My engine hoist doesn't go quite high enough so here's what we're thinking:

Take a 3" I beam and lay it across 4 trusses above the access door so we can throw a chain around it real quick.

Background on what's up there:
30x40 stick built shop w 10' ceilings
low hip style roof

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c291/91blaze/IMG_1433.jpg

access door is about 3/4 of the way in 1/4 to the side
so right up there there is a double 2z6 truss where the trusses change directions. Thoughts are that a 70" I beam will span 4 trusses with the double 2z6 trusses being near the center. We'll use 2x4's to fill the difference between the 2x4 and 2x6's so it sets level.

whatcha think?

How heavy of an item do you intend to be lifting?


I only have like 5 stick trusses in my 40' long shop, and I used one of them to support a late 60's Ford cab while we moved the frame out from under it. Probably not the best idea, but we moved fast :p

if it's for an engine, you'll be fine.

don't stand under it, but that's kind of a given :P

plan on lifting engine/transaxle from my buggy

Depending on how comfortable I am with it I'd like to use it for this task regularly (3times/yr?) And it'd be handy for lifting rigs front/rear for adjusting air shocks?

Not reccommended for this use? Or would it be one of those only if necessary deals?

Gotcha.

Here's one suggstion for use later.

Buy you one par of adjustable basement support poles, preferrably the screw adjuster type.

Use one per end of your I beam to give it support to the floor, and use the trusses as your lateral suport and for the remainder of your support.

For that matter, you coould use this system to rig up some hangers to put the I beam underneath, and leave it there - only adding the support poles on the ends when you plan to use it. this would also allow use of a trolley.

Set your

I've hoisted my IH motors (750-800#) with an even weaker set up -- I just tossed a 4x4 into the rafters - it spanned 3 of them. Good to go.... I wouldn't get under it at all though... :D

It worked for the hour I need it.

Gotcha.

Here's one suggstion for use later.

Buy you one par of adjustable basement support poles, preferrably the screw adjuster type.

Use one per end of your I beam to give it support to the floor, and use the trusses as your lateral suport and for the remainder of your support.

For that matter, you coould use this system to rig up some hangers to put the I beam underneath, and leave it there - only adding the support poles on the ends when you plan to use it. this would also allow use of a trolley.

Set your


Great. Got my gears turning on that one... Been thinking of how to get a beam hoist in the garage. That puts a sppin on things.

I've decided against it and instead I'm putting a lift on my engine hoist

I'll be installing a 12" lift to my engine hoist today - should be fairly easy I'll post pics eventually

If you do the "spanning rafters" method - be sure that the rafters or trusses are braced. Just put a 2x4 down either side of the lifting beam and nail it to each rafter/truss. If not braced, it is potentially an issue that the rafters/trusses can deflect to the side and fail.