Lifting Parts

[SprintCC]

Getting ready to build my garage, 30x44, 1/2 cathederal ceiling, 1/2 storage attic trusses.

For zoning reasons I don't want to install permenant stairs, just fold-away stairs. I am thinking putting in a hoist (like a small Pickup truck winch) at the edge of the attic truss so I don't have to carry boxes up the fold-away stairs. Not planning on the boxes being really heavy, maybe 50 lbs max (probably alot lighter, thet attic is for light-wieght storage).

A friend who built his garage said to get 3 cathederal ceiling trusses, band them together with metal straps, put a horizontal cross brace near the top to tie the 2 sides of the truss's together and attach the winch to that.

Would this work? Is it strong enough? I'm not a structural engineer, I don't play one on tv. I just don't want my roof to come down on me.

If you've set up a hoist like this how did you do it? Any pictures?

Any ideas, concerns?

SprintCC

 

[boiler7904]

Probably not strong enough to do it that way. You definitely need to be talking to a structural engineer or truss manufacturer before you go any farther with this idea.

 

[trovato]

Probably not strong enough to do it that way. You definitely need to be talking to a structural engineer or truss manufacturer before you go any farther with this idea.

Really? If he's serious about lifting only 50 pounds, I would think that this would be more than adequate. Of course, if he decides to start lifting engines, that might be another story.

 

[bmwpower]

That should be more than enough for small items, but check with the truss company. Think about it, if you hung from the trusses, nothing much would happen over a short period of time. Now band 3 together and it would be even stronger. I'd be more concerned with properly framing the walls where the banded trusses attach.

 

[nova65ss]

Looks like you need one of these.
Let me know I might can help you out with one.

Jimmy

 

[G M]

I have the same setup as you, I took 2 2x6's and nailed them together then layed them upright on the trusses and nailed them there. I welded up a bracket to slip over the 2x6's to hook up a chain hoiost to. Works good, just try and span as many trusses as you can. I lifted an 80 gallon 2 stage compressor up there(in 3 parts, motor, pump and tank)

 

[Junkman]

Looks like you need one of these.
Let me know I might can help you out with one.

Jimmy

I like that idea..... are they expensive??

 

[bmwpower]

I like that idea..... are they expensive??

Yea, can you lift a person??

Can you lift yourself up?

 

[customperformance]

Why is permanent stairs a problem with zoning? You could always add permanent stairs later after final sign off.

 

[arkracing]

Yea, can you lift a person??

Can you lift yourself up?

200lbs & about $1k:

http://bpghome.com/productinfo.aspx
http://bpghome.com/images/VersaLift-Brochure-P1L.pdf
http://bpghome.com/images/VersaLift-Brochure-P2L.pdf

Looks like someone with some extra time could build themselves to work with a load heavier than 200lbs

 

[jhchoppers]

We are building a light weight( 200lbs or so) hoist system right now for our shop, just to get the big stuff up in attic. The hoist is from HF ( $75 ), and we just made the rest...

Hoist Parts


Attic access mods


I will post more when it was all done and working...

 

[boiler7904]

Really? If he's serious about lifting only 50 pounds, I would think that this would be more than adequate. Of course, if he decides to start lifting engines, that might be another story.

Most definitely not. I just finished a fire station that had seven 50 pound cord reels mounted to the trusses of the apparatus floor. Each truss (4 ply girder truss in one case) had to have reinforcing gussets installed at the panel points in the vacinity of each reel after we knew where the reels were being mounted.

When a trussed roof is designed, each member (top chords, bottom chord, webs, gussets, connectors, etc.) is designed for a particular load that includes a safety factor. Go beyond the design values and the entire roof system is stressed. Put enough stress on a truss system and it will fail - usually catastrophically.

When a hoist is installed, it is assumed that the hoist can lift its marked weight rating. What good is a 500 pound rated hoist if the structure its attached to can only support 150 pounds (including the hoist itself)? Wanting to lift 50 pounds now will turn into 100 pounds in 6 months and then 200 pounds in a year. If you want to install the hoist, design the entire system right from the beginning. Why risk hurting or killing yourself (potentially) over a few bucks and a little time upfront?

 

[kbs2244]

I can't tell you how many 4x4's and 6x6's I have seen threaded through the truss's on pole barns so the span 4 or 5. Chain falls hanging from used to any and everything. 55 gal drums of who knows what, pallets of seed and feed, engines, engins and trans together, you name it.
I have the same HF hoist as jhchoppers. If you use it you will be self regulating the weight you lift. It just will not lift more.

 

[trovato]

OK, I have another idea. My local mechanic has a sort of a mezzanine in his shop that he uses for storage. He uses a portable rolling stair something like this. As far as the inspector is concerned, it's completely portable and not part of the structure in any way. Also comes in handy for painting and other high jobs. Go to www.mcmaster.com, catalog page 2064 for more details.

 

[bmwpower]

OK, I have another idea. My local mechanic has a sort of a mezzanine in his shop that he uses for storage. He uses a portable rolling stair something like this. As far as the inspector is concerned, it's completely portable and not part of the structure in any way. Also comes in handy for painting and other high jobs. Go to www.mcmaster.com, catalog page 2064 for more details.

Yea, I like those to. Very light and mobile. The only problem is...what do you do after you're done using them? They take up floor space.

 

[trovato]

Yea, I like those to. Very light and mobile. The only problem is...what do you do after you're done using them? They take up floor space.

Right, but he said he couldn't put a permanent stair for zoning reasons, not because he didn't have the space. These take less space than regular permanent stairs.

 

[trovato]

Guys, if lifting 50 lbs on a truss makes you nervous, you've got to read the thread about lifting the whole garage.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7646

 

[mpraddict]

If I understand the original question correctly, you haven't ordered the trusses yet? If not, when you provide drawings to the lumber company for truss design, show that truss as having a point load and specify the amount on the bottom chord at the location you want to install the hoist. As long as the truss is designed for it, should be no problem.

 

[MXtras]

That would be my suggestion also - get the trusses made for the load.

If the trusses can't lift the load, how are they going to be able to support the stuff when you get it where it's going? SOunds like you might want to look into a load bearing floor, too.

Talk to the truss folks. They can tell you how much you can store overhead and how much you can lift using a single beam. I will bet the engineered trusses wouldn't cost all that much more than you would spend for a standard truss, but I could be wrong. All it takes is a phone call to find out - and that's cheap!

Scott