it only takes a few hours to dry each time, then you've got clean mats to move, I don't know how you'd fare in winter though.
 
Nothing useful to add really but I would advise gloves while moving - I find marigolds are the best - as otherwise you will be smelling horse wee for DAYS and no amount of scrubbing / bleaching seems to get it out of your hands.

Makes me heave thinking about it. And not very pleasant when trying to have a sarnie for lunch!
 
Greylegs said:
I'm going to be moving my lad to another yard very soon and will need to lift 5 sheets of rubber flooring across to the new yard. It fits lying flat on the floor of my trailer and I seem to be able to get hold of it better with something like a pair of pliers or a mole wrench, but it's still very heavy and awkward to move (and, of course ... my lad has been peeing and pooing on it for 6 months ...!!).

Is there an easy way that I've missed, of is it just a matter of putting my back into it and heaving it around ... all hints and tips gratefully received.

Thank all.
Click to expand...


Get plenty of man power, wear gloves and wash them first, and roll them up and put baler twine round them to keep them in a roll
 
old forum but invaluable. moved about 20 mats this afternoon. roll them lengthways and tied. 4" g-clamp each end at top of roll as handles. 2 people. sorted! :)
 
I know it’s old but I don’t see anyone else mention it, what I do is attach two lead ropes together and put it in the middle, flip a side over then it’s easily dragged and minimal dirt on you from rolling it etc.
 
Equi said:
I know it’s old but I don’t see anyone else mention it, what I do is attach two lead ropes together and put it in the middle, flip a side over then it’s easily dragged and minimal dirt on you from rolling it etc.
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Yes a friend gave me this tip and it makes them much easier. I used a lunge rein, but basically the same. Put lungerein across the middle, fold one end over and drag. I did this on my own and it was also easier to them get them out of the stable door.
 
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