Homebuilt hoist for tight spaces and low ceilings

hemi43 · ONTARIO

Homebuilt hoist for tight spaces and low ceilings

Cat in the Hat · BRANTFORD, ONT

Hemi, Thats why they invented Chainsaws......to cut hole into the second story!

I'm sure with your fab skills it would be a walk in the park to add a post hoist....

I rent my shop.....or i'd be doing what you did with the scissor lift

-- Edited by Grumpsbodyworks on Monday 19th of November 2012 03:15:46 PM

Chris58 · WATERFORD, ONT

Slick. A buddy has a store bought one and it is the catsass for all the reasons listed. Once more...nice work.

-- Edited by Chris58 on Monday 19th of November 2012 03:25:34 PM

hemi43 · ONTARIO

There's a few discussions here on different types of car hoists, and this may be the answer for some of you. I had a few people ask me about it, so I figured I would post some pics.

This hoist IMHO, is the only way to go !! The only draw back is that you can't walk under the car.

When it's down, you're no tripping on it. With the plate left on, it's the best welding table because you can raise or lower your work to a comfortable height. It's also perfect for working on lawn tractors, snowmobiles etc.. Another bonus is taking heavy stuff out of the back of a truck. Just slide the load right onto the table and lower it to the floor

With the plate off, the outrigger arms come out to lift cars. It takes less than 30 seconds to remove the plate, and a 5 year old could do it.

I built the hoist a few years ago when these were selling for over 3 grand. Today I would just buy one.

My total cost including the concrete for the hole is about $1500.

DaveM · ONTARIO

Gearhead wrote:
, I feel its a little light for anything heavier than a small car. (I've seen numerous dump trailers with a similar ram set up fail under load).

My store bought unit is similar to Hemi43's. It is factory rated for 6000lbs. I have had a GMC 4dr 2500 Sierra 4x4 on it.

I currently use the 2x10 method for clearance, but in the spring Hemi43 is going to put mine in the floor for me. biggrin

-- Edited by DaveM on Monday 19th of November 2012 06:42:01 PM

Cat in the Hat · BRANTFORD, ONT

WOW thats fantastic! Great Idea......Let me know when your selling your house ;) I'll just bring my 2 post hoist with me and be set! Best of both worlds......

hemi43 · ONTARIO

DaveM wrote:
Gearhead wrote:
, I feel its a little light for anything heavier than a small car. (I've seen numerous dump trailers with a similar ram set up fail under load).
My store bought unit is similar to Hemi43's. It is factory rated for 6000lbs. I have had a GMC 4dr 2500 Sierra 4x4 on it.
I currently use the 2x10 method for clearance, but in the spring Hemi43 is going to put mine in the floor for me.

-- Edited by DaveM on Monday 19th of November 2012 06:42:01 PM

A little amonium nitrate and a bit of diesel fuel, and I'll put the whole car in the floor !!

-- Edited by hemi43 on Monday 19th of November 2012 07:57:52 PM

Gearhead · ELORA, ONT

This is a brilliant way to have a disappearing welding or workbench or small equipment hoist (sled, garden tractor or motorcycle). As a vehicle hoist, I suppose it has some merits for stuff like brakes & tires. Though it appears well built like everything else you have done, I feel its a little light for anything heavier than a small car. (I've seen numerous dump trailers with a similar ram set up fail under load). It's also not usable for dropping transmissions and stuff like doing exhausts due to the obstructing scissor assembly. Tripping through the pit would be another downfall....bad pun.

I don't mean to be negative as it is an awesome work table...just not sold on it as a car hoist is all....

How did you get away with having a floor drain? That's against code here

Pint and a Pound · AJAX, ONT

As I mentioned in another post (believe it was the one regarding your blast furnace/kiln/melting pot), I think it is fan friggin tastic.

I love it, great idea and execution. Also love the stands that allow retraction of the hoist/table to allow full access to the underside. This has to be the PERFECT hoist for virtually any large or small garage as it is completely out of the way when not in use.

hemi43 · ONTARIO

Grumpsbodyworks wrote:
Hemi, Thats why they invented Chainsaws......to cut hole into the second story!

I'm sure with your fab skills it would be a walk in the park to add a post hoist....
I rent my shop.....or i'd be doing what you did with the scissor lift

-- Edited by Grumpsbodyworks on Monday 19th of November 2012 03:15:46 PM

If I had to it all again, I wouldn't build a 2 floor shop !! Having said that, living where I do I had no choice. It was the only way to get the square footage of shop space and still keep the township happy. I have a full woodworking shop upstairs, so not being able to walk under my car is a small price I have to pay. I really wanted a 10 foot ceiling on the first floor, but the height of the building would have been legally too high. Thanks for the comments !!

sasquatch · NORTH BAY, ONT

Great job on that lift , very nice,,and it does have SO MANY other uses as you posted.

Thanks for posting this great project!

Gearhead · ELORA, ONT

Besides, the plate is always on unless I'm lifting my car.
If I need to replace a transmission or do exhaust work, I made 4 stands that the vehicle's wheels can sit on. I then lower the hoist and replace the steel plate by sliding it over and into it's groove . All this was thought of in advance!!

-- Edited by hemi43 on Monday 19th of November 2012 01:20:51 PM

Ok, now that changes everything!!

I didnt know you had the stands and could replace the plate so you could work under the car - hope you didn't

find my comment too negative...it is quite the piece of eqipment...wish I had one myself

427CARL · CLINTON, ONT

We used those lifts in our Tire shop for 16 years..

We didn't set them down (great idea) We used 2x12 planks to give ground clearance I like the way you used the BIG stands

poncho62 · ADMINISTRATOR

DaveM wrote:
Gearhead wrote:
, I feel its a little light for anything heavier than a small car. (I've seen numerous dump trailers with a similar ram set up fail under load).
My store bought unit is similar to Hemi43's. It is factory rated for 6000lbs. I have had a GMC 4dr 2500 Sierra 4x4 on it.
I currently use the 2x10 method for clearance, but in the spring Hemi43 is going to put mine in the floor for me.

-- Edited by DaveM on Monday 19th of November 2012 06:42:01 PM

Where can you buy these?

It kind of looks like the loading dock unit we have at our NAPA store

DaveM · ONTARIO

I got mine here. With a 220v Baldor hyd unit.

http://www.liftsuperstore.com/products/specialty-lifts/item/5-specialty-lifts/14-hemi-road-runner-6000-lbs

Gearhead · ELORA, ONT

DaveM wrote:
My store bought unit is similar to Hemi43's. It is factory rated for 6000lbs. I have had a GMC 4dr 2500 Sierra 4x4 on it.

Which looks identical to Hemi43's.
Does anyone know what the factor of saftey is for car hoists? FOS for overhead lifting is supposed to be 5:1. There's no way these scissor tables will carry 30,000lbs, so the FOS must be closer to 1.5
I recently bought a large high lift table for a customer to get garbage bins up to a second level. I'll have to look up the capacity on it...it was built much heavier than your standard elevated work platform

hemi43 · ONTARIO

Gearhead wrote:
DaveM wrote:
My store bought unit is similar to Hemi43's. It is factory rated for 6000lbs. I have had a GMC 4dr 2500 Sierra 4x4 on it.

Which looks identical to Hemi43's.
Does anyone know what the factor of saftey is for car hoists? FOS for overhead lifting is supposed to be 5:1. There's no way these scissor tables will carry 30,000lbs, so the FOS must be closer to 1.5
I recently bought a large high lift table for a customer to get garbage bins up to a second level. I'll have to look up the capacity on it...it was built much heavier than your standard elevated work platform

What they will hold, and what they will lift is two totally different things !! I tried to lift my truck which weighs about 5600, and I was just able to get the tires off of the ground about 2 inches. Mind you, I have the pressure dialed down to prevent lifting something too heavy. The weak link is the pivot pin, and its made from annealed 4140 steel which has a shear strength of around 70000 PSI. That means that it takes about 50000 lbs to shear that pin. The hoist has a mechanical advantage of about 2:1 on the pin, which means a 25000 lb load will shear the pin. There are 2 pivot pins, so that brings us back to 50000 lbs !! Do you see where I'm going with this ??

Seatyger · New Member

New to the Forum, and this is a fantastic first thread to read! Great job and an awesome learning experience.

427CARL · CLINTON, ONT

What they will hold, and what they will lift is two totally different things !!
tried to lift my truck which weighs about 5600, and I was just able to get the tires off of the ground about 2 inches.
Mind you, I have the pressure dialed down to prevent lifting something too heavy.
The weak link is the pivot pin, and its made from annealed 4140 steel which has a shear strength of around 70000 PSI. That means that it takes about 50000 lbs to shear that pin. The hoist has a mechanical advantage of about 2:1 on the pin, which means a 25000 lb load will shear the pin. There are 2 pivot pins, so that brings us back to 50000 lbs !! Do you see where I'm going with this ??

We used 2 in our tire shop in Exeter Ont. (16 years) we used the hoist to lift the front up and a floor jack to lift rear off ground (trucks only)

Jazz · THUNDER BAY, ONT

I like the lift,,just took me ten minutes to figure out why you set the car on stands,,,,I get it now!

-- Edited by Jazz on Tuesday 8th of January 2013 03:38:59 PM

Ziggy · TRENTON, ONT

That sure is the cats ass! Very handy set up! Really like how you don't have any hoses laying on the floor to trip over.

34guy · MISSISSAUGA, ONT

So what is one worth to buy

Or what would you charge to buld

Another whats your name again

I know you live somewhere in the

Center of the universe

hemi43 · ONTARIO

34guy wrote:
So what is one worth to buy
Or what would you charge to buld
Another whats your name again
I know you live somewhere in the
Center of the universe

Just buy a standard scissor lift ( They retail for around $2000) and modify your floor. There's really nothing special and quite easy to do. The reason I built my own hoist, about 8 years ago, is because at the time these things were selling for over 3K. Today I would just buy one. If you do all the work yourself the floor modification shouldn't cost anymore than $400 and a weekend of work.

-- Edited by hemi43 on Friday 13th of December 2013 02:15:06 PM

Fordy Acres Car Farm · DORCHESTER, ONT

Sweet! I've got to do this.... gotta save up again though - I just brought home car #53 yesterday and now I'm broke.......

....again.

-- Edited by Fordy Acres Car Farm on Friday 13th of December 2013 02:10:23 PM

Ziggy · TRENTON, ONT

Here you go Fordy! ontario.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-tools-power-tools-Scissor-lift-W0QQAdIdZ544173471

Fordy Acres Car Farm · DORCHESTER, ONT

Ziggy wrote:
Here you go Fordy! ontario.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-tools-power-tools-Scissor-lift-W0QQAdIdZ544173471

You had me going there for a minute Zig - I thought it was going to be 'Free to a Good Home'. I don't even have $400 to buy the hole in the floor!

hemi43 · ONTARIO

Ziggy wrote:
Here you go Fordy! ontario.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-tools-power-tools-Scissor-lift-W0QQAdIdZ544173471

That hoist wont work. It's only rated for 36". You need one rated for 52" or 60". Right off the bat you will lose 8" of lifting height because of the hoist is recessed into the floor.

Ziggy · TRENTON, ONT

Very true there! Even if it was not installed into a hole in the floor, 36" would still mean bending over to do any brake work or what not. Have been looking at some of them online. Almost half the price in the states.

Cat in the Hat · BRANTFORD, ONT

hoist 1.jpg

I dont bend over !

hemi43 · ONTARIO

Grumpsbodyworks wrote:

I dont bend over !

That's because you're a f-king dwarf !!! biggrin biggrin biggrin

Cat in the Hat · BRANTFORD, ONT

So which dwarf are you?

Im Grumpy

You must be ...... WHIMNY the small pecker dwarf!

hemi43 · ONTARIO

Grumpsbodyworks wrote:
So which dwarf are you?

Im Grumpy

You must be ...... WHIMNY the small pecker dwarf!

Actually I'm the eighth Dwarf , Horny!! You never see me because I'm always hiding under Snow White's skirt !! biggrin biggrin

Gazoo · BADEN, ONT

Yet another great thread, destined for the "Off Topic" section. blankstare

hemi43 · ONTARIO

Gazoo wrote:
Yet another great thread, destined for the "Off Topic" section.

If it doesn't it means we're not trying hard enough.

34guy · MISSISSAUGA, ONT

Grumpsbodyworks wrote:
I dont bend over !

Dan bends over heard you still have vivid memories of the crack of his ass

Gazoo · BADEN, ONT

hemi43 wrote:
Gazoo wrote:
Yet another great thread, destined for the "Off Topic" section.
If it doesn't it means we're not trying hard enough.

, someone's trying. If you need help, just say so. biggrin

Chris Stapley · CAMPBELLFORD, ONT

Here is an offer Dan,since my shop has almost 13 foot ceilings,we will swap and just all it even.ok?

hemi43 wrote:
Grumpsbodyworks wrote:
Hemi, Thats why they invented Chainsaws......to cut hole into the second story!

I'm sure with your fab skills it would be a walk in the park to add a post hoist....
I rent my shop.....or i'd be doing what you did with the scissor lift

-- Edited by Grumpsbodyworks on Monday 19th of November 2012 03:15:46 PM
If I had to it all again, I wouldn't build a 2 floor shop !! Having said that, living where I do I had no choice. It was the only way to get the square footage of shop space and still keep the township happy. I have a full woodworking shop upstairs, so not being able to walk under my car is a small price I have to pay. I really wanted a 10 foot ceiling on the first floor, but the height of the building would have been legally too high. Thanks for the comments !!

-- Edited by Chris Stapley on Saturday 14th of December 2013 12:43:22 AM

shag766 · FOXBORO, ONT

hemi43 wrote:
Grumpsbodyworks wrote:

I dont bend over !
That's because you're a f-king dwarf !!!

dang it guys, stop it. i just spit a mouth full of coffee all over the lap top.

-

LOL_LOL