Advice on moving my Epson S80600

[Eggleston]

Hi,

I am moving and my new shop location is about 3 or 4 miles down the road. Not too far.

I have never moved any of our large format printers before and want to seek advice from the members here on the best course of action when moving this thing. I am concerned that getting a box truck with a lift gate will be too small but I am also concerned that a trailer may bounce too much and damage the printer. Can anyone offer any advice on the best way to move it? Thanks.

 

[unclebun]

Main thing is to be gentle, have more than enough help, and move slowly.

Although older Epsons had plastic pieces to hold the print heads steady during shipping, I don't recall that the S80600 had any when I set mine up. You'll want to make sure the heads are parked and clean before turning the printer off.

If the path is totally smooth you can roll on its casters, but for rougher areas it would be better to use moving dollies (the flat ones).

Make sure the truck is wide enough that the printer can go on the liftgate crossways. Once in the truck, secure it to the side, blanketed and strapped.

For the short distance you are going I would not take anything else in the truck. Just go straight there, unload, put in place, and plug in and turn on.

 

[Eggleston]

Thanks for your reply unclebun. I am hoping the truck with the lift gate will be big enough, the closest one is 30 minutes away and will be about $400 to rent. Would you advise against loading on a trailer if the lift gate isn't big enough?

 

[Snydo]

It should fit on a U-Haul box truck liftgate. I moved four SureColors this way back in '18, and they were all SC306xx, but I'm pretty sure they are the same width as the 80.
It was a 3 mile move, just drive slow and be easy on the brakes and you'll be fine.

 

[unclebun]

I don't see why a trailer with a drop gate wouldn't work. They don't have great suspension but then again neither do box trucks.

 

[netsol]

Thanks for your reply unclebun. I am hoping the truck with the lift gate will be big enough, the closest one is 30 minutes away and will be about $400 to rent. Would you advise against loading on a trailer if the lift gate isn't big enough?

don't do the trailer. (i have, but, if this is your first time, it won't take much effort to do $400 damage to the printer

30 years ago, we helped a friend move a photo lab (think moto foto)
he & his brother didn't wait for the 2 of us to get in position and the machine went off the lift.

it took us 2 days to fix the machine (and that is what i am really good at.)

bite the bullet, spend the $400 & tie the machine in place very carefully.

 

[unclebun]

I was thinking enclosed trailer with the tie down strips on the walls.