Hi all, new here and to the spa world.

Obviously I love hot tubs (who wouldn't) and I have a chance to purchase a used hot tub that needs a little work.

It is a 4-year old Sonoma Spa Model: Symphony 910

Read more about it here

Now, this thing is about 1000 lbs with the frame!!! How the heck do I move such a tub?

I don't want to get a bunch of friends to lift manually as the weight is substantial and the chance of someone getting hurt way too high.

One thing in consideration is that both the current location and the new location (an hour away) are fairly flat with easy access. Neither of us minds having a truck/trailer on the lawn for the move. So, it would only have to be moved just a few yards on and off the truck. I would have the slab an everything ready in my place so when it gets here, it goes right in it's final destination.

I was thinking about renting a low-rise truck/trailer with a ramp and one of those industrial forklift. Now, is it a good idea to use a forklift to move the tub from the base or is that a stupid idea?

Anyone have any info, insigt ideas about this project? I called around for pro hot tub movers and lowest I was quoted is $400! I am thinking with trailer and forklift I'll stay down around the $150 area since I'd only need them for about 3 hours.

Many thanks,

Andrew

A n y o n e?

Has anyone used a forklift to move a tub? Good idea? Bad? Things to look for?

Thanks!

That's a heck of a job...

I posted some pictures of how I moved my tub. I only moved it 3 feet There was a reply also, suggesting PCV pipe

I used 4x4 skids and a floor jack ($14.99).

A fork truck would work I think, but you would have to set the tub down on 4x4 so you could get the forks out. The the problem becomes getting the 4x4's out. Maybe a floor jack.

Good Luck

I don't know if this will help you at all, but here's my 2 cents.

Depending on the overall dimensions of the unit some folks will use a crane to move tubs around.

We had what I beliefe was a 6 person tub moved by a backhoe with two fork attachemnts connected to the front bucket.

At the time, we had ubilt an extension onto our deck and had not put the side rails on yet. The backhoe was easily able to lift the unit into place and slide it off gently into it's resting place.

Connected the 220 line and go tthe garden hose.

well here is what I did,
For one, i got a tub which was in a back yard (city) which was fenced in with a narrow walk way. I used my fathers garden tractor wagon which was good for 800+lbs. got 4 guys to lift the tub on its side and used the pipe rollers to slide it into the wagon on its end. then we easily rolled it out to the front, and yes only less then 1/2 of the tub was in the wagon, but it moved fairly easily, then I used a "Come-along" to crank in into the trailer, removed the wagon and laid the tub down,over all it took less then 30 minutes.
now this weekend i am moving a larger tub for my Father-in-Law, from a back deck which is 3feet in the air, we plan on doing the same thing except we are cutting a sheet of plywood to tack down on the stairs of the deck, and using car dollys, (4 wheels on a 15 inch platform) you use them one under each car tire to move your car around the garage. we will use 2 of them under the tub (again on it's side) and roll it deck stairs and then into the wagon, roll it out the front and onto the trailer, we would use PVC pipe except making turns and down the stairs won't work!

Nice... I wish I could have seen it. I just moved my tub back onto a new slab. Used the same method... Floor jack and a long 4x4 lever. I may post some pictures.

I moved my Jacuzzi hot tub using 4" PVC pipes rolling it to a pick up truck. Disconnected the rear gate and let it hang down, we then lifted the tub onto its side and rolled the tub into the truck. Tied it down and reversed the process to unload. Not too difficult with four men.