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Another Standby Generator topic

7K views 44 replies 13 participants last post by  HackWork 
#1 ·
Didn’t want to hijack the other thread. I have a 16’ enclosed trailer that I use for generator installs. Comes stocked with everything I need. I use the generac cart to roll the generator up into the trailer and roll it off at the customer’s house.

My question is how do you guys lift a generator up onto an elevated platform? Many of my customers are in flood zones and so I have a few that I will need to pick the generator up over 4’. First one I did I was lucky and an on-site Lull became my bitch for 10 minutes.

But the next 2 are going to be a little more tricky. Not as accessible, soft ground, obstructions that would make any large equipment out of the question. Trying to avoid having to rent a heavy piece of equipment as a matter of practice and was wondering if you guys have any advise on something I can do to get a generator from the ground up to 4’ or so tall. Is there some sort of portable lifting equipment that could be viable to purchase or build?
 
#3 ·
that would be cutting it close. it has a lifting range of up to 78" which may not be enough. by the time you have eye of the winch attached to the 4 lifting points, it would probably be around 48" off the ground before it starts to pick the generator up off the ground. maybe more. A trailer hitch winch is a good idea. Id like to find one that can go higher.

Preferably one I can set up on the ground, for those tight locations, but I might just have to man handle those.
 
#5 ·
What are your options as far as getting 3 others guys to come with you for these installations?

Between the time, danger, and risk of damaging equipment or property, having 4 guys throw it up in 10 minutes starts to sound good. But that depends if you have guys that you can have stop by the job for a half hour to help.
 
#6 ·
We are a 3 man crew. I could probably get another person out there, but I have a bad back and try to avoid lifting things like this as much as possible. I suppose if I load it into the back of a pickup and back up to the platform its less of a lift or drop.

been browsing trailer hitch cranes but I cant seem to find one that will lift one high enough.
 
#7 ·
I think something like this might work out pretty well, I am sure there are better brands but you get the idea with the Harbor Freight

https://www.harborfreight.com/autom...nds/1-ton-telescoping-gantry-crane-41188.html



If you upgraded the wheels and / or ran it over planks I think it would work.

There are lots of old school methods to lift heavy things but they tend to be either slow, or not safe by modern standards. (Four guys muscling it into place might fall into the latter.)
 
#16 ·
Why not just regular scaffolding? Set up a double section on each side. Put a stick of 3” rigid on each side, like you would a mason plank, and a piece across the middle that would slide on the other two. Put a chain fall on the middle one. Raise it up, and slide the piece of 3” rigid across the other two.

I think mason scaffold is 7’ long along the cross braces. You should be able to safely slide a generator 5’ to 6’
 
#17 ·
That's a tough one. I like the genie lift, but as others mentioned probably not wide enough to straddle the base of the platform. The other may work, but is large and likely heavy, needs to be assembled each time. Maybe with modification by having larger tires as others mentioned. Curious to see what you come up with.
 
#22 · (Edited)
How about a scissoring motorcycle lift attached to your flatbed cart? You can drop the generator on top of it using stationary hoisting equipment at your shop. Then roll it into your trailer and then roll it out to the customers platform. Get it nice and close to the platform, lift it even with the platform, and slide it over onto the platform.

The motorcycle lifts generally go 30 inches high. So between the height of the cart underneath it, and a nice smooth deck that you build on top of it, that should get you to your 4 foot height no problem.
 
#30 ·
Any way you do it, you'll need four guys to manhandle the genset. The OP said he can't get heavy equipment in to set the generator.
 
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#31 ·
Depending on the rental place, they could deliver the scaffolding. You would probably pay for it though. But you did mention you had some.

The rigid you could return if it doesn’t get bowed. Maybe double it up. It would cost more, but you would return it.

The only other thing I could think of would be a ramp.
 
#32 ·
Wow there are a lot of these gantry cranes available online, lightweight aluminum ones, all different weight ratings ... some of them under $500.00, but this one says not to roll it loaded.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200696886_200696886

Now that I think of it I don't know whether you could roll scaffolding loaded. But that shouldn't be an issue, you could get it next to the pad with the Generac cart, hoist it up with the crane, slid it over, and lower it on the pad.
 
#33 · (Edited)
I still think that setting up some type of overhead structure is going to take a lot of time and be dangerous.

Load one of these types of carts at the shop (strap the generator to it solidly), wheel it into the trailer, wheel it off and over to the platform at the customer's house, pump it up, slide it off.

This one has large wheels and will lift 600lbs up to 67 inches high. It's not cheap, but considering the fact that once it's wheeled over to the platform like you would do with the cart you have now, it will only take a couple minutes to slide the generator off it onto the platform, the time savings alone is worth the price after using it 2-3 times.

https://hofequipment.com/vestil-cart-pn-600-d-double-scissor-rough-terrain-lift-cart-p988.html

I would pump it up to the height of the platform and then ratchet strap it to the platform so that it stays tight to it while sliding the generator over.

There are a lot of other ones out there that might work a bit better. This one will lift 1,500lbs to a height of 43", but you can always add 6-8" platform to the top of it to get the extra height that you need. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Vestil-1500-lb-Scissor-Cart-Rough-Terrain-CART-PN-1500/303210237
 
#34 ·
The gantry would take a lot of space in the trailer, and if you don't get the aluminum one, it's pretty heavy to handle. I don't think it's too difficult to assemble - just four bolts at either end of the beam - but still work. But once it's up, it's probably the safest / easiest.

If they are tall enough, I like the looks of these all terrain carts. It does the work of the generac cart and the hoist in one device. I wouldn't put a platform between the cart and the generator, I'd just get one that's tall enough. You could hang a hoist from a beam at the shop and load it up nice and easy.
 
#36 ·
Screw all that...

(Local) Craigslist> Skilled Trade> Movers




Find the newest guy to the trade, he'll come out with 3 other guys and do all the lifting for you.


No equipment to move, no set-up, no tear down, no heavy lifting. All I do is bring 2 pieces of 1" rigid that are 5' long and then point.



Pretty damn cheap too.
 
#37 · (Edited)
(Local) Craigslist> Skilled Trade> Movers




Find the newest guy to the trade, he'll come out with 3 other guys and do all the lifting for you.


No equipment to move, no set-up, no tear down, no heavy lifting. All I do is bring 2 pieces of 1" rigid that are 5' long and then point.



Pretty damn cheap too.
Good idea! What do they typically charge you?
 
#39 ·
Here's another possible solution, a little more primitive - a tripod. I have made slapped-together tripods out of pipe that worked fantastic. You can actually lift a heavy load with a tripod moving one leg at a time but hoists are so cheap these days you don't have to.



It's just a bigger version of the tripods used for confined space rescue. You'd set the tripod up over the generator, lift it off the generac cart, pull it over toward the platform, and lower it. Pretty low drama.
 
#41 ·
buy a Scissor lift table. Then take it to a friend that can weld or a machine shop and have 4 trailer jacks sockets attached and replace the wheels with 4 larger Pneumatic casters.(may be able to buy one with the larger tires)

Now you have a new cart and the ability to lift it 4' high. On un-level ground attach the jacks and level the cart before lifting.
 
#43 ·
We tend to use a 2 -ton rated gantry when moving heavy equipment.
You just have to realize that you are dealing with two specific complications.
One is moving a heavy load across soft ground
The second is lifting and placing that load.
There might be an all in one solution but, I believe that two separate pieces of equipment are going to be more adaptive than something cobbled together to make an all in one "lift-o-move-matic"
 
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