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Moving a crated CDK14

Planewave CDK14 Equipment Reflectors
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jego avatar
jego avatar
My CDK14 has been sitting with the dealer in its crate for some time now, and I’m flying in to load it up for a cross country move. I am trying to figure out how to physically get it across town to load it up.

The dealer suggested a pallet jack and a vehicle with a lift gate, which is not easy to come by, and has me wondering what everyone else has done.

The scope itself weighs about 50 lbs, but the listed crated weight is 225lbs. Does the crate actually weigh that much, or is that a fake volumetric weight? It seems crazy that wood and packing materials would be 175lbs by itself!

How have you guys moved yours? Is me and the wife trying to lift it into the back of a cargo van out of the question?
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Bobbi Effect Astro avatar
Bobbi Effect Astro avatar
Hi Mate
i have just re packed mine in original box and put extra stuff inside and easily between me and a friend put box in the back of a Ute . It can be man handled with two people and easy to load into a van so dont worry so much just make sure you both don’t have back problems lol. Me and my mate are in our 60s and moved it 80 meters by hand to the vote from my observatory .
good luck
Claude Baril avatar
Claude Baril avatar
Same for me. We were 2 to handle the box and it was ok. It's heavy, but we can move it without any problem.
Mark Ellis (PhoenixAstro) avatar
Mark Ellis (PhoenixAstro) avatar
The create is decent size,  About 2.5' x 2.5' and about 4' long.  It's easy to move, but requires 2 people or if you like me,  I used 2 furniture dollies and was able to push it up on my trailer myself.  Removing the Scope can be done by one person as long as you don't have your accessories attached.  Now moving the L-350 and the Pier is another story altogether.

Yes the create itself is heavy.  They don't use cheap wood,  The plywood is 3/4" and has 2x4' with all kinds of padding on the inside to keep everything in place during transit.
John Hayes avatar
John Hayes avatar
It's not that hard if you can recruit a couple of guys to help you lift it in and out of the van at either end of the trip.   I used an engine hoist to move my CDK20 and to get it up onto the mount.  Unfortunately, an engine hoist will weigh almost as much as your entire crate!  You might also put it on a 4-wheel dolly and build a ramp up into the van.  Then you'd just need enough folks to help push it up the ramp.  Think like an Egyptian!  The problem of building the pyramids was bigger than getting a crated telescope into a van!   smile))))


John
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CAMMILLERI JEAN OLIVIER avatar
CAMMILLERI JEAN OLIVIER avatar
My CDK14 has been sitting with the dealer in its crate for some time now, and I’m flying in to load it up for a cross country move. I am trying to figure out how to physically get it across town to load it up.

The dealer suggested a pallet jack and a vehicle with a lift gate, which is not easy to come by, and has me wondering what everyone else has done.

The scope itself weighs about 50 lbs, but the listed crated weight is 225lbs. Does the crate actually weigh that much, or is that a fake volumetric weight? It seems crazy that wood and packing materials would be 175lbs by itself!

How have you guys moved yours? Is me and the wife trying to lift it into the back of a cargo van out of the question?

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CAMMILLERI JEAN OLIVIER avatar
CAMMILLERI JEAN OLIVIER avatar
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Kevin Morefield avatar
Kevin Morefield avatar
My CDK14 crate just did fit inside my Acura MDX when I picked it up from PW.  I don’t recall who I had help me unload it but I’d think two strong guys could do it.  I still have the crate in the garage.  It holds empty astro equipment boxes and makes a nice table to store my scope equipment on.  But I no longer own the CDK14!
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