Posted on by Bradley Boland

How to Move a Gun Safe in Portland

Relocating a gun safe isn’t just heavy lifting—it’s a potentially dangerous task that demands precision, preparation, and the right tools. These steel behemoths often weigh between 200 and 1,500 pounds, and any misstep can result in crushed fingers or expensive structural wall damage.

Hello, I’m Bradley Boland, Owner of O’Neill Transfer and Storage and my company has been helping customers move gun safes since 1998.

This guide breaks down the process of transporting a gun safe into three brief steps. Learn how to prepare to move your gun safe, choose the right moving equipment, and ultimately transport your gun safe to your new home or a storage facility.

Read on to learn more.

Set the Stage: How to Plan and Prep Before Moving a Gun Safe

Create a Planned Route Through Your Home and to Your Vehicle

Start by walking the entire path from the safe’s current location to the final loading point. Trace the exact route the safe will follow. Don’t just eyeball the space, physically mark tight corners, sharp turns, elevation changes, and transitions between flooring materials. A smooth, uninterrupted path reduces unexpected shifts and gives your team a mental map before lifting anything.

Measure Doorways, Stairs, and Hallways in Advance

Use a measuring tape. Not an estimate, not a rough guess—get exact numbers. Measure the safe’s width, height, and depth, then check every point along the route, starting from the room’s exit to the vehicle’s loading point. Doorframes tend to vary more than many expect, especially in older homes. Basement stairs? Those measurements change everything. Don’t forget any handrails, light fixtures, or low ceilings that could restrict passage.

Identify Obstacles and Fragile Areas

Scan the route for more than just size restrictions. Look for loose area rugs, glass-fronted cabinets, ceramic tile floors, and anything attached to the wall. A 500-pound safe doesn’t stop on a dime. If something’s in the way, it gets destroyed. Use painter’s tape or chalk to label hazards so they’re visible when maneuvering. Think ahead: where will the dolly wheels roll? What surface can’t handle that weight?

Inform All Helpers of the Plan Before Starting

Anyone assisting in the move needs to know the plan in detail. Hold a quick walkthrough. Show them the path, note the tricky areas, explain communication signals, and outline everyone’s specific tasks.

  • Assign lead and follow positions for each lift point
  • Confirm that everyone understands pivot points and safe resting spots
  • Agree on cues for starting, slowing down, and stopping

Preparation beats scrambling every time. Plan thoroughly, and this job will become much more  manageable.

Gear Up: Choosing the Right Equipment for the Job

Moving a gun safe weighing several hundred pounds, sometimes over 1,000, isn’t a task that can be tackled with muscle alone. The right tools will help you reduce the risk of damage, and make controlling the safe’s movement manageable. So what exactly should be in your toolbox to make sure your move goes smoothly?

Heavy-Duty Dollies Built for Weight

Start with a dolly—but not just any dolly. You’ll need to rent a heavy-duty appliance dolly or a professional-grade machine-moving dolly rated for the safe’s full weight. Many quality models come with built-in securing straps and non-marring wheels.

For perspective, an average gun safe weighs between 200 to 1,500 pounds, and dollies like the ones these companies offer are engineered to handle that load over thresholds, doorways, and on ramps.

For tighter control during a steep incline or staircase, a stair-climbing dolly can reduce risk. These feature tri-wheel designs that rotate to maintain balance and grip over each stair riser.
Here’s an example of what these look like from HercRentals.

Padding, Durable Gloves, and Foot Protection

Moving a gun safe presents a lot of opportunities for things to go wrong. Make sure you have proper protective gear for not only yourself but for your floors and walls to keep yourself and your other property unharmed as you move your safe:

  • Heavy-duty gloves with reinforced palms offer grip while preventing abrasions.
  • Steel-toed footwear guards against the worst-case scenario—a dropped safe.
  • Thick blankets or neoprene mats to protect your floor or walls as you pull your dolley through your home
  • Movers’ pads also work well to soften contact between the safe and corners, doorframes, or tight hallways.

Wrap the safe itself in a moving blanket for protection, especially if finished with powder coating or paint. You can further secure it with padding, stretch wrap or nylon straps to ensure it stays locked down during movement.

Secure Fasteners and Tie-Downs for Transport

Once the safe reaches the vehicle, it needs to stay immobile. Use ratchet straps with a load rating exceeding the safe’s weight. Fasten it to anchor points on the floor or walls of the vehicle’s interior. Two straps minimum across the base, plus a third across the top, keeps the safe from tipping or sliding during braking.

Take a moment to inspect the tie-downs for wear or damage before use. Frayed or sun-damaged straps can snap under pressure, defeating their purpose completely.

Loading the Vehicle and Securing the Safe for Transit

Choose the Right Type of Truck

A lift gate truck or a low-bed trailer simplifies loading and unloading. Lift gates reduce the need for ramps or manual lifting, while a low bed minimizes the height difference between ground and cargo area. In both cases, the risk of tilting or tipping the safe during transfer drops considerably.

If you’re looking for rental truck options, Budget, Enterprise, and U-Haul will help you get the job done. Renting a truck can often cost around $6 a mile, according to Move.org.

Position the Safe Correctly

Once the safe is inside the vehicle, keep it upright. Never lay it flat. Internal mechanisms and locking systems inside gun safes are designed to operate in a vertical orientation. Position the safe against the forward wall of the cargo area to prevent momentum shifts during braking.

Secure the Safe Using Ratchet Straps

  • Run heavy-duty ratchet straps over the top of the safe and attach them to anchor points on either side of the vehicle frame.
  • Add horizontal straps around the body of the safe to control lateral movement.
  • Apply tension to all straps until there is zero wiggle room. The goal: no movement regardless of sharp turns or sudden stops.

Final Check Before Hitting the Road

  • Inspect all strap connections and anchor points one last time.
  • Verify the safe remains in vertical position and close to the cabin wall.
  • Close the vehicle’s cargo doors fully and lock them if applicable.

Once these steps are complete, the safe is ready to move securely to its new location. Planning the route in advance and maintaining a steady pace during the drive will keep your gun safe secure for the duration of your drive.

Extra Resources to Help with Your Gun Safe Move

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