Commercial Dairying
Moving and Installing Bulk Tanks
By Paul Hamby
Oct 28, 2002, 9:49pm

Used with permission:
-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Hamby [mailto:hds@ccp.com]
Sent: Saturday, October 13, 2001 12:25 AM

I have moved and installed over 100 bulk milk coolers in the last 10 years.
These ranged from 160 gallon to 2000 gallon.

Here are some tips.

1. To get it off the pickup truck. Use a tractor and loader. borrow one
if you need to. rent one if you have to. save your back and be safe.

Better yet, DON'T Use a truck.

Use a trailer. a common low flatbed trailer works great.

2. To get the tank off the trailer, you can use a tractor and loader, a
skid steer loader, or ramps. Pipes and ramps work well. the lower the
trailer the better for ramps.

3. to move the tank around, set it on a piano dolly. this is a small
flat dolly that has 4 swivel wheels. I made one with new wheels and some
used lumber for about $25. this dolly is about 15 inch square and 6 inches
tall. (we have found it be very useful for many other things) you can
also buy them already made. use short 2x4's for cribbing to make up the
difference in the dolly and the bottom of the milk cooler.

Wheeled Car jacks also work well. we use my piano dolly on one end and a
car jack on the other end. we can move a 2000 gallon milk cooler with
these 2 devices and one man pushing.

If your milk cooler has a remote condensing unit (not attached to the milk
cooler), then you will need a professional refrigeration installer to
disconnect it and to install it in your barn. You may find it best to hire
your local dairy equipment service to move and install the cooler for you.

Paul Hamby
Hamby Dairy Supply
2402 SW Water Street
Maysville Missouri 64469-9102