Finding a vending machine is a great deal, but it has several responsibilities. First, you have to find a suitable location for it. If you find a good place to position it, you will need to move it from its current location to the new one. Another instance you will need to move a vending machine is when you lease it up. The moving process is a whole task and needs machine movers’ help. However, you can do it all yourself if you have the required tools. This comprehensive guide article gives you all the necessary information, from the equipment and tools you need to move a vending machine to the steps of moving the machine.
What to Know About the Weight of a Vending Machine
Aside from the whole process of moving a vending machine, you need to be aware of its weight. While the machine has different weights, they mostly weigh between 400 and 900 pounds. Therefore, you have to check the specifications of your machine to know how much it weighs.
If you don’t have the manual, you can check your machine’s weight online by looking up its model and specifications. Here are the specifications for an average vending machine:
- The weight is usually 640 pounds
- The height is 72 inches high
- The measurements are 39 inches wide and 30 inches deep
Please note that the measurements and weight of your vending machine help determine which truck you will use and how many machine movers you will need to move the machine.
Required Equipment and Capital Needed to Move a Vending Machine
Moving also involves getting the right tools and equipment for your vending machine. Below is a list of these equipments:
- Plywood
- Narrow Pallet Jack
- Non-slip shoes
- 5’ x 9’ Trailer w/Ramp – U-Haul
- Ratchet Straps
- Blanket and pads
- A Truck that can haul 3500lbs
- 1200lbs Appliance Hand Truck
That said, you will also need capital to move your vending machine. The good thing is that the capital doesn’t cost much. Moving your vending machine will cost roughly a minimum capital of $50 -$200.
Steps of the Moving Process of a Vending Machine
Step 1. Preparation Stage
The first step of moving a vending machine is making the needed preparations. This helps avoid last-minute rush and inconveniences. Here are the simple steps to follow in the first phase:
- Have a track record of your items: Before you empty your machine, ensure you know the items in it. This makes the restocking process easier after getting to your destination.
- Empty the machine to make it lighter, easier to move, and protect your goods from damage.
- Unplug the machine from the wall socket and tuck the cables properly. The second step is to unplug the machine and tuck the cables before lifting them into the truck. When you leave the machine dangling during the moving process, your machine will experience unplanned damage.
- Ensure you have all the needed equipment for the moving process: This includes equipment and tools such as a truck enough to accommodate the vending machine, blankets and pads, strong straps and all other tools mentioned above.
Step 2. Loading and Movement Stage
After emptying your vending machine, keeping a record of your items and gathering all the necessary equipment and tools, you now load and move the machine to your preferred location. This stage requires following the listed steps below:
- Get a dolly with the right size of wheels: Ensure that the dolly you get has wheels the size of the machine. This makes moving the machine around an easier task.
- Ask for help: Find people to help you load the machine into the truck and transport it to your destination of choice. This will save time and energy, making the work more seamless.
- Check the alignment of the dolly and vending machine: The dolly and the vending machine should be aligned for a smooth moving process.
- Use strong straps to keep the machine tightly tied on the dolly: Ensure the machine is well tied around the dolly and secure enough to be transported. This helps keep the machine in one place throughout the transportation. Additionally, use foam pads and a blanket to reduce the chances of the machine getting damaged.
- Ensure you choose a day with less traffic: Don’t go for weekends as they might have more people on the move. Instead, choose a day that has fewer people on the road. This will help save time usually spent in traffic, hence getting to your destination quickly.
Step 3. Unpacking and Installation Stage
After loading your vending machine and getting it safely to your preferred location, you will need to unpack everything and install it. As the last stage of the process, here is what needs to be done:
- Check if the straps are securely and correctly fastened before unpacking the machine.
- Confirm if the cables are tightly held or if they have loosened. This helps ensure that the machine does not go through mishaps or damages that could be easily avoided by doing a thorough check.
- Unpack everything carefully: Avoid rushing the unpacking process, as you may unknowingly damage your machine. You need to handle it with care simply because the offloading process of a vending machine is not the same as offloading moving boxes.
- Offload the machine and place it in a well-ventilated room with closer access to a power supply for swift operation.
- After finding the right spot to place the machine, remove the straps, pads, and dolly you used to hold and secure the machine throughout transportation.
- Seek help when extracting the dolly to avoid damaging the machine.
- Reconnect the machine to a stable power supply: Reconnect the machine to a power source and ensure you thoroughly check it before restocking the items. You can use the manufacturer’s manual to do a general check.
- Lastly, restock your vending machine: The last step is restocking your machine. You can do this alone or ask for help. Ensure all the items are placed correctly in the right place. This will help avoid faulty service delivery.
The Difference Between Moving Yourself and Using Moving Experts
It is essential to consider the difference between moving yourself and using help from moving professionals. Here are the factors you should consider to make a choice that will best suit you:
1. Insurance
Some companies will offer you insurance services as part of their moving services. This helps in case you experience damage during the moving process. However, this may not be the case when you decide to move yourself.
2. Safety
Safety is a crucial aspect when it comes to moving. Professional moving companies such as help ensure that your items are secure and in the right condition throughout the moving process.
They offer high-end equipment and tools like dollies, ratchet straps, blankets, trucks and pads that are usually needed during relocation. On the other hand, moving by yourself might be costly as you will need to buy high-end and heavy-duty equipment and tools required for the moving process.
3. Skills and Experience
You may not have the required skills and experience usually needed for the relocation process. This makes it challenging to navigate the whole process. However, moving companies have professional movers with the right skills and years of experience needed to help you move from one destination to another with so much ease.
4. Moving Cost
Hiring moving experts might be expensive. For instance, moving a vending machine might cost you between two hundred and two thousand dollars, based on the size of the machine and the distance. However, you might spend significantly less if you choose to move yourself.
Bottom Line
To sum it up, moving a vending machine can be a seamless process with the right tools, help, and enough finances. You might be tempted to move alone, mainly if the machine is medium-sized. However, it is important to consider factors such as safety, skills, needed tools, efficiency, and experience that come with hiring professional movers. When you choose moving experts, you will have fewer things to worry about throughout your relocation process than when you do it all alone. Remember to plan everything before the moving process of your vending machine, as planning will save you time, money, and energy.
