Aids for Lifting Heavy Items

[Thegundog]

My last son just moved out, 3 hours away, which makes my wife and I empty nesters.

I'm pretty involved in mechanical repairs typically having multiple projects going on: classic cars, small engine machines, tractors etc……

A couple of days ago I needed to rebuild a carb on a generator and realized I no longer had help (since my son moved out) lifting the machine onto the bench and ended up having my wife help me.

My back no longer likes me lifting and I’m pretty conscientious about it……

Anyone in a similar situation(?), and if so what kind of creative ways are you employing to lift heavier items in the shop with no help?

 

[FMB4]

A motorcycle lift might work if you have the room. Otherwise, remove the carb or other 'small' part you're working on.

 

[jrsavoie]

Swing jib, gantry, tractor with loader, a few chain falls

Last year I picked up a side of a mower deck and my back is still bitching about it.

Take care of yourself and your wife.

 

[Crabman]

gundog,

First of all congrats on the empty nesting and welcome to GJ. I too am being careful with the back, etc.

There are few threads on this issue, it depends on how your shop is set up and how much you need to lift. Maybe a search for hoists or gantry will pick some up.

My recollection about one that appealed to me a guy set up a pickup crane so it would lift onto his bench.

Good luck finding a solution that fits your needs.

Bruce

 

[nadogail]

A chain hoist hung from a trolley that rides from an overhead rail secured to your building framing, seems to me, might solve your problem.

 

[CJM8515]

lift table perhaps.

 

[mike93lx]

An engine hoist can be used for a lot of lifting and doesn't require steel work in your garage

 

[LXCam]

I’ve got everything you can imagine for lifting heavy ****. But my most used piece of equipment is my hydraulic table. And if I had to rely on only one method, that’d be my pick.

 

[Crabman]

This thread discusses some solutions:

Pickup truck crane / hoists

Do any of you guys have any experience with pickup truck cranes? I was contemplating getting the Harbor Freight unit but figured I check with the braintrust on GarageJournal. TheGrooveking

www.garagejournal.com

 

[619DioFan]

2 ton foldable engine hoist. Mine has lifted / loaded more heavy , awkward items than it has pulled engines.

 

[niget2002]

2 ton gantry. Kinda a pain rolling it around the shop, but it gets the job done. I need to replace the I beam with a longer one as the current one doesn't fit over the wheels on my trailer.

Amazon.com

 

[sweetk30]

I have a fold up engine hoist and some atv tie down straps . I can rig up a lot in the shop this way .

And i also have a hydro lift table that is 3" off the ground and up to 36" all the way up .

 

[laser3kw]

my arsenal:
engine cherry picker
hydraulic lift table (30"x20")
pneumatic lift table (motorcycle / lawn tractor)
hand winch
ratchet straps
I am also considering a jib type hoist to attach to the pneumatic lift table to assist with repairs on lawn equipment.

 

[FMB4]

Ya, welcome aboard GD!

 

[65Goat]

^^^

 

[NUTTSGT]

2 ton foldable engine hoist. Mine has lifted / loaded more heavy , awkward items than it has pulled engines.

My suggestion as well. You can buy new or find them on FB or Cl.

Harbor Freight Tools – Quality Tools at Discount Prices Since 1977

Harbor Freight buys their top quality tools from the same factories that supply our competitors. We cut out the middleman and pass the savings to you!

www.harborfreight.com

 

[Prospecter]

For a lot of stuff, I get down to its level with a creeper seat or small stool to sit on, rather than lift something to the bench.

 

[alfazer]

Fold up engine crane.
A high lift pallet truck; don't have one (yet) but they look super useful.

 

[jmdirk]

Another vote for engine crane/cherry picker. Can lift up to ~ 2000lbs. Very versatile. And can probably be had for pretty cheap on Marketplace, CL etc.

 

[Sweetcorn]

I don't know what your workbench set up is like, but I love this thing. The table is extremely heavy, but i did the hydraulic jack and caster mod, so it moves easily whenever i want it to. I use it all the time for my home shop. In the first pic I'm lifting a crazy heavy smoker out of my truck.

Before anyone loses their minds, I know that isn't a lifting strap. I lifted the smoker up a couple inches, drove the truck out, and set it down. Its all my stuff and I was willing to take the gamble.

 

[Sweetcorn]

Here I'm using it to set a Kubota trans/diff on the table for repair

 

[finn]

Lifting straps that run behind your neck are inexpensive and invaluable. They save your back. They’re available at Menards and probably Lowe’s and HD.

An engine stand and a couple of chains and slings. Get a load balancer for it.

A come along is handy, especially the ones with a chain or strap.

Tractor and skid steer with a bucket and forks

Mini excavator rounds out my lifting tools.

 

[infinkc]

I have a hydraulic lift rolling cart, comes in handy but you still need to be able to lift onto it.

 

[jrsavoie]

For a lot of stuff, I get down to its level with a creeper seat or small stool to sit on, rather than lift something to the bench.

The only problem with that is still needing a hoist to get me back up again

 

[niget2002]

2 ton gantry. Kinda a pain rolling it around the shop, but it gets the job done. I need to replace the I beam with a longer one as the current one doesn't fit over the wheels on my trailer.

Amazon.com

Oh. I forgot the motorcycle lift. I just got it last year and have honestly used it more in the fully up position as another work bench. But I have used it a few times to get something in/out of the truck.

 

[APEowner]

I use a motorcycle lift as my primary workbench. I can roll something like a generator right up on it. Link to picks of my motorcycle lift with things that aren't motorcycles on it. I also use my engine hoist and if necessary I borrow a teenager from a friend or neighbor.

 

[jrsavoie]

I use a motorcycle lift as my primary workbench. I can roll something like a generator right up on it. Link to picks of my motorcycle lift with things that aren't motorcycles on it. I also use my engine hoist and if necessary I borrow a teenager from a friend or neighbor.

No longer a teenager, but the wife said I had to take her back anyway.

 

[Renegade1LI]

I have an adjustable aluminum gantry, 10’ between posts so it’s great with my dually and trailers, height is also adjustable. As others have mentioned i have a hydraulic table from hf, engine hoist, mc lift and a pick up crane that goes in the receiver, really works great. I also have a prime mover used for masonry work, it’s a walk behind fork lift, just needs some work. I plan on adding a winch in the pick up bed to work with ramps. There are lots of affordable options out there.

 

[Renegade1LI]

Don’t rule out the hf gantry, with a coupon it’s really a great buy, just not wide enough for a dually.

 

[theoldwizard1]

A chain hoist hung from a trolley that rides from an overhead rail secured to your building framing, ...

I would not trust that in most garages for more than a couple hundred pounds.

 

[JAYoung]

Depending on the task, the old heave-ho on a block and tackle might work.

 

[gregs]

I bought a used Genie type manual lift. Will raise to 12'. Use it like a manual forkilft to pick things up and also to get to things on some small pallet rack shelving. Handy to have.

 

[TractorJeff]

Got an engine hoist that is rated 3000lbs in the fully extended mode(Industrial rated). It takes up floor space because it is not foldable. But lifting tractor parts its safe! Skidsteer is an invaluable assistant also! If I could do it over, a hoist on a trolley beam would be in the budget!

 

[Jagmandave]

I bought a 1000lb capacity hydraulic lift table from Harbor Freight for $200 - thing is heavy as hell, but it's on casters and has a handle to use to move it around. It goes from about 3" to at least 35" which is just slightly higher than my workbenches....this thing is so handy as I can roll it up to the back of my car and slide something right in or out.

I use it to build engines (small 4 cyls) and transmissions as it's easier to work off of than the bench since I can walk all around it.

Highly recommend one!

All of the suggestions above have merit, but I have a very small shop so I'm both space and height constrained, and don't have the room for a gantry or a forktruck.

YMMV.....

 

[Renegade1LI]

You can also make a gantry, couple 4 x 4 posts and a beam, make it knock down or on wheels. I made one when i set my lathe up, couldn’t fit the aluminum one i have. I used a 3 x 8 length of ipe , but a steel or aluminum i beam would work, double 2 x 12 with a 1 ton chain block, just a thought and it’s low cost.

 

[CN Spots]

Ditto on the folding engine hoist and the hydraulic table.

Funny how stuff seems to get heavier as we get older.

 

[haveissues]

I use my tractor with forks to lift a lot of things.

 

[nadogail]

Ditto on the folding engine hoist and the hydraulic table.

Funny how stuff seems to get heavier as we get older.

Not only do things get heavier, the floor gets further away.

 

[BruceMc]

Not only do things get heavier, the floor gets further away.

And concrete feels a lot harder these days.

 

[Hobby_Man22]

Swing jib, gantry, tractor with loader, a few chain falls

Last year I picked up a side of a mower deck and my back is still bitching about it.

Take care of yourself and your wife.

I bought an L2501 kubota to do my lifting.