Gantry Cranes/ A Frame cranes

[jon1996]

I am interested in building a Crane for my garage to lift heavy items out or or off of my trailer and engine removal, I was wondering if Channel will be as strong as I beam, say I take 2 pieces of 3" channel and weld them back to back and then mount my trolley on it,

The span will be about 8-10' with a 1 ton hoist on it, you think it can handle the load? or should I shell out the extra cash for a 4" I beam, and are there any plans for this type of crane

 

[BD1]

hi, heres a site that maybe helpful.
http://www.hoistsdirect.com/wallace_gantry_cranes.htm
I don't know what you think about Harbor Freight stuff, but you cannot beat their 2 ton engine hoists. They got good reviews and you cannot build it that cheap. They also have a gantry that will most likely cost less than you can buy the materials for.
http://search.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?keyword=gantry you can usually get it on sale and use the 20% off coupon too. i found this too.
http://www.classictrucks.com/tech/1..._telescoping_gantry_crane/photo_01.html:beer: good luck, bob

 

[Ign]

Assuming you're needing to purchase materials and not use stuff you've scrounged or have lying around, I'd be interested to see a cost breakdown vs buying the HF gantry which you can get for well under $500 when on sale w a 20% coupon. Comes painted (ok probably lead paint) and already w a cable pulley system to raise/lower it.

Most homebrew jobs are a fixed height, which can really limit where you can use the gantry and/or what buildings you can get it in or out of. Then homebrew jobs that do go for adjustable height just use a hitch pin on both legs, but supporting the I-beam while trying to install two pins on either leg seems like it would need several people, a tractor, or a chainfall from the ceiling.

 

[jon1996]

thanks for the links, the classic truck link really gives me a good view of the crane and for the money it has some nice features

 

[srmofo]

homemade FTW. Ive seen welds on harbor freight stuff break, their castors are junk (at least on everything Ive had the pleasure of dealing with), it doesnt come with the trolley or hoist, and you'll have to replace the hardware (Ive also seen HF bolts shear off). I dont have any personal experience with it, but IMO its just not worth the hassel or safety risk when lifting 2000 lbs near myself or others. now if you plan on just lifting several hundred pounds with it, it might be another story.

The other link starts at $2k for a 1 ton. It sounds like you have the ability to weld, Take his measurements and visit the scrap yard. The trolley and hoist is what will get you though, dont forget to ask the scrap yard if they have any trolleys for sale.

 

[jon1996]

I have the trolley already, Its that I can not find any used Ibeams I have no scrap yards here and I have to buy new ans it is alot of cash

 

[srmofo]

Well, if you dont have any scrap yards near you, then thats an issue. It looks like HF is going to be your best option unless you want to spend $2000.

What part of the country are you in, Some might know a place near you that you can pick one up at.

 

[woody 73]

I think that BD1 is right on the money! You could not build it any cheaper. My problem is lack of space as I also looked at the HF Gantry,it looked well made.The Wallace starts out at $2000.00 dollars and moves up in price.
When I was having my garage built I asked the contrator about putting in a I-beam and he nixed that idea (very expensive). To bad you don't see them on CL as I would jump at the chance to own one.

Good luck at whatever you go with.

 

[woody 73]

Srmofo I had to laugh as I did see a few broken casters on several different pieces of equipment...I had know idea that the bolts were junk! It looked like the casters are cast pot metal of some kind.

Still if you replaced the bolts with say a grade 8 or higher and you bought a set of well made casters you would have a good Gantry (use your 20% dicount).

 

[IDASHO]

I built a light duty (500# cap) gantry crane a while back.

I use it a LOT.

I went for the high dollar poly casters too. Supposed to be good for 275# each if I remember correctly.

 

[jamesemery728]

Here is an interesting build.

http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/sho...t=30862&page=3

 

[930dreamer]

Here is an interesting build.

http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/sho...t=30862&page=3

Link doesn't work,

Found this one, I can't afford it though.

http://albuquerque.craigslist.org/bfs/1626995938.html

And this one, doesn't look like it comes apart.

http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/grd/1639865193.html

 

[BillB99SVT]

Here is an interesting build.

http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/sho...t=30862&page=3

Try http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/showthread.php?t=30862
I like the pictured one. It is adjustable and fits through a garage door.

 

[bb1970]

I bought mine locally for $50. I'd take it over the P.O.S. at harbor freight any day.

 

[jon1996]

I live in eastern KY. I have a local steel supplier but Ibeam is outrageous, Its no problem for me to build one, I have a Millermatic 251, 14" bandsaw, Torches, and anything else O would need, I just can not find a piece of I beam, I have been looking for months now trying to find one used or a old trailer to cut up, I guess my search will go on, I liked that last one that was posted I liked the rams, But you would have alot of money in the rams getting some that will hold a load that the crane would be lifting, But my search will go on, thanks for all the help

 

[krooser]

Here's a start... there are A few scrap yeards in the Chattanoga and Knoxville areas....

http://www.thomasnet.com/kentucky/structural-steel-80330202-1.html

 

[Aberdale]

A friend of mine has the HF gantry. He's used it for a couple years now. No sheared bolts or broken casters yet, and he uses it for overhauling and splitting tractors. His biggest complaint is that it's not wide enough, and therefore can be a little tight for working. The vertical adjustment is really a nice feature.

I'm planning on building my own this summer. Does anyone have pictures of their shop built gantrys to share, or any recommendations that I should keep in mind?

Dale

 

[jamesemery728]

Try http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/showthread.php?t=30862
I like the pictured one. It is adjustable and fits through a garage door.

Thanks Bill, this is the one I was trying to link to, not sure how I screwed that up.

 

[Ign]

I DO have the Harbor Freight gantry. It's fine. I've never had occassion to lift more than about 1000 lbs with it. As with anything you never get under a suspended load, and expect that your lifting equipment will fail at any time, regardless of who made it.

The casters are not pot metal, but rather just cast iron or steel (a metallurgist I am not), no different than steel casters you buy at a caster supply. They're 5", looks like something comparable is good for 900 lbs ea
http://www.casters4less.com/products/118.html

I needed casters for my shop press, so I instead put the gantry casters on my press and bought 8" poly coated casters for my gantry. If I had to do it over I probably wouldn't bother upgrading. It rolls a bit more easily w the larger casters, but they require additional scrub radius so it's harder to change direction w the gantry. There was a better 8" caster available w less scrub radius but I was too cheap to pay the additional cost.

I replaced 8 bolts where the top beam meets the uprights. Mighta set me back $10. The rest of the bolts are not in critical locations.

The HF gantry is too narrow for an 83" deck trailer (plus fenders) or dually, so that's a drawback.

For as often as I use it no way I'd pay more or take the time to build one

 

[Yardgoat]

In the May 2010 issue of Street Rodder mag it shows the Harbor Fright crane being assembled and tells its good and bads. This has lots of pics and i think will help.......................YG

 

[rwhite692]

Assuming you're needing to purchase materials and not use stuff you've scrounged or have lying around, I'd be interested to see a cost breakdown vs buying the HF gantry which you can get for well under $500 when on sale w a 20% coupon. Comes painted (ok probably lead paint) and already w a cable pulley system to raise/lower it.

Exactly. Unless you are getting the steel free or on the way-cheap, hard to do it for less than the HF unit. Not to mention the time spent.

 

[jon1996]

A update, Well I am starting the build of my gantry crane, will keep updated, An old retired guy that works around my shop had 3 pieces of 6" I beam 10' long, he said come and get a piece, so now I have a trolley, Ibeam, and I found a hoist on craigslist, if it works out, This is going to be a budget build but built right, will start a new thread with pics as I build
Jon

 

[Mickey_D]

The hydraulic gantry mentioned above is mine. Over the last 4 years it has moved about a dozen mills (up to about 4500 pounds), several large lathes, surface grinders, big saws, compressors, big tool boxes, and other fun toys. The most it has lifted was a 5000ish pound shaper, but that made me a little nervous. The downside to this design is that it only goes up to eight feet (so it would be low enough to get under a 6'8" garage door) so unloading tall things from the back of a pickup can be interesting. The total width is also only 8' (to fit on a small trailer) so backing a truck under requires paying attention.