A move is afoot....

[Teachu2]

It looks like I may be moving to a more remote location, and building a new home and workshop. We are considering manufactured housing as a possibility, and I'm thinking that there's no reasonable way to install a 60cf, 1700lb Summit Denali in one of those - correct?

That leaves putting it in the workshop, on a concrete slab. This will be a steel building, probably unheated, certainly poorly insulated. The area I'm looking at sees 95+ degree days in summer, and below freezing in winter, with occasional snow. What steps can I take to protect my guns in such an environment? Is it enough to use a good coat of gun oil and a Goldenrod? If necessary, I could frame and insulate a small room for reloading and safes.

 

[medalguy]

Manufactured housing USUALLY has floor joists running across the narrow dimension and 24 inches apart, with 5/8 or 3/4 inch subflooring You are correct in that is insufficient to carry the load of a 1700 pound safe and contents. I would go with the concrete slab.

I would also recommend using 2 x 6 studs in your outbuilding, and stuff the walls with rock wool insulation, as well as the ceiling. Provide cross ventilation in the ceiling and you might be surprised how low the temperature will go in the summer. As for winter, cold won't hurt anything but a few 100 W light bulbs will provide an amazing amount of heat inside.

 

[Reloadron]

Could you pour a pad and put a small extension on the house? I would be thinking along those lines.

Ron

 

[hso]

We are considering manufactured housing as a possibility, and I'm thinking that there's no reasonable way to install a 60cf, 1700lb Summit Denali in one of those - correct?

There's no way for any of us to know the answer to your question since you've not specified whether the manufactured house is built to traditional code requirements for a sight built house. You should check with the builder for a guarantee that the construction will support it.

 

[Teachu2]

Well, with a few thoughtful questions of the local sales people I was able to determine that it is doable - especially if you plan ahead. There is a substantial steel frame under each section of these modern manufactured buildings, and that gets very well supported when the installation is done. Planning is key - reinforcements can be added inexpensively during construction, and additional supports added as needed. Also, if you plan ahead, the safe can be installed into the section you want before the next section is placed and joined - eliminating a long path over the subflooring and moving the safe through doorways and over flooring. Forklift it in, place it over supports, bolt it down, and then carpet around it after all the sections are joined. It's actually easier than a conventional house, in many cases. I can even have a closet built to order to conceal it from prying eyes.

 

[Old Shooter]

Just a thought... If it is built in and put in place with a forklift, if sometime in the future you decide to move, sell the house, whatever, can the safe be removed from the house?

I agree I'd rather have the safe in the house than in a shed outside.

 

[Teachu2]

Just a thought... If it is built in and put in place with a forklift, if sometime in the future you decide to move, sell the house, whatever, can the safe be removed from the house?

I agree I'd rather have the safe in the house than in a shed outside.

I'd say No to removing it later. In all probability, this is our last move. If not, it'll be a strong selling point for the property.

If the Denali ends up in the shop, I'll put a (much) smaller RSC in a closet in the house. I have a biometric now so the wife can access a gun quickly - she fights dial locks when she's calm...

 

[CB900F]

Teachu2;

I've done this type of installation a couple of times. What you were told is essentially correct. Plan the installation after the home is placed on it's foundation/supports. Yes, you should consider additional bracing below and also at least temp supports under the movement path. But, think it through and it can be done without any nasty consequences.

900F

 

[toiville2feathers]

This is what I have learned about new places to live. Build the Garage first and start out by living in it the 1st couple years. Put in a concrete floor, with in floor heat, running hot and cold water, bath room, insulate it and cover the walls. a few simple partitions like cubicles for rooms will suffice. When you move out and into the formal new house, you will have a garage that is the envy of everyone who sees it and the biggest gun safe made can be moved in through big easy access doors and bolted to the floor.

 

[Teachu2]

This is what I have learned about new places to live. Build the Garage first and start out by living in it the 1st couple years.

Either you are single or your wife is a saint!

 

[Kp321]

I like the suggestion of reinforcing the area where the safe will reside and shoring up the path in. Concrete blocks under the floor joists under the safe will do the trick. Get the reinforcing done quickly after the house is delivered, before the snakes, skunks, and spiders move in!

 

[toiville2feathers]

I am not single, I've been married to my wife for 47 years. Together we have built 3 nice houses/homes.We do at lot of the work ourselves, Sweat equity! When we were first married we built the first house and rented an apartment while we built the house. We saw it was a waste of money on rent and a lot of time was wasted traveling back and forth to the apartment.
When we built the second house, we sold the first house before we started the second house. The 26 X40 garage was the quickest and easiest to build,giving us a roof over our head. It had all the amenities of a house, running water,heat, bathroom,electricity. It was insulated,walls and ceilings, sinks, countertops, all that stuff.We lived there quite comfortably with a 3 year old child for about 2 years while we built the house. We did it again 14 years later.
My wife is a wonderful, no non sense lady who knows the values and rewards of hard work. She knows how to use a hammer and saw, hang doors and windows and can shovel concrete and wire up a 220 receptacle. She likes the finer things in life and understands what it takes to get them. And yes, she is a "Saint". Being married to me and raising 3 wonderful kids, helping build 3 homes, Only a saint could have survived.
I am truly blessed with such a wonderful woman. The best part is when we first met she asked me out first, and I've been taking her with me ever since.

 

[Teachu2]

I like the suggestion of reinforcing the area where the safe will reside and shoring up the path in. Concrete blocks under the floor joists under the safe will do the trick. Get the reinforcing done quickly after the house is delivered, before the snakes, skunks, and spiders move in!

I found that for very little extra money, I can have the whole thing built with 1 1/8" SturdiFloor. Not only will that be better for a safe, it'll be better for everything else.