Emergency Thread: Lift Disassembly and Transport

[Insomnya3AM]

So I've purchased Five Rotary lifts out of NJ. I have to go out there Friday with a box truck and pick them up. They're two-post 9,000 pound cap.

They're still bolted to the ground, the only thing disconnected is the electrical. I ran a search a few times on here and Google and I came up with nothing.

I need to know what's required to take these lifts down and transport them. The box truck has a lift gate, but it's only the two of us. I've got an engine hoist I'm bringing also.

Could two guys take down and move these components? I'll be getting around to the install later, I'm not too worried about that at this point. Any advice?

Thanks

 

[V-10 Killer]

Best advice I could give is find the owners manual or assembly instructions from the manufacturer, and run them backwards. I've never moved one before, but that's the first step I would take.

 

[RAYJAY]

I myself would rent a portable gantry to do the job, to drop the main beams with 2 guys will be hard

Jeff

 

[wilbilt]

Best advice I could give is find the owners manual or assembly instructions from the manufacturer, and run them backwards. I've never moved one before, but that's the first step I would take.

Ditto. You also need to know how much they weigh, so you can bring a large enough truck.

 

[shrockworks]

I moved one with three people by hand and it was a *****....but it can be done. Two guys would not be able to actually lift one of the posts though....so you will need some dollies and creativity at a minimum....and watch your fingers!

 

[STClurker]

call a local towing company...the tow trucks have nice booms and winches and such. it won't be free but I'm willing to bet your back will thank you.

 

[kvom]

They are likely bolted to the ground, so having a big breaker bar and a selection of large sockets could be useful. Weight will likely be a bit less than 2000 lbs. each.

 

[Kurn]

Your best bet would be to rent a forklift locally-shouldn't be more than $100 or so for a couple of hours.Get everything unbolted and apart beforehand,then use the lift to pick up and lower the posts,and load 'em up.

 

[dreamingmuscle]

Take lots of pictures of them together before you take them apart. Take more pictures of the things that are hidden as you take them apart.

I helped load one that was already apart. They are heavy, heavy, heavy. A engine hoist will help put it on the truck but getting it apart is another thing. Renting a fork lift is the best idea I've seen here so far. (A couple of day labors from the corner 7-11 might work too)

I put two on my 16' trailer and that was over the rails. Your going to have to slide them in the truck and you might only get two in before the floor space is taken up. Take some plywood along to lay on the first set so you can slide the second set over the first set.

A pry or digging bar to free them up if stuck while loading will save your fingers and toes from being smashed.

Tie down straps ran under the beams and post can help with the lifting so you can move them forward once in the truck.

They will be very dirty and greasy. take some rags, gloves, and cleaning wipes with you along with a clean shirt and a pair of pants.

Heavy duty plastic bags to put the hydraulic pumps in will help keep the truck clean.

Zip lock bags for the nuts and bolts. Label them with a sharpie to help you remember where they go when putting them back together. You can draw diagrams on the bags or on paper then put the paper in the bags to keep it all straight.

5 Boxes to put all the zip lock bags in will futher help keep it all together.
________
magic flight

 

[shrockworks]

Yeah a flatbed trailer and a forklift would make it WORLDS easier and shave countless hours and pain off the time.

Call a local equipment rental company and arrange to have one delivered about the time you plan to get there.

A flatbed trailer vs the box truck would really be much better too. It's going to be a ***** to get 9 posts stacked inside a box truck....they are VERY heavy.

If you start stacking them and they settle, collaspe, spread out, one slips, falls etc...someone could get killed or loose appendages very easily.

 

[Insomnya3AM]

Awesome. Everyone here has had some solid advice so far. I really appreciate it. I never thought about renting a forklift. That'll make putting them on the truck a snap. I'll see what I can get in NJ.

I've got a whole army of guys here in Detroit that are willing to help unload. I could probably borrow a forklift if all else fails.

I'll be sure to document the whole procedure fully. I was going to mentally log it, but taking many pictures is a much better idea.

Thanks again. Keep 'em coming if anyone else has any ideas.

 

[jay50]

Have plenty of cold beer on hand afterwards; your help will appreciate it.

 

[Mr. Welsh]

Are you hauling these in a standard 20-24' rented box truck?

 

[Insomnya3AM]

Are you hauling these in a standard 20-24' rented box truck?

26' International from Penske with a lift gate. Supposedly "Medium-Duty"

 

[Ed Devinney]

I assume the shop you're getting these from is getting new lifts? Their dealer may have a crew available to disassemble and load. That's how I got mine, and the crew knew how to move the things around. When I later sold it I used my tractor to load the uprights and they were damned heavy, probably 5-600lbs per.

 

[revlover]

What lifts are these? Curious...

 

[Insomnya3AM]

I assume the shop you're getting these from is getting new lifts? Their dealer may have a crew available to disassemble and load. That's how I got mine, and the crew knew how to move the things around. When I later sold it I used my tractor to load the uprights and they were damned heavy, probably 5-600lbs per.

Nope. It's a Chrysler dealer that's going under.

What lifts are these? Curious...

Rotary 9,000 pound cap two posts. I'm selling most of them, if you're interested. I'm probably keeping one or two myself.

 

[PAToyota]

Hmmm... What are you asking for the "extras" ?

I'm near Harrisburg, PA - so there is some chance you're passing by...

 

[22T]

Yeah, How much you want for a lift. and where in jersey. I'm in jersey and work at a chrysler/jeep dealer and know of a dealer thats close to me and went under.

 

[Insomnya3AM]

The lifts are in Monmouth Junction. The old Chrysler dealer is on Highway 130.

I'm asking $2,000 a piece for the lifts. They're in great shape and have been maintained due to dealer ownership I'm told.

My phone number is 313-903-2963. If any of you are interested, get a hold of me. I could stop off in PA if it's not too far off of the beaten path or you've got some cash to throw in to make the trip worth it. I'm paying for this truck by the mile, so we'd figure it out that way. I'm bringing GPS, so we could find you pretty easily.

 

[dreamingmuscle]

Well how did it go??

Glen
________
Didier Pironi

 

[Insomnya3AM]

Well how did it go??

Glen

I'd say it went perfect, but not without a ton of effort.
When I showed up at Penske to rent a truck, they didn't have one with a liftgate like I requested. I took the ramped one and they removed my mileage charge. (~$300) Sweet.

Twelve hour drive into NJ. Pretty uneventful. Terrible weather.

We got up at 8AM and went to the dealership. It turned out that there was a forklift that was also auctioned off but the new owner didn't come to pick it up yet. We had a free forklift for the day. Awesome.

Having a box truck proved really difficult. It was nearly impossible to get the beams in correctly. I wanted the heavy ends towards the cab. We did a combo of loading it on an angle and sliding it off of a pallet and sliding it more on the wood floor.

I had to abandon a few benches I had bought because there was simply no space and I was out of time. It took 16 1/2 hours to load. We were totally dead after. We unbolted the posts from the ground, used the tip of the forklift to pull the post up and over the studs and set it back on the ground, then we leaned the post back and caught it as just us two guys. We laid each one on a stack of tires to cushion the fall. It was scary at times, but went pretty well.

Drove the 12 hours back home. Overloaded 26' box straight-truck going through the Appalachian Mountains at night in the rain. I am all that is man.

Today, I unloaded the truck with some friends and we got it unloaded in two hours. Two hours! I thought it was going to be a whole day. Furniture dollys proved totally useful in this situation. I love them. Simply rolled the posts down the ramp.

After all of the fuel costs, hotel costs, food and the bare cost of the lifts themselves, I'm selling three of them at $2,500 a piece to break even on the whole deal. They have the extended height option. They're in really, REALLY good shape.

For an American-made lift in this shape with these options, $2,500 is still pretty killer. I don't mean to ***** this thread out, but if anyone wants one, let me know at 313-903-2963. They're in Fraser, MI.

If anyone needs any advice on lift removal/shipping, please don't hesitate to ask. I've learned a ton that I'm sure I'm forgetting here. The chief thing I've figured out is to bring a ton of guys. It's too much work for just two. Bring a chase car if you're doing something like this and make a big outing out of it.

 

[jay50]

I'd say it went perfect, but not without a ton of effort.
When I showed up at Penske to rent a truck, they didn't have one with a liftgate like I requested. I took the ramped one and they removed my mileage charge. (~$300) Sweet.

Twelve hour drive into NJ. Pretty uneventful. Terrible weather.

We got up at 8AM and went to the dealership. It turned out that there was a forklift that was also auctioned off but the new owner didn't come to pick it up yet. We had a free forklift for the day. Awesome.

Having a box truck proved really difficult. It was nearly impossible to get the beams in correctly. I wanted the heavy ends towards the cab. We did a combo of loading it on an angle and sliding it off of a pallet and sliding it more on the wood floor.

I had to abandon a few benches I had bought because there was simply no space and I was out of time. It took 16 1/2 hours to load. We were totally dead after. We unbolted the posts from the ground, used the tip of the forklift to pull the post up and over the studs and set it back on the ground, then we leaned the post back and caught it as just us two guys. We laid each one on a stack of tires to cushion the fall. It was scary at times, but went pretty well.

Drove the 12 hours back home. Overloaded 26' box straight-truck going through the Appalachian Mountains at night in the rain. I am all that is man.

Today, I unloaded the truck with some friends and we got it unloaded in two hours. Two hours! I thought it was going to be a whole day. Furniture dollys proved totally useful in this situation. I love them. Simply rolled the posts down the ramp.

After all of the fuel costs, hotel costs, food and the bare cost of the lifts themselves, I'm selling three of them at $2,500 a piece to break even on the whole deal. They have the extended height option. They're in really, REALLY good shape.

For an American-made lift in this shape with these options, $2,500 is still pretty killer. I don't mean to ***** this thread out, but if anyone wants one, let me know at 313-903-2963. They're in Fraser, MI.

If anyone needs any advice on lift removal/shipping, please don't hesitate to ask. I've learned a ton that I'm sure I'm forgetting here. The chief thing I've figured out is to bring a ton of guys. It's too much work for just two. Bring a chase car if you're doing something like this and make a big outing out of it.

Sounds like one hell of an experience. I hope you celebrated at you destination with some ice cold brews...

 

[wilbilt]

Good to hear you made it home OK.

It took three of us to unload my 4-post lift from a stock trailer. The front ends of the runways were up in the hayloft at the front. I just about saw God when we slid the first one back and lowered it down.

I had several 4" pipe cutoffs about 30" long lying around. We rolled the pieces on those over the gravel drive.

Now that I almost have a son-in-law working at a rental yard, there will be a forklift here when it is time to set it up. He also has a bunch of young friends that work cheap.

 

[Insomnya3AM]

I just about saw God when we slid the first one back and lowered it down.

I had a few of those moments while loading.
One of these posts shifting on a pallet over your head is bad news.