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Gantry crane build. (10' w X 10.5' h)

shady

shady

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Figured I'd get this thread started at least.
I've wanted to build one of these ever since I knew I was getting my shop.

10'5" Total height extended, maintaining 2' of engagement in the sides. I could probably go to 11'5" for a small block Chevy lift or something if needed. But should never have to.

7'5" Collapsed height so that it fits under my shop heater and garage door tracks.

More to come. But to start, here's a pic of the plans and pile of steel. (There's steel in that pile that goes to other projects too)

I'm using 5/8"x 6" usable length Grade 8 pins. I could have went larger but we use 5/8" lower grade pins to pull and stop 10,000 lb trailers all the time, with high shock loading occasionally. So I figured these would be fine lol.

IMG_20190217_140405351~2.jpg

IMG_20190214_152258842.jpg
 
In hindsight I wish I had went with heavier 3" square for the insert parts. But 3/16" should be fine there too for what I'm ever going to do with it
 
I've always envied those with gantry cranes. Can I ask why you are going with the smooth casters? Are you committing to indoor use only with this thing?
 
What do you mean smooth? The rolling face? If so, all 'all steel' casters are that way. And I haven't found any 1000# plus casters than aren't smooth face
 
In my use it will be on the concrete floor in shop or a well packed gravel driveway right in front of it only.
 
shady said:
What do you mean smooth? The rolling face? If so, all 'all steel' casters are that way. And I haven't found any 1000# plus casters than aren't smooth face
Click to expand...

I just meant smooth as in the contact surface. I'm not sure if those casters could move over say a small rock or anything small on the garage floor without causing some irritation. The pull a part here has gantry cranes that they have in the yard that uses old spare tires. Granted working conditions are not even close to a driveway or a shop floor. Anyway, excited to see the build nonetheless
 
Curious on the cost/feature comparison with a harbor freight gantry? I was considering the HF version.
 
That's why I went with 6" casters.. the bigger the wheel, the easier it'll roll over small stuff. I wanted to balance price, usability, and the weight rating.

I'm shooting for a load rating of 4000#. My casters do come up short really because I have to subtract the 500# of the gantry it's self. But I figured with the built in safety factor that'd be fine.

The steel store guy suggested the beam I have and said it would be capable of my wants. Not that I NEED 4000# rating. Just want it in case. Who knows what I'll use it for in the future,and I don't want to build another one lol.

I figure with this I could pick up the entire end of one of my trucks if I decided to :waytogo:
 
bp71k5 said:
Curious on the cost/feature comparison with a harbor freight gantry? I was considering the HF version.
Click to expand...
I have right at $750 in it right now. With paint and primer being all I still need.

The reason I did 10' is I wanted it to clear the dually fenders and the fenders on my car trailer.

The HF one barely clears the deck of the trailer.... And for what it's worth, lookup the Strongway ones at northern tool. Way better than the HF one and same price
 
sweetk30 said:
my friend has one ...... i was NOT impressed with the level of quality .
Click to expand...

Quality of the moving parts or the structure? Bad moving parts quality wouldn’t surprise me but the structure is just a bunch of steel, so I guess I could see how building one might be a better option at similar cost as long as you could get the steel at reasonable cost.
 
tube quality / general parts quality / fasteners sucked and falling out / just was not impressed at all .

if i need one i will for sure watch this build to the end and just make my own .
 
The uprights are actually pretty stout... A bigger better beam for it would be a huge improvement. The cranks to raise it SUCK lol. But by the time you spend $600 (with the 20% coupon) plus add a $200 beam and better casters your back up there. It'd still be easier than building one.... But where's the fun it that :D.

The raise and lower mechanism of the Strongway is awesome. I will eventually copy it to this one probably. But for now I have another method in mind for this one.
 
The HF one is only a one ton also. That one in the link is 2 ton. Strongway has a 1 ton version that's only like $500.

They're the ones northern tool sells
 
Damn dude. I didn't know you needed one. I have an extra gantry crane laying around. (I bought two from a Fab shop 2 years ago)
Oh well.
 
Ah. Lol. Oh well. I've been itching to fab something for a long time anyway. So this will scratch that itch for now :grind::hack::weld:

But the funny coincidence in there is that I'm using the money from selling the BEE body to pay off what I charged to build this lol:rolleyes:
 
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