Using the Safe Chariot, one locksmith can transport a 2,000-pound safe or multiple safes. The trailer weighs 1500 pounds. This small, two wheel Safe Chariot trailer tilts to provide slightly angled loading and unloading off of the 50” deep, 52” wide and 3/16” thick diamond plate bed. The Safe Chariot is designed for one-person operation using a single drive hand cranked, clutched winch to lower the bed down in order to load and unload a safe. A locking pin secures the trailer in the tilted up position for transportation. When lowering the trailer, the locking pin is first removed and then the winch is cranked to lower the bed. Once the bed has been lowered, make sure there is no tension on the winch cable.
Before loading a safe, if the bed is not completely flat, place an aluminum plate over the bed edge to smooth out the incline. Load the safe using a pallet jack or similar piece of equipment. Make sure the forks do not extend beyond the back of the safe. Lower the pallet once the safe is properly positioned on the bed.
If a pallet jack or moving equipment is not available, the winch can be used to drag a safe onto the trailer by hooking the pallet to the sling and cranking it up onto the bed. If the safe is very heavy, consider using the sling and winch to pull the safe and pallet jack up onto the bed.
Once the safe or safes are loaded into the trailer, use the strap to secure the safe from moving or bouncing. The strap is positioned from a side fixed tie down over the top of the safe and down to the fixed tie down on the other side of the trailer. When running the strap over the trailer, put a half twist into the strap before attaching to the second fixed tie down. This twist prevents the road vibrations creating an annoying sound and stops the safe from bouncing. Before snugging the strap down over the safe, place the loose end of the strap under the snugged strap to keep it from flapping. Use two straps if the safe is heavy.
Important: Be sure to secure the pallet jack to the safe.
Once the safe is secured, crank the winch to raise up the bed to transport. The tilt mechanism design does not require significant strength in order to raise the bed when a safe is loaded. For my experience, there was almost no difference tilting up the trailer when empty as it was tilting up the trailer when the 650-pound gun safe was loaded. This trailer is equipped with a winch that did not require continuous turning pressure in order to keep the winch from lowering the bed.
Once the safe is loaded, the bed is winched up and the locking pin is inserted into the openings. Note: When the locking pin is installed, ease off to make sure there is no tension on the winch cable. To unload the safe, use the crank to ease off any pressure on the locking pin. Remove the pin and lower the bed. Remove the safe. Always raise the bed before driving.
Important: Always be certain the trailer is attached to the tow vehicle before loading or unloading a safe. The photos show the loading and unloading of a gun safe onto the Safe Chariot.
The Safe Chariot was equipped with a spare tire mounted onto the trailer. The trailer coupler accommodates a two inch ball. The trailer tongue weight is approximately 10 percent of the gross trailer weight.
Safe Chariot is sold through Defiant Safe, Inc., Telephone: (800) 225-2984.
