How many have raised pole barn trusses by themselves?

[kcode]

I am raising a 48x72x16 pole barn by myself. Has anyone here put the trusses up with only the help on one other person (my wife)? I was thinking about using pump jacks. Any pictures or advice of this being done?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[Radix2]

You want to put up 48' trusses by yourself? On 16' walls?

A half day with a crane instead of a week long and very dangerous job.

Even a small accident or mistake will cost 10x

I absolutely hate hiring, but this one makes no sense to me.

What is your truss weight from the paperwork?

 

[Musicinabottle]

I've done some unbelievable accomplishments in building, even been called an Egyptian, but I have to agree with radix. Get a crane in there and get an extra hand to help you, and not your wife. I've always been a lead carpenter, but one time, in a wind storm, the contractor made the call to tip trusses and the set he and another crew were working on above me and my crew blew over and knocked a guy off the wall, injured another on the floor and broke the truss. Don't go there!

 

[brownbagg]

i have, and they fell, hurt like a sob

 

[6768rogues]

As others have said, if you are not experienced a failure can be expensive or fatal if someone is up in the trusses installing bracing. I have done them by hand, but with at least a half dozen people, some of whom were experienced.

 

[RPH]

Get a crane, mine cost $200 and had the trusses up on a 72’ building in fours hours. It allows you to move ahead on the other things important. At 48’ those are big and heavy. Someone could get hurt or killed if it goes wrong. Plus the truss may be distroyed in the incedent. How long to get the replacement? How long can the site be shut down while the authorities investigate the accident? Both can stop the build cold.

 

[sberry]

I have done this litterally a hundred times. I have seen it done a hundred more by all kinds of crews. Get a couple more helpers, some, a bunch of 8 ft 2x4, mark them, rent a crane, be done in half a day and move on getting it braced and sheeting started or running purlins.
There are other good places to save diy, this isn't one of them.

 

[ReggieR]

I am raising a 48x72x16 pole barn by myself. Has anyone here put the trusses up with only the help on one other person (my wife)? I was thinking about using pump jacks. Any pictures or advice of this being done?

Thanks,
Steve

Any orchards around you ? Call a maintainer and see if they have a picker basket. It'll lift a man and 3-400 lbs of fruit so a truss is easy stuff
I used to get hired to change sign light bulbs,lift TV antennas, trim trees and all kinds of stuff. It made it nice to run the machine in the off season and bring some extra coinage

 

[Boilerhouse]

I built my garage myself, most tasks, even standing the walls, done completely alone. But for the trusses I had a buddies help and a crane (with operator of course). It cost 300 dollars about 15 years ago and took about 90 minutes.

 

[zkdiesel]

Used backhoe bucket with pole welded to bucket, a semi wrecker and a skidsteer with a jib boom in past. You need some kind of heavy equipment and a guy on each end

 

[crook038]

I raised the trusses for my 42x48 pole building by myself. I used a 20’ 2x12 on edge strapped to the front of my scissor lift. I used lifting slings from the board to the double truss and lifted them straight up and onto the post tops. The lift platform was able to slide out so I could reach from 1 truss to the one I was installing in order to attach bracing. Hope the picture helps.
Sean

 

[sberry]

How tall is that building? Big differenc3e on a tall one. It isn't that its impossible but it can or could be impractical and dangerous.

 

[kcode]

Man you guys are killing me lol I will look into getting a crane for lifting them. I'm not opposed to trying it by myself, but it's probably wise to get a piece of equipment to help.

 

[jack stand]

Crane'em!
You can sheath (or wall girt) & build your overhangs if any on the ground of your gable ends on the ground.

 

[dneiding]

Used backhoe bucket with pole welded to bucket, a semi wrecker and a skidsteer with a jib boom in past. You need some kind of heavy equipment and a guy on each end

This is exactly what I did. Jib boom strapped instead of welded.

 

[Bear]

Sorry I don't have better pics. We built it on the ground, used HF boat winches, some pullys, angle iron and then lifted into place. Took a bit to coordniate the winching but all worked out.

 

[mrobins297aaa]

I vote for the crane but this is the way the guys that built my barn did it.
it's 36x64x14' height

 

[RWorth]

Buy a cheap skidsteer, use it for the entire project, trusses, lifting materials, siding roofing, excavation grading, then sell it if you don't need it when you are finished.

 

[zkdiesel]

This is exactly what I did. Jib boom strapped instead of welded.

http://neiding.com/barn/trusses1][/QUOTE]

This one has winch and a 5’ hydro telescope. Works out very nice

 

[MagKarl]

Yes, I framed each bay of my roof on the ground in 36x12 sections and hoisted with 4 Harbor Freight boat trailer winches. No crane needed.

 

[gnpenning]

Smaller buildings yes. One the size of yours not many around that have done it by themselves that are still alive to tell about it. Those that are that did it with their now ex wife as the only help lost the building in the divorce. Crane is cheaper than a divorce.

 

[Kaizen]

Man you guys are killing me lol I will look into getting a crane for lifting them. I'm not opposed to trying it by myself, but it's probably wise to get a piece of equipment to help.

Even a man lift can be rented or a skyjack that would allow you to lift them and install. Probably by yourself if you thought it through. Did 32 footers myself. No way your size


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[sberry]

Rental isn't free, the cost of equipment rental to do it slowly easily pays for a crane. There is no better way to do it than crane rental.

 

[kcode]

Sorry I don't have better pics. We built it on the ground, used HF boat winches, some pullys, angle iron and then lifted into place. Took a bit to coordniate the winching but all worked out.

I like this idea. I know 48' wide is a little bigger, but I think it could work. I like the idea of building each bay on the ground.

I have a guy near me that has a crane, I will see what he would charge for putting them up in the air for me. Or I go with above method

 

[OneOfEm]

I rented a manual duct lift / material lift for my trusses. It was a little slower than a crane would have been, and with wind, a crane would be safer. My wife and I did mine on a calm day and had no problem.

 

[cj7jeep81]

I rented a manual duct lift / material lift for my trusses. It was a little slower than a crane would have been, and with wind, a crane would be safer. My wife and I did mine on a calm day and had no problem.

What size/height is your building?

My wife helped me set the 16' trusses on my 8' shed. She doesn't like ladders, and was able to do it (while pregnant). If I had made her help me set the 40' trusses on my 16' tall building, we'd be divorced.

We had 5 guys set my trusses. 2 were experienced and did most of the work. One drove the skid steer with the boom lift on the front, and the other was on a man lift in the middle to line them up, and set the bracing. I was on one side to nail them, and my brother on the other, with my dad holding a rope tied to the trusses from the ground to direct them.

There is no way I'd try that with two people, unless both were experienced. And if it gets windy and you don't have them braced properly, hopefully its just a truss that gets damaged.

 

[Radix2]

I like this idea. I know 48' wide is a little bigger, but I think it could work. I like the idea of building each bay on the ground.

I have a guy near me that has a crane, I will see what he would charge for putting them up in the air for me. Or I go with above method

You have any overhang on the roof?

These guys sliding up the inside don't.

what are your truss weights? Things get heavy with size fast. And big trusses get floppier too.

 

[sberry]

I realize it isn't the same, have set smaller buildings and houses with cranes but also a lot of 80 ft. I used 2 length of chokers and swung 2 at a time with experienced crew who were ready for it.
I was running a crane and neighbors were building a pole barn. I stopped on the way home, told the guy, half price, 200$ I am right here. Instead the contractor is going to drive his little tractor over in hour and a half, spent 2 days fukkin with it.

 

[Marctrees]

Make sure you brace them properly as you proceed.

Marc

https://www.google.com/search?tbm=i...lkKHeJJBLYQ4lYIMCgA&biw=1229&bih=608&dpr=1.56

 

[kevinpenney]

If your local to Mansfield, TX or the dfw area, I'd be happy to bring out a crane truck for fuel cost..

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[8mpg]

Crane is surprisingly cheap. It may cost you more money to rent equipment then have a crane out. We set our trusses with a boom forklift. Would have been way cheaper to get a crane out but I didnt realize it at the time.

 

[maxpat82]

Skytrak FTW.
https://imgur.com/rZ2dMnU

13x 11ft tall trusses on 10ft wall and 10x 9ft trusses on 12ft wall)
all with a 19ft reach skytrak and and a 3ft trestle(made out of 2x6) screwed on a 48" pallet.
took 2 easy day at 2 people(3 when my friend wife gived us a hand). including all the brace.

I rented the skytrak for 8 day to raise the wall, trusses, and roofing material, move wood bundle around(close to work), raise scafloding platform, etc,etc....best expense ever!
Crane would have been best for the trusses by themselves, but I got more freedom with the skytrak.

 

[rburke65]

Well I think you are ...pushing the envelope....with the safety of your wife trying to lift and set a 48' truss with just you two. Even with a crane and the two of you it will be a job. Rent a crane.

 

[Marctrees]

If your truss width was smaller, my answer would be different.

Really a good investment to have a crew that does this.

Best idea - Hook up w a local Pole Barn builder to do this part turnkey INCLUDING engineered bracing.

Do NOT poo poo the engineered bracing part.

I REALLY appreciate that your Wife is agreeable and has some capability, EXCELLENT, I'm a BIG believer in "You GO Girl" but let her help on safer stuff....Save, reserve her capabilities and Labor...there will be alot to finish the building after the Trusses are set and braced. Keep her alive, in one piece, and happy to help that. NO Trauma physical or mental needs to come into the picture.She can help with later.... MANY things that are safer and do not require "experience" and high level of alertness..... Do NOT expose Her to this... other than watching and hopefully paying careful attention to ALL the nuances of trained Workmen like all the behind the scenes to an un educated viewing a Pro Baseball Game...and learning.

Marc

 

[Marctrees]

You and your Beloved Mrs ?

Pump jacks ?

48' Trusses?

You're Query has been CLEARLY answered by the GJ Brain Collective.

Marc

 

[kcode]

If your local to Mansfield, TX or the dfw area, I'd be happy to bring out a crane truck for fuel cost..

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Thanks for the offer! I live in Oregon though, dang it.

I talked with the crane guy and he wants to trade some body and paint work on an old car for his help lol Not a bad idea.

So another question. I need a 6" concrete base under my poles. How many of you just pour the bags and then some water in the hole and let them harden.

Thanks for the input and ideas!

 

[mrobins297aaa]

why not just mix it up in a wheel barrow, make it real soupy and it'll be self leveling when you dump it in the hole.

 

[gnpenning]

why not just mix it up in a wheel barrow, make it real soupy and it'll be self leveling when you dump it in the hole.

Being real soupy will substantially reduce the strength of the concrete.

 

[maxpat82]

Thanks for the offer! I live in Oregon though, dang it.

I talked with the crane guy and he wants to trade some body and paint work on an old car for his help lol Not a bad idea.

So another question. I need a 6" concrete base under my poles. How many of you just pour the bags and then some water in the hole and let them harden.

Thanks for the input and ideas!

I did it for a fence. Not too sure about something that will hold a roof over my head.

 

[NUTTSGT]

So another question. I need a 6" concrete base under my poles. How many of you just pour the bags and then some water in the hole and let them harden.

Thanks for the input and ideas!

Concrete cookie ?