moving hives solo

ballardbee · January 30, 2009, 10:45:41 PM

Does anyne have any great suggestions/ideas on how to move hives by yourself.
Is there any type of dolly/handtruck out there for this industry?

pdmattox · January 30, 2009, 10:53:41 PM

You can modify a regular hand truck or get a boom for your pick up. I started out by moving them all by hand and what a pain it is.

JP · January 30, 2009, 10:57:20 PM

I think the problem is going to be keeping them from tilting with any kind of handtruck. These work great but take two people. https://www.dadant.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=193

...JP

pdmattox · January 30, 2009, 11:06:41 PM

Tilting from side to side may be bad but what about turning them the other way where they tilt front to back? I have one of those from dadant and think they are a valuble tool to have but you need a helper then.

rdy-b · January 30, 2009, 11:38:13 PM

I have wondered about this hand truck- :-\ but i think with pallets they would have to be spaced futher than i keep them -looks cooll though -RDY-B

Brian D. Bray · January 31, 2009, 09:47:50 PM

I installed a hydralic hoist on the back of my pickup. since I am physically challenged these days I needed something that would let me load a lot of things by myself. The hoist is great I can left a hive of bees using a couple of straps, 55 gal barrels, hay bales, etc with it. Cost me less than $75.00 on sale at HFT. I'm now getting an electric winch so I can use it and the hoist to yard and load. I figure on using it to butcher animals. I will be ableto kill, lift, slaughter, and haul any animal up to the 1000lbs.

It's amazing what 1 person can do with a 4X4 pickup and the right tools. My pickup is also my tractor.

JP · January 31, 2009, 09:52:12 PM

Forgot about that hoist from HFTs, great idea. Brian, what would you be slaughtering that would weigh 1000 lbs?

...JP

rdy-b · January 31, 2009, 10:43:54 PM

I saw a pic from a man who had the hoist set up so it would go into his recever for trailer hitch -could be removed in seconds -it also gave better swing for the hoist being in the center- 8-) RDY-B

Brian D. Bray · January 31, 2009, 11:11:09 PM

Quote from: JP on January 31, 2009, 09:52:12 PM
Forgot about that hoist from HFTs, great idea. Brian, what would you be slaughtering that would weigh 1000 lbs?

...JP

Can you say MOO? Hi: My neighbor has a cow that weighs over 2000 lbs. Fy: Sounds like a lot of bull to me.

Quote from: rdy-b on January 31, 2009, 10:43:54 PM
I saw a pic from a man who had the hoist set up so it would go into his recever for trailer hitch -could be removed in seconds -it also gave better swing for the hoist being in the center- 8-) RDY-B

I have my hoist set just behind the passenger side wheel well. I'm setting up my winch so I can slip it into the Class 4 hitch I have on the back of the truck. That way I can use them both at the same time, either on the same job or doing different parts of different jobs.

IABeeMan · February 16, 2009, 10:03:00 PM

My Dad moves several hives back home solo. He bought a pick up corner hoist at the local farm and ranch store. The hoist is mounted in the rear corner of his pick up and has a small crank similar to the type on the tongue of a boat trailer. the hole unit weighs no more than maybe 20-30 lbs. Most of his hives are on small pallets not much bigger than the hive itself. to make these pallets he simply cut 2-3 runners of of a regular pallet. To keep the hive balanced while lifting he made a set of small forks with a C type brace so that the lifting point is centered above the hive. If you have seen the trucks that load sheetrock you know what I am talking about. His entire set up cost him about $100 and works extrememly well. I would love to post a pic of it but I am a newbee so it wont load the pics.

IABeeMan · February 16, 2009, 10:08:33 PM

O -------------------------------Small boom cable attaches here
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
II
II
II
II
II
II ----------------------------- Hive sits here on pallet
II
II
II
II
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ----------------Small set of forks

Hopefully this crude drawing helps picture what I am talking about. It is made out of 2x2 in square tubing and has 4 or 5 diff attaching points along the top rail (which is centered between the bottom forks) to enable you to balance the weight of different size and weight of hives.

TwT · February 17, 2009, 06:44:21 AM

I am poor and still use the old ruff way, I ratchet strap each of my hives to hold them together (when moving they are usually double deep or deep and medium) , pick them up and set on trailer, strap all down and go. oh and the night before I move them I will screen the entrances, keeps the flying down when moving them.

justgojumpit · February 17, 2009, 06:04:44 PM

You should also be able to make some type of a wood frame for the back of your truck so your can use a pully system. just loop the rope back and forth through a few pullies to multiply your strength.

justgojumpit

rdy-b · February 18, 2009, 12:01:03 AM

Quote from: rdy-b on January 30, 2009, 11:38:13 PM
I have wondered about this hand truck- :-\ but i think with pallets they would have to be spaced futher than i keep them -looks cooll though -RDY-B

http://www.mannlakeltd.com/ProductDetail.asp?idproduct=1163&idCategory=15

Brian D. Bray · February 18, 2009, 12:22:23 AM

Quote from: rdy-b on February 18, 2009, 12:01:03 AM
Quote from: rdy-b on January 30, 2009, 11:38:13 PM
I have wondered about this hand truck- :-\ but i think with pallets they would have to be spaced futher than i keep them -looks cooll though -RDY-B
http://www.mannlakeltd.com/ProductDetail.asp?idproduct=1163&idCategory=15

Nice if you have that kind of money to waste...I mean spare. :-D

soilserf40 · February 18, 2009, 10:10:37 AM

I find that I must relocate a couple of hives from there present location asap.

The question is: the move requires a 5 hour trip with hives in the back of a pickup truck with the temp.

ranging from 44 to 54 degrees. Do you think the bees can handle this ? Thanks!

jdpro5010 · February 18, 2009, 12:28:58 PM

I would say that you could without too much trouble. Just do your best not to bounce around a whole lot so that you do not break the cluster.

jsmob · February 18, 2009, 02:02:01 PM

QuoteDoes anyne have any great suggestions/ideas on how to move hives by yourself.
Is there any type of dolly/handtruck out there for this industry?

Try this link. http://bushfarms.com/beescarts.htm

Michael Bush · February 18, 2009, 07:11:54 PM

You can get a dolly, or you can just move them a box at a time on a nice day and wait until dark for them to settle down:

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmoving.htm#100yards

Brian D. Bray · February 18, 2009, 10:39:25 PM

Quote from: soilserf40 on February 18, 2009, 10:10:37 AM
I find that I must relocate a couple of hives from there present location asap.

The question is: the move requires a 5 hour trip with hives in the back of a pickup truck with the temp.

ranging from 44 to 54 degrees. Do you think the bees can handle this ? Thanks!

I've move hives about 300 miles without a problem, the commercial beekeeper's move them by the hundreds and a lot further than that, you should be okay.