Lisa J Thompson
The question of whether or not you can move a gun safe on its back has been debated for years. Some say yes, some say no. If it’s too heavy to lift onto your shoulder, what are you supposed to do? Can you move a gun safe on its back? Dive into this post to find out the answer!
Can You Move A Gun Safe On Its Back?
Moving a gun safe can be a daunting task, especially if it’s a large and heavy one. One common question that gun safe owners have is whether it’s possible to move a gun safe on its back. The answer to this question depends on various factors, including the type of gun safe, its size, and the contents inside. Here’s what you need to know:
1. Door and Lock Alignment: Placing a gun safe on its back can potentially cause misalignment of the door and lock mechanism. This misalignment may result in difficulty opening or closing the door properly, which can compromise the security of the safe.
2. Electronic Keypads: If your gun safe uses an electronic keypad for access, laying it on its back may not be recommended. The electronic keypad could get damaged, affecting your ability to enter the correct code and access the safe.
3. Weight Distribution: Another crucial consideration is the weight distribution of the gun safe. Some gun safes are designed to be transported and moved in an upright position due to the weight distribution inside. Laying them on their back could lead to uneven weight distribution and potential damage.
4. Contents: The contents of the gun safe also matter. If your safe contains items that could shift or become damaged when laid on its back, it’s best to avoid this position.
5. Manufacturer Recommendations: It’s essential to consult the manufacturer’s guidelines and recommendations for moving your specific gun safe. They may provide specific instructions on how to move the safe safely.
How To Lay Your Safe On Its Back And Move It?
Let’s get straight on this step-by-step guideline and learn how to carry out this task successfully!
Step 1: Create A Strategy
One of the most important things to remember when moving a gun safe is that you need an approach. It will help ease your transportation and make it go much smoother.
Most people do not realize that a strategy is a key to success when gun safes are transported. It’s best if we strategize beforehand, so there are no problems later on down the road.
Transporting a gun safe can be an intimidating task, but it is something that everyone should do at least once. By creating your own strategy in transporting the safes, you would have a clear direction on how you’ll get there, especially if it’s for the first time and not familiar with any routes or landmarks.
It will likely take you some time to prepare a strategy, but it’s worth the effort since you can save yourself from doing more work in the future. This strategy can even secure your gun safe during the process.
Step 2: Remove The Contents Of The safe
When you plan to move a safe, particularly on its back, it’s always important to remove everything from the container before beginning any work. If you do not do this, everything gets smushed together into an uncomfortable pile that’s difficult to extract again when needed.
Remove the content of the safe.
Step 3: Remove The Door If You Can
The door takes up ⅓ of any safe’s weight, making it the heaviest part. It has a ton of steel and other material to keep it from being opened.
If your safe has external hinges, it can be removed to make the safe lighter and easier for you to get it back up after letting it lay on its side.
Step 4: Wrap Up Your Safe To Protect It
Another important step you should notice when moving a safe is to protect it with something. You can wrap your safe in either blankets or plastic and use thick carpet as protection from any bumps on the road so that no scratches get into its paint job.
You can use the blanket to wrap up your safe!
Step 5: Clear The Obstacles
Don’t let hazards and obstacles around the house get in your way and eat up your time! Make this process faster and safer by clearing the path.
Also, to prevent scenarios when your safe can’t get through doors, measure the safe first to see if it fits through.
Be assured your measurements match up with what’s expected by consulting safety standards beforehand, so there won’t be any surprises later on down the line when things go wrong.
Step 6: Use A Dolly To Move Your Safe
The furniture dolly is an investment that will make your life easier when you need to transport heavy items. However, remember that this furniture dolly cannot be used on stairs since the distance between steps could cause injury if you were not careful.
Use a dolly to move your safe
Step 7: Enlist The Help Of Others
As we mentioned earlier, transporting safes, especially the large model, is extremely hard if you do it alone. Thus, you might need some help from others for this task to be completed.
You could also get professional assistance in this area if needed. Hiring a professional to transport your gun safe would be an efficient way of moving and storing guns. These professionals know how important security is, so they take every step for things to go smoothly.
You might think that paying for a personal assistant is expensive, but in the end, they will do everything to help you.
Enlist the help of others
What Need To Consider Before Laying A Gun Safe On Its Back?
Here are some facts that to transport if you want to lay a gun safe down:
The Content Of The Gun Safe
Knowing the content of the safe is important before laying it down. Ensure that nothing that could easily break or scratch is there inside your safe before deciding to lay it down. The reason is obvious, once you lay your safe down, whatever inside it will be affected during transport.
If you have any sensitive items in your gun safe, be careful about laying them on its side. Laying the firearm on top may cause them to break and fall out if they are not packed carefully enough with bubble wrap or other cushioning material for protection.
That’s why step two above told you to remove all the contents posed as a crucial part of this process.
The Weight Of The Gun Safe
When you’re deciding how to transport your gun safe, the weight mustn’t cause too much strain on whatever transportation method will be used. Remember that you can also minimize its impact on yourself by laying down heavy safes when necessary.
Advice Of Professionals
If you plan on transporting your gun safe, be sure to check with an expert first. They will have many methods to offer for you, but one thing is for sure – a professional knows what’s best and will always give you useful advice and do everything possible.
Can you move a gun safe on its back?
Why Should You Not Move A Gun Safe On Its Back?
Gun safes can be placed on their back, but there are two different reasons that we would not advise laying a gun safe on its back.
First and foremost, a safe with glass relockers or similar lockers would trip once being tampered with. If that scenario happens, you won’t be able to open it without an experienced locksmith.
That means there is a high chance that laying this kind of safe on its back would trigger this situation. Therefore, our advice is to ask the manufacturer about this aspect before getting the job done.
The second and final reason states that when a gun safe is too heavy, you might face trouble getting it to stand back up. Though this issue is pretty obvious, please don’t ignore it, or you will regret it later.
FAQs
1. Can I move a gun safe by myself?
- Moving a gun safe by yourself can be a challenging and potentially dangerous task, especially if it’s a large and heavy safe. It’s often recommended to seek professional help or enlist the assistance of friends or family members with experience in moving heavy objects.
2. How hard is it to move a gun safe?
- Moving a gun safe can be quite difficult due to its weight and size. The level of difficulty depends on the size and weight of the safe, as well as the resources and equipment available for the move. Proper planning, equipment, and techniques are essential to ensure a safe and successful relocation.
3. Where should you not put a gun safe?
- It’s generally not advisable to place a gun safe in areas with high humidity or moisture, such as damp basements or garages, as this can lead to rust and damage to firearms. Additionally, avoid locations that are easily accessible to unauthorized individuals, compromising the security of your firearms.
4. Will the military move a gun safe?
- The military may offer assistance with moving personal belongings during a relocation, but it’s essential to check with your specific military branch for their policies and procedures regarding moving firearms and safes. Regulations may vary.
5. How much does a gun safe weigh?
- The weight of a gun safe can vary widely depending on its size, construction materials, and security features. Smaller safes can weigh around 100 to 300 pounds, while larger, high-security safes can weigh over a thousand pounds. It’s crucial to know the weight of your safe when planning for a move to ensure the proper equipment and manpower are available.
6. Does owning a gun keep you safe?
- Owning a gun is a personal choice, and its effectiveness in keeping you safe depends on various factors, including proper training, safe storage, and adherence to local laws. While a gun can be a tool for self-defense, it’s essential to use it responsibly and within the bounds of the law to enhance safety.
Final Thoughts
Can you move a gun safe on its back? You may be surprised to learn that it is possible to lay a gun safe on its back. While we would not advise doing so, there are precautions you can take before getting started to ensure the safety of both your home and family members while still achieving this task.
