How to Transport a Shed

Transporting a Shed Over A Short Distance

• 1

  Empty the shed of all items. Heavy items left in the shed can cause balance issues when it's up on the forks. Shifting may also occur, which could break things.

• 2

  Position the forklift so that it is facing one of the shed's four corners.

• 3

  Lower the forks of the forklift until the tips touch the ground.

• 4

  Drive the forklift forward until the tips of the forks slide five inches under the shed bottom.

• 5

  Lift the forks up high enough to get a wood or cinderblock under the shed foundation.

• 6

  Lower the shed onto the block. Repeat this for all four corners.

• 7

  Center the forklift so that it is facing one of the long sides of the shed. Spread the forks of the forklift as wide as possible. Some lifts do this automatically and some forks have to be moved manually. Use the appropriate lever if automatic and your your hands and arms to slide them out manually.

• 8

  Lay the piece of plywood over the forks so that it is centered on the forks from front-to-back and from side-to-side.

• 9

  Drive the forklift forward until the forks are completely beneath the shed's foundation. Lift the forks up with the lever until the weight of the shed is resting on the forks and the corners of the shed are off of the support blocks.

• 10

  Tilt the forks back and slowly transport the shed to the new location. Have spotters help guide the forklift driver.

• 11

  Move the support blocks to the new location for the shed and lower the shed's four corners down onto the blocks. Remove and lower one corner of the shed to the ground at a time using the forklift's forks.

Transporting Sheds Long Distances

• 12

  Drive the shed loaded on the forklift toward the side of a flatbed trailer.

• 13

  Ask someone to stand at the rear of the trailer to guide the forklift driver forward. The spotter will ensure the shed is set squarely on the trailer so that the sides of the trailer and the sides of the shed are flush with one another.

• 14

  Set the support blocks beneath the four corners of the shed on top of the trailer and lower the shed down onto the trailer deck. Drive the forklift backward and away from the trailer after the weight of the shed is no longer bearing down on the forks.

• 15

  Throw cargo straps up over the shed every 5 feet. Hook the hooked end of the strap to the guardrail of the trailer and the other end of the strap to the tightening winch. Tighten the straps by placing the tip of a winch bar into the hole in the winch and pull the bar down several times. Don't tighten too much or you'll damage the shed.

• 16

  Transport the shed to the new location and remove the straps. Use the forklift to remove it from the trailer and set it in its new location. Set it down on the corner support blocks and then lower it to the ground one corner at a time.