A gun safe is heavy and large, making moving one seem a complex operation. You have the option of hiring professional gun safe movers or doing it yourself. These tips will be helpful if you decide to do things yourself.

Make a Plan

You wouldn't want to shift your gun safe repeatedly without having a destination. So, before you start moving it, you should have a concrete plan about where exactly you are pushing it to. Planning also includes measuring the gun safe mover to ensure it will conveniently pass through the path and doors you plan on moving it through. Since you want the safe to be as light as possible while moving it, you will need to empty the gun safe and make sure no firearms are left inside it. Keep the contents, firearms including ammo, within your possession or temporarily where only you, the registered gun owner, can reach them. Unload all loaded guns and ensure the firearms and ammunition cannot be accessed by minors. General movers are not licensed to move firearms. Please contact local FFL (Federal Firearm License) agents or ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms) agents for more information. Secure the safe with straps and lastly, get the proper equipment.

The methods for moving a gun safe are:

1. Get a helping hand where necessary

People are an essential asset when moving a gun safe. You would want two or three people to help with the lifting, maneuvering, and navigating the safe to its destination. It'll be great if one of the people available to help understands how to move a 2,000-pound safe. The knowledge will be helpful even if your gun safe isn't really heavy.

1. Move the Gun Safe with a Dolly or a Hand Truck

A hand truck or a hydraulic dolly cart is necessary for moving something heavy such as a gun safe. It is great if you're familiar with using a dolly. Strap the safe securely to the hand truck or hydraulic dolly, with multiple straps if necessary. Once it’s securely strapped, two people can use a hydraulic dolly cart, pushing it through ramps to the truck. A single person can also use a hydraulic dolly, connect one side to an electric motor with a tension rope, like winch and a remote, and then pull through the ramp to the truck. Secure the supporting straps after the dolly is in position, and ask your helpers to help tilt the dolly onto its wheels.

1. Verify the stability of any stairs along the route.

If the safe is upstairs, you would need to know how to move a gun safe down the stairs. It's not always as easy as putting it on the hand truck or moving the dolly and easing it down. Unlike floors, stairs are not designed to support enormous amounts of weight. It's common for someone to end up with a repair bill for their stairs or other parts of the stairs after trying to move something too heavy up or down them. Tips to safely move the gun safes down the stairs with a hand truck:

• Ensure that nobody is downstairs in the safe path should it fall to minimize the risk of injury.
• Strap the safe securely to the hand truck or hydraulic dolly, with multiple straps if necessary.
• Don't tilt the hand truck too far back while going downstairs, as it can cause you to lose your balance.
• Step down/up one step at a time. No need to rush. Patience is important to keep everything safe and secured.
• To prevent tipping, approach stairs and other obstacles with the wheels straight on.

If you have a powered stair climber dolly, that will make the climb up/down much easier.

Don't Risk It

The gun safe isn't something to underestimate. While the steps above outline how to move a gun safe, you must know your limits. Do not attempt the move if you cannot find at least two helpers or don't have the proper equipment (and the knowledge to use it). Consider hiring professional movers instead. Always look for gun safe moving services in your area and get the help of the experts.