Transporting a block of stables /shelter, what to use!

[HorseMaid]

I can't make my mind up. We need to move a triple block of mobile stables and a double field shelter which have all been dismantled (they are 50 miles away). I need to hire something to do it and the options are a 4x4 and flatbed trailer, but they would need to be hired from two different places because nowhere does both, OR a flatbed transit type thing, OR a big 3.5 tonne luton van. I'm thinking we will need to do two trips unless we have the trailer as that will have more payload, but the van type will be easier. Can someone help me make a decision ? I don't know anyone who can drive a 7.5 tonne otherwise I would just do that!

 

[Highmileagecob]

Possibly a long shot, but can you contact the manufacturer, or any manufacturer of similar buildings, and ask for contact details of someone who can assist? Otherwise a publication such as the Farmers Weekly may have adverts for transport. If you have a livestock market in your area, that may be another avenue to try - someone always knows someone!

 

[cauda equina]

Dragon Driving has ads for transport too

 

[scruffyponies]

Flat bed trucks have surprisingly low load capacity.
Having done this ourselves using a flat bed trailer which was once an old caravan, I can report it took severl trips, and everything was MUCH heavier than we anticipated. If you have the option to just hire someone who knows what they're doing, it would be money well spent.

 

[HorseMaid]

I did do a quote with an transport company but it ran into the hundreds of pounds. I think we are going to go down the flatbed trailer hire route and hope we can do it in a couple of trips!

 

[Honey08]

Whenever I’ve had new stables delivered they’ve come on a flatbed 3.5 truck…

Plus I’d imagine they’d be a lot harder to manoeuvre around the yard/entrance to the yard on a trailer, but that could be just me thinking ow where we live!

 

[PurBee]

We have a 4x4 and trailer, the heaviest load was picking up a dismantled cabin. It was all panels. The weight was horrendous - 2 trips required, and both loads were probably over limit tbh. 5 hour journey each way.
The roof panels were felt - that had been re-felted aswell! Ridiculously heavy, took 4 men to load 1 panel. And just me and OH to unload!
Have help if you can - many hands light work..

For the price of hiring a hefty enough van/trailer for 2 days, wouldnt that be about 400+ plus diesel on top?
We paid 500 for a delivery of 6 hours each way, for the driver of 3.5 luton van.
We also paid €500 for transport of mobile home, another 5 hr journey each way for the driver..

I’d enquire with more ‘man with van/flat bed’ type ads - a chunky flatbed 7 t+ truck could do it as 1 load. If you go for someone local to the pick-up - they dont have as far to travel as non-local, so would generally be cheaper.
Also if you and a gang are there to help load and he organise/direct the operations for an even load, he’ll charge less than having to do the heavy lifting himself…which many wont be happy to do with such a load and taking so long to load.

Another thought - can the panels be stacked and ratchet-strapped as bundles? A truck with small crane lift on board would easily and quickly load bundles of panels. Then strap the bundles onto the truck bed secure.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

When I last had a block of 3 stables put up, they came on the back of a flat bed 12t truck - and it was filled up to the height of the cab, as 8 complete 12x12 panels plus the 2 internal full walls, plus also the doors, roofing etc.
OP, its not going to be cheap by any means, good luck!

 

[sport horse]

I doubt a 3.5 ton flat bed will do the job. I recently sold a double mobile stable and it took the purchaser two trips just for that. I would think a 7.5 ton flat bed would be the minimum

 

[HorseMaid]

OK, I am going to reassess the options ? I was planning on borrowing a friend's Discovery and hiring a 14ft flat bed trailer which isn't expensive so it would only really cost me the fuel for 200 odd miles if it takes two trips - but will look into the other options! Thank you it's food for thought!

 

[Equi]

Eeek at the fuel (and possibly maintenance) it would take for a disco to go 200miles with a heavy load. Honestly you’re better just paying for the proper people to do it and then no stress.

 

[outinthefens88]

Having moved several field shelters and blocks of stables, there is absolutely no way that's just two trips I am afraid. Recently moved a three bay stable block (12ftx14ft boxes), that took two trips with a 14ft trailer and one trip with a 10ft trailer. These were both loaded within their capacity and very well strapped but panels are awkward and like to slide around so lots of straps and rope required. These were proper sectional buildings designed to come apart but still took four experienced people two days to disassemble and two days to reassemble (and required a decent tractor and front loader the other end). Don't underestimate the scale of the task you have got into - without seeing it, its sounds like more than two trips with a 7.5 ton truck (which are high and awkward to load).

 

[EnduroRider]

Eeek at the fuel (and possibly maintenance) it would take for a disco to go 200miles with a heavy load. Honestly you’re better just paying for the proper people to do it and then no stress.

Yep! Expect the fuel to be at least £80.