Options for dismount

[restorick]

Folks,

I picked up an 80 gal vertical air compressor. It was loaded on my trailer with a forklift.

The problem - my engine hoist isn't tall enough to be positioned on the ground and still be able to lift the compressor off the trailer deck. The compressor is new, so I'm reluctant to disassemble it.

If I need to hire a wrecker with a boom, I'll do it. I'd prefer to do it myself, but only if I'm comfy I can do it safely. My trailer is a PJ 7x14 with removeable sides that become ramps for loading ATVs.

Appreciate any and all feedback.
Rick

 

[RTM]

How close are you? Can you take the wheels off the trailer and drop it enough?

 

[GeoBruin]

Or air down the tires.

If that doesn't buy you enough, jack up the engine hoist and put it on blocks.

If those don't work, you could tip the compressor over on it's side and strap around the saddle and the tank.

 

[mikegt4]

Depending on the size/weight of your compressor, the reach of your engine hoist and your abilities at heavy lifting, there are some options. If you don't feel comfortable doing this, hire a pro.

Try putting the strap through the gap between the motor platform and the tank, a pass around one leg of the platform to keep the strap to one side opposite the belt guard. Then place the boom along side of the motor/pump. Put padding between the motor/pump and the boom and start lifting. The compressor should tilt over enough to clear the boom. This should gain you a foot or more over lifting from above.

Needless to say you need to use a good lifting strap or several wraps of a 2" ratchet strap with some padding to protect it from the sharp edges of the motor platform. A chain would work as well.

 

[subroc]

How much does it weigh?

An image of your situation might help? Any human help at all?

What do you have for lifting gear? Line? Straps? Chain? Cable? Hooks and clevis?

 

[jismay]

You could try this:
Put a strap attached to the base of the compressor.
Put a second strap between the top of the compressor to the hoist, it needs to be slack.

As you lift with the bottom-connected strap the compressor will tilt away and be caught by the top-connected strap.

You will end up with a sideways slung compressor. Then, when you lower it you can essentially reverse the process.

 

[WES51]

If you are able to wiggle/move the compressor sideways, you could build 2x of these plattforms next to the trailer. Then you could wiggle it from one platform to the other while decreasing the height.

 

[bczygan]

Put the engine hoist on the trailer.

Or do what I did. Cover the trailer with cardboard which extends over the edge.

Lay the compressor down and slide it over the edge. It was a 60 gallon but I did it by myself. You could use a rope to restrain it from dropping too fast.

Bill

 

[unslow1]

Put the engine hoist on the trailer.

Or do what I did. Cover the trailer with cardboard which extends over the edge.

Lay the compressor down and slide it over the edge. It was a 60 gallon but I did it by myself. You could use a rope to restrain it from dropping too fast.

Bill

I did a couple like this with just two of us a couple of weeks ago. We used a truck, cardboard and moving blankets. I was surprised at how easy it was.

 

[red94chev]

I rolled mine out of my box trailer by myself with a dolly. They really aren't that bad to move but it depends on your ramp I guess.

 

[Citation]

Do you have a good tree branch over the drive? Hoist it off the trailer then lower it to the ground.

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

Put the engine hoist on the trailer.

Bill

That was my first thought too.

 

[Shadowdog500]

I lifted my 60gallon 5hp vertical compressor off of my trailer using a come along and a rafter in my garage. I put straps through the platform that the pump and motor mounts to.

 

[restorick]

I want to thank everyone who provided insight and suggestions. I did not want to hire someone and wasn't keen on asking friends to risk injury. I knew I had the tools to get the job done - just needed some time to think it through.

In the end, I ended up modifying the hoist a little, and the used my hydraulic floor jack to lower the front of the trailer a bit so I could control the compressor by myself.

I used 2 short lifting straps, run through the saddle. One closer to the front of the machine and one closer to the belt guard on the back, taking care to not pinch any copper or electrical.

I took the original hook assembly off the hoist and cut the chain. Then secured the hook to the end of the hoist. This got me another 4" or so (yeah, that's what she said!).

I used the hoist to gauge how the compressor would want to settle and determine if I was comfy moving it as is or if it needed adjustment. Lifting off the trailer bed, the head of the compressor was tilting back and the feet were tilting close to the hoist body. I secured the feet around the hoist with a ratchet strap, lowered the trailer with the jack, and slowly pulled the hoist clear of the trailer.

Put the compressor on the ground, adjusted the straps and lifted again. This time, almost no tilt. She's in the garage resting peacefully, and my stones are starting to settle back to their rightful place.

Again, thanks to everyone for the guidance. I took my time and thought it out and used the advice given here. Piece of cake.

Rick