Moving large, heavy objects is an exercise in patience and problem-solving. Cranes are an effective method for moving heavy loads in many situations, but there are also scenarios where a crane can’t complete the job or would introduce unacceptable levels of risk, cost, or downtime.
At Hydra-Slide, we design and manufacture hydraulic skidding equipment for exactly these situations. Our skidding systems keep heavy loads close to the ground, moving them in short, controlled strokes of motion. They are reliable, compact, portable, and powerful enough to move loads that weigh hundreds of tons.
Skidding systems are used by rigging companies, industrial facilities, power utilities, and project managers across a wide range of industries.
In this article, we’ll explain how Hydra-Slide’s skidding systems work, how they compare to other options, and what kind of situations are ideal for hydraulic skidding.
The Challenges of Moving Heavy Loads
Experienced rigging companies know that moving a very heavy item often comes with unique challenges, including:
- The load may be too large for a forklift.
- A crane may not fit at the jobsite.
- Overhead infrastructure may block access.
- The floor may not support heavy wheeled equipment.
- The load may be sensitive to tilt or vibration.
- The surrounding facility may need to be shut down during the move, meaning every minute spent moving the load is an extra minute of downtime.
A common example is the process of replacing a fully-loaded transformer at a power station.
- Operators must remove an old transformer and replace it with a new one.
- The site is congested, overhead wires block a crane lift, and the transformer itself is often covered with fragile, expensive equipment.
- Downtime at a power station is expensive.
- The move must happen quickly, safely, and without damage to the surrounding equipment that costs millions of dollars.
If you work at a manufacturing plant and need to replace a major piece of equipment, you’ll face many of the same problems.
Hydraulic skidding systems are ideal for these types of projects, combining safety and effectiveness when moving heavy, fragile loads.
How Hydra-Slide Skidding Systems Work
Hydra-Slide’s hydraulic skidding systems are “jack and slide” systems. To use them, operators:
- Use heavy-duty hydraulic jacks to raise the load several inches
- Place skid tracks underneath
- Lower the load onto skid shoes that ride along the track
- Push the load forward in short, controlled strokes using hydraulic cylinders
After each stroke, the cylinders automatically reset for the next push. The process repeats until the load reaches its destination.
The load stays grounded
- When using a skidding system, the load stays grounded and fully supported throughout the move.
- The load never swings, rolls freely, or builds momentum.
- When hydraulic pressure is released, movement stops immediately.
- Operators control the system from a safe distance through hydraulic lines, staying well clear of the moving load.
The systems are modular and hand portable
- Hydra-Slide systems are modular and portable.
- Components can be hand-carried into spaces that no other method can reach.
- Many systems require no additional tooling to assemble and operate.
Operators can also be trained on the use of the system in less than a day.
Hydra-Slide’s Core Components
Every Hydra-Slide system is built around a similar set of components, scaled to the weight and clearance requirements of the job.
Hydraulic jacks
Many hydraulic skidding moves begin with operators using heavy-duty hydraulic jacks to lift the load by several inches.
Skid tracks
Steel track sections guide the load from one point to another and include space for the hydraulic cylinders. Skid tracks are modular, hand-portable, and easy to assemble. They use either a dry graphite lubricant or a stainless steel-on-UHMW polyethylene surface, depending on the system.
Skid shoes
Skid shoes sit atop the skid tracks and are designed to support heavy loads at several points during the move.
Hydraulic cylinders
Hydraulic cylinders provide the force to push the load along the tracks. They operate by applying force in short, controlled strokes of movement. They automatically reset at each stroke.
Power units
Power units provide power to drive the system. They can be diesel, electric, or propane driven. Hydra-Slide’s synchronous power units allow operators to control multiple hydraulic cylinders together even under unequal loading conditions.
Skidding Uses Friction to Facilitate Safe, Effective Moves
One of the most important features of hydraulic skidding is how it uses friction as a safety feature. Every skidding move begins by placing the load on skid shoes, which sit on top of skidding tracks. The skid shoes are designed to maintain friction, not fully remove it.
The friction in our systems is calibrated by design. Our heavier systems use a dry graphite lubricant with a coefficient of friction between 0.15 and 0.2. Our lower-profile systems use a combination of stainless steel and UHMW polyethylene surface with similar friction properties.
All Hydra-Slide systems allow the load to move only when enough hydraulic pressure is applied to overcome the system’s built-in friction. As soon as pressure is removed, built-in friction causes the load to stop immediately. This design allows the load to move in short, controlled strokes along the skid tracks, taking advantage of friction to move safely and with almost no risk of a runaway load.
How Hydraulic Skidding Compares to Other Options
Cranes
Cranes are powerful and widely available. But they are also expensive to mobilize, sensitive to weather, and dependent on highly trained operators. Suspended loads are also vulnerable to swing, vibration, and the dynamic forces of a lift, which can damage sensitive equipment.
Rollers and skates
Rollers are a common “ad-hoc” option considered for many situations where something heavy must be moved. They can be an effective option for lighter loads. With heavy items, rollers offer little control. A load on rollers builds up momentum, risking a runaway load and damage to the item, the surrounding area, and operators.
Forklifts
Forklifts are practical when used within their rated capacity, but that capacity has a ceiling. Using a forklift for very heavy loads or using two forklifts at the same time can be extremely risky.
Hydraulic skidding
For very heavy loads, hydraulic skidding offers a strong mix of effectiveness and safety. Skidding keeps the load grounded and under full control at all times. Unlike a crane, operators don’t need overhead clearance or the help of a trained crane operator.
The move is managed at a distance, with operators controlling the load through hydraulic lines while maintaining full visibility to the load and its path. Unlike rollers, there is no stored momentum. The moment pressure is removed, the load comes to a stop.
Examples of How Customers Have Used Hydra-Slide Hydraulic Skidding Systems
Hydraulic skidding has been used successfully across many industries and project types. Here are a few examples:
Relocation of a historic locomotive
A retired, 200-ton locomotive from the Canadian Pacific Railway needed to be moved 60 feet onto parallel tracks at a museum in British Columbia in preparation for a restoration project. Donald Rigging used Hydra-Slide’s HT300 heavy track system to successfully complete the move.
Chiller installation at a live plant
A crew from Bay Crane used hydraulic skidding to remove a 25-ton chiller through a louver opening on the second floor of a manufacturing facility. Hydra-Slide’s LP350 low-profile skidding system empowered the crew to complete the move despite only having 2.5 inches of clearance to work with.
Gate valve replacement from beneath a water tower
With a water tower blocking overhead access at a site in New Jersey, the team from J. Fletcher Creamer & Son, Inc., used hydraulic skidding to move a 20,000-pound valve through a narrow opening in the wall of an underground chamber. The crew then replaced it by skidding the new valve into place through the same opening.
Converter removal and replacement
Myshak Crane and Rigging used Hydra-Slide skidding systems to remove and replace a 105-foot-long, 9-foot-tall, 566-ton horizontal converter from a plant in Alberta, Canada.
Need to Move Something Heavy Soon?
Hydra-Slide has been building hydraulic skidding systems since 2011. If you need to move something heavy, reach out to our team. We’d be glad to help you decide if hydraulic skidding is the right choice for your project.
