1991 Volcano K5 - Family Wheeler - Fully Independent Twin Turbo BBC

[nvrenuf]

How'd you get it up there?

 

[folkenheath]

I did something I don't recommend after doing it. I used 4 tie down straps, the kind you just pull by hand and they have a cam release. I couldn't use ratchet straps because the ceiling is over 12 ft and those things run out of travel quick. So I ended up moving the stool around each corner while I picked up that corner and pulled the strap down tighter. I had to do this for each corner, and after each time round I would raise it a couple inches. Then repeat, again, and again, and again. Then the last few rounds I needed the ladder I had used to mount the 4x4s up there.

But after starting it, it didn't feel very safe, until I finally got the chains hooked up. But I couldn't let it back down reliably either. I will have to do something more secure to get it down when the time comes, because releasing one of those types of straps would not be smooth. Anyway, don't do what I did.

After I got the chains hooked up I ripped a 2x4 in half, and screwed a 2x2 on each side to keep it from spreading, with an extra piece on each corner to prevent it from sliding off. Figured that should be safer.

 

[Blue85]

You can install a rope and pulley system before you lower it back down. I'm using the Harbor Freight hand winch and it works great. Just flip the lever and crank up or down. When you do the math, you'll see it takes a long run of cable along a wall or ceiling to get the floor to ceiling lift.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

My dad bought a Vevor brand ceiling hoist/winch from Amazon for like $200 or less. Got me thinking you could build a platform or something and winch it off.

Either that or modify one of those “tall garage lowering/raising” storage platform things I’ve seen around.

 

[imiceman44]

I did something I don't recommend after doing it. I used 4 tie down straps, the kind you just pull by hand and they have a cam release. I couldn't use ratchet straps because the ceiling is over 12 ft and those things run out of travel quick. So I ended up moving the stool around each corner while I picked up that corner and pulled the strap down tighter. I had to do this for each corner, and after each time round I would raise it a couple inches. Then repeat, again, and again, and again. Then the last few rounds I needed the ladder I had used to mount the 4x4s up there.

But after starting it, it didn't feel very safe, until I finally got the chains hooked up. But I couldn't let it back down reliably either. I will have to do something more secure to get it down when the time comes, because releasing one of those types of straps would not be smooth. Anyway, don't do what I did.

After I got the chains hooked up I ripped a 2x4 in half, and screwed a 2x2 on each side to keep it from spreading, with an extra piece on each corner to prevent it from sliding off. Figured that should be safer.

Actually I use these straps a lot.
They are safer bringing down than ratchet straps.
The problem is the same as you had lifting it up it has to be done a little at a time although you can do it easier since no lifting required.
If you do it once a year or less then I don't see a reason to change.

 

[folkenheath]

I don't feel like it was safe. If one of those straps slipped the whole thing could come crashing down. I was the only one there and I didn't go under it until the chains were on, but I still don't trust it.

As of now I have no plans of when it will come back down, since I don't drive it in the salt, I plan to leave the soft top on indefinitely.

 

[imiceman44]

I don't feel like it was safe. If one of those straps slipped the whole thing could come crashing down. I was the only one there and I didn't go under it until the chains were on, but I still don't trust it.

As of now I have no plans of when it will come back down, since I don't drive it in the salt, I plan to leave the soft top on indefinitely.

Remember that you only lower one corner at a time and the other three are still holding so the weight on that corner lessens as you lower it.
I am talking from experience and from theory.
You don't have to trust me but it's food for thought

 

[shady]

Just a reason to buy a bigger tractor or a skid loader.

Gotta have the right tool for the job ya know.

 

[shady]

For the record.... A skid loader and some attachments would be a friggin RIOT on your property lol.

Of course then you'd never get anything else done, cause you'd be out back moving hills and mowing trees or some chit every waking moment
At least that's were they'd find ME in that situation lol.

 

[centexk5]

For the top on dad’s bronco, we just slid some 2x4’s under it and bolted it down to those and then used eye bolts to secure rope to and then used a pulley system to pull it up. Simple and easy and secure.

 

[folkenheath]

Definitely some sort of winch or taller equipment will be used when the time comes to lower it.

For the record.... A skid loader and some attachments would be a friggin RIOT on your property lol.

Of course then you'd never get anything else done, cause you'd be out back moving hills and mowing trees or some chit every waking moment
At least that's were they'd find ME in that situation lol.

Yeah a bigger tractor would be helpful at times, I've wanted a JD 3 series for a while but too expensive, I actually just got back in from using the front loader bucket to back drag and level the driveway, was getting rutted up. I have a grader blade for the back 3 pt hitch but I find back dragging the front bucket is easier to control. But it doesn't go nearly high enough to raise it to the ceiling, would have to be a pretty big skid loader too.

Before that I sanded and touched up some spots on the Blazer roof to prep for the soft top. Never took any pictures.

Remember that you only lower one corner at a time and the other three are still holding so the weight on that corner lessens as you lower it.
I am talking from experience and from theory.
You don't have to trust me but it's food for thought

I literally just did that yesterday, and it worked, but I don't feel it's safe. In my opinion, when lifting things over head level, even if you aren't directly under it, you need an abundance of caution, and that was the opposite, I felt it was barely adequate. I will not be doing it again nor do I recommend it for safety reasons.

 

[HankScorpio]

For the record.... A skid loader and some attachments would be a friggin RIOT on your property lol.

Of course then you'd never get anything else done, cause you'd be out back moving hills and mowing trees or some chit every waking moment
At least that's were they'd find ME in that situation lol.

I love my skid and attachments. I bought mine pretty much just for forks but it comes in handy with attachments all the time. The one drawback is a lot of the time you really need 2 people to move things around, chains, spotter, etc, especially overhead. That's the problem for all of us, all the time, you never have a helper when you need one.