loading and transporting used 2 post lift (not crated)

[cwlo]

I purchased a used two post Rotary lift, and need to get it home. Can anyone give any suggestions. I've got a long bed pickup (8' bed), and figure the 12' posts would fit in there if the heavy end was in the front of the bed. If the posts are 400lbs or so, I am not sure how I would get them in there. I do not have access to a forklift, and can't spend all day jockeying them in the truck as the shop owner is running a business.

I could get a flatbed trailer, but it is a little more hassle since I would have to rent it and all.

Thanks,

Chris

 

[little d]

i dont see why a cherry picker wouldent load them for ya, i'd ask the owner if he has one on site and if not, you should be able to load one to take with ya.

 

[brownbagg]

you back up to the lift, unbolted from floor of course, push the upright over till you hear a BAM, make sure you judge the distance first or you new diamond plate tool box is toast. maybe roof of cab too. watch out for the family jewels on the other end, because that puppie coming up. once you wipe all the oil off the floor from the cut hose. make sure not to slip and hit your head on the bumper. that would not look good having a dented bumper. hop in truck and drive off.

To install just reverse the process

 

[59 wagon man]

did my 2 post lift with a cherry picker flat bed trailer come a long and some 1" x 12" pieces of galv pipe

 

[Interex]

Does this business have any other lifts? If so, you could simply roll the posts over to the other lift, extend the arms, wrap some chain around the posts and then around the lift arms and simply raise it enough to back your truck up under it. Maybe do this early in the morning before the shop opens.

 

[cwlo]

Thanks guys, the lift idea sounds good, or the engine hoist. I will have to check if I can load the lift on just one side for that weight. I also have a chain hoist, but they don't have any attachment up top.

So far, I think the way to go is to get the heavy end of the posts into the truck bed, and let the ends hang off the back of the truck. If I can atleast get the heavy end onto the back of the truck, two or three guys should be able to push it all the way to the front. Seems like it would be safe with the apropriate precautions.

Thanks,

Chris

 

[79firebird]

for my work when we got one used a small electric fork lift only goes 7 feet high to put up and take one down. we used a mazda 2200 pu to move it 6 blocks and the truck did fine with both in there

 

[LSVLance]

Man, I don't know. A flat bed trailer would be a lot safer and easier.

Each of those posts probably weigh closer to 600 pounds each and that's with the arms removed. The whole thing complete probably weighs 1800 pounds or so. Quite a load to put hanging out the back of a truck.

Try to find out if the lift is completely disassembled already or not, cables, lines, pump off of the column and such. If not, plan on an hour or so of taking it all apart before being able to move the pieces safely.

 

[nehog]

I used a flat bed trailer. (12' long one) And was glad I did.

You don't say what truck you have, but I know my Rotary was one heavy piece of equipment, and if you don't have at least a 3/4 ton, you may be in for an 'exciting' drive home.

 

[cwlo]

I've got a 2500hd. I was thinking just the posts for one trip. I am more concerned about the height of the bed since its a 4wd, and having to lift such a heavy post that high with equipment that's not completely stable for such an awkward load. Guess the trailer might be the least trouble, since it will not require lifting the post that high, and I can load the lighter end onto the trailer first.

Chris

 

[kvom]

I got my lift home on a trailer and unloaded with a cherry-picker. You might have a problem with the posts in the truck bed as you will need to put the slings on the balance point, which will be forward in the bed. If you do manage to lift them out you'll want a helper to steer the posts as they'll want to swing around.

I used a pallet jack to maneuver the posts once they were off the trailer.

 

[saabman]

An engine hoist with a nylon lift sling will make easier work of loading the lift. I have moved a Bendpak XPR-9F (2 post) and HD9 (4 post) with nothing more than the aforementioned items.

Lift seems heavy for even the bed 3/4 ton truck. Columns are quite long as well, and much of the weight would hang behind the bed. I use a flatbed trailer.

 

[Dragster Racer]

Sure would be easier and safer with a flatbed, for no other reason but the height you are working with. I don't know about the weight, but the height not so good.

 

[sasquatchpa]

brought mine home on a flat trailer.
fork truck to load.
engine hoist to unload.
still waiting to build the barn to put it in.

 

[cwlo]

Thanks everyone. Consensus seems trailer for sure. I will report back with details for future reference. I intend to tip the upright post onto the trailer, with the base of the post on the back end of trailer. To push the post all the way up to front of trailer and so the rear of post is fully on trailer, I'll either use a come-along, or put a movers dolly somewhere along the post to get it easier to move. I'll put the lift arms on the front of trailer to balance load. Seems straightforward, and fairly safe. I've got an overhead chain hoist for taking it off the trailer when I get back.

Chris

 

[kvom]

I doubt that anything for the lift is heavy enough to affect the balance. I took my arms home inside the truck bed for security, along with the pump/motor and everything else that detaches. as far as the trailer is concerned. Standard hauler trailers are designed to carry ~5000 pounds, so the two arms are a fraction of that. Just put them on where it's easiest and the posts don't extend off the back. Then strap them down securely.

 

[LSVLance]

Thanks everyone. Consensus seems trailer for sure. I will report back with details for future reference. I intend to tip the upright post onto the trailer, with the base of the post on the back end of trailer. To push the post all the way up to front of trailer and so the rear of post is fully on trailer, I'll either use a come-along, or put a movers dolly somewhere along the post to get it easier to move. I'll put the lift arms on the front of trailer to balance load. Seems straightforward, and fairly safe. I've got an overhead chain hoist for taking it off the trailer when I get back.

Chris

That sounds like a good plan. I had my posts on my trailer with the heavy end towards the front (put them on with a fork lift). When I got home, we lifted one end of the posts up, put a furniture dolly under the post so it balanced (closer to the heavy end) then spun the post around with the heavy end towards the back (had to lift the light end up to get over the other post and fender).

We then just rolled the post to the back of the trailer, tilted the heavy end down until it hit the ground and stood the post up. Once it was standing we walked it across the floor to where it was going to eventually stand. Just me and one other guy unloaded it all and had the posts standing in place in less than a half hour and the furniture dolly being the only tool we used.

 

[Lotek]

Just a thought, if you aren't going to install the hoist right away you could stand both posts upright in a corner and put in a couple of concrete anchors to keep them from moving around/falling over. They take up a lot less space that way.

 

[cwlo]

Good info Lance. I will try your way, as I prefer to keep those posts as close to the ground as I can. Anything over 100lbs that is hard like steel gets my respect.

 

[davesly]

I used an enclosed trailer. I put appliance dollies under the posts and rolled them in and out of the trailer. I used a Kubota B series tractor with an front loader bucket. I strapped the lifts to the bucket with ratchet straps. (note that the B-series is the smallest tractor you want to use, the BX series would not do it).

To stand them up (when you get them home). I just positioned the loader at the bottom of the lift and lifted the post up with the loader bucket (got to about 45 degrees), then I backed the loader up and the lift went all the way up. An easy one-person operation.