Back in the 'old' days, I rented a heavy duty knock-down unit that I liked the looks of and just copied the design. In todays market it might cost $30 for ½ day but that way you'll know if you like how it works. .
I built my own about 25 years ago...I think I spent enough on steel to make it worth buying one already built. But back then they were not so easy to find.... Anyways, mine is a bit like the design in that link, but I used 2 x 4 x 3/16" for the boom so it doesn't need the truss on top, and the legs are straight instead of angled, and it only has casters on the rear, so the wheels at the "heavy" end don't steer. I've used it for a bunch of engine replacements, it works fine.
I'm glad I built my own... I decided to use the "You can't overbuild anything" motto... but it has yet to fail me.
Here is one that I built with Schedule 40 and 80 Pipe. I got tired of fighting todays conventional engine lifts that won't go under front axels, 4 Bars and Bat Wings, and I can use it for a body lift as well as engine lifting duties. I use a HF electric lift, and the best part is it knock's down for storage. HemiDeuce.
I own an equipment rental shop. I rent them for $30+ Tax for the whole weekend. It doesn't make sense to build something you can buy or rent so cheaply.
does if you use it alot, or are lazy like me and dont like to go to rental yards and load up a hoist every couple months
I've got one borrowed from a friend. he will not let me return it yet.............It can from O'Rileys and was made for AC Delco. One of the better one's I've used. If I were going to buy one I'd buy this one.
Ive got an old Carolina 5000..dam thing is built like a Tank..maybe it was used to put engines in Tanks..hell I dont know, but this thing is stout
I have an A frame that is made of Magnesium, Pops garbage picked it in the Army, but with a Come along, it doesn't work in the garage. Maybe an electric lift that would attach to the top and have a short chain on it would be what I would need. A lift like HemiDeuce might fit the bill. Anyone have a non HF one in mind?
Hi HemiDeuce I came across an old post of yours on an engine hoist you build from sch. 40 and 80 PVC and some other material. If you would be so kind and if you can recall, since the post was a while ago; do you have any of the measurements or plans to build the hoist? Also is the PVC you used strong enough to lift a 450 pound engine? I plan to use it to lift the body off the pan from my 69 VW Beetle I am restoring. The body with out the doors, fenders, gl*** or other body parts only weighs about less than 400 pounds. But I need to left it several times on and off the pan to measure body bolt locations and the such, and looks like your hoist just might be the ticket... Any information on this or even pics if you have, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a bunch, Joe legotech7@yahoo.com
Yea, NOT PVC. I rented one about 2 miles from where I was working on my WWII truck and walked it home. All my friends with trucks were too busy to tow it for me. Then I decided to buy one and spent $250 on a good one. They all found a reason to need to borrow it. I just have a thing about lending stuff. Build it, buy it, its amazing what you can do with your own crane. I helped a neighbor move an Apricot tree along the fence with it once. We bolted the base into his truck and reached the arm over the fence and transplanted it to the other side of his yard. HA!! Right by my fence. I loved that.
Hemideuce- I know sched 40/80 isn't stuctural steel, have you had any bending, cracking show up in yours? I like your idea, I have a chain hoist that would look good hanging from something like that...
I have the same one that was featured on shadetree mechanic some years back.... It's a big ol' beafy son of a *****!...
I bought one ( 4 ton max.) at a local sells all type of auto stuff place. Have and used it for 4 years now. Folding legs for compact storage on rollers, etc. New $ 109.00 & yup I'm sure it was made in China, but I don't really care, it works for what I need and no one could match the price. So all the folks that hate China stuff, now's the time to FLAME ON.
I didn't use PVC, I used schedule 40 and 80 steel pipe, the legs and cross tube slip into the end pieces, so it all breaks down for storage. I have not had any cracking or bending, it is very solid, but I wish now that I would have added a couple of braces on the end pieces between the leg tubes and also the cross tube receiver. I calculated the height and width requirement, bought the pipe, fish mouthed the ends and welded them up.
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