Gantry Cranes

[Number2]

Good Morning from a rainy Michigan, great day for posting on GJ.

While I have read many posts on Gantry Cranes, I am hoping to get some opinions on if its worthwhile to tie up valuable garage space with one (for my purposes).

I have a 30x40x10 Morton building (6x6 frame 8' foot on center) that holds all my tools, workbenches, tool boxes, compressor, welder - all against one 40' wall. I keep my tractor, lawn tractor, and will eventually have a old mustang in there.

I would like something to pretty much, pick thing up and set things down. Engines, lawn mower, whatever ends up in the bed of my pickup. I currenty use the forks on my tractor which are good for up to about 800 lbs.

I came accross a good deal (which means i bought it) on a 1970s US Made Gantry Crane with a 3 ton chain hoist and 2 ton spreader bar.

3 options
1. my thought when buying it, install the i beam into the ceiling trusses. I understand a fair amount of structural support if done right.

2. setup the Crane inside and use up valuable floor space. I see it getting in the way often.

3. Skip the idea and stick to the tractor front end loader as will cover 90% of needs. I also have a larger tractor thats 2.5 hours away that's good upto 2000 lbs, and could bring it home if I needed it for awhile.

I'm leaning towards 1 or 3, but wanted to ask the experts. Thanks!

 

[bob15]

I don't think # 1 will work well without a lot of rebuilding.

I like # 2, but if your building is only 10' tall, I don't think the crane will serve you well. You will lose a couple feet for the trolley and the hoist. Not sure if that would make it as feasible as you want it to be. This option is the safest.

# 3 is the most practical and what I do the most. i have an overhead hoist/trolley set-up, but still use the tractor/loader for 99% of all heavy lifting.

I know the picture isn't the best for the hoist, but the bottom of the I-beam is about 11' off the ground. You can see how much height you will lose, and with you being at 10' high, I personally don't think it is worth buying the crane.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Spent allot of time around gantry cranes.
Yes, they take up floor space; so equipment has to be arranged according to the amount of use it receives.. If that crane is pushed into a corner and trapped behind projects and other stuff; it will not be very convenient.. But if it shares a space with your tractor parked under it; not quite so much.. Nice thing about a gantry is that it Can be moved when needed.. I have built sky hooks into the structure of my own shops going back to 1970. They are useful, and obstruct very little, but are limited to their location..
Myself, I would set up the gantry in your garage. Won't cost tooo much to see if it works out for you.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

That is three of us that use tractor-loaders for lifting or moving heavy loads..
I would be lost without my tractor. I added a couple of two ton folding engine cranes and completely spoiled myself... But I would still like a good gantry crane.. My ceiling is 17',, so it would provide adequate height.. I agree with Bob on the limited under beam clearance with a ten foot ceiling.. It will still be a safe and useful way to lift, but how well it would suit your needs is really the question. For use on cars and pickups, it should be just fine.

 

[bczygan]

Good Morning from a rainy Michigan, great day for posting on GJ.

While I have read many posts on Gantry Cranes, I am hoping to get some opinions on if its worthwhile to tie up valuable garage space with one (for my purposes).

I have a 30x40x10 Morton building (6x6 frame 8' foot on center) that holds all my tools, workbenches, tool boxes, compressor, welder - all against one 40' wall. I keep my tractor, lawn tractor, and will eventually have a old mustang in there.

I would like something to pretty much, pick thing up and set things down. Engines, lawn mower, whatever ends up in the bed of my pickup. I currenty use the forks on my tractor which are good for up to about 800 lbs.

I came accross a good deal (which means i bought it) on a 1970s US Made Gantry Crane with a 3 ton chain hoist and 2 ton spreader bar.

3 options
1. my thought when buying it, install the i beam into the ceiling trusses. I understand a fair amount of structural support if done right.

2. setup the Crane inside and use up valuable floor space. I see it getting in the way often.

3. Skip the idea and stick to the tractor front end loader as will cover 90% of needs. I also have a larger tractor thats 2.5 hours away that's good upto 2000 lbs, and could bring it home if I needed it for awhile.

I'm leaning towards 1 or 3, but wanted to ask the experts. Thanks!

First, welcome to GJ!

Second, please put your location in your profile.

Photos and measurements of you building and crane.....

What's a great deal on a crane that size?

Bill

 

[holt2ton]

Is this a movable style crane that has the typical triangle shaped ends with wheels under it? Or is it a simple beam like in bob15's picture?
If movable style I would find a home for it against a wall and plan storage around it. Park tractor under it etc...that way you can still roll it out when needed.
Are you ceilings finished off?
If it's a beam style can you tuck the beam up between two trusses so that the bottom of the beam is close to the same level of the bottom of the trusses? That way you don't loose as much ceiling height.

 

[Rookie2]

I have option #1 scattered about my 40x60 morton, never finished it ! I wanted to hang a 53' 'I' beam from the top of my trusses At the peak of each truss were two 3/4" x 8' all thread . The top plate (like an upside down rear axle u-bolt) was at the peak and the bolt threads & nuts set up a little into the ridge vent. I didn't like the idea of hanging anything that heavy off the bottom of the stapled trusses.

 

[Strouty]

Could it be stored outside? I know there are plenty of people that keep them outside, unless it is an electric hoist, I would not worry too much about it.

 

[Number2]

First, thanks for all the information and Comments

Second, I know the right side A frame is spun around. I copied the pictures from before I deconstructed and didnt think about it. Luckily I noticed before I did both of them. And with just me around today, I figure it would be better to wait for a second set of hands to spin it.

As far as a good deal, I spent 150 for it. You guys would know better if that was a decent buy. I think I saw two 1970 manufacturing dates. The chain hoist and i-beam trolley are made in Japan (funny enough the hoist is made by American Forged). The Ibeam has a ship to sticker to Nabisco Company. Anyway I would be interested in hearing if it was a good deal. And dont worry about hurting my feelings, my wife doesnt.

This afternoon, I figured wth I'll give it a try.

To the bottom of the trusses is 10'4 and the ibeam top is roughly 10. So yes I can move it but will have to watch out for my lights.

My initial thoughts is that it will be nice to have. I normally leave my FEL off my tractor bc its my primary mower as of now (even though it only takes 3 minutes to put back on). And tying up the tractor for a hoist could be annoying. Down the road once I have a dedicated mower (zero turn) and maybe a larger tractor, I think I'll probably value the space more.

Gotta go back and check to see if I missed any questions. Thanks Everyone!!!

 

[Number2]

Ceilings are open trusses and I could pull it out front of the barn but like to keep outside nice and tidy. Thanks Everyone!

 

[Strouty]

You did well, that is worth $150 all day. I would have bought it. I guess a "you ****" is in order. That is a good thing on this forum.

 

[Number2]

You did well, that is worth $150 all day. I would have bought it. I guess a "you ****" is in order. That is a good thing on this forum.

Thanks Strouty. It kinda fell into my lap, but I figured at 150 that I couldn't go too wrong. And its alot cheaper then the damage I might do to my trusses using them in a bind.

 

[Strouty]

If it doesn't fit inside all the time, I would take the hoist off and store it outside in a heartbeat. Do you have tar, concrete, crushed stone, or dirt outside? I bet you could figure a way that the tractor could move it outside easy enough.

 

[Shadowdog500]

I had a gantry crane in my old shop 25 years ago and sold it when I moved out. Eventually I hope tho have one in my new shop. They are worth the space they take up. They stratles the, car, boat, tractor, etc. so you can pull any engine out of anything without the Typical limitations of a cherry picker like the arm not being long enough, the wheels not fitting under the car, etc. I also really liked using the chain hoist for installing engines over a cherry picker any day of the week. You can make small adjustements with one hand while lining up a motor mount bolt in another. No way I'm doing that with a cherry picker. Someone cracks the release valve too much on a cherry picker and your hand is pinned between the engine and inner fender.

As for storing the thing. I just pushed it against a wall with the nose of the car parked under it.

Chris

 

[BDT/NWMN]

You got that gantry, trolley, ratcheting chain hoist and a leveler all for $150... You did very well.

On top of that, it is a perfect fit for your building

 

[Number2]

If it doesn't fit inside all the time, I would take the hoist off and store it outside in a heartbeat. Do you have tar, concrete, crushed stone, or dirt outside? I bet you could figure a way that the tractor could move it outside easy enough.

Very true Strouty. I have used fork mounted scaffolding (my FILs) with the tractor. I'd probably just weld in some slots to a cross member maybe make them pin mountable to the A frames. I would just have to roll it outside with soo little room to lift it. Hide it back in the woods if I want. Thanks for the great ideas!

 

[Number2]

I had a gantry crane in my old shop 25 years ago and sold it when I moved out. Eventually I hope tho have one in my new shop. They are worth the space they take up. They stratles the, car, boat, tractor, etc. so you can pull any engine out of anything without the Typical limitations of a cherry picker like the arm not being long enough, the wheels not fitting under the car, etc. I also really liked using the chain hoist for installing engines over a cherry picker any day of the week. You can make small adjustements with one hand while lining up a motor mount bolt in another. No way I'm doing that with a cherry picker. Someone cracks the release valve too much on a cherry picker and your hand is pinned between the engine and inner fender.

As for storing the thing. I just pushed it against a wall with the nose of the car parked under it.

Chris

Good thinking and I look forward to putting it to use! Thanks

 

[Number2]

You got that gantry, trolley, ratcheting chain hoist and a leveler all for $150... You did very well.

On top of that, it is a perfect fit for your building

Thanks and I guess its true when they say, its better to be lucky than good! Maybe one day, I can be both

 

[trackwelder]

I have a 3 ton gantry that's super handy for doing truck cabs, and boxes. Would like to upgrade to a power hoist someday.