M720 dolly to move shipping container

[eric67camino]

I'm looking at getting a 40 foot shipping container. And someone semi local has what I believe to be a M720 dolly set.

Can the M720 move a shipping container? It would be empty. Search indicates roughly 5000 pounds.

 

[Coug]

M720 is designed to connect to smaller shelters, does not have the correct size or design of connectors to attach to a shipping container.
For civilian shipping containers, you would need the M1022A1 as it is adjustable for different container heights. The M1022 is designed for an older, shorter height container but people have modified them to work for civilian newer shipping containers (apparently the older containers were about 6" shorter height than the current standard)

 

[eric67camino]

Thank you, so much. That's not the answer I was hoping for, but the odds of it being the right one, and close to me, and priced right all at the same time were not in my favor.

 

[Coug]

Not sure the situation but usually a shipping container is set down wherever you want it to be, and you start filling it with junk, pretty quickly going well past what the rated capacity of the M720 is. Not much point in having the container and not filling it.

With a little time and money you could probably build an adapter to use the M720 on the container as it's just a hooked bottom lip and a couple arms with bolts that connect it, and a simple tube steel frame going to the 4 corners on the end of the container, 2 uprights on the sides, a bar across the bottom with a lip added, and a second cross bar the height of the upper arms on the dolly with threaded holes for the bolts would be simple enough to fabricate if you have the tubing and a welder, but the steel these days would likely cost you as much as the dolly would.

 

[eric67camino]

I needed to move an empty container, which seemed within the specs of the M720. Found that one pretty cheap and close to me. Figured it might be handy in the future. Maybe I could adapt it, but time is short to get it moved, so I've called in a tow company that can move it with a rollback. Cost to have it hauled is about a third of the price of the dolly.

 

[swbradley1]

A 40 foot container weighs over 8,000lbs empty. I've never seen a rollback that will do a 40 foot container. I suspect they will use a Landoll trailer which is how most places around here move the bigger ones. I have a like new 20 footer and they are awesome.

 

[eric67camino]

The way they said they would move it was on a roll back. They said 26 foot bed, let the rest hang off, and put tow lights on the back. They were scheduled to move it today, but apparently not. Hopefully tomorrow.

 

[swbradley1]

My way of thinking was not have some out of balance load going down the road and I hope you take pics so we can see it. Maybe I can get the locals to use a rollback. It's got to be cheaper than having a tractor trailer do it.

 

[eric67camino]

Got delivered yesterday. Truck was big enough that it wasn't out of balance, I suppose. Cost was $300 to move about 15 miles.

 

[swbradley1]

Wow! Great looking container.

I puckered right up looking at it on the wrecker though, but it does open up some options for me.

 

[Mullaney]

Wow! Great looking container.

I puckered right up looking at it on the wrecker though, but it does open up some options for me.

.
Oh yeah! I imagine making a hard right turn - and the back swing runs into something. I do imagine that the driver is a "little better than average" though. It's a new truck. It isn't beat up... Guessing he has done it before...

 

[eric67camino]

He definitely seemed to know what he was doing. Was interesting to watch. He got it nearly exactly where I had envisioned it. I'll chain on with the M51a2 and shift it a touch this weekend

I've always had an interest in wreckers and towing and winching. All the different little attachments and tricks that make short work of it. Lots of figuring angles and pull vectors.

Truck definitely wasn't small. Two rear axles with duals, plus a third lift axle. So, I would assume it was well within capacity.

 

[biscuitwhistler37]

Got delivered yesterday. Truck was big enough that it wasn't out of balance, I suppose. Cost was $300 to move about 15 miles. View attachment 943254View attachment 943255

Now that's a "hold my beer" moment..... Kudos to the operator.

Glad it all worked out for you