William Payne
Aluminum
- Joined
- May 29, 2016
Just randomly curious about this as far as what people have. I know I have seen them in smaller setups. When I say small I am thinking 20' x 23' x 9'
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What small bridge/gantry cranes do people have?
- Thread starter William Payne
- Start date
- Replies 16
- Views 875
john.k
Diamond
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2012
- Location
- Brisbane Qld Australia
How much do you want to lift ?..
Steve in SoCal
Titanium
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2006
9 feet is way too low.
I have two bridge cranes the smaller one is about 30x70 with 12 hook height and that is too low. I have a semi tractor that is 12.8 tall, I can back in or nose in but not clear the top of the sleeper. Can't really pull masts off forklifts either. That bridge is useful in many ways with two 2ton hoists it just isn't good for truck loading/unloading or other tall picks.
I will say the best thing I ever did was go wireless on the controls. I do a lot of engine swaps/major driveline work on everything from semi tractors to custom cars. Being under a car and easing an engine/trans into place with a hand held control is nervana!
Pics in the morning
Steve
I have two bridge cranes the smaller one is about 30x70 with 12 hook height and that is too low. I have a semi tractor that is 12.8 tall, I can back in or nose in but not clear the top of the sleeper. Can't really pull masts off forklifts either. That bridge is useful in many ways with two 2ton hoists it just isn't good for truck loading/unloading or other tall picks.
I will say the best thing I ever did was go wireless on the controls. I do a lot of engine swaps/major driveline work on everything from semi tractors to custom cars. Being under a car and easing an engine/trans into place with a hand held control is nervana!
Pics in the morning
Steve
sfriedberg
Diamond
- Joined
- Oct 14, 2010
- Location
- Oregon, USA
I've got a Vestil adjustable steel gantry, AHS-6-10-12 if I remember correctly. Moves on casters. 12' tall (adjustable lower, and I have it a notch or two lower to fit under my overhead door), 10' beam length, 3T capacity. This is just tall enough and wide enough for a flatbed/stakebed delivery truck to fit between the posts and let me get steel off the bed.
Since I have no forklift, I had to have a raising party to assemble the thing, and had to buy a couple of comealongs to raise/lower it.
I've got a Jet 3T chainlift on a low profile push trolley, and a static beam clamp I can use when I need a fixed point.
Shop is 24'x28', 13' at the eaves, 12x12 overhead door.
Since I have no forklift, I had to have a raising party to assemble the thing, and had to buy a couple of comealongs to raise/lower it.
I've got a Jet 3T chainlift on a low profile push trolley, and a static beam clamp I can use when I need a fixed point.
Shop is 24'x28', 13' at the eaves, 12x12 overhead door.
Steve in SoCal
Titanium
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2006
Here is the crane with a typical use. The boom lift basket was removed with the crane. The car to the right is getting an engine swap six cylinder to a V12 and a lot of other work to support the changes.
The two hoists can travel from either end about 2/3 the span, cable limits travel. This crane has a 10x10 door at the end as you can see. This section of my shop is actually a leanto shed roof between two other buildings. To get my truck into the area I have to use the taller of the doors on the left side of the crane.
There are plans to do a 14x14 door sometime but it is not a high priority. The area to the left of the doors is where the trucks/trailers and equipment live it has 18 ceilings.
The two hoists can travel from either end about 2/3 the span, cable limits travel. This crane has a 10x10 door at the end as you can see. This section of my shop is actually a leanto shed roof between two other buildings. To get my truck into the area I have to use the taller of the doors on the left side of the crane.
There are plans to do a 14x14 door sometime but it is not a high priority. The area to the left of the doors is where the trucks/trailers and equipment live it has 18 ceilings.
Cole2534
Diamond
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2010
- Location
- Oklahoma City, OK
No kidding. I'd like at least 14', when I do get one.
"Boom lift basket" ????
Steve in SoCal
Titanium
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2006
The basket rotator needs to be rebuilt. It was the crane or crib up the basket and move the lift.
Steve
Steve
matt_isserstedt
Diamond
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2003
- Location
- suburbs of Ann Arbor, MI, USA
I would also say Gorbel seems to have a large market share. They seem like an economical choice (all fabricated steel), easy to assemble.
My .02: The smoothest rolling rails are extruded aluminum rails (Knight, Zimmerman, Unified, also Gorbel) although it requires another other support structure to be built.
My .02: The smoothest rolling rails are extruded aluminum rails (Knight, Zimmerman, Unified, also Gorbel) although it requires another other support structure to be built.
William Payne
Aluminum
- Joined
- May 29, 2016
Yeah it’s low but you can’t get a semi into my shop or even up my driveway. Trucks have to be unloaded at the street and anything moved into my shop via forklift or equivalent.
For me this would be to move things once they are in the shop such as machinery or things I’m working on.
I don’t work on cars or anything. I really hate engine cranes and I don’t want a moving gantry that is taking up space but could easily put a post in each corner with beams for a bridge/gantry crane with a few ton rating that will be out of the way when not in use but also reach most areas within the shop.
kb0thn
Hot Rolled
- Joined
- May 15, 2008
- Location
- Winona, MN, USA
I have a home built bridge crane in my home shop. ~20ft span and 40ft of runway. 1 ton rated. Walls are 10ft and I have about 9' under hook. It is plenty nice for home shop tending machines, fixing equipment, etc. I probably spent $5k building it. Hangs from the wood framed building.
I have a Gorbel jib crane I put in my new work shop. It is 2 ton with 25' span and ~15ft under hook. 2 ton dual speed hoist with wireless remote. Wireless remote is really nice. Height is just fine, but always wish for more. Below the hook lifting devices (spread beam, scale, etc) run you out of head room pretty quickly. But we are making 7ft tall weldments and taking them on and off of welding tables. I think the whole crane and installation materials probably were north of $40k.
I have a Gorbel jib crane I put in my new work shop. It is 2 ton with 25' span and ~15ft under hook. 2 ton dual speed hoist with wireless remote. Wireless remote is really nice. Height is just fine, but always wish for more. Below the hook lifting devices (spread beam, scale, etc) run you out of head room pretty quickly. But we are making 7ft tall weldments and taking them on and off of welding tables. I think the whole crane and installation materials probably were north of $40k.
john.k
Diamond
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2012
- Location
- Brisbane Qld Australia
With any kind of overhead crane,girder or jib,you can always make some secondary props to boost the capacity for the ocassional heavy lift..........if your shed is engineer designed ,it will have a designated wind load and maybe snow load ,and since either of these loads are transitory,you can load the frame to these stresses with your overhead crane from time to time ,without damage to the structure.
For a rough rule of thumb in laying these things out, I use 36" under the bottom of the beam (the one the trolley rides on) to the hook point.
Yes, you can sneak a little more, I have a few tricks to doo that, but don't use that up
in the initial layout.
86turbodsl
Cast Iron
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2004
- Location
- MI, USA
I have a 14' ceiling in my shop. I wanted a bridge crane for a LONG time. I finally figured out it was a LOT cheaper to just get a forklift for in the shop. WAY less money and just about as good versatility. Unless you're moving a lot of heavy stuff regularly i think it's overkill.
Steve in SoCal
Titanium
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2006
Everything mechinized is overkill till it isn't. I struggled with an engine hoist in a small two car garage for years. I will say forklifts are a true gift of the gods. Like forklifts once you have cranes you wonder how you ever did stuff with out. I have a lil Clark Clipper that is great for tight spaces, for a small workshop something like that ideal.
That said, a bridge crane is a whole nuther level of "helping hands" it makes working solo on big projects so much more efficient. My latest project, harvesting the goods from this hapless victim. I moved it into position from a place none of my forklifts could access without a lot of shifting stuff around.
Steve
That said, a bridge crane is a whole nuther level of "helping hands" it makes working solo on big projects so much more efficient. My latest project, harvesting the goods from this hapless victim. I moved it into position from a place none of my forklifts could access without a lot of shifting stuff around.
Steve
