I need your ideas on moving a stove in a minivan..

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Diabel

Diabel

Minister of Fire
Hearth Supporter
Jan 11, 2008
3,859
Ottawa, ON
I found a stove for next to nothing but it is 300 miles away. I am already taking a trip that way & I want to pick up this stove at the same time. I could rent a trailer but they do not have anything small plus it will be a pain navigating in downtown traffic (parking etc). The stove is 375lbs. There will be one more guy to help me load it. I am thinking on rigging up some sort of a ramp for my dolly to get it into the van. Anybody done this? I am thinking 375lbs is like three people so it should not be too heavy for the van (Honda).
 
the van should handle the weight no problem, but could you rent a P/U truck for your trip instead? Much easier to load and still have no problem parking etc. OTOH I never think twice about taking my trailer to the city with me. There is always parking if you look for it.
 
I did it. 2 30 year old guys, a tarp and a mini van with the middle seats out.

I brought ramps but we didn't need them. LBS won't be an issue for the van.
 
Open minivan. Insert stove. Close minivan.
 
Ask Wally Wallington for help. This Man can Move Anything.

I moved my RSF in a minivan. I had to uncrate it to fit it in but I also packed in all the ICC chimney in the same trip.
 
When I moved my stove into place two people carried it in and set it on the hearth. Then I was on my own. I put 4 pieces of 3/4" finished plywood down and carpet scraps upside down under the stoves feet so it would slide very easy, plus a little pledge. Once I got it where I wanted I pulled out the carpet and plywood by lifting one corner at a time. Being in a confined space like a van this should work very well with two people. Plywood on the ramps and inside the van and you could slide it wherever you want.
 
Two of us moved my 375# Jotul Castine. The trick is to unbolt as many components as you can to lighten the load. This will help you if you have to get it up stairs. As for the minivan, bring a piece of plywood with you that you can set the stove on. I'd bring a few scraps of wood and some rope and a blanket so that you can secure the load. You should be able to do this w/o too much difficulty. Hey, if you are driving out there anyway...
 
An appliance cart makes it a one man job with a couple 2x8s for a ramp.
 
Thanks guys, I had a feeling it was a silly idea to rent a trailer. I will just take the middle seats out. The ramp will be needed I think, I have no idea what shape the guy is...I have a dolly, some 4x4s & some plywood should do..I think. Another thing will be moving it to the basement :bug:
 
LLigetfa said:
Ask Wally Wallington for help. This Man can Move Anything.

I moved my RSF in a minivan. I had to uncrate it to fit it in but I also packed in all the ICC chimney in the same trip.
Click to expand...

Who is Wally Walli?
 
Stop by an appliance store a get a refrigerator box. skip the ramp, on a mini if you can dolly it to the door and use the cardboard for padding and tip it in the van. Lower the center of gravity as much as possible, I always carry a stove lying down off it's legs. Three layers of padding and you can protect the glass and lay it face down (taking the door off would be better). Pack it tight all around especially front and sides, strap it down if you can. Keep it in the center as much as possible and plan your driving. No quick or hard stops. The LOPI logo imprinted on the back of your head is not a fashion statement. I have moved a triple Monarch cookstove by myself. The main body was over 400 lbs, but we tricked it on a dolley after taking everything out we could including the coal grates and baffles. The dismantle was over two hours, but it slipped right in the van. They fill an extended one ton van.
 
Weight shouldnt be a problem, two of my friends weigh more than that and we had 6 of us in a minvan going to a football game with coolers full of beer.
Id cut a couple 2 x 8/10s' to make a ramp and slide it up.
 
Diabel said:
LLigetfa said:
Ask Wally Wallington for help. This Man can Move Anything.

I moved my RSF in a minivan. I had to uncrate it to fit it in but I also packed in all the ICC chimney in the same trip.
Click to expand...

Who is Wally Walli?
Click to expand...
Google is your friend.

[youtube]www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRRDzFROMx0[/youtube]
 
LLigetfa said:
Ask Wally Wallington for help. This Man can Move Anything.

I moved my RSF in a minivan. I had to uncrate it to fit it in but I also packed in all the ICC chimney in the same trip.
Click to expand...

Who is Wally Walli? ... Google is your friend. [/quote]


I am inspired now!!!
 
I thought it was going to be a big deal when our Castine arrived. Prepared a crew of sons and myself on hand to help. The two delivery guys picked it up off the truck and put it on a dolly, rolled it in. The stove was in place in less than 10 minutes.
 
Take the bricks out to make it lighter to lift.
 
Diabel said:
I found a stove for next to nothing but it is 300 miles away. I am already taking a trip that way & I want to pick up this stove at the same time. I could rent a trailer but they do not have anything small plus it will be a pain navigating in downtown traffic (parking etc). The stove is 375lbs. There will be one more guy to help me load it. I am thinking on rigging up some sort of a ramp for my dolly to get it into the van. Anybody done this? I am thinking 375lbs is like three people so it should not be too heavy for the van (Honda).
Click to expand...

So, thanks to your ideas I had no problems loading the stove in the the van (piece of cake). The owner helped me roll (using a dolly) it onto the 2x8s into the van. I left it sitting on the dolly while in the van. I just tied it well so it would not move in case of sudden braking. At home I had to figure out a way to unload it by myself. Again, no problem doing it by myself. I even rolled it down 8 steps into my basement.

So, it is a VC encore 2550 (one of the most popular stoves on this site ;-) ) I got it for a symbolic $20.00. It needs work understandably. The throat hood is missing, the fireback appears warped, the cat is done, the refactory box looks ok (I think...will take pics). What is odd some of the seams appear to be smeared with cement from the outside, what tells me that the stove had some major leaks. I am not sure if this thing is worth rebuilding.....


btw are these stoves glued together with cement or gaskets? What is the purpose of that throat hood? Also, which is the best & cheapest place to get prices on parts?

Thanks
 
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