Lifting device

[litman252]

I'm thinking I could use something to lift "light" heavy stuff (2-300lbs) around the house, in town and all. I'm thinking of 3 legs, 6-7' 120' to each other and jointed with flat stock on top. Either a crank or maybe a block and tackle for faster lifts. One leg would have a pulley on top near the pivot, lift from the middle below the center of the legs. chain legs together, at different heights as needed.

Could lift welding projects in the garage, tree limbs from ice storm, big rock into neighbors truck.......................... And still fold and store near wall...........

This been done before?? any ideas??

Tony

[Goodhand]

I'm thinking I could use something to lift "light" heavy stuff (2-300lbs) around the house, in town and all. I'm thinking of 3 legs, 6-7' 120' to each other and jointed with flat stock on top. Either a crank or maybe a block and tackle for faster lifts. One leg would have a pulley on top near the pivot, lift from the middle below the center of the legs. chain legs together, at different heights as needed.

Could lift welding projects in the garage, tree limbs from ice storm, big rock into neighbors truck.......................... And still fold and store near wall...........

This been done before?? any ideas??

Tony

I have used 3 legs from a kids' swing set to suspend a come-along for pulling stumps. If you are using 6'-7' foot leg lengths, I don't think they would separate far enough to sneak that big rock into the neighbor's truck. :o

[Hotfoot]

Why not a "Cherry Picker" type engine hoist? My Harbor Freight one folds up to about 24" deep, and still rolls around folded. The 2 ton are usually about $145.00 on sale, and the 1 ton about $100.00. My outside lifts are done with a chain hoist mounted into my Oak Tree, so I wheel 'stuff' out on my big wheeled cart, lift, back truck under, then lower into bed...vice versa to unload.:)

[taylorkh]

Here is my lifting device. It is intended primarily for logging (firewood gathering.) The lift keeps the end of the log from digging in. A chain from the end of the log to the base behind the ball hitch keeps the tractor from pulling a wheelie :eek: The large disks at the top are simply to keep the wire from jumping out of the pulley while hooking up a load.

Ken

[txfireguy2003]

To answer your question, yes it HAS been done. http://www.majorsafety.com/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=748&CFID=1492957&CFTOKEN=55089048

We use a lot of this type of equipment for lifting men in and out of confined spaces on the fire department rescue teams. Ours are made out of aluminum and if I remember correctly, have a 400 lb rating, with a 10:1 safety factor, which means that they SHOULD handle up to 4000 lbs but they de-rate all life safety equipment just to be safe. It looks like it would fairly simple to build, but as said earlier, 6-7' isn't going to be tall enough to do much serious lifting....I would look into making them telescope somehow.

[Some Creep]

OK, I'm not a big fan of them, BUT.....

in the old days at the pump shop we used a 3 leg well pump puller rig similar to what you're talking about. It's very simple to make. Take 3 equal pipe lengths in either 1 1/2", 2", whatever, (I've heard of using smaller O.D. but even the 1 1/2" can get springy) and drill a hole through them 2" from one end. Take 5/8" rebar and bend it into a loop through the holes, attaching them together in a 'necklace'. Now, depending on how long your legs are, you can set this up as a tripod and use the rebar ring to attach your hoist hanging hook.

The one we used (again, I wasn't a fan of using it) was 1 1/2" pipe in 18" lengths with the opposite ends threaded. We were able to add threaded pipe lengths to the ends and add height to the tripod. We used this to pull submersible well pumps out of the hole, pipe and all. Some of them were over 1000 lbs of pipe, pump, and water. Like I said, 1 1/2" can be springy, so I'd opt for a larger diameter.
My modifications were to add reinforcement around the drill holes and collars to the tops of the pipe leg stubs. I just wanted them more reliable (safer?)....

Black pipe isn't designed to be used like this, but we did it. Others use these too, but they might be morons like us...... :)

[litman252]

To answer your question, yes it HAS been done. http://www.majorsafety.com/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=748&CFID=1492957&CFTOKEN=55089048


That pic does better than my words, I'll just put the pulley in one of the legs at the top so I can be outside when doing the lifting.

To answer some of the other questions, shop is too small for picker storage, no oak tree out side, and the leg extensions would be a great idea. And where the heck could I hide that tractor???? OHHHHHHHHH the need for more room, $$$$$$ and time :D

Thanks guys,
Tony