Pallet Jack?

[ylomnstr]

So I'm wondering if I should invest in a pallet jack if I'm going to have pellets delivered each year? I have 2 tons coming tomorrow, and just dread having to unrwrap the pallet, and move them manually bag by bag into my garage. Northern tools has a pallet jack that can do 5000 pounds for $219. The thing is, my driveway has a SLIGHT slant to it. I wonder if I'd be able to pull it up the slight incline?

But then I also found an ATV pallet jack: http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200150774_200150774

I have a Polaris Sportsman 700. I wonder if this would work? Problem is, they don't say what the weight limit is for that jack?

Suggestions/Comments?

Thanks.

Rob

*edit* scratch the ATV jack. I found it on sears.com also and they say 250 pound max load.

 

[kinsmanstoves]

Two men can move 100 bags of pellets in a very short time period. Once the pellets arrive you should only be moving them once into the garage and then one or two bags at a time into the house. I would ,"man up" and save the $219. Look at what a membership to one of those Yuppie health clubs cost. You are getting the workout for free, almost.

Eric

 

[ylomnstr]

Good point Eric. I don't get enough excercise as it is. I moved a ton by myself yesterday from my garage to my porch in very little time. I guess I just needed someone else to point that out

 

[JBlank912]

I rented a hand pallet jack this year to move them into my garage because Home Depot couldn't get their pallet truck into my garage. What a fiasco. The rnetal was cheap - $12.95 for the day. But it was useless. Hoem depot screwed up the delivery so when I jacked up one pallet, the bags started to fall off, moved them by hand, the next one, the pallet was crushed so I couldn't move it properly. The third, I couldn't get it across the metal drain in front of my garage because it jammed the wheels. Ended up restacking all 3 pallets that night. I will rethink delivery and stacking for next year.

 

[cncpro]

The place I had deliver mine has 2 options...

1. Flat bed truck with forklift that will not enter any building (due to insurance regulations or something) but they said the forklift could place a pallet "just barely inside" a garage or shed door...

2. Enclosed box truck with power tailgate and electric pallet jack. They can actually enter the garage with the pallet jack and put the pallets where you like them.

I chose option #2 and had them put 2 tons in the corner of my garage and the other 2 in front of that which I unwrapped and re-stacked on top of the first 2 pallets so I have 4 tons stacked on 2 pallets. It wasn't even a problem that my driveway is dirt because they backed the lift gate right inside the garage and therefore only had to operate their pallet jack on the concrete floor of my garage.

It couldn't have been much easier...

 

[thekid_1]

I got one from Harbor Freight. It is very convenient for moving pallets around garage. I was very difficult to move up the slight pitch of my driveway. Easy with two people though. It is a long-term investment. If you are going to move pellets around the garage in season and plan on having a pellet stove for years to come it is easier to swallow

It is nice to have but I could live without it.

 

[ylomnstr]

The renting option isn't a bad idea. I may explore that option.

 

[peterpski666]

You might track down a used one in working shape for $100, brand new $500-600 from a business auction or materials handling company. I borrowed one from the little grocery store down the road for a hour to move them to their new home for free (regular customer). You cant have much of a slope or rough/soft ground either, pavement/concrete only, no plywood sheets.

 

[woodsman23]

You can also make up a couple square dollies from small wheels (like lawn tractor front tires) and place them under the pallet as they drop them off.

 

[hotcookcpl]

When I had my pellet stove I would restack them to the ceiling. If I remember correctly I could get just over two pallets in the floor space that one would take. I used to burn 4-5 ton a year and space was at a premium in my house. Stacking them high made a huge difference.

Good luck!

 

[smg64ct]

My pellet guy has a big truck with a power lift gate. He just uses his battery powered lift truck and lowers it down to the ground and drives them into my garage and puts them where I ask him to. Also helps i have a flat driveway.