Unloading the A3-31 – BORA Portamate PM3550 Mobility Carriage Method:
Lift up each end of the machine, install the mobility kit, drive it off the skid using a wood ramp.
Note: The term “front end” of the machine cabinet or carriage/bracket assemblies here refers to the end that will come down the ramp first. The term “back end” of the machine cabinet or carriage/bracket assemblies refers to the end that will come down the ramp last. “Short side” refers to the narrower ends of the machine cabinet.
Build the Ramp:
• Remove the four-foot 4”x4” pallet cross footer so that the front of the pallet is only approx. 4.5” (instead of 9”) above the floor. This will reduce the angle of the ramp grade to about 5%.
• Install two (2) 53” x 34” x .5” side ramps to the pallet; fasten side ramps to pallet 4”x 4” s at each end and use 1”x3” strap joiners midway.
• Install 2 x 4 footings (tops cut to a 5° angle) underneath, midway down both side ramps.
• Install 2” x 4” x 34” apron (top cut to a 5° angle) to front of pallet, approx. ½” below surface plane of pallet.
• Install 2” x 4” x 34” braces (tops cut to a 5° angle) underneath the ramp, at points approx. 16” and 32” from the pallet end
• Install 4” x 48” ramp, joining it to the pallet at the apron.
Note: My own construction diverged from the instructions. Because my local Home Depot had no 5” plywood the day I was there, I was compelled to use 7/16” plywood. That simply meant my installing additional footings under the plywood ramp. It worked, but I do not recommend using thinner plywood.
Assemble the Mobility Carriage:
• Assemble long rails to the front-end corner brackets so that two (2) holes remain visible on each of the long rails just before the rail enters the front-end corner brackets. When the back carriage is similarly assembled (such that two (2) holes appear on each end of the long rails just before the rail enters the back-end corner brackets), a space of approx. 27 5/8” will be created between the front and back carriage assemblies) Note: Although the cabinet measures approx. 25”+ across the front side, it measures approx. 27”+ across the back side, and it is that latter dimension that needs to be used in assembling the carriage.
• Assemble short rails to the short side corner brackets so that one (1) hole on each short rail remains visible on the rail between the short side corner bracket assemblies (A space of approx.19.5” will be created between the short side bracket assemblies)
• Install foot pedals and lower all stops on the bracket corners.
• (Re)Install shipping pallet hold down brackets on the back end of the machine to prevent machine from sliding when front is raised.
Install Mobility Carriage:
• Lift front end of cabinet (with one of the long 2’ x 4”s that comprised the shipping crate) sufficiently so that front carriage assembly may be slipped under the front of the machine. Although it may be possible to do this by yourself, I highly recommend getting your neighbor to do the heavy lifting.
• Slide assembled front kit (including long stretchers) under front of machine first; once front carriage assembly is installed, stops on front brackets and cabinet hold down brackets on the back end should temporarily immobilize machine sufficiently.
• You may or not wish to install 1”x1” wooden stop rail across the ramp against the front corner brackets, but I found that unnecessary because the machine remained stable on the shipping pallet.
• Remove shipping pallet hold down brackets on the back end of the machine.
• Lift back end of cabinet with the 2” x 4” sufficiently so that back carriage assembly may be slipped under the back of the machine.
• I found that the front carriage bracket stops held the machine in place on the inclined pallet.
• Slide the assembled back-carriage assembly under machine, and mate and bolt it to front-carriage assembly. Note: I recommend keeping all the bolts in the back-carriage assembly loose so that the brackets have a little adjusting wiggle room to mate to the long rails.
Off the Ramp:
• Raise the corner bracket stops (I recommend back stops first) while holding machine in place. Then roll the machine down the ramp.
Lift up each end of the machine, install the mobility kit, drive it off the skid using a wood ramp.
Note: The term “front end” of the machine cabinet or carriage/bracket assemblies here refers to the end that will come down the ramp first. The term “back end” of the machine cabinet or carriage/bracket assemblies refers to the end that will come down the ramp last. “Short side” refers to the narrower ends of the machine cabinet.
Build the Ramp:
• Remove the four-foot 4”x4” pallet cross footer so that the front of the pallet is only approx. 4.5” (instead of 9”) above the floor. This will reduce the angle of the ramp grade to about 5%.
• Install two (2) 53” x 34” x .5” side ramps to the pallet; fasten side ramps to pallet 4”x 4” s at each end and use 1”x3” strap joiners midway.
• Install 2 x 4 footings (tops cut to a 5° angle) underneath, midway down both side ramps.
• Install 2” x 4” x 34” apron (top cut to a 5° angle) to front of pallet, approx. ½” below surface plane of pallet.
• Install 2” x 4” x 34” braces (tops cut to a 5° angle) underneath the ramp, at points approx. 16” and 32” from the pallet end
• Install 4” x 48” ramp, joining it to the pallet at the apron.
Note: My own construction diverged from the instructions. Because my local Home Depot had no 5” plywood the day I was there, I was compelled to use 7/16” plywood. That simply meant my installing additional footings under the plywood ramp. It worked, but I do not recommend using thinner plywood.
Assemble the Mobility Carriage:
• Assemble long rails to the front-end corner brackets so that two (2) holes remain visible on each of the long rails just before the rail enters the front-end corner brackets. When the back carriage is similarly assembled (such that two (2) holes appear on each end of the long rails just before the rail enters the back-end corner brackets), a space of approx. 27 5/8” will be created between the front and back carriage assemblies) Note: Although the cabinet measures approx. 25”+ across the front side, it measures approx. 27”+ across the back side, and it is that latter dimension that needs to be used in assembling the carriage.
• Assemble short rails to the short side corner brackets so that one (1) hole on each short rail remains visible on the rail between the short side corner bracket assemblies (A space of approx.19.5” will be created between the short side bracket assemblies)
• Install foot pedals and lower all stops on the bracket corners.
• (Re)Install shipping pallet hold down brackets on the back end of the machine to prevent machine from sliding when front is raised.
Install Mobility Carriage:
• Lift front end of cabinet (with one of the long 2’ x 4”s that comprised the shipping crate) sufficiently so that front carriage assembly may be slipped under the front of the machine. Although it may be possible to do this by yourself, I highly recommend getting your neighbor to do the heavy lifting.
• Slide assembled front kit (including long stretchers) under front of machine first; once front carriage assembly is installed, stops on front brackets and cabinet hold down brackets on the back end should temporarily immobilize machine sufficiently.
• You may or not wish to install 1”x1” wooden stop rail across the ramp against the front corner brackets, but I found that unnecessary because the machine remained stable on the shipping pallet.
• Remove shipping pallet hold down brackets on the back end of the machine.
• Lift back end of cabinet with the 2” x 4” sufficiently so that back carriage assembly may be slipped under the back of the machine.
• I found that the front carriage bracket stops held the machine in place on the inclined pallet.
• Slide the assembled back-carriage assembly under machine, and mate and bolt it to front-carriage assembly. Note: I recommend keeping all the bolts in the back-carriage assembly loose so that the brackets have a little adjusting wiggle room to mate to the long rails.
Off the Ramp:
• Raise the corner bracket stops (I recommend back stops first) while holding machine in place. Then roll the machine down the ramp.
