Picking up my power hammer. Helper springs?

Ive had a rough year and a half health wise. Was supposed to be in VA this week building my power hammer (blacksmithing tool) but surgery 2 months ago has kept me from too much activity. They are building my hammer for me.
Was planning on picking it up with the tacoma. The thing will weigh around 700 lbs. Was thinking helper springs.
Or, maybe i pay someone to pick it up and drop it off? Im open to all intelligent ideas.

 

Its a fiber glass bed. Put a sheet of plywood down.

 

I have these on my taco and they are adjustable to boot!

 

Oh, deffinately planned on that if i did pick it up myself. But good reminder.

 

What's the 'footprint' of the hammer? Will it be more vertical than having a wide stance on its feet?
If it'll fit in the bed, and you've got the necessary tie-downs, I'd go with the sheet of plywood and maybe some 2x6s flatwise under the feet/legsto spread out the load a bit.
Situate it as close to the cab as possible and you should be fine.
It's less than the rated payload capacity so why worry?
Shifting it as far forward as possible puts some of the load on the front wheels, which will help.
It may 'squat' a bit in the back, but it's only a one-time thing. I wouldn't give it any more thought than that.
Now, if you're gonna have the power hammer permanently located in your truck, then you should consider beefing up the suspension ....

 

Does the builder have provisions to lift it into your truck bed? (I'm assuming they do) and how will you unload it when you get to your destination. Also, power hammer is one cool tool. I love working with metal.

 

They do have the ability to load it. Now unloading....id have to call all my big friends to help man handle it.

 

Sounds like renting a small trailer with ramps would make the unloading a lot easier. Or will it be mounted to a skid or something and you can slide it down a ramp? I have this one for my snowmobile and works well

 

700 pounds? shouldn't be a problem... I've had well over that in the bed before. Power hammer sounds awesome. Have any pics of your blacksmith work?... i'll take a bowie knife! lol

 

U-Haul trailer, will make unloading infinitely easier.

 

700 lbs won't require anything special. Trailer makes more sense.

 

throw it on a little trailer. 700 pounds is the equivalent of two big braddas...

Dis one braddah alone weigh tree eighty five.

 

Me and two of my buddies put 700 lb away.

 

Let someone else do it. You just said you are getting over surgery and a long year health wise - why risk aggravating old or creating new injuries, complicating surgery recovery by loading, unloading, setting etc. I have had several orthopedic surgeries and recovery is hard enuff without additional risk, strain. I have learned that sometimes its better to pay someone to do the nasty/risky tasks with the savings you have realized over the years doing your other projects on your own. Get it in place, get your health straightened out and then beat the hell out of some iron...

 

I'd recommend paying someone to move it for you. Like others have said why chance another injury.

Either that or rent a Forklift so you can unload it once you get it home.

 

Sometimes you need others to reinforce a thought in the back of your head. Ill definitely look into a shipping company. Someone with a forklift so that can place the thing for me once its at my shop. This hammer will allow me to start doing some work again sooner since i wont have to swing the hammer myself.