Gantry crane for 4 post car lift

[Tmate]

My BendPak 4 post car lift has a rail that runs down the inside of each runway. This is intended to accommodate their rolling hydraulic transmission jack.
I decided to make a small gantry that rolls down the length of the lift, with an I-beam trolley that rolls sideways. Sideways trolley travel distance is a modest 30", but enough to load or unload a cart. I can back my pickup truck under the end, lower the hoist a bit, and pickup whatever I want to unload. Since the BendPak itself provides all the lifting, there is no need for a chain hoist, etc. Only a few lifting straps and hooks are necessary.

The gantry wheels have a stated load capacity of 660 lbs. each, but I probably won't be lifting more than a few hundred lbs. with it. When rolling it with a load, I'll keep the trolley over toward the side with two casters. Four casters would have added to the capacity, which I don't need.

The lift will sit flat on the ground with the trolley in place. Any car with 4" or more undercarriage clearance can pass over it. The gantry lifts off in seconds if a really low slung car has to go up top.

 

[FOMOGO]

Great idea. I love my four post lift, and have plans to build two sliding jacks for it. I have used it on occasion to lift things with it by sliding a piece of square tube across the ramps, but I have several other lifting devices that I normally use. Cheers, Mike

 

[Z2V]

Great looking trolly. I got the hydraulic sliding lift with my BendPac, it rolls on the same rails as yours. I used it to assemble my lathe instead of renting an engine hoist. The BendPac makes a great work bench too.

 

[Z2V]

If I may ask, why did you use a 3-4’ tube on one side and just a plate with one set of rollers on the other side? Severely restricts your travel.

 

[Tmate]

If I may ask, why did you use a 3-4’ tube on one side and just a plate with one set of rollers on the other side? Severely restricts your travel.

I'm glad you asked that, as I was just considering what I might have done differently. Here are my thoughts on the matter:

The tube (actually 2 feet long) placement limits the the sideways travel. I would have moved the tube out a couple of inches and put the caster support brackets on it's ends rather than side. I could have picked up another couple of inches of sideways travel for the trolley.

I also would have made the I-beam an inch or so longer on the single caster side. I added a 1" travel extension and travel stop as shown in the photo below.

I had to have the tube or its equivalent on one end with the casters a couple of feet apart to keep the gantry perpendicular to the rails during it's travel. I could have also put a piece of tubing on the other end with two casters rather than just one. That would have provided more weight capacity, but I didn't really need it. Three support points rather than four ensures that they all are in equal contact with the rails.

End to end travel is not an issue. It has 20 feet or more of that. It's the sideways movement that is limited.

 

[gard]

I think you could of extended the I beam so it is over the top of the roller, that short section of flat plate will be your weak point. The same thing at the other side, the rollers could of been attached directly to the bottom of the tube. I understand you do not intend to use it for very heavy stuff right not but somebody may some day.

 

[talvare]

Great idea. I built two rolling jack trays for my lift and now you've got me thinking about how I can add the track and trolley to one of them for hoisting. In the attached photo you can see both of them. I made them slightly different depths to accommodate easier jack access on different cars.
Ted

 

[Tmate]

I think you could of extended the I beam so it is over the top of the roller, that short section of flat plate will be your weak point. The same thing at the other side, the rollers could of been attached directly to the bottom of the tube. I understand you do not intend to use it for very heavy stuff right not but somebody may some day.

I should have done that. I mis-calculated the length of the I-beam I bought. I will probably add a couple of gussets if I can do it and keep the width adjustability. The end plate has slots for the bolts so the side to side distance can be fine tuned.