not2old
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2010
- Messages
- 1,552
- Location
- Scotch Creek, British Columbia
- Tractor
- 2010 Massey GC2610TLB
I've made some concrete "railway ties" for a landscaping project. They are heavier than my tractor will lift completely but I am able to lift one end and with a piece of pipe under the other, I am able to move them where I want. This included getting them off my flat deck trailer onto the ground. This might work for your hoist.
Jaygyver
Silver Member
Mine from around 15 yrs ago I believe was in a steel frame but I have seen them in a wooden crate before and mine came in a semi van. I did have an old 3000# cap forklift at the time. Read underneath what I did to do for your tractor.
I first had someone hold an old -good- pallet on its end and pulled the crate out as far as the edge of the truck and set the other end on the pallet. I was then able to lift the middle up level -above- the floor of the trailer, pulled the pallet away, then had the truck pull out and when it was cleared I lowered it down and was able to maneuver it to the shop.
Anything to get that end near the height of the trailer that's strong enough. You will probably need a strap/chain to help pull the skid back as it most likely will NOT pull easy. You're only caring half the weight but you're -pulling- all the weight. Make sure it stays on the forks.
I really don't think you'll be able to lift in the middle when crated using the pallet method or if it's still bundled together, especially without a 600 or 700 lbs counter balance and wouldn't suggest it as if you go to all that trouble and can't lift the whole thing then it was a waste of time and have to start over again. If you do it that way and it won't work then you will need to use a strap/chain to lift the end off the pallet to lower it onto the ground because it will slide off the forks when lowering it because of the angle.
But you should be able to do it with the individual long uprights that way. In fact you may be able to just slide both the posts onto the forks if you can disassemble or if it came in a crate.
If is in a steel frame or full wooden crate then you can sit the one end on the ground and you should be able to lift the trailer end up just enough to clear the floor so the driver can drive away then you can lower it down. If the truck does come with a lift gate then all you have to do is pull it out far enough to go on the lift gate, set the end on the ground, and they will lower the gate down.
If you still can't lift the trailer end of the crate off the trailer floor (but you should be able to) DO NOT have the driver drive away thinking the tractor will hold it, especially if you don't have a real counter balance. If the crate end is too heavy to lift off the trailer floor it will add a few hundred more pounds all at once when it clears the edge and it WILL tip the tractor. Tip it forward if you're lucky and worse case, sideways if the end gets caught on the lip of the floor.
Remember, the higher you go the less you can lift on a tractor. If the whole crate was on the ground you might be able to lift the crate up a bit but not be able to lift it when it's already 4 or 5 feet off the ground.
Think of a a plan of action AND a back up plan as the truck driver will probably have other deliveries on his truck so you don't want to hold them up too much. In case it does come in a full wooden crate then have a crowbar/hammer available if it's too heavy to lift as a whole. And have a couple of straps on hand also. Probably a couple guys to supervise, I mean help out.
DO NOT -drive- with any heavy load higher then a few inches off the ground, also make sure the forks are rotated all the way back (depending on the load) as that will bring the center of gravity back closer to the pivot points. (and will also put some weight back onto the rear tires, more so on forklifts anyway.)
Did it that way for 45+ years driving a truck and never had a problem. Common sense is a huge factor in that. And no you can't use the pallet way with a #5000 I-beam.
I first had someone hold an old -good- pallet on its end and pulled the crate out as far as the edge of the truck and set the other end on the pallet. I was then able to lift the middle up level -above- the floor of the trailer, pulled the pallet away, then had the truck pull out and when it was cleared I lowered it down and was able to maneuver it to the shop.
Anything to get that end near the height of the trailer that's strong enough. You will probably need a strap/chain to help pull the skid back as it most likely will NOT pull easy. You're only caring half the weight but you're -pulling- all the weight. Make sure it stays on the forks.
I really don't think you'll be able to lift in the middle when crated using the pallet method or if it's still bundled together, especially without a 600 or 700 lbs counter balance and wouldn't suggest it as if you go to all that trouble and can't lift the whole thing then it was a waste of time and have to start over again. If you do it that way and it won't work then you will need to use a strap/chain to lift the end off the pallet to lower it onto the ground because it will slide off the forks when lowering it because of the angle.
But you should be able to do it with the individual long uprights that way. In fact you may be able to just slide both the posts onto the forks if you can disassemble or if it came in a crate.
If is in a steel frame or full wooden crate then you can sit the one end on the ground and you should be able to lift the trailer end up just enough to clear the floor so the driver can drive away then you can lower it down. If the truck does come with a lift gate then all you have to do is pull it out far enough to go on the lift gate, set the end on the ground, and they will lower the gate down.
If you still can't lift the trailer end of the crate off the trailer floor (but you should be able to) DO NOT have the driver drive away thinking the tractor will hold it, especially if you don't have a real counter balance. If the crate end is too heavy to lift off the trailer floor it will add a few hundred more pounds all at once when it clears the edge and it WILL tip the tractor. Tip it forward if you're lucky and worse case, sideways if the end gets caught on the lip of the floor.
Remember, the higher you go the less you can lift on a tractor. If the whole crate was on the ground you might be able to lift the crate up a bit but not be able to lift it when it's already 4 or 5 feet off the ground.
Think of a a plan of action AND a back up plan as the truck driver will probably have other deliveries on his truck so you don't want to hold them up too much. In case it does come in a full wooden crate then have a crowbar/hammer available if it's too heavy to lift as a whole. And have a couple of straps on hand also. Probably a couple guys to supervise, I mean help out.
DO NOT -drive- with any heavy load higher then a few inches off the ground, also make sure the forks are rotated all the way back (depending on the load) as that will bring the center of gravity back closer to the pivot points. (and will also put some weight back onto the rear tires, more so on forklifts anyway.)
Did it that way for 45+ years driving a truck and never had a problem. Common sense is a huge factor in that. And no you can't use the pallet way with a #5000 I-beam.
