Well, let me tell you, getting that water heater moved ain’t as easy as pie. But this old gal’s done it a few times, so listen up! This here is about how to transport a water heater in a pickup truck. You gotta know how to do it right, or you’ll be in a heap of trouble.
Gettin’ Ready
First things first, you need a good, strong pickup truck. Not one of them little fellas, but a real workhorse. Make sure the back of that truck, the bed, is big enough for that water heater. It’s gotta fit, you see? If you got a big family like me, you have to buy a big one, or it will be not enough for all of us.
And check how much that water heater weighs! My back ain’t what it used to be. They’re heavy! Then look at your truck’s papers. It’ll tell you how much weight that truck can carry. You don’t wanna break your truck, now, do you?
Loadin’ Up That Water Heater
Now, this here’s the tricky part. You gotta get that water heater into the truck. Don’t even think about liftin’ it yourself. You’ll throw your back out for sure.
- Get yourself one of them hand truck things, you know, with the wheels. They call ’em dollies sometimes.
- Strap that water heater onto that dolly real good. Use them strong straps, the ones movers use.
- Then, you and a couple of strong fellas, maybe your sons or neighbors, gotta carefully lift that dolly up into the truck bed.
- Slow and steady, that’s the key. No jerkin’ around. One person should be in the truck bed pullin’ the dolly up and the other guys lift the dolly on the ground.
Some folks say you can lay a water heater on its side. Maybe. But I always like to keep mine standin’ up, just like it does in the house. Less chance of somethin’ gettin’ busted up inside, I reckon. If it’s new, keep it in that box it came in. That’ll help protect it. If you bought a used one, make sure you clean it well before you move it. Or you will get dirty when you transport it.
Securin’ It Down
This is important, so pay attention! You can’t just have that water heater rollin’ around in the back of your pickup truck. It’ll get damaged, and it could even fly out and hurt someone. If it flies out, your water heater will break into pieces and I am sure you don’t want that happen.
- Use them strong straps again. The ones they use for movin’ furniture and such.
- Tie that water heater down tight to the sides of the truck bed.
- Make sure it ain’t gonna budge. Give it a good shake to test it.
Drivin’ That Truck
Okay, you got that water heater loaded and tied down. Now you gotta drive that pickup truck. But you can’t drive like a bat outta hell. You gotta be careful when you transport a water heater.
- Drive slow. No sudden stops or starts.
- Take them corners real easy.
- If you gotta go over bumps, go real slow.
- And keep an eye on that water heater in your rearview mirror. Make sure it ain’t movin’ around.
I remember one time, my neighbor, he was movin’ his water heater. Didn’t tie it down good enough. Took a corner too fast, and that thing went flyin’ right out of his truck! Landed right in Mrs. Higgins’ prize-winnin’ rose bushes. Boy, was she mad! So, a water heater can be very dangerous if you don’t secure it well. It can be heavy and it can hurt someone if it falls on someone.
These water heaters, they ain’t cheap, you know. Gotta treat ’em with respect. And your truck, too. Don’t want to mess up your truck or your water heater. Or you will cry when you have to buy a new one. And make sure you got enough gas in your truck. I have to say, this thing is just too heavy. I mean, a 50-gallon one is like, what, 150 pounds? And if it’s full of water, that’s another 400 pounds or more. If you try to lift it alone, you’re gonna hurt yourself for sure.
And one more thing, if you are transporting a used water heater, make sure you drain the water inside of it. You don’t want the water spilling out and make your truck all wet and dirty.
Unloadin’
When you get to where you’re goin’, unloadin’ is just the same as loadin’, but backwards. Get your strong fellas, use that dolly, and be careful. No rush, take your time. Unload it gently and move it to the place where you are going to install it. You have to be careful or you will hurt your hand or feet when you transport a water heater.
Well, there you have it. That’s how you transport a water heater in a pickup truck. It ain’t rocket science, but you gotta use your head. Be careful, be strong, and you’ll be just fine. And remember, if you’re not sure about somethin’, ask someone who knows. Better safe than sorry, I always say!
