What am I thinking??? Purchase and move a used hot tub??

There is a used Hot tub 15-20 minutes away from me. They are only asking $325 and it is a known brand and according to them in good shape, plumbing is suppose to be new. My idea is to get a low cost Hot tub and convert it to salt water. I am hoping to get 2-3 years out of it. I have never moved one before, so I don't know where to being, if I should hire a company or rent a Uhual truck and wing it. Anybody have experience? My main concern is they are delicate, so any damage could waste my money.

I'm just imagining the former owners post-sale: "Woo hoo! We didn't have to pay to have it hauled away!!" ...which seems to be the case with every used hot-tub I've ever seen.

If you're still dead-set on the idea, rent a truck with a lift-gate (Penske). Rolling something that large and unwieldy up a U-Haul truck ramp can be tricky with little margin for error. Somebody slips or loses their grip and that's all she wrote. Do you feel lucky?

Access will likely determine how easy it will be to move. If it's in a back yard with no sidewalk access, getting it on a dolly and rolled out may be tricky. How many strong-back friends do you have?

Fiberglass? They are not that fragile.

They will NOT, however, survive flying off a truck.

Tie it down well, you're good to go.

There are 3 things I'd be concerned about with a used hot tub:

• Cracked fiberglass, (easy to visually inspect)

• Non- working pump (test this- they are expensive)

• Mold in the pipes. No one ever thinks of this one, but it's a great really big, really nasty issue. However, if you are converting to salt, you should be OK. Maybe flush it once with Chlorox first.

I did this same thing, paid to have it moved, then never used it once.

If you can borrow a snowmobile trailer that may be easier than a truck.

A two place trailer is typically 102" wide x 8' long, with a tilt deck and capable of carrying >1000lbs.

I used to design stuff for these folks: http://www.spatoter.com/

I can't find any pictures, probably still have the plans on a jump drive, or on the old desktop, but we built a trick wagon/dolly/hand truck apparatus specifically for hauling hot tubs. We sold bookoos of them, and I'll bet if there's a large-ish spa/hot tub dealer in the area they've got one. They're always looking to make a buck, especially if it's still cold out, so it may wind up being more cost effective to have them haul it vs. renting anything.

Get some 4 inch pvc pipe and rent a trailer from home despot. Just roll that sucker out to the curb Egyptian pyramid style.

I was just looking at fire heated tubs online. What do you guys think of converting a regular tub with bad plumbing to run off a fire heated water system and some sort of water pump to circulate?

there's one born every minute

If you are judicious and put out a Wanted ad on craigslist they should come to you for free... Have seen them moved and reinstalled. Personally really miss mine as we used it 3 days a week at our house in Texas. There will be one added to the Cincinnati Casa at some point but other priorities are ahead of it currently...

trigun7469 said: What am I thinking??? Purchase and move a used hot tub??

Gee, I haven't had a good case of herpes in awhile. That's what you are thinking... J/K

We had one years ago and cold nights, outside under the stars, in the tub were pretty freaking cool.

We had a hot tub at our old place and we have one at our current place. I didn't pay for either one. It's amazing how many people give them away. There is no way on earth I'd pay what they're asking for new ones. Some bleach in the pipes, let it run for a couple of hours then empty and refill. Good to go. We moved the first one on its side using a pair of skateboards. We were able to back the trailer up to our current one. They're tougher than you think.

We looked at getting a used hot tub. Like others said, I've seen them for free on CL. But my concern was not knowing how well it was taken care of. Don't want to deal with leaking pipes, bad pumps, etc.... Yes, we'll lose the depreciation bit, but we wound up going with a brand new Jacuzzi. Figured since our house was new construction, may as well give it a new hot tub. Besides, we'll get our use out of it.

Where it's located on our patio, we have great privacy.

A guy at work has one, I've heard him complain multiple times about how much electricity it consumes continously.

I used to sell these in a previous life. They are truly a PITA to take care of, and make a boat look reliable. The easiest way to move it would in a Uhaul. We used flat bed truck and a box truck. Simple furniture dollies work well to make them mobile. Take a few friends with you and your done. Not too difficult.

be careful with the sides, some come off easy for access and don't make good "lift" points.

and drain the water out first...

Hot tubs are nice to use when they belong to someone else.

What about a dolly and a strap? It is looking like the cheapest I can do this for is $100-$150 I am going to see if this person will just give it to me.

jstand wrote: If you can borrow a snowmobile trailer that may be easier than a truck. A two place trailer is typically 102" wide x 8' long, with a tilt deck and capable of carrying >1000lbs.

This is how I've seen them hauled, but it will depend on how big this particular hot tub is.

How about a portable for a little over 300? Gets decent reviews. http://www.amazon.com/Intex-PureSpa-Portable-Bubble-Massage/dp/B00HHO0IEU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426187759&sr=8-1&keywords=hot+tub

Cotton wrote: How about a potable for a little over 300? Gets decent reviews. http://www.amazon.com/Intex-PureSpa-Portable-Bubble-Massage/dp/B00HHO0IEU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426187759&sr=8-1&keywords=hot+tub

After spending sometime in a salt water pool and hot tub I really want something that can handle it, not sure if a inflatable can handle it, anybody use salt in a inflatable?

Gotta be easier to move than a piano. Guy I bought the house from had a few friends come get his hot tub off my back patio. I don't recall them having much trouble. You and a few big friends outta be able to handle it.

trigun7469 wrote:

Cotton wrote: How about a portable for a little over 300? Gets decent reviews. http://www.amazon.com/Intex-PureSpa-Portable-Bubble-Massage/dp/B00HHO0IEU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426187759&sr=8-1&keywords=hot+tub

After spending sometime in a salt water pool and hot tub I really want something that can handle it, not sure if a inflatable can handle it, anybody use salt in a inflatable?

I may find out. I'm thinking about purchasing that exact one....I just like the idea of a portable.

They're pretty light when they're empty and the fiberglass is super tough. The pipes and fittings are not, so don't set it down on the pipes. I had to do some work on mine and was able to drain it, disconnect and remove the pump, and set it up on its side to work on the bottom of it. I did that by myself no problem. Once it's up on the side you and one other person should be able to carry it.

The pump is the most expensive part. I had to replace mine, I bought a new motor and a rebuild kit for the pump head, it was about $250 or so. Went together fine and worked fine.

Paying for one in good shape is not a bad idea. The free ones are usually beat to hell. A new one is $2000 - $3000 so paying $325 for it if it's in good shape is cheap. I spent almost that much on my pump motor.

Check the pump motor out thoroughly. Any signs of rust and you should get it free. My armature rusted and the bearings seized. I started rebuilding the motor and realized my time was more valuable since I always have 2,000 projects going on at once.