We’ve lived here for six years, and for all that time we’ve had a really nice shed halfway down our driveway. That’s about a quarter-mile from where we need it, so it’s always just sat empty. I have no idea why the former owners placed a shed there– perhaps they thought it would be useful to store a bunch of tools for the cherry orchard? In any case, we’ve been talking for months about how to move it up near the house.
The problem: it’s 20×10 feet and weighs several tons. Moving it a quarter mile uphill, navigating three sharp switchbacks, and placing it up by the house isn’t trivial. I talked to three friends who are in the construction business, and all three had different ideas. Then I talked to four contractors, explaining the situation and asking for their ideas. One grizzled old guy shrugged it off, saying it would be no problem to just pop the shed onto his gooseneck trailer and bring it up (he hadn’t seen the shed or our driveway, and his tone made it clear he wasn’t really interested). Another scratched his head because he couldn’t figure out how to fit it on a trailer that wouldn’t be too long for the switchbacks. A crane company said they could do it by hoisting the shed on and off a trailer– but destroying our driveway in the process because the crane weighs 40 tons. Finally, a couple of yahoos I was introduced to by a friend said they could attach wheels to it and tow it up the driveway with a skid steer.
After thinking about it for a while, we decided to give the yahoos a shot at it. Today was the day.
They showed up with their skid steer, a pile of lumber, and a couple of big wheels.
After jacking up the back of the shed, they attached the lumber and wheels. Then they looped a huge strap around the entire shed and lifted it. Ready to roll!
It took them over three hours to maneuver the shed up the driveway. Not surprisingly, the switchbacks were the worst, requiring constant twists and turns and adjustments.
Finally they were through the switchbacks and on the straightaway past the house!
They maneuvered it into position on the leveled gravel I’d laid about two months ago.
And almost five hours after starting, the shed had a new spot!
Now it’s only a hundred feet from the house, making it much more convenient for storing our lawnmower, wheelbarrow, piles of tools, and so on. Yay!