How Should a Casket Lowering Device Be Stored and Transported?
Updated: 19 hours ago
How a casket lowering device is stored and transported can have a major effect on how well it holds up over time. These devices are built for demanding cemetery work, but proper handling and protection still matter.
Store the device indoors and dry whenever possible
The preferred storage location is a dry, protected indoor area with the device kept upright and properly supported. Frigid's published owner guidance says to store its lowering devices upright, on the ground and indoors. If the device becomes wet or is rained on, its guidance says to dry it.
Cantrell's sees the same principle play out in the field. Equipment protected from unnecessary weather exposure generally ages better than equipment repeatedly left outside in rain and moisture.
Protect the device from rain and moisture
Cemetery operations do not always allow perfect conditions. A lowering device may be used during bad weather or transported on an open vehicle. When exposure cannot be avoided, protect the equipment when practical and dry it afterward rather than leaving it wet.
Purpose-made head covers can also help protect the heads during storage and weather exposure.
Manufacturer guidance also emphasizes protected storage and drying the device after exposure to rain.
Do not pile equipment on top of the lowering device
A lowering device may look extremely heavy and durable, but the side rail tubes and other structural components can still be bent or damaged.
Do not bury the device underneath boards, tent equipment, tracks, vault equipment or other heavy cemetery items. Frigid's published owner guidance also warns against placing heavy boards, cemetery equipment or metal tracks on top of the device.
Do not leave the straps tightened during storage
The device does not need to remain cranked tight while it is not in use. Frigid's published guidance says to leave the brake off when the device is not in use and states that there is no reason to keep the straps tightened. It notes that doing so helps minimize strap and side-rail wear.
A dedicated mobile stand can be an excellent transport method
Keeping a lowering-device setup properly supported on a dedicated mobile stand can reduce the amount of repeated lifting, collapsing, carrying and setting up the equipment. Frigid says its Streamliner allows the setup to remain intact between burials and that consistent use can help protect the lowering device from drops and other accidents.
Properly configured trailers and other supported transport methods can also work well when the device is secured and supported as a complete assembly.
Avoid transporting the device partially unsupported
Cantrell's does not recommend routinely hauling a lowering device with part of the assembly hanging unsupported from the bed of a Gator, side-by-side or similar utility vehicle. The better approach is to keep the device properly supported and secured during transportation rather than allowing portions of the assembly to repeatedly bounce or carry unsupported weight.
Transportation still affects equipment condition
A lowering device does not have to perform a large number of services to experience wear from regular cemetery use. Equipment may also be repeatedly loaded, unloaded, moved across cemetery grounds and transported between locations. That is one reason service frequency should consider how the equipment is actually handled and transported—not only the number of caskets it lowers.
Treat a casket lowering device like the valuable piece of mechanical equipment that it is. Store it indoors and dry when possible, protect it from unnecessary weather exposure, do not leave the straps tightened during storage, avoid stacking heavy equipment on it, and keep the assembly properly supported during transportation. Good storage and transportation are part of preventive maintenance, not separate from it.
Cantrell's Sales LLC provides on-site lowering-device inspection, repair, and preventive maintenance. Call 800-961-5722 for service assistance.
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