Adding overhead hoist to pole barn

[Mitch22]

Hello,

I'm looking to had an overhead hoist to my already finished pole barn shop. This shop was never intended to be used in this fashion but now it is I'm looking for ideas on how to add an overhead hoist to pick up at least 5 ton. I was thinking of adding and I beam to each side vertically and anchoring it to the 6 x 6 polls and then setting a trolley beam on top of it and then adding some support somehow. Any pictures and explanation would be great.

 

[mike93lx]

5 tons is a lot. In the plants I work in, we have overheads around that size and larger, and they are huge. Plus they are engineered and very expensive.

Here's a kit with a hoist and girder, rated for 5 tons.

Hoosier Crane | 5 Ton Top-Running Crane Kit 55 ft Max Span 460v with 20ft Lift

<h2>Yale 5 Ton Single Girder Top-Running Crane Kit</h2> <h2>Standard Features</h2> <ul> <li>5 ton capacity (US Short Tons)</li> <li>20 ft. lift</li> <li>460-3-60, 115 V/C</li> <li&

www.hoosiercrane.com

 

[cvairwerks]

6x6's will not support a moving 5 ton system. About the only way you are going to be able get a 5 ton system in there is to set columns specifically for the runways. Depending on the span required, you will be looking at something in the range of 12" I beams for the bridge and 8" for the runways.

If you have the space, a 5 ton capacity forklift will be way cheaper in the long run.

 

[BillK]

Ok, I have to ask. What in the world are you lifting that requires a 5 ton hoist ?

 

[Youngandfree]

I'll second you should not attempt to attach it to your posts if you value your safety and property. That's nuts.

 

[CraigStu]

6x6's will not support a moving 5 ton system. About the only way you are going to be able get a 5 ton system in there is to set columns specifically for the runways. Depending on the span required, you will be looking at something in the range of 12" I beams for the bridge and 8" for the runways.

If you have the space, a 5 ton capacity forklift will be way cheaper in the long run.

Additionally you would need to look into what is supporting the posts that support the runways. I doubt your floor is adequate.

 

[zkdiesel]

5 tons is a pipe dream for an afterthought without building an entire system and spending real $$$

 

[mike93lx]

5 tons is a pipe dream for an afterthought without building an entire system and spending real $$$

Out of curiosity, I found our last 5 ton crane purchase. It was part of a bigger project, but the crane and install was 86k, plus 20k for support columns.

Maybe that's in the OP's budget?

 

[afazz]

As said above, 5 tons is no joke and cannot be supported by any portion of your current building, probably not even the floor.

These are the closest thing to an off-the-shelf 5-ton overhead crane. They start at $61k without installation or freight.

Free Standing Bridge Cranes, Overhead Bridge Crane and Hoist

Bridge Cranes, Cranes, Free Standing Bridge Cranes, Overhead Bridge Cranes, Hoist, Top Running Bridge Cranes, Overhead Bridge Crane and Hoist, and Under Running Crane from your source for material handling equipment.

www.lkgoodwin.com

There is a chance your floors can handle the columns, they can provide specs. I would imagine if your slab is less than 6" thick with lots of rebar, you would need to cut and pour proper foundations.

I have procured a handful of cranes in my professional life. Unless you are an engineer working with free labor and cheap materials, a 5-ton crane is a ~$100k event.

 

[zkdiesel]

Out of curiosity, I found our last 5 ton crane purchase. It was part of a bigger project, but the crane and install was 86k, plus 20k for support columns.

Maybe that's in the OP's budget?

I can sell him a 5 ton Pettibone for 15k and he can be done

 

[mike93lx]

I can sell him a 5 ton Pettibone for 15k and he can be done

A deal at twice the price!

 

[wssix99]

Ok, I have to ask. What in the world are you lifting that requires a 5 ton hoist ?

Shhhhhh....

 

[strutaeng]

5 ton crane as an afterthought is kinda nuts in my opinion as well for a pole structure, but it's still doable, yes.

I just finished a project that involved installing a crane and some machinery into an existing industrial warehouse. Machinery was like 120,000 lbs and crane was 20 ton with an auxiliary 5 ton, spanning up to 42'. It took a few months to do soil testing, design, contractor work, soils and concrete materials testing. Our scope was only materials testing and foundation design, but worked with the crane guy on the layout. I believe another few months to get the actual crane installed because it's still under fabrication. Obviously, everything was supported by new foundations and nothing was hanging from the structure.

So, anything is possible with money...

 

[afazz]

If you just need a hoist, and can deal with a short span, 5-ton gantry cranes do exist in the ~$10,000 range plus hoist. These aren't designed for moving loads, especially near full capacity. They're also quite heavy, this unit weighs over a ton itself.

Gorbel® Fixed Height Steel Gantry Crane, 15'W x 15'H, 10,000 Lb. Capacity

Gorbel® Fixed Height Steel Gantry Crane, 15'W x 15'H, 10,000 Lb. Capacity. Buy it and Save at GlobalIndustrial.com

www.globalindustrial.com

 

[PoorUB]

Hello,

I'm looking to had an overhead hoist to my already finished pole barn shop. This shop was never intended to be used in this fashion but now it is I'm looking for ideas on how to add an overhead hoist to pick up at least 5 ton. I was thinking of adding and I beam to each side vertically and anchoring it to the 6 x 6 polls and then setting a trolley beam on top of it and then adding some support somehow. Any pictures and explanation would be great.

How wide is the shop? Width add dollars exponentially! I have a buddy that is building a new shop. The frame work into the building was designed to accommodate a 5 ton bridge crane. I go look at it once in a while and it has some crazy steel going into it! also, his is 60 feet wide. I believe he said the bridge was 10,000 pounds, cover that span. So it isn't just the weight you are lifting, but the crane itself gets heavy.

He bought a use crane from a local manufacturer that wanted to up date. He paid a few thousand for it and had to remove it from the building.

 

[cannuck]

I have a pair of 47' 5 ton bridges. They are near the limit of what I can move with my 12 ton mobile crane. I literally have to design the whole shop around them to be used. Problem is as others have pointed out the ground/pad bearing capacity where the columns land. My customer just installed a half ton with 20' span and 40' runways on independent columns (6). It was close to $30k Cdn. Again as already pointed out: 5 tons is a hell of a big crane and not going to hang off of corbells on a pole barn.

 

[haveissues]

Hello,

I'm looking to had an overhead hoist to my already finished pole barn shop. This shop was never intended to be used in this fashion but now it is I'm looking for ideas on how to add an overhead hoist to pick up at least 5 ton. I was thinking of adding and I beam to each side vertically and anchoring it to the 6 x 6 polls and then setting a trolley beam on top of it and then adding some support somehow. Any pictures and explanation would be great.

You should go look at the size beams a 5 ton bridge crane uses. I bet they are a lot larger than you are thinking.