Second story lift/crane?

[driftpin]

I was very limited as to height in the loft I had as part of a home remodel, I would have liked to make a full-height second story as part of the garage, but it wasn't in the budget.

An I-beam & a trolley would take too-much limited headroom so this is what I came-up with.

I didn't have room for a stairway inside the garage and outside stairways aren't allowed by zoning code. If I did build a second story, I would have to lose one car bay to fit the stairs, it just wasn't going to work, given the constraints.

So, I did a loft inside the two-car garage, covering the back-half with a very-sturdy design. I figured I would come up with something afterwards for placing whatever into and retrieving the same, in/out of the loft.

I decided to make a 'cherry-picker' hydraulic hoist adapted to my needs, and I also adapted a HFT 2,000 lb-rated winch to add a further mechanical advantage to the hydraulic cantilever lift. I have plenty of cable to pull either single or double cable (using a pulley block on the load).

Look at the thread to see how I had-built the loft space, to support heavy loads, and what I came-up with, to load the loft space. The winch control box has a hard-wired cord that provides plenty of separation from whatever is being lifted into the loft, and once the load is up there, I can swing the boom over and lower the load onto the loft. I've been using the HFT furniture dollies for heavier loads in the loft, to be able to easily move them around once up there.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6184964#post6184964

 

[Bear]

Not a real good pic but here is a HF trolly/lift on an I beam that works for me. (no engine blocks) and the stairs (not sure why the one is 90 off).

 

[PNWguy]

Not a real good pic but here is a HF trolly/lift on an I beam that works for me. (no engine blocks) and the stairs (not sure why the one is 90 off).

That looks really close to what I am thinking of.
Works well for you?

 

[like2wheel]

I recently put a 8' section of barn door box rail up in my trusses, along with a barn door trolley hanger and a Harbor Freight game hoist. Each is rated for around 400lbs, but I only plan on using it for about half that. Total about $70
Thinking I can add an electric winch if I need to, but last week had to lift a 200lb transmission, & it worked better than I thought it would.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/national-hardware-5116-box-rail-galvanized-8-ft

 

[Free Willie]

Here is my solution, elevator/work table all in one. Check the last couple pages of my build thread for the details. I have about $1600 in it but I sold my air motorcycle table for $800 so not that bad

 

[PNWguy]

Here is my solution, elevator/work table all in one. Check the last couple pages of my build thread for the details. I have about $1600 in it but I sold my air motorcycle table for $800 so not that bad

Awesome shop and elevator. Looks like I could put my MG on the second floor with it.

Also, you should post some bike rodeo photos and stories. It looks like a good time.

 

[Bear]

That looks really close to what I am thinking of.
Works well for you?

Works great for me, can't think of a better solution for me - here is a pic of loading floor panels up during construction

I beam is mounted with 1/4 plate on top of joists and 4 ea 1/2 bolts. Don't have a rating and probably never will as have no plans for anything over 200 lbs or so.