Winch

[edl]

hi all - have a 4 post lift - on top sits a project car with no engine - want to put a different car up on the lift from time to time - so have thought about installing a winch on the front cross piece (this is a Bend Pak HD9 lift - the front cross piece is that the ramps rest on) - but the mounting would require drilling several holes in the lift's front cross piece - anyone done that? - how much would it weaken the lift's front cross piece? - the bracket mounting instructions can be found here: http://www.harborfreight.com/manuals/93000-93999/93202.pdf - THANKS - ed :thumbup:

[Franz©]

Make up a mounting base for the winch from flatstock

U bolt the mount & winch to the crossbeam.
No loss of strenght or holes in the beam.

[Junkman]

I have never been a fan of drilling into anything that could possibly be used as an excuse for a manufacturer to claim caused a failure at some future date, even if the holes were not the cause of the failure. What I would suggest is that you have a U shaped bracket made that you could slip over the top of the cross arm, and secure at the bottom with a pair of through bolts under the cross arm. The U shaped bracket will have 90 degree corners and clamp onto the cross arm when it is installed. You can then mount the winch to that bracket, and removal will be quick and easy whenever you don't want or need it on the lift. Other than the potential of the manufacturer claiming that your modification caused a "safety" issue, I can't see how a few holes in the cross arm will effect the structural integrity of the lift. If you use my suggestion of the U bracket, you will never have to worry about this question, and if some day, you decide to sell the lift, a potential buyer will not be able to point to anything and say that it is worth less as a result of your modification. Junk....

[Junkman]

Make up a mounting base for the winch from flatstock

U bolt the mount & winch to the crossbeam.
No loss of strenght or holes in the beam.

I guess that great minds think alike....... I just take more words to say the same thing, and a lot longer to type ....... :lol_hitti

[PAToyota]

My other concern would be with the horizontal load applied to something that wasn't necessarily designed for it. I'd consider mounting the winch to the floor rather than to the lift.

[edl]

thanks all the u bolt would be the solution - if not for what pat said - not only is the lift engineered for vertical stress, i don't have mine bolted down - it happens that there is a step up to a small work area just ahead of the lift - while it will be a trip hazard, bolting to that 1.5 foot raised concrete may be just the thing - AMETEUR question to follow don't LOL - what is the best way to bolt into concrete - so this is a 2yr old garage (so that kind of concrete...) i think it is about 4 inches thick - would i want something akin to a lag bolt? - or an anchor/bolt system?? - thanks! ed

[Junkman]

Rent a hammer drill and drill holes into the concrete. Prior to drilling the holes, go to a fastener supply house and purchase female threaded inserts. They can be installed into the holes, and the winch bolted down to the inserts. When you don't want the winch there, you can just unbolt it and put it to the side. Just put some rubber plugs into the holes to keep them clean, and there is nothing to trip over....

[edl]

thx! ~~~~

[Junkman]

forgot to post picture.............

[PAToyota]

Yep, Junkman has the ticket.

I've done that for a bender I have mounted in my shop. For now I just run the bolts down in the holes when the bender is not there, but I keep meaning to cut the heads off a few bolts and cut a slot in the remaining stub so that I can screw them down in to keep debris out of the hole but have them flush with the floor.

[edl]

thx guys - went to grainger and picked up anchors (drop-in/female thread) - have a hammer drill (we'll see if it is tought enough) - the one thing i did NOT get was the setting tool - the guy at the store said to just use a punch...? - thanks again! - ed

[Junkman]

I think that I would be using a extra long bolt fully screwed into the insert. You don't want to gamble damaging the insert, because once they are in, they don't want to come out easily. I intend to drill the hole a little over sized, and use the epoxy cement to hold them into place. That way, I know that they will not come out, nor will they get damaged in the installation.