Unable to carry 40-pound pellet bags into house from truck - looking for ideas

[mainemama]

We have had our Harman pellet stove for 8 years now and love it; however, both my husband and I have developed knee and back problems since we first got the stove and are finding it very difficult to lug those 40-pound bags into our house from our truck (stairs to climb while carrying the pellets into the house make it difficult and hard on the knees). We bought a dolly but the problem is getting it up our four front steps and then over the riser into our house. Wondering if anyone has used a ramp? Our thought is to back our truck as far as we can get it to our porch steps, with the hope of using a ramp to connect the ramp from the tailgate of the truck to our porch landing, use a dolly to transport the pellet bag (or two) via the ramp and into our house. Has anyone tried this and/or does anyone know where such a ramp could be purchased? Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[midfielder]

How about a hand truck with under-inflated oversized tires in combination with a ramp of some sort?

 

[Bioburner]

Check out ramps for ATVs. Some rental shops have aluminum ramps for moving as well. Couple 2 by 12 s bound together may work too.

 

[webbie]

Another option would be to store them outside at a height you could offload from the truck (on top of a bunch of pallets, etc.), and have them covered. Get a bunch of sheet rock containers - they will hold a full bag, but you can put less...lik 30 or 30 pounds in them, and then fill the pails using gravity (pull bags slightly off the pile and open with pail below).

Then use what the post above says - a soft tired hand cart with a bungie so your pail holds well to it as you pull it up the steps, etc.

 

[BrotherBart]

I bought a pair of these five years ago and they have saved my 65 year old knees and ankles more times than I can count.

http://www.harborfreight.com/2-piece-steel-loading-ramps-44649.html

 

[P38X2]

I wish I had a suggestion to add. If you choose the ramp route, don't underestimate how slippery it's gonna get in the winter, especially wood ramps, which are usually slick even if they're just wet. Bioburner's suggestion of ATV ramps is a good idea, as they're usually very grippy.

How many steps do you have?

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

Churches require their kids that are being confirmed to do community service, I think this would be a great job for 1 or 2 persons to take care of this for you, call your church.....

 

[silverfox103]

Churches require their kids that are being confirmed to do community service, I think this would be a great job for 1 or 2 persons to take care of this for you, call your church.....

Good point, also our high school requires so many hours of community service to graduate. What about getting a couple of those real large storage containers and having someone fill them up a couple of times of week. Then you would move them in an amount that is manageable to you. Store them somewhat near to the stove. There are plenty of people who would be glad to help you; you just have to let them know you need help. I would start with churches, regardless of denomination, the high school and town offices.

Tom C.

 

[saladdin]

17 year old nephew who will dig a ditch to China for 20 bucks.

Pay a neighbor kid a few bucks?

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

17 year old nephew who will dig a ditch to China for 20 bucks.

Pay a neighbor kid a few bucks?

Great idea too...

 

[koda038]

How about a truck filled bulk hopper with a tube to fill a bucket you can carry?

 

[RKS130]

What about something like this? (broken link removed to http://www.condar.com/backsaver_homegarden.html). . . although I think getting some kids in a couple of times a week is the best solution.

 

[smwilliamson]

http://www.cornvac.com/mobile.html

 

[Bioburner]

Hmm, Wonder how much it would move if attached the leaf blower?

 

[mchasal]

http://www.cornvac.com/mobile.html

That's neat, this is an interesting setup of that product:

http://www.cornvac.com/SecondaryTank.html

Though is having a bin of pellets hanging above the stove a fire hazard?

 

[Bioburner]

The problem is getting the pellets closer to the stove and out of truck or outside storage. I would attach the unit to inside storage box and then transfer via scoop or bucket to stove. I know of someone thats aged,(76) that this system will work well for.

 

[mchasal]

The problem is getting the pellets closer to the stove and out of truck or outside storage. I would attach the unit to inside storage box and then transfer via scoop or bucket to stove. I know of someone thats aged,(76) that this system will work well for.

I think the Secondary Tank solution that Cornvac has addresses that, though at some non-trivial expense. In the diagram it shows a vac unit on the secondary tank which is connected to a large hopper in the basement or garage. That large hopper has another vac unit that is used to load the hopper from the truck.

It seems a lot like the vacuum load systems that Windhager uses http://www.hydro-to-heat-convertor.com/Windhager.html

 

[mainemama]

Another option would be to store them outside at a height you could offload from the truck (on top of a bunch of pallets, etc.), and have them covered. Get a bunch of sheet rock containers - they will hold a full bag, but you can put less...lik 30 or 30 pounds in them, and then fill the pails using gravity (pull bags slightly off the pile and open with pail below).

Then use what the post above says - a soft tired hand cart with a bungie so your pail holds well to it as you pull it up the steps, etc.

 

[mik_kane]

Maybe in the future you should look into bulk pellet delivery. I see you are up in Maine and there are some companies that do that not sure if any are by you, but worth considering.

(broken link removed to http://www.maineenergysystems.com/Bulk_Pellet_Purchases.htm)

(broken link removed to http://www.maineenergysystems.com/Bulk_Pellet_Purchases.htm)

 

[mainemama]

I wish I had a suggestion to add. If you choose the ramp route, don't underestimate how slippery it's gonna get in the winter, especially wood ramps, which are usually slick even if they're just wet. Bioburner's suggestion of ATV ramps is a good idea, as they're usually very grippy.

How many steps do you have?

Thanks. We have four steps up to the porch landing, then the riser which enters the house.

 

[Stevekng]

We have had our Harman pellet stove for 8 years now and love it; however, both my husband and I have developed knee and back problems since we first got the stove and are finding it very difficult to lug those 40-pound bags into our house from our truck (stairs to climb while carrying the pellets into the house make it difficult and hard on the knees). We bought a dolly but the problem is getting it up our four front steps and then over the riser into our house. Wondering if anyone has used a ramp? Our thought is to back our truck as far as we can get it to our porch steps, with the hope of using a ramp to connect the ramp from the tailgate of the truck to our porch landing, use a dolly to transport the pellet bag (or two) via the ramp and into our house. Has anyone tried this and/or does anyone know where such a ramp could be purchased? Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.

You could incorporate the dolly with a ramp by using a rope and pully. Build the ramp and lay the dolly down with the handle facing up the stairs. Attatch a rope to the handle and run it around a pulley ( or use an electric winch) at the top of the stairs. Just load the bag or bags on to the pallet and pull or flip a switch. My mom had a system like this at her antique shop for years and it worked without a problem. There are dollies out there that have a third wheel that swivels near the handle end so that it can be used like a cart, if needed.

 

[mainemama]

How about a truck filled bulk hopper with a tube to fill a bucket you can carry?

This is something else we've considered; however, we're partial to the Vermont Wood pellets, which aren't delivered (loose/bulk to hopper) in Maine.

 

[mainemama]

Maybe in the future you should look into bulk pellet delivery. I see you are up in Maine and there are some companies that do that not sure if any are by you, but worth considering.

(broken link removed to http://www.maineenergysystems.com/Bulk_Pellet_Purchases.htm)

(broken link removed to http://www.maineenergysystems.com/Bulk_Pellet_Purchases.htm)

Thanks - this is something we've throught of and looked into, but the bulk pellet distributorsin Maine don't carry the pellets that have worked so well for us (Vermont Wood).

 

[bluedogz]

Having spent many years hoisting motorcycles and ATVs into and out of the most godforsaken places, I have to second the ATV ramp idea. They are designed to hook onto truck beds that tend to be slippery.

Also, this screams out as an Eagle Scout project. Maybe start here: http://www.scouting.org/LocalCouncilLocator.aspx and see if a troop wants a project. Dollars to donuts they do.

 

[mainemama]

We have had our Harman pellet stove for 8 years now and love it; however, both my husband and I have developed knee and back problems since we first got the stove and are finding it very difficult to lug those 40-pound bags into our house from our truck (stairs to climb while carrying the pellets into the house make it difficult and hard on the knees). We bought a dolly but the problem is getting it up our four front steps and then over the riser into our house. Wondering if anyone has used a ramp? Our thought is to back our truck as far as we can get it to our porch steps, with the hope of using a ramp to connect the ramp from the tailgate of the truck to our porch landing, use a dolly to transport the pellet bag (or two) via the ramp and into our house. Has anyone tried this and/or does anyone know where such a ramp could be purchased? Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.

Thanks, everyone, for all the great ideas!