lifting ideas

[kalmos]

Since you guys lift some heavy objects I'm looking for some ideas to help me with my cargo lifting issue.

I have a F350 and 22' deckover trailer that carries crated good on a pallet (up to 6 units per pallet). Each crated unit weights about 200lbs. The pallet cargo can be 2', 4' or 6' tall. I can either unload one unit at a time or the entire crate. I need to lift the goods off the truck/trailer and put it on the ground. Speed efficiency is not an issue and this is done on my gravel driveway. I'd like something portable or temporary that can be utilized only when needed.

 

[BobL]

Since you guys lift some heavy objects I'm looking for some ideas to help me with my cargo lifting issue.

I have a F350 and 22' deckover trailer that carries crated good on a pallet (up to 6 units per pallet). Each crated unit weights about 200lbs. The pallet cargo can be 2', 4' or 6' tall. I can either unload one unit at a time or the entire crate. I need to lift the goods off the truck/trailer and put it on the ground. Speed efficiency is not an issue and this is done on my gravel driveway. I'd like something portable or temporary that can be utilized only when needed.

Can you post some pictures of the loads and the layout/space so we can see what the physical situation looks like. I assume it's one pallet per trailer load and one on the back of the pick up?

 

[TraditionalTool]

Since you guys lift some heavy objects I'm looking for some ideas to help me with my cargo lifting issue.

I have a F350 and 22' deckover trailer that carries crated good on a pallet (up to 6 units per pallet). Each crated unit weights about 200lbs. The pallet cargo can be 2', 4' or 6' tall. I can either unload one unit at a time or the entire crate. I need to lift the goods off the truck/trailer and put it on the ground. Speed efficiency is not an issue and this is done on my gravel driveway. I'd like something portable or temporary that can be utilized only when needed.

Kalmos,

A engine hoist should be able to get high enough, and would work, if it would get high enough. Depends on how high your stuff is stacked.

You could setup some type of gantry crane by framing an overhead support, 200 lbs is not much and some 2x4s would most likely work. If you can lift the pallet a few inches, drive your truck out and lower to the ground, could use a pallet jack or engine hoist to move the entire pallet.

For only 200 lbs., you could back up in a garage and use the rafters to lift up 200 lbs., but be careful, as the weight goes up so does your chance of breaking one of them. You could run a support to the ridge from one of the cross ties to give it some extra support.

A chain fall would work in that situation also, inexpensive and fairly easy to use.

 

[BobL]

Kalmos,

A engine hoist should be able to get high enough, and would work, if it would get high enough. Depends on how high your stuff is stacked.

You could setup some type of gantry crane by framing an overhead support, 200 lbs is not much and some 2x4s would most likely work. If you can lift the pallet a few inches, drive your truck out and lower to the ground, could use a pallet jack or engine hoist to move the entire pallet.

For only 200 lbs., you could back up in a garage and use the rafters to lift up 200 lbs., but be careful, as the weight goes up so does your chance of breaking one of them. You could run a support to the ridge from one of the cross ties to give it some extra support.

A chain fall would work in that situation also, inexpensive and fairly easy to use.

If you read his post again, he has up to 6 units per pallet and each unit weighs 200lbs so he has 1200 lbs plus the pallet to deal with. Still do able using a gantry plus a winch or hoist of some kind but probably not connected to a garage rafter. His Pallets can also be up to 6ft high plus the height of his pickup so he could be too high for a lot of garages.

To cope with these heights, a gantry of at least 12 ft high would be needed - a portable one that big could be awkward - especially lifting anything strong enough that would act as the major loadbearing cross member up to that height.

 

[TraditionalTool]

If you read his post again, he has up to 6 units per pallet and each unit weighs 200lbs so he has 1200 lbs plus the pallet to deal with.

Ooops, missed the 6 on a pallet, but still doable.

Me and a friend fabricated our own gantry and used a chainfall to lift a Nichols horizontal mill a few inches and lowered it to the ground after removing the truck as explained (1200 lbs for a Nichols), we just used 2x4s and 2x6s. 1200 lbs. on the cross tie might be pushing it, but I think a support to the ridge could handle it. Probably best to be safe, though.

Most portable gantry cranes are not cheap, although I saw one for about $600 locally last night. Mostly they go for about $1000 - $1500. They sell for about that much new, but the shipping will kill 'ya. Here's a cheaper one at Northern Tool that says it will lift 3000 lbs., but has cables or ropes to support it. They mostly sell for about $1000 - $5000 at Northern Tool.

Check craigslist locally, you might get lucky. Don't offer too much, they are not an easy item to sell, IMO.

 

[Kicker_92]

I can either unload one unit at a time or the entire crate. I need to lift the goods off the truck/trailer and put it on the ground.

Do you need to lift the crates, or could they be rolled off? A boat winch and pallet jack or dolly would make quick work of it if you build a ramp.

 

[BobL]

Do you need to lift the crates, or could they be rolled off? A boat winch and pallet jack or dolly would make quick work of it if you build a ramp.

That's the way I would do it except he says he has a gravel drive way and pallet jacks don't work all that well on a gravel.

An alternative to a pallet jack/trolley are 4 custom inverted L shaped steel brackets and 4 jockey wheels with pump up tires. Hook or attach the brackets to the corner of the pallets and then attach the jockey wheels to the brackets. Lift pallet using wheels and then roll off the truck or trailer. We did this with some fibreglass laboratories that weighed about 3500lbs and it worked a treat - with the ton labs we used a winch to lower them down the ramp. Whether they would be rollable on your gravel depends on how packed the gravel is - that's why I asked about looking at the exact setup and space etc

 

[huskyhank]

Chain the pallets to something substantial and drive out from under them.
Otherwise I await your full description for a better answer.

 

[kalmos]

Can you post some pictures of the loads and the layout/space so we can see what the physical situation looks like. I assume it's one pallet per trailer load and one on the back of the pick up?

Basically it's a pallet with up to 6 rectangular crates on it. No pictures at this time but each crate is symmetrical and made out of angle iron crate approx 2'wide x 3'tall x 4'long. These can be stacked in 2 columns and up 3 units high. My 22' trailer can have multiple pallets of this cargo...

 

[kalmos]

Do you need to lift the crates, or could they be rolled off? A boat winch and pallet jack or dolly would make quick work of it if you build a ramp.

Ramp and gantry crane would not go well with the neighbors. I already have too much stuff in the driveway...

Garage hoist from rafters is also not an option. That's where the cargo goes and there is simply no room in there for the truck or trailer.

I keep telling my wife we need a shop but apparently it's not in the budget

 

[kalmos]

If you read his post again, he has up to 6 units per pallet and each unit weighs 200lbs so he has 1200 lbs plus the pallet to deal with. Still do able using a gantry plus a winch or hoist of some kind but probably not connected to a garage rafter. His Pallets can also be up to 6ft high plus the height of his pickup so he could be too high for a lot of garages.

Correct, I checked in the past and the cargo would not fit through the door. The load was too high.

 

[huskyhank]

An old cheap off-road fork lift.

Or any old fork lift but you drive the trailer under it and use it only to lift and set down the package on a small flat dolly that you roll into the garage.

I saw a small gantry the other day that would have worked mounted on your trailer to set things on and off with. A sliding rail gantry over the trailer bed.

 

[kalmos]

I was thinking on fabricating a crane for the trailer when I got this idea from the web (hitch mounted ATV crane)

I have 1980's 18HP riding mower that has a metal frame. I could attach some metal to the frame and run it to the front of the tractor. Then in the front extend an upright 'crane' and attach some side stabilizer wheels for support. I could use an electric winch cable to lift/lower the cargo hook/straps. I could use the tractor to move one unit at a time.

 

[huskyhank]

I found this while looking around:

http://www.123lift.com/old-pickup-truck-liftgate.html

I'd like to build something like that for my little 8 foot trailer!!
Great log lifter --- I think?

But what you need is a bridge crane built on your trailer.

 

[BobL]

Ramp and gantry crane would not go well with the neighbors. I already have too much stuff in the driveway...

Ramps do not need to be permanent. They could just clip onto the trailer or pickup back and when not in use be stood up out of the way. I still reckon my idea of 4 inflatable jockey wheels and a set of ramps (and a small winch) is the most compact and portable solution.

 

[kalmos]

I found this while looking around:

http://www.123lift.com/old-pickup-truck-liftgate.html

I'd like to build something like that for my little 8 foot trailer!!
Great log lifter --- I think?

But what you need is a bridge crane built on your trailer.

LOL, I saw that lift video when surfing Youtube for ideas. I love the acting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtxGcFNZneA

 

[kalmos]

Ramps do not need to be permanent. They could just clip onto the trailer or pickup back and when not in use be stood up out of the way. I still reckon my idea of 4 inflatable jockey wheels and a set of ramps (and a small winch) is the most compact and portable solution.

I do have an ATV 4' wide tri-fold ramp. I'm not envisioning the 4 inflatable jockey wheels and how this would unload the cargo. Please elaborate or provide a web link for visual... Thanks.

 

[Kicker_92]

Another option would be to build a smooth bottomed steel sled. You'd be amazed how much weight you can slide when theres little friction.

For most of the beams we've been moving, it's been pieces of pipe layed down Roman style. With the rollers underneath the weight, it's very easy to move and control them. I've used a bunch of pieces of rebar in a similar way to move a very heavy 20" planer.

Since you have the lawn tractor, rigging a small crane to that would probably make the most sense as it gives you the ability to move them anywhere. It won't take much to lift 200 lbs, but make sure you build it strong enough to hold that weight while bouncing around.

 

[BobL]

I do have an ATV 4' wide tri-fold ramp. I'm not envisioning the 4 inflatable jockey wheels and how this would unload the cargo. Please elaborate or provide a web link for visual... Thanks.

 

[kalmos]

Very interesting approach! The shown design would need to go under the pallet but with slight modification I can see this working when you need to move a pallet that's already on a ground. Kind of like a pallet jack. But I need to move the cargo off the trailer...