If You Had A Choice ....

[jumbo61]

Lets say you are about to build a garage and wanted to rent, or buy used, one piece of heavy equipment. This would be used for lifting people and materials (trusses, headers, etc.). What would be the most useful? Picking from forklift, manlift, scissor lift or ? Thanks.

 

[Diesel-Mech]

Telescopic slewing forklift with manlift and crane attachments. http://www.xtrememanufacturing.com/equipment-xrm844.php

 

[TRTOOLSUPPLY]

Rent a shooting boom forklift.....Gradall,Cat,Skytrak,etc.....I run them as a heavy equipment operator..endless ways to use them!!!!!!

Get a work platform or build one if your not worried about OSHA!

 

[dmw56]

Rough terrain extending boom construction type fork lift for lifting and setting material. And never use them for lifting people. Use a manlift or scissor lift for that. You may have to buy/rent one for materials and one for people. Be safe!!

 

[kwb]

I rented a scissorlift to do my shop. Trusses were delivered to top plate but we did use the lift to move the trusses. Worked out okay but wasn't of use to help stand up the walls.

If I was to do it again (my floor was poured before framing) and only one piece of equipment I would get a traditional forklift and build/buy a basket to work from. A telehandler would work but for most shops that people build for personal use it may be a bit big for the jobsite. Forklifts are also cheaper than the telehandler, if you are planning to have a fairly high building with a loft or tall shelfs buying a used (Propane) forklift may be the best way to go.

 

[Falcon67]

Rent a shooting boom forklift.....Gradall,Cat,Skytrak,etc.....I run them as a heavy equipment operator..endless ways to use them!!!!!!

Get a work platform or build one if your not worried about OSHA!

X2 on the Skytrak - haven't run one but have been around a lot when one is being used and it's a dad-gum useful machine.

 

[FunfDreisig]

Lets say you are about to build a garage and wanted to rent, or buy used, one piece of heavy equipment. This would be used for lifting people and materials (trusses, headers, etc.). What would be the most useful? Picking from forklift, manlift, scissor lift or ? Thanks.

I lifted people, set fully assembled LVLs (the largest was 5.25"x16"x24') at 9', a GLULAM (3.25"x16"x25')into the metal stirrups at 12', lifted metal roofing (3'x16') over 12ft, etc, with my Kubota tractor. And OBTW it also excavated nearly 200 tons of limestone to set the water tanks, spread and crowned a 1000' construction drive, leveled the pad, hauled off the spoils from the beams for the slab, hauled pallets of OSB, lumber, etc. During the construction the entire labor force has been me, my wife and occasionally one hired helper (e.g. a skilled framer or general laborer). The Kubota has done all of the heavy lifting. IOW I don't know how I would have built my 3 bay garage with my Kubota or a lot more people (read labor $).

Funf Dreisig

 

[Uncle Buck]

Rough terrain extending boom construction type fork lift for lifting and setting material. And never use them for lifting people. Use a manlift or scissor lift for that. You may have to buy/rent one for materials and one for people. Be safe!!

Have you seen how residential framing crews use these machines? Just curious? (Though you are correct, most manufacturers do not rate their machines for personnel lifting)

 

[94legaleagle]

X2 on the Skytrak - haven't run one but have been around a lot when one is being used and it's a dad-gum useful machine.

Skytrak's are AWSUM - I've got a local contractor who has a 6042 model that I can use anytime it''s on his lot at NO CHARGE!! simply fill it w/ fuel and RETURN it when I'm done - his deal is that if he ever has to come looking for it when HE needs it for his business, you WON'T be able to afford to rent it from him!! Can't argue w/ that

I've used it w/ a platform for roof / eve work, to lift shingles up on my roof, to help move an entire 24 x/ 24 garage (multiple forklifts involved), and tons of other things - EVERYONE should have a SKYTRAK

 

[sberry]

For one piece the skytrack would be hard to beat, they eleminated a lot of crane work out there.