How to move my garden daybed around easily on the grass?

[DIYhackjob]

Hi, I bought a massive daybed (3m long in total) with a steel frame that I picture myself enjoying out in the shade on the lawn... with the only issue being it's got to be moved so the grass can be mowed & not too damaged.

The frame is steel with plastic wicker outer, I thought we could add wheels or put it on a flatbed with wheels of some sort. 

My partner estimates it weighs about 20kg. It feels too heavy and bulky for me to move without just dragging it and wrecking the underside.

The underside measurements are 1200 x 800

I saw a dolly https://www.bunnings.com.au/easyroll-250kg-750-x-380mm-heavy-duty-moving-dolly_p3961928 - it is a bit more than I wanted to spend on a $50 second hand piece

Would it be doable to add axels and wheels or am I making it too hard? (this is what I usually do, make it harder than it needs to be)

Thank you for your help.

[JacobZ]

Hi @DIYhackjob,

Thank you for your question about making your garden daybed easier to move around.

I'd steer clear of wheels in a setting like this as they will dig into the dirt and likely make it harder to move than it is without them.

You could try attaching some Surface Gard 200 x 150mm Furniture Slide Glides to the underside of the day bed. You would still be dragging the day bed along the ground, but they would become the main contact points with the ground which will help protect the bottom of the day bed.

Looking at the underside of the day bed, you'll more than likely need to drill some holes through the slide glides so you can slip cable ties through the glide and around the frame of the day bed to fix them in place.

Allow me to tag @DIYGnome, @Noyade and @Dave-1 to see if they have any ideas.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

[PilateswithElle]

Thanks, I see what you mean!

originally my idea was to hang it from our fig tree, but I don’t know if the branches are suitable. 

I’ll look into the glides and see if I can do that.

thank you again 

[Dave-1]

Good Evening @PilateswithElle 

I have an easy way to shift it around the yard, clunky it may feel like but easy enough.

Using Saxon 250kg Capacity P Handle Trolley With Pneumatic Tyres you come in from the side. Push the chair away from you so it tilts, slide the fork of the trolley underneath. You could then use a couple of ocky straps to loop around the top middle of the seat/lounge and hook it to the top of the handle. Tilt, and away you go  

Things to remember -

Keep the tyres inflated

Make sure ocky straps arnt super tight, they are just there to make it easy to tilt the chair backward sas you shift it.

When the ground is wet you proberly wont be mowing but caution for leaving tracks in wet ground

I shift wide things like this at work all the time.

Dave

[DIYGnome]

Hello @DIYhackjob & @PilateswithElle welcome, I would concur with @JacobZ regarding wheeled contraptions sinking into the grass bed and would like to suggest the use of plastic garden edging strips OR a sheet of coreflute to further minimise the drag resistence of the day bed (think skis or toboggan), of the 2 suggestions the edging improvised skis would likely be more aesthetically pleasing, perhaps paired with a rope fashioned handle? 👍

https://www.bunnings.com.au/icon-plastics-75mm-x-10m-jarrah-garden-edge_p3320987

https://www.bunnings.com.au/3mm-corflute-white-900-x-600mm_p0390160

[PilateswithElle]

Thanks for that! I actually was thinking along similar lines and was going to try to use pool noodles, not sure if it would work tho. I’ll look at the garden edging idea. Thanks for your suggestion 🙂

[DIYhackjob]

Thanks Dave-1 I didn't realise those little trolleys could actually move something this big. 

I can give that a go, thank you for the advice.

[JacobZ]

Hi @DIYhackjob,

I'd say the method I've mentioned above where you drill two holes through the garden edging and then use cable ties would be the best way to attach it.

Let me tag @DIYGnome for their thoughts.

Jacob

[DIYGnome]

Cable ties would be preferable as screws into the wicker frame would potentially weaken the overall structure...