HELP!! How can I move a portable office on two trailers?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Dnn, May 4, 2015.

  1. Dnn

    Dnn Bobtail Member

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    Feb 19, 2015
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    Hello everyone,
    I need to move this portable office 100 miles to my yard in CA
    it has been parked for more than 15 years.

    it is 24'wide by 60 long. They are two separate trailers together.

    How to take them apart and tow it and put it back together.
    it is my FIRST time doing something like this. How can I connect it to
    my semi truck.

    THANKS IN ADVANCE
     
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  3. passingthru69

    passingthru69 Road Train Member

    Send Guntoter a PM, I believe he moves them all the time. Bet he can help or do it for you for a fee
     
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  4. Old Man

    Old Man Road Train Member

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    Check California law there used to be a age limit on permits for mobile homes.
     
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  5. xsetra

    xsetra Road Train Member

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    Did you look under the office for any axles, hitches or tires. Tires probably no good if they are there. There should be a piece of metal under each half that looks like a large .A. the point would have a socket for a ball hitch. You attach the A frame to the underside of frame with bolts and you can tow each half/
    There are several ways that the /A/ frame attaches depends on the make of your unit.
    The frame underneath about 2/3 away from hitch end will have square ears welded to the underside of frame. This is where your axles attach. If you are lucky the axles are there.
    If you have enough room under the building to attach the axles and hitch do so. If you need to jack the unit up to put this hardware on. I always used 4 20ton jacks with a railroad plate between the jack and the frame. If you jack directly on the frame there is a chance of you frame buckling from to much pressure in one spot.

    Make sure you block the frame up as you are jacking.

    I missed a step. Take the office a part. Usually the marriage wall. This is where the units come together.
    You will find some lag bolts or screws some older ones were held together with C clamps. If all else fails to seperate the two. Run a sawzall down the marriage line all around the house. From floor to ceiling and along ridge in Roof.
    Some used to have lags between roof ridges and shingled over.
    It is easy just frustrating when you can't find that last bolt holding everything together.

    When you have the pieces cut apart, then jack up one half. To slid it sideways the old timers used plywood with grease on it. Now a days they use a rolling system. It looks like a grocery conveyer tray. The kind to unload trucks with. If you only need to move it apart a little. I knew guys that would grease 6x6 beams and set them at a slight decline and pull the unit with come along down the beam.
    Just search Mobile home or Modular building and you should find plenty of knowledge. It would help if you knew the make and model of your office. The company that made it might still be around.
    I have always found the manufactures to be very helpful.
    Good luck.
     
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  6. xsetra

    xsetra Road Train Member

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    Some modular buildings were shipped on frames. The units would be removed by crane at the building site.
    Good luck
     
    Dnn Thanks this.
  7. spyder7723

    spyder7723 Road Train Member

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    Biggest thing is are thou really gonna go out and buy a truck set up to do this? By the time you get your truck set up to haul it, you could of just written a check for less to a local mobile home moving company. Really the only place you can save money is on the labor of splitting it. Make a few phone calls. I bet you find you can hire a company that specializes in this cheaper than you can buy the axles and tires for.
     
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  8. EHB

    EHB Medium Load Member

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    No matter what, if it wider then 102 inches or more then 53 feet long, your looking for over sized permits and time to move it restrictions.
     
  9. Dnn

    Dnn Bobtail Member

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    Feb 19, 2015
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    How can I get my truck set up for this? I need a Pintle hitch correct? How can I put that on my semi?
     
  10. spyder7723

    spyder7723 Road Train Member

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    A lot of pig iron and a really good welder. Looking at a couple grand minimum.
     
  11. xsetra

    xsetra Road Train Member

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    Dnn There are several ways to get your truck set up to pull these units. Some require a pintle hitch and some ball hitch. Some are coupling using your fifth wheel hitch. Depends on make of unit. If you truly are interested in converting your truck to a modified toter, This would be a low rise hydraulic hitch mounted on the back of your truck below the level needed to hook up to a typical freight trailer.
    I do have a used 6-way hitch, Omni hitch and several simple single ram hydraulic hitches. You would have to search these on internet. It would be quicker for you to find out what these hitches are capable of doing than me trying to explain.
    Omni and 6-way. mount on the bed of your truck and there for make your truck unable to hitch to freight trailers. Most toter hitches the foot in interchangeable to use pintle or ball hitch.
    I also have a Mirror bar that mounts on your cab that spreads to 18' for side mirrors.

    New Omni hitch $8,500. 6-way $6,500. Single ram $1,500. Mirror Bar $2,500

    If this is the only unit you are going to move, its cheaper to hire it out.
    Good luck.
     
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