TRAILER FOR MOVING PIANOS

[Steven B Moore]

At the shop where I work part time, the owner, John Barbour, has a trailor
that was purchased from a U-Haul type company and he has had it modified to
fit his needs more precisely. It is the standard small size with about 6'
of clearance and an inside lenth of 8'. He found a local metal shop or
welder to cut off the top just below where the roof stopped its arc down to
meet the side.  Three HEAVY duty hinges were attached to the front. A lip
was then welded to all four sides (except above the doors) so the back end
of the roof would raise up (hingeing on the front edge) and easily slip
back down onto its proper place directly over the walls and retaining the
support of the roof to anchor the walls to aid their support of the piano
that is strapped to them.  Next two old car "bumper style" jacks were
attached to the back corners with pole extentions going up to the base of
the roof section so the roof can be easily jacked up to accomodate the
height needed for the entrance of a full upright +dolly
or a grand. The lip all the way around, besides returning support to the
walls also keeps out rain. I have never had a problem with clearance inside
after the roof is back down for the actual traveling. Also to allow one
person to do the jacking, the welder has taken two tire irons (needed to
insert into the jacks for leverage) and cut off the lug nut end and welded
them to a long steel bar (ex. I______________I ) .

Steven Moore
Greenville SC