VLOG #7 - Moving the Cabin
The previous owners of our property used the area we want to put our house as a hunting camp. Currently there are three structures occupying that space. One is a little bunk house about 10’ x 10’. The other is a storage shed about 8’ x 20’ with an overhang of similar size. The third is this monster 10’ x 30’ cabin sitting on an old RV camper frame. All the structures are in great shape and we would love to continue using them in other areas on the property.
We decided to tackle the big cabin first and the first step was to get it high enough off the ground to get a trailer under it. We had easy access to my Father In Law’s trailer with is a 10,000 pound capacity trailer or a friend’s 20,000 pound capacity trailer (when/if available).
Our plan of attack was to lift the cabin using beams, cribbing, and toe jacks.
The beams would carry the weight of the cabin span underneath the camper frame.
Beam resting on the cribbing
The toe jack would lift against the beams and the cribbing would act as the structure when lifting the cabin.
Kyle showing this beam who is the boss!!!!!
Lifting the cabin was much easier than expected and we decided to try to use the smaller trailer first because the deck was lower than the heavy duty trailer by 14 or so inches. Our hope was that we would not have to lift the cabin as high. So, we got the bottom of the beams to clear 24 inches and rolled the lighter duty trailer under the cabin successfully and attempted to lower the cabin onto the trailer unsuccessfully. The weight of the cabin nearly snapped the deck of the trailer. If you watch the video closely you can see the rear section of the trailer sag nearly to the ground before we threw in the towel.
Back to the drawing board! Or the sawmill in this case. We needed A LOT more cribbing in order to lift the cabin even higher. In the end the we lifted the cabin 3 feet higher than where it started. The door was over five feet off the ground and I could almost drive my truck under it!
Fast forward to the next weekend. We got ahold of the heavy duty trailer, which if I am going to be completely honest was WAAAAAAAY smarter idea and we should have started with it. The wheels are a few feet farther back providing a bit more tongue weight. The big orange trailer backed into place with assistance from the Bobcat and just like that we drove this huge ass cabin down into the clearing.
IT WAS SO COOL SEEING THIS BUILDING JUST FLOAT ON DOWN THE DRIVEWAY!!!!
Once we got the cabin backed into place it was a simple matter of reversing the order of operations to get the cabin on the cribbing again to move the trailer out and there it sits. Eventually we will get it more permanently placed, but I may be getting the structure spray foamed so it will sit for now.
On to the next project!
Enjoy the video
Bear
