Hoist to Second Floor - Planning a garage addition

[scootermcrad]

Hey everyone!

We've finally narrowed down our plans on what will work best for our budget, shop/garage needs, and the way our property is laid out. We're hoping to break ground sometime next year, so this gives me plenty of time to design a garage layout.

We know the garage will have a second floor and the plan is to use part of the second floor as an upstairs work area and storage area. So, I'm planning on a making a removable floor section (size to be determined) for hoisting storage items (engines, axles, etc) as well as any tools that may need to be upstairs. I'm thinking that a 1000 pound hoist will be sufficient for lifting and I should be able to mount it right in the middle of the roof pitch (12-12 pitch, in my case) to simplify the mounting structure needed. At this time, I'm thinking it may be a fixed position, but I'm going to weigh-in the idea of having it mounted on an i-beam and trolley to assist in maneuvering stuff around. But I know that will add an additional level of complication to everything.

I know I've seen some examples of this here, but can't seem to find the threads they were in. I would love to see some examples of those of you who have done this and any information you can share about the electric hoist you used, floor sections, and structural challenges you faced when setting this up.

Thanks guys! Look forward to seeing what you've done!

S

 

[rippered]

this one is cool

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=264293

 

[BFBOB]

There are lots of threads on this, here and elsewhere on the Net. Try searching for "elevator" or "lift", or even "dumb waiter". I think there are several in the Fabrication forum. Too lazy to look 'em up for you right now.

 

[scootermcrad]

this one is cool

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=264293

OOOO! That is awesome! Not sure how I missed that one. I searched "hoist" and must have skimmed right past it.

Thank you!

 

[scootermcrad]

This is pretty much exactly what I want to do, if I went with an actual I-beam and trolley and not a fixed setup. Very cool!

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=138854

 

[wssix99]

^ These look cool, but they can't take the kinds of dynamic loads (1/2 ton) that you are talking about. In addition to the lack of strength in the trusses, the trolley location in the center of the roof is at its weakest point.

(I just had a contractor try to hang a 350 lb HVAC unit from the center of two engineered trusses and the truss manufacturer calculated that it would consume the entire factor of safety in the trusses design. (The HVAC unit now rests on the floor!)

The secret to making this strong is getting the load from the beam(s) that the trolly travels on to the floor and the foundations. Wood roof trusses are a very inefficient/expensive way to do this.

If you can plan for the beam to rest on steel columns (you could even imbed them in the walls, etc.) instead of being suspended from the ceiling, you should end up with a much stronger, less expensive solution and you can put the beam anywhere you want in the building.

 

[scootermcrad]

^ These look cool, but they can't take the kinds of dynamic loads (1/2 ton) that you are talking about. In addition to the lack of strength in the trusses, the trolley location in the center of the roof is at its weakest point.

(I just had a contractor try to hang a 350 lb HVAC unit from the center of two engineered trusses and the truss manufacturer calculated that it would consume the entire factor of safety in the trusses design. (The HVAC unit now rests on the floor!)

The secret to making this strong is getting the load from the beam(s) that the trolly travels on to the floor and the foundations. Wood roof trusses are a very inefficient/expensive way to do this.

If you can plan for the beam to rest on steel columns (you could even imbed them in the walls, etc.) instead of being suspended from the ceiling, you should end up with a much stronger, less expensive solution and you can put the beam anywhere you want in the building.

I've sent the poster of that thread a message with the hopes he can shed some light on how that beam is suspended. I would agree 100% that the load should be ideally transferred to the concrete slab via columns/posts at either end. My quick mental calculations say some pretty substantial roof trusses would have to be constructed otherwise. This also raises an eyebrow to a single point mounting location for a hoist, vs a beam to share load over multiple trusses or positions.

Your statement is EXACTLY the reason I raised the question of structure.

 

[wssix99]

How long of a beam are you thinking about?

 

[2level]

I went with a fixed position hoist. Buried 4x6 posts in the walls and ran a 6x10 wood beam across one corner. A 42" x 72" section of the floor gets lifted out first, then I slide a sheet of 3/4 13 layer plywood over the opening and roll the floor section out of the way. After that, lift up engine or what-have-you and put the plywood back, plus a second layer of plywood, then roll the object across the floor.

 

[klwolff]

I built this setup at my shop for lifting jet skis and engines. 1100lb hoist on an 8" I beam, it works great! Beam is 26' long and only cost $260 at my local steel supplier. Hoist was $130 and trolley (1 ton) was $65. It is a lifesaver!

 

[scootermcrad]

How long of a beam are you thinking about?

It really depends. The addition will be 24x24. If it works out that the only way I will be able to support it is at either end, then it'll just about have to be the full length of the addition. If I can support it by designing a truss system capable of handling the additional live loads, then that will change things a bit. That will give me options.

If I do a simply supported beam with a column/post at each end, then it creates a bit of a flow problem in the space on the existing side of the garage that's getting added to. That end of the room is supposed to be open to the existing area above the current garage (which will probably be an office). Supporting the beam at either end will force a column to run right through the middle of that space.

With a 12-12 pitch, I've been thinking maybe a modified scissor truss design may be the answer with additional collar ties. If I could actually run a 24' beam (minus wall thickness and whatever other structural things that are going on) that would be ideal and incredibly convenient. So, I'll need to calculate roof loads (dead weight, snow, wind, etc.) and design a truss that would handle the additional hoisting loads... If it really turns out to be

In the grand scheme of things, I would probably be just as happy with a hoist mounted stationary, as long as it was mounted up high enough out of the way. I can use a heavy cart to move things around on. I would probably have to have one anyway. However... then I'll have issues getting heavy stuff OFF the cart. Hmmm...