| 47 Moving homes all over the SI Transit Homes & Haulage relocated a church 180km from Waipahi to Frankton through the Devil’s Staircase. T T Rosa Watson CONTRACTING Transit Homes & Haulage Proud to be supporting Transit Homes & Haulage. MACHINEHIRE SOUTHLAND PLANT HIRE & HEAVY HAULAGE SPECIALISTS email: info@machinehire.co.nz 46 PRESTON ST. P.O BOX 5041 INVERCARGILL PH 03 215 7125 MOBILE. 021 571 250 An Invercargill transport firm has built a name for moving homes across the country, including through winding mountain passes. Transit Homes & Haulage has made a name for itself for its relocation services that it offers South Island wide. They have moved many different buildings, large and small through challenging South Island roads. Transit Homes was formed in 1994 and run by Bill McNamara. In 2021 Selina and Duane Cracknell took over from his son Kurt, and Transit Home and Haulage Ltd was born. Duane and Selina Cracknell had plenty to bring to the table with Duana a licensed practitioner in foundations, which was like the icing on the cake for transporting a building, Selina said. Altogether there is 25 years of experience within the team. There are three permanent staff, including Selina who is a Class 2 pilot, and Duane who is a Class 1 pilot and has been for many years, and builder Mitch who can also pilot loads. “When needed we also contract pilots when needed,” Selina said. Getting the job done safely requires the right gear, and the company’s fleet includes a transporter with a house trailer, three pilot vehicles and a crane truck which carries our jacks to jobs. Transit can transport homes new or old, and also large boats, but also has a number of other services to offer. It facilitates the buying and selling of houses, carries out dairy platform raising, offers over-dimensional transport and piloting, are an agent for new transportable homes, and carry out demolition and site clearing and new foundations and foundation repairs. So far since owing the business the farthest they have transported a home to is Haast, Selina said. “This move was from one side of Haast to the other so, not far in distance; just a few kilometres from home.” While it was not the most challenging move they had carried out - “all can have its challenges” - they had relocated a church 180 kilometres from Waipahi to Frankton through the Devil’s Staircase. “The roof of the church had to be braced up and craned off the original building and then transported through the devil’s staircase and put back together at its new destination.” Selina said the team excelled at getting the job done and getting it down well. “I don’t believe that we are any different from any other house removal company. “We are a small family-run business that love doing what we do, and we love to see people’s ideas and dreams come to life.” The company has worked closely with Exceed Homes, a transportable homes company based at Waikiwi in Invercargill. The company constructs multiple transportable homes at one time that can be delivered South Island-wide. The Exceed yard is a one-stop shop for clients where all the sub-trades that are involved in the building and transportation process are managed and organised. “We transport all of Exceed’s homes - we trust their workmanship and they trust us in what we do,” Selina said. “We have worked alongside (owners) Jade and Sarah since purchasing the company off the Kurt.” Selina said. “We share a yard with exceed as well, which makes things easy when transporting their homes all over Southland and sometimes Otago.”
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