Anyone know how to move a shed?

So this is how the afternoon went. Son comes in and asks for the keys to the suburban to pull it forward a few feet. It was backed up to the wood pile beside the garden shed and he needed to put luggage in the 'burb.

A few minutes later he comes back and says "I bumped into the wood pile." Huh, no problem I'll pull it forward, nothing to hurt on the old beast Chevy. I find that the boy has backed into the wood with such force that the shed has shifted off its cinder block foundation (about a foot total).

So. I love the boy and nothing to be gained by doing anything but instruct him in the proper gear selection (D means forward!). But does anyone have any sage advice for lifting an 8'x10' garden shed and shifting it back onto it's foundation? I'm thinking hydraulic jacks and puting it on a pair of 2x10 runners and dragging it back into place with the suburban.

I delivered and repo'd these for a living. We always used handy man jacks

, often incorrectly. If you jack up at an angle, you can "walk" it over (really, drop in a somewhat controlled manner). I'd recommend getting all the blocks out from under it, walking it where you want it, then re block it. Use a level.

"Shed repo man" - that's something to put on your resume.

I moved one much further than that a few years ago - I had some rollers designed to move cars without suspension that clamp on to the chassis and a bunch of plywood. That works if you're crossing the property. For just moving it over an inch, I think the HiLift is the way to go. Or use the Suburban from the other side.

How about a rope up high around the shed to the hitch of the 'Burb?

You should be able to tip it enough to slide some skids or blocks under it.

I spun a shed 180 degrees, moved it 40 feet away from where it was originally and put it up on piers.

I used a floor jack, a come along, and a heavy piece of steel 2 feet by 3 feet ( an old safe door ) Moving it 3 feet at a time took awhile but it worked.

I'm thinking that the man-child probably has friends, and enough of them could carry it.

There are people who can't make payments on a shed? I've had my self-inflicted problems with credit cards but that would embarrass even me.

Unless you're storing engine blocks in there you could probably do what needs to be done with a 10' long piece of pipe and some thoughtful levering.

In reply to APEowner:

Yeah, I was thinking this is probably small/light enough that a rock bar and maybe a cheater pipe should get it done pretty fast.

Hit it with same suburban on the opposite side?

In reply to nutherjrfan:

Why can I only +1? CC's can be dangerous, but repoing a shed, that is a special kind of berked.

When my parents had one delivered, it was on the back of a flatbed tow truck with about a foot hanging off the end. The driver backed the truck up to where we wanted it, lowered the bed until it touched the ground and pulled away until it was off the truck. I've never considered the logistics of moving it again.

About 25 years ago I spent an afternoon on the Ouachita river with a group of people I'd just met. One was a fella who ran an old timey "finance company" in Monroe, Louisiana that lent money at interest to poor people who needed to buy things like appliances on time but had bad credit. His take on repoing an electric range - with a ham baking in the oven! - was a matter-of-fact "Hattie Mae up and got sorry on me, so I had to take it back."

At least it wasn't a casket, I guess. I worked with someone once whose husband's gathered family had to literally pass a hat on the steps of the funeral home in order to hold a service and get an uncle buried that afternoon. They were all standing there in church clothes, sun beating down, knocking on an unexpectedly locked door when the funeral home lady finally cracked it an inch or so and informed them it wouldn't be possible to "let the body out" until the bill was paid. Apparently the deceased's son had come up a little short. I imagine there is some sideways talk at family reunions to this day about that one.

Anyway, good luck with the shed. Maybe some 2x4s slid underneath and a few strong backs to lift it back up?

I don't want to derail the thread, but feel obliged to explain myself. Yes, people can't make payments on these sheds sometimes. They are "Rent to Own", and "No Credit Check". This enables people to make very poor choices. The interest rates are very high. People buy too much E36M3 at Wal Mart, and buy these on credit. Often they are full of the random purchases when repo'd, and nearly as often, the RTOers do not claim their E36M3. It is the most lucrative and convoluted trash removal service I have ever seen. I am currently looking for a job.

This shows how far he moved it. Actually spun the tires over once in the dirt pushing the wood pile and shed.

It may sit there until the next weekend he's with me and can assist in the shed site restoration.

Have him back into it from the other side?

KyAllroad: "Anyone know how to move a shed?"

Smartass on the internet: "Just ask your son."

Spring of 97 the Ohio River flooded and moved mine about 15 feet across the backyard. It only stopped due to the cable tie-downs that grabbed at the last second.

Not helpful I'd imagine.

Have The Boy get some of his friends together and put it back before he gets behind the wheel of any of your vehicles.

Once relocated, think about better anchors. YMMV, but some areas/towns require a shed to be bolted or chained to the ground in case of tornados.

An equally forceful blow from the opposite side of the shed might very well restore it to its former position.

Actually, think you could bring him by my place? I want to get my shed moved before it falls into the creek, and was wondering how to do so.

I had complicated ideas of pvc pipe rollers and wooden levers, but his way seems simpler.

I've moved portajohns by wrapping a tow strap around them and pulling them with my car. I can't see that ending well with a shed though...

In reply to conesare2seconds:

They didn't bury him in a rented tux did they?

Eh, just level it up with new supports where it sits.

I am still trying to figure out how to walk a shed with jacks.