Ever move a hot tub?? (no politics)

[Bob E.]

Has anyone ever had to move a hot tub?  My mother in law is giving me a hot tub that she never uses since my father in law passed away a couple of years ago.  My wife and I want it. The problem is that I have to move it about 40miles and she's kind of giving me an ultimatum...get it or she'll get rid of it.  It is a fairly large one...I'd guess 8ft by 8ft square...and the kind that just sits on the ground, not mounted in a framed deck or anything.  They have a small patio built of flat concrete pavers that it sits on. It has a wooden frame and sides. One problem is that their yard is fenced in with a gate on each side of the house.  I think it should go through the gate if tipped up on its side.  But there's no way I could get any sort of forklift or my skid-loader in there without taking down a couple sections of fence.  Once it is out of the yard, I have access to any sorts of trucks and trailers to haul it.  So that's not the problem.  It's just getting it out of her yard without breaking it that I'm worried about.  Plus, I know it is heavy...but just how heavy, I have no idea.  How many people would it take to move? Could 3-4 handle it?  Or more like 10??  Obviously, the more people the better I guess.

[eric in md]

4 or 5 good guys can move it ..  get two  furniture dollys put under side  after you till it up on its side might have to put plywood down as you roll it out the gate ?  if would fit out of gate  ,  if wont fit thru gate on its side maybe find a tow truck with a boom on it they could reach over fence ,

[thumper]

Call a local hot tub company.  They have movers and I'm sure they will give you a name if you ask.  I used to build hot tub decks....those thing are a mother to handle.

Get professional help!

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I've got one leaned up behind my house...Come move it and you can have it too 

[MarkT]

Call a local hot tub company.  They have movers and I'm sure they will give you a name if you ask.  I used to build hot tub decks....those thing are a mother to handle.

Get professional help!

+1 on Thumper's advice.  Those guys move hot tubs every day and have a big dolly with large wheels made for moving a hot tub that is standing on it's side.  And the right size truck and the ability to put it on the truck & take it off.  I just had my 8ft hottub replaced by another last summer - worth it to hire them I'm thinkin.  Probably a couple hundred dollars would do it.  Weight?  depends on the make and vintage (newer ones are lighter with a synthetic cabinet) but I'm betting it's around 500 lbs.

Oops.  I just checked the specs on my 8ft Caldera Palatino spa.  Dry weight 920lbs.

First I'd check with your inlaws and ask if it was working when they shut it off.  Also - has it sat through a cold winter unheated?  The plumbing might be trashed if it was.  How old is it?  They don't last forever - and internal leaking is how they fail - cost prohibitive to replumb it if it leaks.

I traded my old Cal spa in on a new Caldera spa.  It worked, but was leaking, was 15 years old.  Got a $1000 credit on the trade-in after I negotiated a great price on the Caldera. BTW it's important to have a flat, preferably level place to put it.  I built a deck before I got the Cal spa in '96.

[Dino]

Hey Bob,it's really not that bad! I recently moved mine about8'x7' (when I sold it),here's what I used.We had a utility trailer with metal side rails.Get a couple pieces of metal pipe to roll it on,(two guys can lift it enough) A larger the pipe  dia.(maybe   1 1/2'' for out in the yard).I used 3/4'' on cement and it rolls easy.When you get it to the trailer,use your motorcycle lift (craftsman)hopefully you have one!.pump one end up and rest it on the side rails.Then use the jack on the other side to pump it up level. I got two 2x4s to slide it across the top of the rails,then strapped it down for transport. Now getting it out through a gate vertical may be a bitch,(take down the fence)lol, .Good luck,

[PAVALKER]

Get 5 of your friends;  3 Republicans and 2 Democrats.  Have the Democrats lay on the bellies next to the hot tub and the 3 Republicans can tilt it on top of the Democrats so they can crawl with it on their backs to the truck, or if it's only a few miles 5 or 10 they might be able to crawl all the way there.

Or better yet, get all the members of Congress together and have them work on a plan to get it moved.... and see how long that takes.    



Sorry.... had to .... a little humor helps now and then.    If you need to borrow a 5x10 trailer to make it happen, let me know.

I think if you call some movers or a hot tub place they might give you a good deal, business might be slow this time of year for them.

[R J]

When my daughter moved she wanted her hot tub.    I suggested leaving the damn thing for the new owners of the house.

Ended up we had 2 men and a truck move the household stuff.     I asked one of them about moving the tub.

He gave me a phone #, I called them and it was a Hot Tub joint.    They had to move it a mile from old house to new house.     I don't remember what they charged to move it but it was well worth the time.   They also installed it at the new house and she was in the tub that evening after everyone had left.

Oh, grandpa and his grand daughters we in there also.   Was very relaxing.

[Bob E.]

Get 5 of your friends;  3 Republicans and 2 Democrats.  Have the Democrats lay on the bellies next to the hot tub and the 3 Republicans can tilt it on top of the Democrats so they can crawl with it on their backs to the truck, or if it's only a few miles 5 or 10 they might be able to crawl all the way there.

Or better yet, get all the members of Congress together and have them work on a plan to get it moved.... and see how long that takes.    



Sorry.... had to .... a little humor helps now and then.    If you need to borrow a 5x10 trailer to make it happen, let me know.

I think if you call some movers or a hot tub place they might give you a good deal, business might be slow this time of year for them.

Cute!   Thanks for the offer on the trailer but I'm good there.  I actually have access to trailers from smaller utility trailer we haul quads on to a full-sized backhoe trailer that belongs to a friend of my dad's .

[Bob E.]

Hey Bob,it's really not that bad! I recently moved mine about8'x7' (when I sold it),here's what I used.We had a utility trailer with metal side rails.Get a couple pieces of metal pipe to roll it on,(two guys can lift it enough) A larger the pipe  dia.(maybe   1 1/2'' for out in the yard).I used 3/4'' on cement and it rolls easy.When you get it to the trailer,use your motorcycle lift (craftsman)hopefully you have one!.pump one end up and rest it on the side rails.Then use the jack on the other side to pump it up level. I got two 2x4s to slide it across the top of the rails,then strapped it down for transport. Now getting it out through a gate vertical may be a bitch,(take down the fence)lol, .Good luck,

You moved it flat without tipping it??

[Bob E.]

Call a local hot tub company.  They have movers and I'm sure they will give you a name if you ask.  I used to build hot tub decks....those thing are a mother to handle.

Get professional help!

+1 on Thumper's advice.  Those guys move hot tubs every day and have a big dolly with large wheels made for moving a hot tub that is standing on it's side.  And the right size truck and the ability to put it on the truck & take it off.  I just had my 8ft hottub replaced by another last summer - worth it to hire them I'm thinkin.  Probably a couple hundred dollars would do it.  Weight?  depends on the make and vintage (newer ones are lighter with a synthetic cabinet) but I'm betting it's around 500 lbs.

Oops.  I just checked the specs on my 8ft Caldera Palatino spa.  Dry weight 920lbs.

First I'd check with your inlaws and ask if it was working when they shut it off.  Also - has it sat through a cold winter unheated?  The plumbing might be trashed if it was.  How old is it?  They don't last forever - and internal leaking is how they fail - cost prohibitive to replumb it if it leaks.

I traded my old Cal spa in on a new Caldera spa.  It worked, but was leaking, was 15 years old.  Got a $1000 credit on the trade-in after I negotiated a great price on the Caldera. BTW it's important to have a flat, preferably level place to put it.  I built a deck before I got the Cal spa in '96.

As far as I know, it worked when they shut it down.  The only thing is that I know he had some power surge that messed up the breaker or something. It also messed up other things in the house too, so I know it wasn't just a problem with the tub.  So he had some electrical component replaced but there was some issue with it...or maybe the breaker in his house.  I think he ultimately got it resolved, but not 100% sure.  It is actually sitting empty and was "winterized", though I don't know what that means.  I think it was just drained and the pipes emptied.  This was my father-in-law's baby and he took care of it.  My mother-in-law sat in it from time to time, but she really doesn't know anything about it.

[Bob E.]

Call a local hot tub company.  They have movers and I'm sure they will give you a name if you ask.  I used to build hot tub decks....those thing are a mother to handle.

Get professional help!

Ultimately, I'll probably do that..at least to pick their brains for advice.  The only reason I haven't done it yet is the distance.  Like I said, it is about 40 miles from her house to mine.  So I'm thinking I'd end up spending alot of money on a "free" hot tub.  And that would be on top of what I need to spend to get a pad set up and the electrical service set up.

Another question...are these things typically plumbed into the house plumbing?  Or do you just fill them with a hose?  I'm guessing you could do either.

[Dino]

Yes, I moved it flat,and on cement! I would think you could stand it upright with a few dollys under it . Keep the  motor side down,the rest is just fiberglass and foam insulation.

[Bob E.]

4 or 5 good guys can move it ..  get two  furniture dollys put under side  after you till it up on its side might have to put plywood down as you roll it out the gate ?  if would fit out of gate  ,  if wont fit thru gate on its side maybe find a tow truck with a boom on it they could reach over fence ,

Good guys?  Where do I find some of those?  You wanna come help me move a hot tub?  lol!!  

Actually, your description was kind of what I was thinking...at least up until the tow truck thing.  Thanks!  

[Bob E.]

Yes, I moved it flat,and on cement! I would think you could stand it upright with a few dollys under it . Keep the  motor side down,the rest is just fiberglass and foam insulation.

Thanks Dino.  I'll definitely have to tip it up on end to go thru the gate.  I'm hoping it fits like that.  Otherwise, I'll also be rebuilding a section of fence. 

[Dino]

No need to do any plumbing,just fill it with a hose the on board heater and filter will do the rest. The wiring will cost you a bit .you wil need 60 amp wire,60D.P. breaker, outdoor GFIC disconnect switch,water tight conduit.,and fittings.

[donaldcc]

  Bob E. skip the move and the worry about it.  i don't think you will use it that much.  we have nice spa and heater hooked up to pool but hardly ever use the spa. you will need to think about cost and method of heating the hot tub and is it worth it? 

  fill up the bath tub with hot water and soak for 1/2 hour and use the saved money for bling on your Valk.   

[hotglue #43]

Bob.. no one has said it... so I will....
Be sure and empty it 1st.... LOL

[MarkT]

  Bob E. skip the move and the worry about it.  i don't think you will use it that much.  we have nice spa and heater hooked up to pool but hardly ever use the spa. you will need to think about cost and method of heating the hot tub and is it worth it?  

  fill up the bath tub with hot water and soak for 1/2 hour and use the saved money for bling on your Valk.  

We use ours 3-4 times a week and have since '96.  So it's a personal matter of lifestyle.  It's also great for entertaining guests.  This is without being single.  If I was single - holy cow would I be getting the babes in the spa with the "no suits" rule.  (That's for the water quality - you know all the foam you get in a commercial hot tub - that's soap suds leached out of bathing suits. Doesn't happen with no suits. - so the nakedidity rule is valid. wink wink.)  For quality of life it's hard to beat sitting under the stars watching a Perseid meteor shower will enjoying margaritas and the attentions of a pretty naked woman - whom I found really like the quiet quality time afforded by regular hot tub soaks.

This type of hot tub has the heater self-contained.  With careful shopping he can get the service put in for $150, I did. Cost to the electric bill depends on how he sets up the filter cycles but it should increase the monthly bill about $20.

Yeah, I'm maybe not a hot tub expert but I'm at least a power-user.  I know all you need to know to own and use one. I learned that largely through the hot tub forums online, added to my own experience of owning one for 16 years.

[Tundra]

I've got one leaned up behind my house...Come move it and you can have it too  

Yup, everyone I know who had one gave it away for free.
            "You just come and move it" 

[hubcapsc]

Call a local hot tub company.  They have movers and I'm sure they will give you a name if you ask.  I used to build hot tub decks....those thing are a mother to handle.

Get professional help!

 

You'll wreck your back or wreck the tub or both... not worth it...

-Mike

[Bob E.]

Bob.. no one has said it... so I will....
Be sure and empty it 1st.... LOL

Thanks!  You're the best! 

[Bob E.]

  Bob E. skip the move and the worry about it.  i don't think you will use it that much.  we have nice spa and heater hooked up to pool but hardly ever use the spa. you will need to think about cost and method of heating the hot tub and is it worth it? 

  fill up the bath tub with hot water and soak for 1/2 hour and use the saved money for bling on your Valk.   

Believe me...that thought has gone through my mind.  It might be why I don't have it yet.  On the other hand...you have a pool to use instead.  I don't have that option.  But, I could just not heat it and this would be like my own little swimming pool.

[Jess from VA]

When mine was delivered, no frontloader or machine could get around the back to the deck.   It was roughly square in shape,  We tipped it on its side and carefully-gently rolled it side-to-side all the way around the house.  Course, it was still in packaging materials.

[fudgie]

Take the section of fence out so you can drive to it. If your lucky the fence is screwed on. If not, use a sawz all and cut the nails.

Help a lady friend move a hot tub once. She broke up with her BF and wanted her tub back. We lifted it over the deck railing onto a ladder rack of a 1/2 ton truck. We had to hurry before the cops got there, but that didnt work out so well.  The ex wife bought it. Alot of parties surround the hot tub. And a whole lot of nekkidness.  Yea they are fun.