Yep another gantry crane build

[Memmeddu]

Hi everyone, I've should have build one years ago but never actually had the time materials etc.
Yesterday my friend and me killed our backs while unloading the comet cold saw from the van and we had to put it on its stand too.
Here born the need for it.
I've decided to make a parallel thread to other one started by another member because I have specific needs and I essentially need some advice as I don't really know what can work for me or not.
Starting from the design I've thought about an A frame with gussets to the top beam.
Load capacity at least 500 kg but if it's not possible I would accept a lower lift capacity.
As light and portable as possible, and this mean I can't really use heavy materials, and components can't be longer than 2.5metres long so I can get it into the Vito once disassembled.
It has to be a little bit off road capable as I need it in my property and there's not concrete floor, it's kinda rough terrain but not impractical, I just can't use small or narrow wheels.
I prefer a fixed design as I don't really need to be adjustable.
I have 3mm thick rettangular tube and 48mm diameter 3.5mm thick pipes (the ones used in construction for the scaffolding)
I'm not sure how too build it really never got deep into various designs.

 

[zzr1200]

Many years ago I used to hire an "A Frame Gantry" from a local hire shop for removing engines including Yank V8's including gearboxes at times. So 500kgs could be easly lifted.

The design consisted of "A frame ends" made out of heavy wall 40mm box with a bottom crossbeam to stop the legs spreading and a heavy wall 100mm x 50mm x 4mm load beam. The only downfall was it had a fixed lifting point.

I'm off on holiday in the morning but if you pm me your email address I'll try and draw up the design, plus post it on here...when the internet is available.

 

[gaz1]

23 pages to get a heavy table out of the back of the van

How do I get this out of the van? Parm Look away now.

Its a 1M square surface table and very heavy, Fork lift put it in so looking how do we get it out with out a fork lift? Any suggestions welcome.

www.mig-welding.co.uk

a gantry crane has it uses but when you dont have the height in the back of the van its useless

whilst a pallet rolled out on steel bars would be helpful its getting it down to the ground and thats where a frame crane comes into use

even built up car ramps to the height of the rear of the van so it can be rolled out is ample enough then the crane to lower it down to the ground would be better



however a hand forklift might be handier

based on the design of the genie lift for beams but there weight limit is less the one thing i like about that genie lift is you can turn the forks upside down

 

[Memmeddu]

Many years ago I used to hire an "A Frame Gantry" from a local hire shop for moving engines including Yank V8's including gearboxes at times. So 500kgs could be easly lifted.

The design consisted of "A frame ends" made out of heavy wall 40mm box with a bottom crossbeam to stop the legs spreading and a heavy wall 100mm x 50mm x 4mm load beam. The only downfall was it had a fixed lifting point.

I'm off on holiday in the morning but if you pm me your email addres I'll try and draw up the design, plus post it on here...when the internet is available.

Thank you

 

[Memmeddu]

23 pages to get a heavy table out of the back of the van

How do I get this out of the van? Parm Look away now.

Its a 1M square surface table and very heavy, Fork lift put it in so looking how do we get it out with out a fork lift? Any suggestions welcome.

www.mig-welding.co.uk

a gantry crane has it uses but when you dont have the height in the back of the van its useless

whilst a pallet rolled out on steel bars would be helpful its getting it down to the ground and thats where a frame crane comes into use

even built up car ramps to the height of the rear of the van so it can be rolled out is ample enough then the crane to lower it down to the ground would be better

View attachment 464455View attachment 464457

however a hand forklift might be handier

based on the design of the genie lift for beams but there weight limit is less the one thing i like about that genie lift is you can turn the forks upside down

Thank you gaz for the input.
Yes I know I can't use it to get things in and out of the van.
Both because of the large base which is unlikely to get into or below the van but it can help support the weight and and move materials easier and safer.
The cold saw base is most likely 90 100kg or even more.
An engine crane would have been the best choice in this specific case.
But once on the ground the gantry is far better to move the thing around and lift where it needed to go.
I'm not trying to say that it's a better tool.
Ideally I'd need all three
A gantry crane to lift things steady and safe
An engine crane to get things in and out of the van
A forklift as it cannot be replaced where I really need it
In addition to that an heavy duty cart which is another thing I want to build as it's a very useful tool.
I can even build a mini jib crane and install it on the van.
The gantry idea comes in handy now because I need to move my cast iron lumps around my property.
I have to work on my lathe which can be lifted by hand but not a single person job.
At the same time I have to move the cold saw.
And I need the crane to help me in disassembling and assembling both those machines.
Engine crane have big disadvantages as they tend to have a very high center of gravity and they get stuck even on smooth concrete surfaces, I've tilted over many times the one we have at work.
I'm open to options.
You just made my eyes open and now I'm not so sure about which would be the best choice for me.

 

[zzr1200]

A very very quick outline of the design the A Frames legs, 40 x 40 x 4 box section leg base plates were about 48 inches apart as I remember the top rectangular beam was 100 x 50 x 4 about 8 ft long with a welded U shaped rod in the middle of the section to hang the lifting block. The legs fitted into a bit of the same size box as the top section that had been cut and welded at right angles to the main beam, I can't remember if the leg pocket height was more than the height of the beam, but if you have enough material an extra few inches won't hurt.

There were 6mm plates about 6 x 4 inches welded near the top of the A frames to spread the weight and strengthen the top of the A frame plus plates at the bottom to stop the legs sinking in soft ground (you could fit casters if you wished).

Another 6mm plate at each end of the top beam (as shown) to spread the load and again strengthen the beam, at a guess you would need 9ft of 100 x 50 x 4 rectangle box, 2 full lengths of 40 x 40 x 4 box section and some 4 or 6mm plate for strengthening and ground plates.

Overall the design was strong enough to lift big block V8 car engines and gearboxes out of Yank Cars...

You'll have to adapt the measurements to your needs/van.

hth

zzr

 

[GRW]

even built up car ramps to the height of the rear of the van so it can be rolled out is ample enough then the crane to lower it down to the ground would be better

View attachment 464455View attachment 464457

I do like that car ramp set!

 

[gaz1]

I do like that car ramp set!

as seen they stack up really well in a good spot

they bolt together as well but you could use pins instead to do the same job

there only 3mm angle iron

we had landrovers and lwb transit vans stood on them a nice set that was used

 

[gaz1]

i will be honest here if i had a choice on using the forklift with bigger wheels id rather use that and slide it under the van and pick up the pallet and then lower it down to the floor

nothing worse than having to unload a van or 7.5 vehicle by hand on your own and out delivering id wish often that we could use a small type forklift hydraulic by hand or by electric but electric wasnt available when i was on the wagons

it was just as bad having to unload by a sack kart as well

if i was to use a sliding gantry then i would use a third set that adjusted inside of the van and then a hoist to lift it and slide it out of the van

the reason why you would need the third leg is to rest on the van while you lifted the weight and so the gantry diidnt tip into the van otherwise you would need a counter weight on other end of the gantry

 

[gaz1]

there called a counter balanced beam gantry and you need counter weight on them

L Europea Pair of 800kg Trestles/ A Frame​

 

[Memmeddu]

there called a counter balanced beam gantry and you need counter weight on them

L Europea Pair of 800kg Trestles/ A Frame​

View attachment 464517

It's very similar if not the same usually used on rooftops job sites where it's not possible to install a scaffolding

 

[gaz1]

with me and the a frame gantry id build it so the height was adjustable so the beam would be under a normal opening

now if i was to use a hydraulic jack id get another 100mm lift but if i used a trolley jack acts like a scissor jack you would get a 2ft lift instead and you can use 2 trolley jacks one for either side and pin the beam as well

 

[Memmeddu]

I'm not sure about what would work better for my needs right now.
I can get an engine crane for 150 euro
And this would be enough to lift things out of the van.
On October I'll lay the concrete slab on my shop (15cm with metal web) and this is the starting point of my workshop.
But I like your idea about the adjustable height but I don't think I would really need it.
It will make the design more complex and the frame will not be as strong as a fixed one.
I was considering adjustable width but it can be really achieved by using an H beam.
Which I believe would need another crane to be lifted in place and we loose the advantage of a lightweight design which I'm aiming to.
I can't really lift more than 30kg above chest height.
So if I'd need to disassembly the crane to transport it somewhere assembly it in place use it and disassembly it again.
I'm pretty sure I would die.