I've been pricing cherry pickers and frankly the commercial ones are more than I want to spend. With a bit of welding and some 2" square iron it isn't rocket science, but plans would help.

Anybody have plans?

Arn

Find 2 trees, a couple of 2x4's and a chain.
But honestly, I think most car parts stores have them in stock and they aren't too expensive. You might also want to consider renting one.

I use a chain hoist over my garage ceiling rafter myself. Put engines in many cars here, including a stock car I raced and a jet boat. I even used it to hold the whole boat in the air when i painted it. One I use is a12X2 tripple layered.

Thanks guys,

I know about the chain hoist out in the yard, but I don't have a candidate tree handy

I want something I can partially dissassmble and stand against a wall when not in use, and about 1 ton capacity.

The only cherry pickers locally are 2 ton and they want about $350 Can plus tax, or a combo unit for $400. This is more than what I want both in machinery and cost.

I've seen smaller ones in the US however shipping 275lbs thru Customs is not going to be very efficient.

So, before I get out the old geometry set, I thought I'd ask if anybody had plans.

PS. renting is ok if it is only for 1 time application.

Arn

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2489513861&category=35625

$240 canadian. I'm sure they can ship up north, they might even have a warehouse up there? :shrug:

Good try Ryan, Read'em and weep.

"We only ship to the lower 48 States. We are UNABLE ship to Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Puerto Rico, P.O. Boxes, or APO addresses. All orders are shipped UPS ground. Sorry, no pick-ups."

Besides, if they shipped, the cost of so much weight wouldn't be worth it crossing the border.

But thanks for the thought.

Arn

Well... I could give you rough dimensions for mine... like leg length, boom length, etc.....

the expensive part is going to be the hydraulics
its about a 14" throw 5 ton unit.. renting one will usually run about 50$ per day american - so i just bought one from pepboys

quote Originally posted by Kohburn: the expensive part is going to be the hydraulics its about a 14" throw 5 ton unit.. renting one will usually run about 50$ per day american - so i just bought one from pepboys

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=632&item=4325095843&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

Thanks Ryan, I'm watching it.

I can't understate the UPS/Customs side of getting products across the border.

Effectively I have to double the price in Canadian dollars for most items.

Heavy items cost more on the shipping side.

If I can get plans, local steel is well priced and it is do-able.

I can also get the hydraulics locally. BTW, cable winches are another way, as is chain hoists.

Arn

if you have a garage why not just put an I-beam across the ceiling and run a chain hoist on it?

i actually have a bok of blueprints anfd fabrication instructions for such items, i'll try and scan the pages tomorrow and send them to you or i could jusr mail them to you

Later
JimmyB.

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Jimmy, you are the man.

Posting them will be a benefit to alot of guys.

Waiting with baited breath.

thanks

Arn

If your not in a hurry to get one right away, keep an eye on the Princess Auto flyers, I see engine hoists go on sale for 150. every few months. I see Princess Auto has a location right in London.

www.princessauto.com

BTW They have a 1000 lb engine stand on for 44 bux right now.

[This message has been edited by jelly2m8 (edited 09-17-2004).]

Arn, I'm also in the market for one. Keep your eyes open for the Canadian Tire flyers. Quit often I see 2 ton shop cranes (5 ton capacity) going for $249.00 and they even fold up to store away.

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3 car lengths in front of you and still pulling...

I bought both my cherry pickers for $119 ea. at farm&fleet. Very nice. They fold up, and they can handle a big block. I gpt two for the shop because I didn't want any problems arising from me hanging an engine on one indefinitely while someone else needed to use it. You can probably imagine how I would freak if a saw my Caddy big block sitting on a tire while someone was borrowing my hoist. Another reason was that I want to be able to hold the engine and trans with two hoists and 2 level bars to get it right where I want it when I get around to actually modifying a cradle to hold it.

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I'm still on the lookout at both Princess Auto and CTC.

In the meanwhile, I'm also looking at fabbing one.

Fabbing one has its own attraction. Just call me crazy.

Arn

If you look along the sides and above the car you can see some 4x4 pressure treated beams. That is what I used to remove my engine. I hooked up a chain hoist to the top beam. In fact that was strong enough to lift the whole car with the V8 engine and all.

[This message has been edited by vwaltdog (edited 09-18-2004).]

I really appreciate all the alternative suggestions.

My single bay garage has a big ol' overhead door and the overhead hoist won't do the trick

I have a buddy I'm going in with so the rig needs to get moved, stored, and have some flexibility for different kinds of cars.

Those blue prints from Jimmybpei will be just the ticket.

If anybody else has plans, please post them if you can. The more the better

In the meanwhile I'm checking the automotive flyers in my area. (no shipping)

Arn

Here's some plans, BUT I personally haven't used any of them. In other words you are on your own! Another thought is Harbor Freight, Costco, or Sams which carry them at a pretty cheap price. I don't know if these companies are doing biz in Canada.

http://how-to-plans.com/shop_crane_cherry_picker_plans.html

http://www.digiplan.ca/metal/dgfloorcrane.htm

http://www.synthx.com/btw/crane.htm

Edit: to add the 2nd URL, the first one seems to be unavailable at this time, but I would e-mail them anyway.

[This message has been edited by webbee (edited 09-18-2004).]

If you look at steel prices these days, the cost of the purchase parts ( casters, hardware, hydraulic ram), the rental on a welder, and the time you are going to spend cutting grinding drilling welding and painting it, only a fool would try to beat the price of a cheap folding crane. There is no way in hell you are going to beat the $119 I paid for my cherry pickers.

I understand that in canada it's basically USD x 2 for everything, but all the expenses you will run into building a cherry picker will probably scale the same. With a pre-fab cherry picker, you also have the peace of mind that the design is well proven, and that you have someone to sue if you drop an engine on yourself.

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quote Originally posted by Arns85GT: I'm still on the lookout at both Princess Auto and CTC.

You just missed the sale (ended on the 16th) at Canadian Tire - $249

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 09-18-2004).]

Thanks Webbee. The first 2 look pretty good.

I'll cost out some items locally come Monday.

Still checking those flyers.

Arn

The first one looks like mine, mine lifts 19 feet up fully extended. the second one does not have any side-ways support, put 5-600 lbs on it and try pushing it, mine was 1900.00 new, I would buy another one for about 500.00. Oh, the Materals will cost more than a good one.

quote Originally posted by jelly2m8: If your not in a hurry to get one right away, keep an eye on the Princess Auto flyers, I see engine hoists go on sale for 150. every few months. www.princessauto.com BTW They have a 1000 lb engine stand on for 44 bux right now.

Thanks for posting that info, I had never heard of Princess Auto before. Turns out there's a location about a half-hour away from me. An engine hoist for $150 would be nice! The engine stand for $44 looks pretty good as well.

Finding out about decent prices to be found here in Canada is great.

Princess Auto is a great place. Go check it out, you'll be amazed at all the things that they sell

If you were closer I would give you one that I have here. Supposedly the ram is frozen, but I never bothered to look. It's just sitting outside my garage, wasting away. The ram is off and inside the garage though. (If anyone reads this and wants it, PM or email me.)

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If you're still looking for plans, there's some in this book, available thru Steve Smith Autosports.
http://www.ssapubl.com/index.cfm?do=detail&productid=28

Larger public libraries may have it also.

Costco $220 CND

Duly noted Rubyredfiero.

Problem solved.

Arn and + for you