Pictures of disassembled GCi or ii? Moving advice?

M

Makey98

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
This may be kind of silly, but I am going to Chicago area next week to pick up a GC. (Thanks JZMechanix!!!) and I am nervous about moving it.

I have a short bed f-250 and I am trying to get an idea of all the parts this thing has and how it will all fit and what blankets to bring. Should I bring a pallet or two or something to set the slate on so it doesn't get scratched? I have a truck box in the bed and there is an old 5th wheel hitch in the middle so its kind of pain. Thinking about taking both of those out. Any pics or thoughts would be appreciated on the best way to do this. Its an extended cab as well and the seats flip over and lay flat so i have some decent room back there as well. -Matt
 
Matt,
Make sure there is room in the truck bed for the slate to sit flat. Hopefully the trailer hitch wont be in the way. Load the slate first. You can stack the 3 pieces together but be careful when you slide them against each other.
Make sure there are no staples, screws, etc. protruding from the slate liners on the bottom, this is where you can get scratches. You can put some pieces of cardboard between each piece to protect them if you want to.
Try to slide them up as far as you can in the bed so they are up against the "wall" of the bed. Anything you can do to prevent them from sliding around will help.
Its also not a bed idea to get some ratchet straps and put them around the 3 pieces of slate and tighten them down. Again, you're trying to prevent them from moving.
If you can get your hands on some moving blankets that would be good, otherwise any old blanket will work. You could probably rent or borrow a few from your local U-haul. Harbor Freight sells them cheap too, along with the ratchet straps.
Load the frame, pedestals, and side aprons on top of or around the slate. Wrap them up in blankets and use more ratchet straps to keep the frame and pedestals secure. You'll probably need at least 6 heavy duty ratchet straps to get everything tied down.
The rails, pockets, corner castings, end aprons, and other smaller pieces should fit in your truck in the back seat.
When driving try to avoid any sudden stops, sharp turns, etc. The slates, although very heavy, can slide around easily if you're not careful!
If you have any other questions give me a call. I'm sure Ed and his crew will make sure you get taken care of. :thumbup:
 
Thanks, Jack!! Went there today on my lunch break and bought a bunch of stuff. That store is great!!! Never been there before. I might get 2 pallets so that it raised it off the bed to get the 5th wheel plate out of the way.z. Then i could ratchet down the pallets, then put the slates down on top with rubber or cardboard in between and then ratchet the whole thing down to the pallet.
 
One thing I didn realize was that the slate/bluestone is attached in some way to a wood backing or mdf. Correct??
 
Don't take the backing off of the slate

When you get down to taKing the backing off of the slate, you only need to take out the long 3" or so screws. If you take out the shorter ones the backing comes off. The slate screws usually are the ones closer to the playing surface (in further from the edges).

Also when you get the scews out and you are ready to seperate the slates, grab the end slate with one hand in each corner pocket and start wiggling it from side to side until they come apart.

IF YOU LIFT UP ON THE END SLATES THEY MIGHT BE PINNED OR DOWLED AND YOU RISK BREAKING BIG PIECES OUT OF THE MIDDLE!!!!

go slow and take your time, draw an arc over all three slates so you can match them back up later.

The more blankets the better, even a very slight rubbing vibration can cause damage on a long drive.

I don't think I'd worry about the 5th wheel hitch but maybe take out the tool box so you can put the slates up against the bed. If you do clean out the entire bed it will make the job go alot easier especially loading the slates. one guy on each side feeding them in from the end, onto your pallet or cribbing. The slates are the hardest part because they are awkward and heavy. The frame you should be able to leave in one piece after the spreader and pedestals or loaded.


PS
If you want to spare yourself the time of taking your truck apart or
WHAT IF IT RAINS---Go spend a hundred bucks on a six by twelve uhaul and everything fits easily in the trailer.

Good Luck

Gordon Graham
425-275-8255
Las Vegas
 
I used to move Gold Crowns with a extended cab S10. It was a little rough on that little guy, but it all fits in there just right. Slates go down first like said before. Then the frame upside down. Take all the cross members out of the frame and they wont fall out. Leave the tail gate up, so the frame is resting at an angle on the tail gate. Now you have a nice place under the frame and on top of the slate for the rails to go. The skirts get taken apart and the long ones placed on the outsides of the frame. Short skirt and ball box can go under the frame with the rails. 1 ratchet strap to hold the frame and long skirts down at the end of the truck and away you go.

I have since adopted much better ways of doing thing, like Gordon said above...get a small enclosed trailer, or even a 10ft box truck and it all gets strapped in there and no worries about the weather. Anyway, good luck and congrats on the new table!
 
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