how expensive is it to move a hot tub with a crane?

d94

Senior member
Apr 18, 2005
595
0
0
right..so fathers day is comming up
6 years ago my parents bought a 15k hot tub..my dad got it all hooked up in the house and then my mom fell in love with another house and so we moved and never got to use the damn thing, now its been sitting in the garage of our new hous for FIVE YEARS! ...they dont want to hook it up there because theres a nice spot in our backyard...im going to start calling around for estimates, but does anyone have a rough idea of what doing something like that would cost?

PS, the spot where we want it is also surounded by treas, the only way to reach it is by going through the front yard (still surrounded by trees, but if they can get the tub over the trees) - theres no way to bring it through the backyard because our backyard is inground pool + hot tub + cement..then theres a corner where theres grass for the tub!

and what kind of company should i be looking up for the task?
 

pontifex

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,804
46
91
1) ask your question again...in English this time
2) why do they need 2 hot ubs?
 

Greenman

Lifer
Oct 15, 1999
21,703
6,139
136
It sounds like you want to get a hot tub to a remote location behind your house, because the existing hot tub in the backyard is somehow inadequate. If thats correct, and you do indeed need a crane, then I need to know how big of a crane do you need. How high are the trees and how far will the machine have to reach. Also note that getting the hot tube in place is the inexpensive part of the installation, you will also need to get power to it.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
65,607
13,987
146
Don't know what the going rate is in your area, nor how far the crane would have to reach, but around here, a 40 ton crane would cost you at least $200./hour with a 4 hour minimum, and the time starts when they leave the yard, and ends when they get to the yard, unless they are going to another job. (paying the 4 hour minimum sucks, especially when the lift may only take 30 minutes start-to-finish)

I used 40 ton as an example, because while that hot-tub may only weigh a few hundred pounds, by the time the crane got it out to 75 or so feet from where it's sitting, the crane's capacity may only be 1000 lbs or so...(physics ya know) .

BYW, those rates are so expensive because that crane is probably somewhere in the $400K to $700K price range, plus, (again, depending on where you are at,) his wage package could be $50/hr or more. (My wages when I finished working were never less than $30/hr (usually between $35 and $40.) PLUS about $15/hr for the benefit package.)

Granted, this is in Kahleeforneeya, and wages aren't bad here, but many "major cities" will have similar wage packages, and crane rental rates will be pretty close to the same.

It looks like you're in the metro-Detroit area...I suspect I'm pretty close for rates from a crane rental house. There MAY be a local crane owner who can do it cheaper, so I'd recommend checking with one of the hot-tub stores to see if they know of any less-expensive options.

Contact a store that sells hot-tubs, they may have an option that is cheaper
 

Demon-Xanth

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
20,551
2
81
A case of beer, pizza or ribs/chicken/hotdogs, and some dry towels might be the best route. Get the hookups ready, get some friends over, move it, then chill out and eat as it's filling/warming up. Then relax.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
65,607
13,987
146
I agree with demon...IF it can be moved by hand, then plying some large friends with food and drink would be TONS cheaper. It may be more difficult, but lots cheaper.
For a crane operator, hot-tubs are easy jobs...not heavy to lift, you can usually go as far as needed without exceeding your chart, and it's a fast job..and good money-maker.

Before I hired a hook-rig to do this, I'd exhaust every other option.
 

d94

Senior member
Apr 18, 2005
595
0
0
here's pics:
http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/557/dscf3878mw6.jpg
thats the outside fence of where we we want to put the tub
http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/447/dscf3879jx7.jpg
view from the neighbors drive way, side of where we wanna put the tub
http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/8929/dscf3880wy1.jpg
view of our driveway..im not sure if the slanted ness would be a problem
http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/3391/dscf3881hb0.jpg
around the corner, where the tub is held in the garage..even more slanted
http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/4186/dscf3882qq9.jpg
this is the entrance to the backyard
http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/151/dscf3883kx4.jpg
view of the backyard, no way to carry to the tub!
http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/8179/dscf3885tm5.jpg
almost at the corner where we wants to put the tub!
http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/7004/dscf3886vh2.jpg

and finally, this is the spot..if we do this, my parents will spruce it all up lol

one thing i just realized that i never thought of before - is it possible to carry the hot tub sideways? because if it could handle that, then carrying it with a few guys, having some food and beer is deffinetly doable

regarding hooking it all up, my dad's already ran most of what it need to that spot...but anything that needs to be done, he can do
 

radioouman

Diamond Member
Nov 4, 2002
8,632
0
0
Originally posted by: d94
here's pics:
http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/557/dscf3878mw6.jpg
thats the outside fence of where we we want to put the tub
http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/447/dscf3879jx7.jpg
view from the neighbors drive way, side of where we wanna put the tub
http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/8929/dscf3880wy1.jpg
view of our driveway..im not sure if the slanted ness would be a problem
http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/3391/dscf3881hb0.jpg
around the corner, where the tub is held in the garage..even more slanted
http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/4186/dscf3882qq9.jpg
this is the entrance to the backyard
http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/151/dscf3883kx4.jpg
view of the backyard, no way to carry to the tub!
http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/8179/dscf3885tm5.jpg
almost at the corner where we wants to put the tub!
http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/7004/dscf3886vh2.jpg

and finally, this is the spot..if we do this, my parents will spruce it all up lol

one thing i just realized that i never thought of before - is it possible to carry the hot tub sideways? because if it could handle that, then carrying it with a few guys, having some food and beer is deffinetly doable

regarding hooking it all up, my dad's already ran most of what it need to that spot...but anything that needs to be done, he can do

Just run a heater to that little purple kiddie pool. Problem solved!!! :D
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
65,607
13,987
146
Yep, in most cases, they are transported on end, rather than laying flat. Unless it's extremely heavy, 4-6 people should be able to carry the thing. You may have to stop from time to time, but so what? Also, a couple of piano dollies LIKE THESE can be used on concrete or hard flat surfaces to help move it around, then carry the thing ONLY when you have to.

 

Mxylplyx

Diamond Member
Mar 21, 2007
4,197
101
106
I see no reason why you need a freakin crane. The crane operator would probably laugh at you while he's cleaning your wallet out.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
65,607
13,987
146
Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
I see no reason why you need a freakin crane. The crane operator would probably laugh at you while he's cleaning your wallet out.

Nah, no laughing involved. People need unusual stuff done all the time. I've probably hoisted 30-40 hot-tubs in my career...and often, they COULD have been done by hand...but, if that's what they want, it's ok with me...it IS easy money usually.
 

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
25,762
4,284
126
Originally posted by: d94
one thing i just realized that i never thought of before - is it possible to carry the hot tub sideways? because if it could handle that, then carrying it with a few guys, having some food and beer is deffinetly doable
I think that is your best option. Take as much weight out of it as you can, then get some big hungry men.

 

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
98,748
17,222
126
err, how big and how heaving is the sucker? You might be able to just use a forklift no?