Chain Hoist Ideas

[peteymit]

Hello all!

I have been throwing around hoist and gantry ideas for a while so I do things like lift the front of my mower for service, suspend my boat (small 14' aluminum) to work on the trailer, and maybe unloading/loading some other things now and then.

That's my purpose, now I had an idea to buy a steel/iron pipe to span three or four of my rafters (24'' between OC) and then hang a log chain from that, that I could then hang a 2 ton chain hoist from when I need it. I was going to strap the pipe to the top of the rafter so as not to cut holes through the rafter. and this would also allow pretty much any diameter of pipe within reason.

The ceiling is finished so I only wanted to cut a hole in the center of one of my garage stalls and drop the chain/hoist system through there.

Is this a bad idea? Not planning on lifting anything close to a ton.

Thanks for any insight!

 

[rlitman]

... I was going to strap the pipe to the top of the rafter...

Strap OVER the rafter? That doesn't sound like a rafter. It sounds like a "rafter tie", which in a truss is usually not designed to hold significant loading, and is almost never designed to hold the sort of point loading you describe.

 

[matt_i]

It seems like the pipe is perfectly rigid but that concentrates most of the load on one or two trusses next to the hoist hanger (I'm thinking the "rafter" is the bottom chord"...could be wrong). Until it deflects enough to start loading the others.

Imo a better idea is to use your pipe but obtain some steel tubular "basement columns" of appropriate length and use those to support the ends of your cross-beam when needed using the screw thread to extend the columns to takeup space between concrete the the cross-beam,

When not needed the columns can be removed and stored. The truss chords should be sufficient to hold up the cross-beam and the hoist itself.

Installing a 2 ton hoist and saying "ill never use it over 1" is a recipe for someone to have a bad day.

 

[peteymit]

Yes, sorry, ceiling joists not rafters. And then by "strap" I meant like a galvanized hanging strap to keep the pipe held against the joists.

 

[kbs2244]

your loads will be under 1000 lbs (1/2 ton)
your plan will work fine

I did just that, for the same useage, and it worked for 10 years

 

[peteymit]

your loads will be under 1000 lbs (1/2 ton)
your plan will work fine

I did just that, for the same useage, and it worked for 10 years

It didn't stop working abruptly at some point after 10 years, did it?

 

[Kaizen]

Need clarification. Do you have trusses or actual ceiling joists (2x6)? How far from supporting wall will the chain fall be?


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[peteymit]

They are trusses.

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[Kaizen]

They are trusses.

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Near the top plate I think it will be fine. Say within 3 feet. If it needs to be further towards the middle I would add a 2x in the webbing on each truss and then connect those with a few 2x6s. If right in the center of truss then the weight will be transferred out to 6 points rather then just three using the bottom cords


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[peteymit]

Here are some attic photos and a pic of the ceiling where I'd like to locate it.

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[Philpug]

I did a Harbor Freight Hoist

View media item 104052
View media item 104053

 

[peteymit]

I did a Harbor Freight Hoist

View media item 104052
View media item 104053

Is that a pipe on top of a 2x that the hoist is fixed to?

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[Philpug]

Is that a pipe on top of a 2x that the hoist is fixed to?

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I lighted the image up...
View media item 104054No, the pipe runs parallel to the hoist, I do have an right angle metal bar on top, just for additional reinforcement.

 

[matt_i]

Those HF cable hoists rotate or are affixed to rectangular stock with a set of upper loops.



But he has a roof mount storagey compartment...like 200-250 lbs max?

I have one attached to a pivoting staircase. I can lift it, guessing around 100lbs out at the end, but its heavier than I'd like to handle regularly, hence the cable hoist.



Its also supported by 2 double-gangs of trusses.



And supported by pillow blocks so it can easily self-align with the pivoting load center.



As I posted earlier my admonition is that you're playing with fire at 1000, 2000, 4000 lbs....

 

[Sureshot]

The Harbor Freight hoists that say 1000 Lbs are actually 500 single line and you would have no problem doing what you want. Lots of engines have been pulled that way. Think about two grown men hanging from a truss-no problem. Straddle a couple with whatever and enjoy.

 

[jmarkwolf]

Get an HF Gantry Crane and remove all doubt of the loading capacity of your rafters.

It's on casters, albeit cheap ones, but can be rolled out of the way when not in use. I straddle a "welding booth" when mine is not in use, but it can straddle any number of things (tool boxes, benches, refrigerators, air compressors, etc) to be as unobtrusive as possible when not needed.

I have not approached the stated 2000lb capacity of mine, lifting 1200lbs max so far, but Youtube is full of videos of people lifting Bridgeport milling machines with them, which typically weigh upwards of 2000lbs.

 

[Jackfre]

I have attic trusses. They are spec'd to a 40#/sq ft load. I cut a bay between the trusses and hung a 12v electric winch. The opening in the ceiling is covered until I want to lift. I would never work under a load that was "suspended" as you describe. I would always be looking up at the attachment points. If anything is going to come down I want it to take the building with it. Also, by getting it up into a bay you have more clearance to the ceiling in the lift.

 

[peteymit]

I have attic trusses. They are spec'd to a 40#/sq ft load. I cut a bay between the trusses and hung a 12v electric winch. The opening in the ceiling is covered until I want to lift. I would never work under a load that was "suspended" as you describe. I would always be looking up at the attachment points. If anything is going to come down I want it to take the building with it. Also, by getting it up into a bay you have more clearance to the ceiling in the lift.

Thanks everyone for the replies!

What do you mean by suspended? Because what you're describing is what I had in mind, I think. Have a door cut that is in place that I remove and drop the hoist down when I want to use it.

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