<div>I purchased a "Grand Chariot" from Premier Moving Equipment (www.premiermovingequipment.com) and I really like it.  This is an adjustable skid board with 5" outrigger wheels.  I considered buying  piano horse, but even though that would make tipping a piano on its side easier, it is still necessary to lift at least one end of the board to get a dolly underneath. The platform of the chariot is about 10 inches above the floor.  That makes lowering and (more importantly) lifting the bass side corner much easier.  That first 10" part of the lift on a typical skid was always the hardest part.  Once you've got the piano on it's side on the chariot, you're already on wheels.  And there is no problem with the device rolling away when you're in the middle of tipping because you can lock the wheels every 90 degrees, so two can be in line with the board and two can be perpendicular to the board.  I used it recently to move a reproducer grand, and the platform height was high enough to protect the player guts. It is also adjustable from 6'6" to 9', Full flights of stairs would be a problem, and crossing lawns or loose gravel would be tough, so I still carry an old fashioned skid with an All Terrain Dolly, but for moves within a building, this works great. Gordon Large, RPT (51 and still move about 100 pianos/year) Colby College, Waterville, ME </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> -----Original Message----- From: Porritt, David <dporritt@mail.smu.edu> To: College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org> Sent: Thu, 10 Jan 2008 3:35 pm Subject: Re: [CAUT] The Piano Horse <div id="AOLMsgPart_0_7dff8219-c150-4a29-a1a2-3775bbe74229" style="margin: 0px; font-family: Tahoma,Verdana,Arial,Sans-Serif; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> <pre style="font-size: 9pt;"><tt>Doug: We have one at SMU and I have used it a couple of times. It's certainly better than trying to move one by myself without one, but I have to admit most of the time we're still calling a piano mover. They work, though at my age I'm not real fond of moving pianos. We got it when we had a "B" that needed to be moved fairly regularly and I was assured that I could do the move by myself. I found that not to be the case. I've done it with some help from our Facilities people - particularly with them doing the lifting parts. It takes care of the scary part - removing the #1 leg and setting the piano down on the board - but that's all it does. All the lifting on to the dolly etc. is still heavy lifting. Depending on your age, physical condition and interest in doing this kind of work they do work. dave ____________________ David M. Porritt, RPT <a href="mailto:dporritt@smu.edu">dporritt@smu.edu</a> -----Original Message----- From: <a href="mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org">caut-bounces@ptg.org</a> [<a href="mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org?">mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org</a>] On Behalf Of Douglas Wood Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 1:24 PM To: College and University Technicians Subject: [CAUT] The Piano Horse Are any of you using Jansen's Piano Horse for moving grands around you facility? We are currently hiring outside movers, and I'm wondering if it would be worth purchasing one. Doug Wood </tt></pre> </div>  <div class="AOLPromoFooter"> <hr style="margin-top:10px;" /> More new features than ever. Check out the new <a href="http://o.aolcdn.com/cdn.webmail.aol.com/mailtour/aol/en-us/text.htm?ncid=aolcmp00050000000003" target="_blank">AOL Mail</a>! </div>