Attaching an eye bolt to ceiling for hoist

[OccupantRJ]

My 6 inch I beam hoist rail in my shop spans 25 feet and is supported on each end by 3” pipe columns. The center area is supported by 11 hanger points to the trusses, and those connection points also extend upward to collar ties that I installed. The ends are also horizontally connected to the outer walls. I spent many hours adding multiple Z bracings to two adjacent trusses that paralleled the beam until they looked like a wooden bridge.
I lifted a 1300 lb Bridgeport base casting with no issue as the beam’s first test.
This is the third hoist rail that I have installed in various shops I have had. It is tucked between two trusses for more headroom due to my 8’8”ceiling.

 

[mike93lx]

My 6 inch I beam hoist rail in my shop spans 25 feet and is supported on each end by 3” pipe columns. The center area is supported by 11 hanger points to the trusses, and those connection points also extend upward to collar ties that I installed. The ends are also horizontally connected to the outer walls. I spent many hours adding multiple Z bracings to two adjacent trusses that paralleled the beam until they looked like a wooden bridge.
I lifted a 1300 lb Bridgeport base casting with no issue as the beam’s first test.
This is the third hoist rail that I have installed in various shops I have had. It is tucked between two trusses for more headroom due to my 8’8”ceiling.

Your shop just hasn't collapsed yet

/s

Nice setup

 

[PCustoms]

To each his own, I guess. I wouldn't worry about removing something like this...it isn't like I am hanging a tag on it saying what it is certified to. It's just an eye bolt and how the next guy uses it is on the next guy, not me

Did you just advocate for personal responsibility?

GTFO

 

[mike93lx]

Did you just advocate for personal responsibility?

GTFO

 

[CraigStu]

I laid a 4x4 across three trusses that were on 2ft centers. I placed the 4x4 right next to one of the truss diagonals. I ran an extra long eyebolt through the drywall ceiling and through the 4x4 w/ a couple of big washers on top. I ran the eyebolt right next to the center one of the three trusses. I shoved a standard wedge shim like used for windows and doors between the 4x4 and the outer trusses. I shoved it in so the working thickness was about 1/8". I thought this would place some of the weight on all three trusses. This was about 8ft from the end of the 22ft trusses. I used this to pull the Ford 351W from my car.

 

[rust in the eye]

Why does everyone care so much about the next owner?

Because someone may get hurt

 

[Jackfre]

I’m with John in OH. Spreading the load across the top of the structure is best. I might add that if there is any deflection in the ceiling on first pick I’d run a couple diagonals up to the top chord of the truss. In my last shop I cut a 22.5x48” piece out and fashioned a mount for a winch to better get things up and down out of the attic storage. When we sold the place a couple years ago I dismounted it leaving it on the floor and telling the new owner what I had done. Up to him at that point.

 

[rust in the eye]

I built my own workshop which uses trusses (architect is relieved of drawing the roof structure when specifying trusses which are designed by the truss manufacturer). I spoke with my truss manufacturer with this same question and was told in no uncertain terms they are NOT designed to be loaded in this manner, at all. The bottom chords are not even single pieces of lumber. Walking on those bottom chords does not inspire confidence.
The only way I'd attempt this is to have a properly sized beam spanning the entire structure.
Having said that I'm aware they are a bit(define "bit", right??) over engineered and in a practical situation spanning a few trusses would perhaps be sufficient for a light load but........

 

[rust in the eye]

Prior to building this lift, I performed a self structural engineering test by jumping up and grabbing one of the joists and swinging my 230# body imagining weighing another 70#s and eyeballing the deflection in the joist which I saw none. Same thing I lift nothing more than 300#s and use it for my generator, snow blower and such. Without using this my chances of hurting my back lifting the generator into the bed of my pickup truck is 50/50. I'm gonna take a good guess that the chance of my garage collapsing using this is less than 0.01%.

Nice, strong arrangement there but those aren't trusses.

 

[Norcal]

I don’t have time to reply to every specific question but heres more details.

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I will check the drawings. These were not manufactured trusses. They were built on site. I still have plans as my grandfather had the building built a little over 25 years ago. The bottom cord of the truss is a 2x6.

I would have more faith in factory truss's over site built.

 

[MoonRise]

~$250 engine hoist from H-F or similar.

Done. No ceiling issues at all. Moveable, for when you need to move it out of the way or move the thing you are lifting.

More weight capacity and possible higher lift height would be a H-F or similar shop gantry crane. Still moveable, costs more though.

 

[CraigStu]

Guys you did read that the OP wants to lift 300# a few times maybe but mostly 150# right? Seems to me a lot of concern for the equivalent of 1 or 2 very light weight guys doing pullups from the ceiling to me.

 

[mike93lx]

Guys you did read that the OP wants to lift 300# a few times maybe but mostly 150# right? Seems to me a lot of concern for the equivalent of 1 or 2 very light weight guys doing pullups from the ceiling to me.

Must design for all contingencies for you and everyone else that may come within a mile of it!

 

[walta]

This is my over the top solution to hang the TRX exercise apparatus. I am hoping it never see 300 pounds but I think it would stand the strain.

Walta

 

[Joemctag]

Gantry, home-made with wood to use all your ceiling height is good and you can roll it around.
An idea I didn’t notice yet is to have your beam in the attic and when you want to lift something heavy, shore up from the garage floor ( 4 x4s should do it ) to under the beam ends. Lots of people have done this. And yeah, through bolt not lag bolt.

 

[Doozer75]

because you don't want a lawsuit coming back after sale of the house because you didn't "reveal" the dangerousness of said eyebolt, regardless if said lawsuit is BS or not

The world has damaged you quite severely.
I will pray for you.

-Doozer

 

[JohnX14]

To each his own, I guess. I wouldn't worry about removing something like this...it isn't like I am hanging a tag on it saying what it is certified to. It's just an eye bolt and how the next guy uses it is on the next guy, not me

I can't even believe this needs to be stated. There's a lot of judgement here.

 

[ybnormal]

The world has damaged you quite severely.
I will pray for you.

-Doozer

pray for the religious zealots who caused the damage, they're the ones who need it more