Using PART of a forklift ?

[unsinkable]

-tried to post this once, sorry if it doubles-

Hi guys,
I'm trying to build a lift to get some heavier items up to and down from garage 2nd floor. 800 LBS max, need a lift height of 14 ft.

I've seen some awesome ideas for platform lifts on this site, including the one made of unistrut. Problem is, I cant have a permanent platforn because it will interfere with the 2 post lift access. Forklift would take up too much room, stacker lifts are big $.

There are a couple of forklift masts for sale near me, no chassis just the hydraulic masts.

So heres my question, can I somehow mount the mast to floor and foundation wall ? Then it would just be the forks sticking out. I could use a pallet or fabbed platform when needed.

I realize there would be alot of lateral pull when loaded, but can it be done ?
Thoughts ?
Here's a picture during construction, i will cut in a door above steel beam where wall on right meets.

Thank you in advance, I really appreciate your thoughts...

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n297/kVARS/garage/F6136240-FADB-49C7-9277-6154BF6F0529.jpg

 

[Steevo]

Absolutely.
A forklift is just a lift mast attached to a mobile platform.

If you can attach that mast to a wall, or support it from the floor, you only need to add a hydraulic pressure supply and valving to make it go up/down.

 

[finn]

I doubt your insurance company would be thrilled with the idea.

 

[unsinkable]

Exactly what i planned !
I have some valving, just need a pump.
My real concern is the pull away from the wall with a load.
Maybe some hinged angle iron on mast that can be flipped out and "pinned" to floor ?
Or weld a beefy baseplate to mast and bolt to floor ?
hmmm...

 

[tcsalvage]

you could use a lift gate motor from a large truck. it runs off of 12 volts and runs a hydraulic pump to lift the gate. dump beds also use the same motor but not as easy to find. it would take awhile to lift a forklift mast especially if it was a dual mast setup.

 

[unsinkable]

May even have to be a triple mast.
also, I don't plan on having my insurance agent over for beers anytime soon

 

[unsinkable]

Didn't think of a large liftgate pump, thanks TC !
Anyone have any other mounting ideas ?

 

[Thumper68]

I think I would weld it to a large steel plate with gussets and bolt to the wall.

 

[larry_g]

You could consider bolting the bottom of the mast to the floor and bracing the top of the mast to the floor your lifting to so that the the forks point toward the upper floor your lifting to. That way the mast would want to tip into the second floor, and not away from it. It would limit the size of the pallet to the distance from the mast to the floor so it might not work for bulky items. I think that if you do the math to figure the torque moment at the floor with max weight at the fork tips you will find the horizontal force at the top of the mast is not that big.

You might also consider mounting an electric winch to the top of the mast to lift the carriage instead of using hydraulic power.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[bsg]

-tried to post this once, sorry if it doubles-

Hi guys,
I'm trying to build a lift to get some heavier items up to and down from garage 2nd floor. 800 LBS max, need a lift height of 14 ft.

I've seen some awesome ideas for platform lifts on this site, including the one made of unistrut. Problem is, I cant have a permanent platforn because it will interfere with the 2 post lift access. Forklift would take up too much room, stacker lifts are big $.

There are a couple of forklift masts for sale near me, no chassis just the hydraulic masts.

So heres my question, can I somehow mount the mast to floor and foundation wall ? Then it would just be the forks sticking out. I could use a pallet or fabbed platform when needed.

I realize there would be alot of lateral pull when loaded, but can it be done ?
Thoughts ?
Here's a picture during construction, i will cut in a door above steel beam where wall on right meets.

Thank you in advance, I really appreciate your thoughts...

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n297/kVARS/garage/F6136240-FADB-49C7-9277-6154BF6F0529.jpg

Mohawk builds their lifts just like a forklift mast, only need to anchor to the floor.
Google them and look around Mohawk's site, lots a cool ideas.

I have two of Mohawk's lifts and can tell you they are built like my forklift mast.

Kevin

 

[toplessHO]

I know its not helping with suggestions but hope that loft floor is rated for what you want to store above.

 

[toplessHO]

too bad you cant get the height out of a hidden lift

 

[404]

Your idea should work but the lateral load is the hard part. Personally I think that concrete stub wall is NOT safe to attach to.

Either attach bracing to the forklift so it is self supporting on the floor, or have some large tension rods going from the top of the lowest mast to outside though the wooden wall attached to anchors buried deep into the ground.

Regards,
404

 

[epmills]

I would also go for the self supporting/free standing route. Possibly a piece of I-beam welded to each side of the mast for "feet", imagine a "L" shape when looking at it from the side.

 

[Lippyp]

Theres a journailst on a car mag over here that uses a forklift mast of a big forklift as a car lift, he has t outside set in concrete. The car he lifts with it is a Rover SD1.......with a 27L Rolls Royce V12 tank engine in it (normally aspirated version of a RR Merlin) so its fairly weighty. As long as you get it well balanced an bolted to something securely I don't see why it wouldn't work as a cargo lift indoors at all.

 

[willbrown82]

don long uses one for a people elevator.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2377866&highlight=elevator#post2377866

 

[unsinkable]

Thank you all for the great suggestions !
I like Larry's idea of supporting top of mast to upper floor, but I'm trying to keep the mast assembly from encroaching too far into garage space, so I want to mount it flat to outside wall.
What about steel plate to floor and thru-bolts to outside of foundation wall with another steel plate on exterior ? There is quite a bit of rebar in it.
Willbrown, thanks for the link, I didn't search "elevator", Don, that is one badass garage !
So far, this is the only solution I've had for a lift that is easy on the real estate and the wallet.
I'll get this...
Thanks again, I love this site !

 

[justme-]

Keep in mind if you're in one of the 2 states here that licenses hoisting you could be in for some big issues doing this - MA and NJ require engineer hoisting (hydraulics) licenses for operating hoisting equipment and the mast of a forklift falls under that. It's also not permissible to lift persons on hoisting equipment that is not designed and certified for such - with certification being a big issue for liability if something fails.
If there's any accident the insurance company will be investigating and anything not done correctly and licensed will be found out and not only will the claim not be paid, but the policy would likely be cancelled (in MA that makes getting any additional insurance for homeowners a really difficult thing) and then there's the fines from the DPS.
I'd look at a real material lift - a portable unit that could be wheeled out of the way and folded up when not needed. It would still possibly require a hoisting licence, but liability would be greatly reduced.

 

[rslaback]

I'd look at putting feet on it which extend the same way as the forks. It might be a bit more difficult to get something on it but you end up with a freestanding unit without any wall load. If the feet are an issue you could always tear out the concrete and repour it with a custom pocket for it to sit in.

 

[unsinkable]

I like the idea of "feet", the floor isn't poured yet so i may make a pocket.
Also, the unit may not be certified, but there is a hoisting/rigging license in my wallet

 

[kbs2244]

I do not think you have to worry too much about it tilting.
The load will be right next to the mast so there should not be very much "levering"
It is not like a jib crane with the load out at the end of a boom.
I would tie it at the top with some through bolts with a good sized plate acting as washer.

 

[GarageWarrior]

-tried to post this once, sorry if it doubles-

Hi guys,
I'm trying to build a lift to get some heavier items up to and down from garage 2nd floor. 800 LBS max, need a lift height of 14 ft.

I've seen some awesome ideas for platform lifts on this site, including the one made of unistrut. Problem is, I cant have a permanent platforn because it will interfere with the 2 post lift access. Forklift would take up too much room, stacker lifts are big $.

You should be able to find a 3-stage electric/hydraulic pallet-stacker for around $1K (the manual pusher type that runs on a 12 V battery). It might take a few months of looking, but they are out there!

I would not mess with fabrication and re-engineering lift mast (and mounting, pump, electric and hydraulic controls, reservoir, plumbing) when stacker lift can give you all of that plus mobility and resale value.

 

[ryan77]

build it on a I-beam platform on casters, longer part of the I-beam on the ends with forks, you could move it around.

 

[gorilla]

This seems to me to be like a jib crane installation. You need a large mass at the bottom to keep it from tipping. How about a steel plate bolted to the forklift mast and then anchored with long anchor bolts in about 4'x4'x4' of concrete. The joint between the steel plate and the mast would be the weak point and might need some gussets.

 

[rburke65]

I think you would-be fine to anchor it to the floor much like a 2 post lift is anchored.....IMO.

 

[drivesitfar]

Unsinkable: if you were closer i'd sell you my extra Vermette lift for $350 that can lift 1000 pounds up 12 or so feet. after use it rolls into a corner or out of the way. here's a picture of it in case you have one in your area to buy.

another option that may have been mentioned is an I beam set up across the top of your garage with a hoist to lift your items up to your second floor.

i also hope you engineered the second floor to hold a few thousand pounds if you are going to use it for storage.

good luck

 

[unsinkable]

I looked at those Vermette lifts, i like 'em but a couple issues:
The space it takes up, not huge but would rather not.

Also, the upstairs is going to be our fused glass studio, with art shows and exhibits on weekends, after loading up with approx. 500 lbs of glass then hours of driving and selling, re-loading and unloading, the last thing mumma wants to see is a crank handle.
I also thought of a hoist, but not sure if roof joists could handle it.
Heres a pic of roof joists, the interior walls are not load-bearing (yet!)

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n297/kVARS/garage/0614167A-99CF-4B09-8296-8FEBD050F15A_2.jpg

 

[drivesitfar]

it looks like you are in the process of framing so if you have the money for the steel it might be the right time to install an I beam with steel I beam supports.

if my 75 year old neighbor wasn't in the hospital i'd take a few pictures of the one he put in his 2 car garage 25 years ago that works great and you can pick up heavy items from almost everywhere the way he designed it.

good luck

 

[unsinkable]

Ya, framing is finished, but floor isn't down yet so I have time to make the footings.
A huge THANK YOU to all the replies, some really great ideas !

 

[don long]

Unsinkable
If you want more info on my fork lift elevator just send me a P.M.
I'll be happy to help if I can

Good luck
Don

 

[unsinkable]

Thanks Don !
will do