Moving a bridgeport

The footprint of a Bridgeport is very small compared to the top heavy nature of the beast. I'd lift it a few inches, get a purpose built skid underneath, and bolt the mill to the skid. Think 4x4's for the skid runners and 2x12's as cross pieces. If you build it right you can bolt it down to a trailer, slide it into a truck, or pick it up with a (suitable) forklift.

Lots of previous discussi> Gentlemen,

I wouldn't depend on the carriage bolts to do much more than keep the bottom from moving fore or aft. Strap and chain it using four D-hooks on the trailer bed as anchor points so that the top of the mill can't go forward, backward or sideways.

I moved one mill in a trailer, for about 25 miles, without bolting it down, however, I tied it down with 2 inch ratcheting tiedowns so that it was incapable of any movement. And I drove very slowly. I may have used four 2" tiedowns. All very tight and re-checked every few miles.

If I was to move it a longer distance, I would do as RoyJ suggests.

i

With plan A be sure to check the weight limit of the van license! You could get a pretty high-dollar ticket for being overweight. I believe the towing vehicle license includes the GROSS weight of both the van and any trailer behind it.

You may want to be sure any moving parts are locked into place so they don't move during shipment.

Anti-sway devices?

Be sure the driver is experienced at pulling a loaded trailer.

As far as the Ryder truck is concerned, should the load begin a sudden move the sides would be little protection. Tie the thing so many ways that it's difficult to ever BEGIN moving - then drive very very carefully when approaching intersections and curves.

Perhaps they'll have a Lull or similar "cherry picker" that can set the load forward where you want it. You can probably find something to tie it to to slide it toward the door for the unload. However, you may want to put plywood under it prevent damage to the truck floor.

You may want to FORGET THE RYDER and rent a trailer if yours is not available. It's hard to beat being able to sit the load exactly where you want it and lift it right back up without having to push, pull, drag and scratch the floor!

I know a fellow who brought a large mill to his shop and it weighed about 6000# or better. It was on the right rear corner of a lowboy and though he had two 5000# forklifts neither could lift the load. He approached from the rear and began a lift while I got under his forks from the side. We got it up so someone else could pull the lowboy out from under it. The fun began as we tried to sync our decent rate to the ground. There was no "crash and burn" but it got interesting momentarily.

He found a large slab of metal perhaps 1.5" thick or better and burned a hole in one end. We stuck a chain through that hole and I lightened up on one end and pulled while he pushed from the rear. We dragged it across the lot to the door and then put several short pieces of round stock under it to roll it into position -- no conduit or pipe -- something solid.

Al

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Vern> Gentlemen,

whatever you do dont aft load the trailer or you will meet my misfortune. wild uncontrollable swings above about 30 mph.

Stealth Pilot

I got my pintle hitch trailer back from my mechanic in fine condition in terms of the lights and brakes. I am going to borrow all of the tires from my dually dodge and put them under the trailer. These are nearly new Michelin commercial truck / trailer tires that are about as good as can be had.

Meanwhile, I am contemplating Roy's suggested purpose built skid idea in the context of a scale drawing of a BP base I downloaded from Iggy's site (Thanks Iggy!)

I am pondering whether to make the skid from wood, steel, or both. Since the dimensions of the mill's base are 36 1/4" (side) x

24" (front and back) I guess I'll build it 36" square. That should stabilize the footprint from side to side. On the heels of figuring this out I guess I also need to give some thought to the welder!

On behalf of myself and the traveling public I thank you all! V

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Personally -- I would make the skid wider than the widest part of the mill -- the table width. I would consider 48" wide to be a minimum, as that is the direction it is going to be trying to tip -- one side or the other.

Good Luck, DoN.

I'd second that. Make it somewhat wider than the widest part of the mill in any direction. It'll help prevent tipping as the skid would force the whole weight of the mill to be lifted before it could tip over.

Purpose built skid = good idea

lower knee fully, center table side to side, rotate head upside down, this will lower the center of gravity and allow you to get through doorways easily.

Your trailer or a rented trailer sounds like best idea, use chains/straps on bottom and on top, all 4 ways like a X. bolt mill to skid, bottom straps on skid or direct to mill.

Thank You, Randy

Remove 333 from email address to reply.

Gentlemen. I have taken your fine ideas and put 'em in motion. I'm nearly finished with a 48" x 48" skid that I've made from 4" channel iron and 2" flat bar. It never would have crossed my mind to do this but for your collective advice. I built it a little smaller than the

4' x 6' that Roy recommended in order to be able to get a pallet jack past the center line from front, back, or either side. My Hudson trailer has two pieces of 48" x 48" x 1/4" x diamond plate centered over the tandem axles and welded to the trailer frame. Once the skid is finished I will thru bolt the 4 corners of the skid down through the diamond plate. I will similarly bolt the base of the mill down to the skid. By the time I take off it will look like a spider web on wheels. The doubled X braces are a fine idea, too. Ships use that concept to tie up to docks. We called 'em "springer" lines.

Does anybody know the difference between a f"airy tale" and "a sea story"? Fairy tales start with "Once upon a time..." Sea stories start with "Now this is no shit!"

Thanks. Y'all are awesome!

V

Gentlemen. We just got home safely with the Bridgeport and a Syncrowave 300 welder. The loaded trailer weighed about 10,000 lbs. The '85 Ford E350 van pulled the loaded trailer very well in terms of the steering and suspension. However, the tired old 6.9L naturally aspirated diesel engine fell flat on her tired old face. A couple of times we found ourselves doing 5 mph going up grades on the interstate out of Springdale, Arkansas. It was truly dicey.

But the bridgeport is home. Long live the bridgeport! Woo hoo! Vernon

Congratulations on a successful trip. Sorry to hear about the tired old engine, but you had a pretty good load on it and I expect some of those hills were pretty steep.

Al

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Vern> Gentlemen. We just got home safely with the Bridgeport and a

Between the Bridgeport, and the Syncrowave, you will be able to do almost anything.

i

I envy you - not the hassles of moving the thing, but having the space in your workshop to set it up and use it! - good luck, it would be all my wet dreams come true..

Andrew VK3BFA.