Moving a 4 Post Lift Without Disassembly

[Ron_CA]

So I sold one of my Direct Lift 4 post lifts (I posted it in classifieds) on CL to a guy from Los Angeles and helped him load it on his trailer.

It was a little bit trial and error but with the right tools and lumber this is a pretty easy thing to do.

4) small floor jacks
Make sure you have plenty of Various size blocks of wood. We used 6x6, 4x4, 2x6

His trailer was just over 7' wide (bed) and had wheels and fenders outside of that.

We first deployed the casters and rolled the lift over to the entrance of my garage. Next jacked underneath the caster arms so the whole lift would go up in the front. With the small HF type jacks we had to jack it up then put blocks under the lift post plates and then jack up again but this time put blocks ontop of the jacks to get more height.

Once we got the lift high enough to clear the casters he backed the trailer up so the caster could rest on the trailer.

Next a 10' 2x6 was placed under the post bases and lag bolted. The reason for this is the trailer wasn't wide enough for the posts to sit on.
Next jacked up the front on the trailer underneath the casters again so the 2x6 wasn't scraping and backed the trailer up until we were almost touching the fenders.

The next challenge was to raise the front up and over the fenderwells. More jacking on the front, blocks and backing the trailer up.

Once we got the front of the lift over the wheel wells the rest was easy.

Jack up and block then rejack the back up. Back the trailer up with the front rolliing on the 2 small floor jacks until the casters in the back could sit on the back of the trailer. Attach another 2x6 under the rear posts (Actually would have felt better with 4x4s for strength).

4 heavy duty tie downs and he was off to LA. Made it no problems.

Wished I had taken some time to take pictures

 

[tomshep]

Good timing.

I am looking at buying a 4 post bendpak and moving it. I measured and my trailer will fit between the posts by about 2" on each side.

My plan was to raise the deck of the lift, back the trailer under and then set the deck back down and raise the 4 posts up and drive away.

The thing I don't know-- is the lift designed to RAISE the 4 posts up off the ground?

Anyone see any concerns with this?

Tom

 

[ixlr8]

Good timing.

I am looking at buying a 4 post bendpak and moving it. I measured and my trailer will fit between the posts by about 2" on each side.
.....................

The thing I don't know-- is the lift designed to RAISE the 4 posts up off the ground?


Tom

No, the lift is designed to lift the platform not the posts. You will be trying to load the cables in compression... won't work too well.

 

[9C1]

Good timing.

I am looking at buying a 4 post bendpak and moving it. I measured and my trailer will fit between the posts by about 2" on each side.

My plan was to raise the deck of the lift, back the trailer under and then set the deck back down and raise the 4 posts up and drive away.

The thing I don't know-- is the lift designed to RAISE the 4 posts up off the ground?

Anyone see any concerns with this?

Tom

As ixlr8 said the posts will not raise from the poser of the lift, however some 4-post lifts can be moved on a flat-bed truck or trailer with the posts hanging over the side of the vehicle. You and a friend can raise the posts and clamp them in the raised position with a large C-clamp. I helped do it once years ago this way, but I can no longer remember the brand of lift. I do recall the driver of the roll-back was a little concerned that the width of the lift exceeded legal limits where we were (Arizona). It worked fine.
Terry

 

[zkdiesel]

Winches one a rollback last month. Easiest move ever