New Fatboy jr vs used Franklin 25

[consoleman]

Hey guys,
Although some of a1abdj pictures and comments regarding RSC have made me second guess myself, I think ive made my mind up. Maybe? I have been looking at fatboy jr for about $1820 installed. I have recently found a used 2012 liberty franklin 25 for 1400 (I would have to replace the e-lock to dial $300) and pay or install it myself. Since its a little older the fire rating is only 60min 1200 - 1400, but I doubt that matters since its not UL tested. Which of these two is the best deal?

I know liberty is one of a few companies that transfer the warranty for the 5 yrs lock and lifetime fire and theft.

 

[consoleman]

So i have decided to get a fatboy jr. I wanted the franklin but I know everyone recommends a larger rsc. Rather than pay 1460 plus tax & delivery, I have decided to buy it at gander mt for $1200 and save 500 and transport it myself.

Here is what i am thinking....once they bring out the safe, bolted down to a pallet with a forklift, out to the trailer. i would then unbolt the safe and use an appliance dolly to move it onto the trailer and lay it's back on some 4x4's.

Once home lift it up and strap down to the appliance dolly. I have 2 doors, one is 30" wide and the other is 35". The safe is 42" wide....hmmmmm. I would have to turn it on its side to make it fit. I'm not really sure I like that? Anyone take the fatboy home themselves?

 

[hoghunting]

Once home lift it up and strap down to the appliance dolly

How heavy is your safe? Many appliance dollies are only rated for 400 - 600 lbs.

 

[consoleman]

It weighs almost 800 lbs. I can rent a 1200 lb appliance dolly. What worries me is the the lip om the dolly small maybe 4 inches. In order to get the safe through i have to turn the safe sideways. So the 40 inch width will be resting on the 4 inch lip.

 

[Teachu2]

There is no reason to take it off the pallet until you are ready to set it in place, nor to lay it on it's back to transport it. Strap it down on the trailer, centered or slightly in front of the axle.

Use a pallet or jack mover's dollies (flat, 4 wheels) to move it through the house. If you are moving it over hardwood or tile flooring, buy a sheet of 3/4 or 1" ply and cut it into 2x4' pieces to run on. Otherwise, you will probably damage your flooring.

Get some help - you will need it. I can (and have) move a 400lb RSC by myself, but 800 will damage you. Consider hiring pros, as it's money well spent. My Summit Denali is 1700lbs empty, and the safe company charged me $250 to come get it, store it a week, deliver it to my new house 40 miles away, shim it, and bolt it down. They brought four guys when they delivered, and did no damage to the house or the safe. They even set my smaller safe beside it and bolted it down, too.

 

[consoleman]

Teachu2,
I wanted to lay it on its back so it wouldn't be standing 5ft and have the risk of falling over. Ill measure a pallet at work to see if it will be too wide to go through my front door with a jack

 

[DeepSouth]

Take it off the pallet put golf balls under it and roll it any where you want to go. Going around corners with golf balls is super easy. Steeps/stairs are an entirely separate problem.

My last safe was 980lbs and from off the truck to bolted down was probably a little over 30 minutes, with myself and a 12yo son for help.

 

[consoleman]

Deepsouth, did you lay it om its back during transport?

 

[Teachu2]

If you strap it down, it won't fall over. Run the straps over the top.

The lock mechanism may bind up if you move it on it's back.

The pallets they use are generally custom-built to fit the base of the safe, so they are not the same size as a standard pallet.

Golf balls will work on some surfaces, as will PVC pipe. Either will damage some floors, which is why they aren't commonly used by professional safe movers. The golf balls make great targets, too.

 

[DeepSouth]

Deepsouth, did you lay it om its back during transport?

No, I just straped it down and against the cab of the truck, but I don't see what it would hurt to lay it down on the back side, but you wouldn't want to lay it down on handle and locking mechanism. I did only have to drive about a 1/2 a mile with mine.
Another good thing about golf balls is that if it does slip off the golf balls it want fall but an inch and a half.

 

[rondog]

Pay a pro to do it. You'll be glad you did.

 

[Bo]

"Pay a pro to do it. You'll be glad you did"

This is good advice. I bought a "Fatboy" from Gander Mountain for $1400.00 and some change. On sale plus a 15% off scratch and sniff coupon when I walked in the door. Wait for a sale and you can get a Fatboy instead of the "Jr." for the same price.
As far as installation, it weighs 880 lbs, why risk hurting yourself. Pay to have it done. They'll deliver it and bolt it down while you sit back and watch.