Overhead hoist on I-beam

[PopPops]

I found myself having to lift something that weight less than 80 lbs but was awkward to lift. I ended up using rope and 2 two wheel pulley's and got it done.
Since I have an I-beam chain hoist and trolly I'm thinking of installing an I-beam to the to the overhead floor joist in my garage so I can use it if needed.

The I-Beam would be about 6 to 7 feet long and attached to every joist in that span. I don't see myself ever picking up anything over 600lbs. With that said, for you that have done this type of thing, what do you think about this and what would you recommend?

 

[tarmy]

This…BUT…the trusses were designed for the load…and the steel plates that attach to them are designed to not have a point load on them…

 

[PopPops]

Nice setup. I have a three bay two story garage that was framed out to be an apartment on the second floor but is unfinished for an apartment. I believe the joist will handle an I-beam hoist but wanted to put the idea past you guys first.

Can I ask what is meant by the "steel plates that attach to them were designed to not have a point load"? I'm not familiar with that.

 

[earlybirds]

I put my 14Ft IBeam (with plates welded on each end) bolted between 2 6x6 pole barn posts. I then placed a jack post on each end between the concrete floor and the beam. No load on any trusses.

 

[PoorUB]

I have tracks north and south about 15 feet, and a I beam about 8 feet long that runs on that, and the hoist trolley on that I beam for east/west travel. So I can cover an area about 8x15 feet.
In that portion of the garage the previous owner put in floor trusses in the ceiling. I lag bolted each 15 foot track to two four trusses each.

My plan was for 500-600 pounds max but I have hung 2,000 pounds on it accidentally, and it is still attached to the ceiling!

 

[nadogail]

It warms my heart to see people working Smarter, rather than Harder

 

[Skinny_Blinky]

@PoorUB photo?

 

[FredWanaker]

Can I ask what is meant by the "steel plates that attach to them were designed to not have a point load"? I'm not familiar with that.

maybe he meant these. They are commonly used to build trusses

 

[niget2002]

I have tracks north and south about 15 feet, and a I beam about 8 feet long that runs on that, and the hoist trolley on that I beam for east/west travel. So I can cover an area about 8x15 feet.
In that portion of the garage the previous owner put in floor trusses in the ceiling. I lag bolted each 15 foot track to two four trusses each.

My plan was for 500-600 pounds max but I have hung 2,000 pounds on it accidentally, and it is still attached to the ceiling!

I'm curious how you accidentally hang something that weighs 2,000lbs...

 

[PoorUB]

I'm curious how you accidentally hang something that weighs 2,000lbs...

I restored an older John Deere tractor. The one in my avatar.

I was using a combination of a floor jack and the over head hoist to assemble the tractor, and lowered the floor jack. The hoist ended up holding up the whole rear end of the tractor. The 2,000 pounds is an estimate. The tractor weigh something along the line of 3,400 pounds and was fully assembled hanging there with the rear wheels off the floor.
Scared the **** out of me and I expected the whole ceiling to come down, but zero issues!

 

[My Old Tools]

Mine runs the length of the building, great for putting heavy stuff in the loft storage. Engineered with the building for 2000# lift.

 

[duneslider]

Floor systems or roof systems aren't (unless specifically designed for this) designed for that sort of extra load and technically should have posts that go to the ground to carry the load. However, these systems do have some safety built in. I wouldn't be worried at all about lifting 80lbs but 2000lbs is a lot and may or may not end well.

Another thing you can do to help the situation is use an aluminum I-beam, they weigh a lot less however still probably overkill. You could get a trolley for unistrut and that would handle your 80lb loads no problem.

 

[Boneyard51]

You can always use temporary uprights to support your I-beam, if you lift heavy loads.





Bones

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

I put posts at the end of mine, and didnt attatch to the ceiling, but I did luck into some 12" I-beam.

 

[Walkers]

Get yourself a gantry crane. Handy little buggers. I used mine in the shop until I built a bridge crane.

 

[jar944]

Mine runs the length of the building, great for putting heavy stuff in the loft storage. Engineered with the building for 2000# lift.

Nice Northfield

 

[CraigStu]

You can always use temporary uprights to support your I-beam, if you lift heavy loads.





Bones

I really like this idea. The only shortcoming might be someone using it w/o the supports when you are not there. I was going to suggest cutting a couple of dedicated 4x4s but then saw these. They are so inexpensive they may be less $ than 4x4s.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Tapco-84-in-Adjustable-Jack-Post/3201387

 

[PWC Repair]

I don't see a problem at all attached to several joists, either with brackets bolted through the joist or looped up over the joist. Imagine 3 guys at 200# each doing a pullup in a joist space.......that's 600#'s. IF THAT causes your house to fall down then something was BAD WRONG to begin with. I mean, a 200# guy can do a pullup with a 2x2 in between joists!!

 

[PoorUB]

Skinny Blinky, sorry, I missed this.

Now keep in mind there are engineered floor trusses in the ceiling these bolt to. I spanned across two trusses for each rail. As you can see I made the trolley, and the rollers supports for each end of the I beam. For rollers I just used a low priced 3/4" ID ball bearings and I found some step bushing to fit the middle of the bearing and reduce the bore to 1/2". There is a shaft running across the top of the I beam with sprockets that run on a #35 chain. The only purpose is to keep the I beam parallel.

This hoist has been in place for 25 years or more and zero issues. I try to keep the weight down to around 500 pounds.

When I did it I talked to a truss company, told them why I have and asked if they saw any issue supporting the hoist like this. He kind if hesitated and I told him I know you guys will never "write off" on it without an engineer involved, but can the lower run of the truss support 250 pounds? 500 pounds? He just laughed and said that 500 pounds per truss would be fine, but he will never admit he said it! I spread it out over two trusses per rail and am glad I did after my accidental 2,000 pound load test!

As for the strength typical garage roof truss, how many here have slipped a piece of 4x4 over a couple roof trusses and hung a chain hoist then pulled and engine out of a car? My dad's garage saw a lot of this when I was in high school and never any problems.

Ignore the fishing bobber. It is for my stopping point when I park. It is just pulled up as I have the hoist pulled over from where it usually sits.

 

[CraigStu]

Skinny Blinky, sorry, I missed this....
As for the strength typical garage roof truss, how many here have slipped a piece of 4x4 over a couple roof trusses and hung a chain hoist then pulled and engine out of a car? My dad's garage saw a lot of this when I was in high school and never any problems....

That is exactly what I did w/ 3 trusses, a long eyebolt, and a come-a-long to lift an old Ford 351 so I agree. But once you go to an Ibeam, a chain hoist, and a trolly, I think it is a good idea to upgrade a little. W/ the price on those jack posts I linked to above being so low, seems to me it is a no brainer.