Moving Day Checklist for Heavy Items: How to Plan, Prep, and Move Safes, Appliances & Equipment
Introduction: Heavy Items Need Their Own Moving Plan
Boxes and lamps take care of themselves on moving day. The heavy items don't. A gun safe, a vending machine, an upright freezer, or a loaded tool chest can stall the whole move if nobody planned for it, and those are the pieces that damage floors, door frames, and backs. This moving day checklist for heavy items walks you through what to do in the weeks before, the day before, and on moving day itself, plus how to pick the right Anderson Dolly so one person can lift and roll the heaviest pieces without tilting them.
I. Why Heavy Items Need a Separate Checklist
Most moving checklists are written for boxes and furniture. Heavy items break the usual rules:
- They can't be carried: A safe or a commercial freezer isn't something a couple of friends can pick up. It has to be lifted mechanically and rolled.
- Many shouldn't be tilted: Safes, ATMs, vending machines, freezers, and tall cabinets are top-heavy. Leaning them back onto a hand truck shifts the weight onto the edges and puts someone in the position of catching it.
- They decide the route: The widest, heaviest item sets which doors, hallways, and turns will work. If it doesn't fit, nothing else matters.
- They're where people get hurt: Lifting a corner to slip something underneath, or muscling a stuck item over a threshold, is how backs get injured. The fix is the same for every heavy item: lift it a little, keep it level, and roll it.
II. One to Two Weeks Before: Plan the Heavy Moves
- List every heavy item: Write down each piece you can't carry: safes, appliances, vending machines, ATMs, tool chests, cabinets, and equipment. Note where each one is now and where it's going.
- Find the real weight: Check the manufacturer's spec sheet or label for each item, then account for what's inside it. A full safe, freezer, or tool chest weighs far more than its empty weight, so don't guess.
- Measure the item and the route: Measure each item's width and depth, then every doorway, hallway, and turn along the way. The Anderson Dolly is 23" wide, so it fits through standard doorways, but the item itself still has to clear.
- Decide what you'll move yourself: The Anderson Dolly is built for flat, level floors. If any part of an item's route isn't flat and level, book a professional mover for that item now, before their calendar fills up.
- Plan the truck: If an item is leaving the building, reserve a truck with a liftgate, or a professional mover, to get it into the truck. Keep heavy items upright in transit and strap them to the wall.
- Get the right equipment: Order your dollies early so they arrive before moving day. You'll also want moving blankets, floor protection, and painter's tape or soft straps for doors and drawers.
III. The Day Before: Prep Each Item
- Empty or lighten it: Take out loose contents, shelves, and anything that can shift. For a tool chest, remove the top chest and the heaviest tools. For a vending machine, remove product and coins.
- Secure doors and drawers: Lock safes and cabinets, and tape or strap doors and drawers shut so nothing swings open mid-move.
- Disconnect it properly: Unplug appliances and machines and follow the manufacturer's instructions for preparing them to move. Unbolt anything anchored to the floor or wall, and have the right person handle anything that needs a technician or a service provider.
- Walk and clear the route: Sweep the floors, remove rugs, cords, and clutter, and note every threshold, floor drain, and expansion joint. Prop doors open.
- Protect floors and frames: Lay down floor protection where you'll be rolling, and pad door frames at tight spots.
IV. Moving Day: Step by Step for Each Heavy Item
1. Position the Dollies
Place one Anderson Dolly on each side of the item and slide the toe plates under the bottom edge. For items that sit up on feet or casters, use the adjustable toe plate to reach the bottom of the cabinet so the dollies lift the item by its frame.
2. Pad and Strap It
Use the included foam protection pads where the straps and dollies touch the item, then wrap the included ratchet straps around the item and through the dollies. Keep the straps snug and clear of handles, dials, and displays.
3. Crank the Ratchets to Lift
Crank the ratchets. The dollies lift the item 1.5" off the ground and keep it level and upright the whole time. No tilting and no manual lifting.
4. Roll It Slowly
Push from the side at a slow, steady pace. Approach thresholds, drains, and expansion joints slowly and square. On long or tight routes, have a second person watch corners and doorways.
5. Set It Down and Check It
Release the ratchets to lower the item, remove the straps and dollies, and check that doors and drawers open and close. Reconnect and reload it according to the manufacturer's instructions. Then move on to the next item on your list.
V. Which Anderson Dolly Fits Your Heavy Items?
Every configuration is a pair of dollies that weighs 25 lbs per dolly, lifts the load 1.5", and measures 29.5" H x 23" W x 5" D, so it fits through standard doorways. The casters are what you match to your items and your floors:
| Configuration | Rating (per pair) | Best fit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-inch casters | 1,600 lbs | Items that sit flat on the floor, like gun safes and cabinets, on smooth floors and tight turns | $599 |
| 5-inch casters | 1,300 lbs | Items with feet or casters, like vending machines and rolling tool chests, and routes with thresholds and drains | $599 |
| 5x2 Heavy Duty | 1,600 lbs | Heavier items with feet, where the real weight is close to the 5-inch model's rating | $649 |
- 3-inch Anderson Dolly ($599, 1,600 lbs): Gun safes, cabinets, and other items that sit close to the floor.
- 5-inch Anderson Dolly ($599, 1,300 lbs): Vending machines, rolling tool chests, and items up on feet, plus routes with thresholds and floor drains.
- 5x2 Heavy Duty Anderson Dolly ($649, 1,600 lbs): Heavier items with feet that need more capacity than the 5-inch model.
Not sure about wheels? Our guide to 3-inch vs 5-inch casters goes deeper, and types of moving dollies explained compares the Anderson Dolly with hand trucks and furniture dollies.
VI. Item-by-Item Guides
Moving one of these? Each guide has a detailed prep list and steps for that item:
- How to move a 1,000 lb gun safe by yourself
- Vending machine dolly buying guide
- How to move an ATM safely
- How to move a freezer without tilting it
- How to move a heavy rolling tool chest
VII. Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What should I do first when planning to move heavy items?
A: List every item you can't carry, find each one's real weight, and measure each item and its route. That tells you which dolly you need and which items, if any, need a professional mover.
Q: Can one person move heavy items with the Anderson Dolly?
A: Yes. One person can place the dollies, strap the item, and crank the ratchets to lift it 1.5" off the floor, then roll it on flat, level floors. On tight routes, have a helper watch corners and doorways.
Q: What if part of the route isn't flat and level?
A: The Anderson Dolly is built for flat, level floors. If any part of an item's route isn't suitable, hire a professional mover for that item.
Q: How do I get a heavy item into the moving truck?
A: Roll it to the truck on flat ground, then use a liftgate or a professional mover to get it into the truck. Keep it upright and strap it to the wall for the drive.
Q: What about shipping, warranty, and returns?
A: Orders ship the same or next business day via UPS Ground for a flat $50. Every Anderson Dolly is made in the USA, has a lifetime parts warranty, and comes with free returns within 30 days.
Ready for Moving Day?
Heavy items don't have to be the part of the move everyone dreads. List them, check their real weights, measure and walk the route, prep each item the day before, and shop the Anderson Dolly in the caster size that fits. Order early so your dollies arrive before moving day, and your heaviest pieces stay level while the weight stays off your back.
