Thoughts on installing hoist in barn.....

[Maxcustody]

I purchased a northern tool hoist, thinking it would be pretty easy to install. I am not looking at lifting anything very heavy. This is primarily to lift my roof top tent from my trailer to the top of my jeep and back when needed.

The problem is I have only the ceiling joists. The rule of thumb (from researching) is NEVER drill a hole in any ceiling joist, it weakens the structure, Obviously, I don't want to do that. I picked up 3/4 inch plumbing pipe to have it cross the top of the joists, then attach the hoist to that? Thoughts. I am thinking to even out the load across joists. I can pick up some more pipe to make it cross 4 joists for the load.

Some pics.....hoist, barn joist. I have had electrical outlets already installed in all 4 corners of the ceiling in the barn..........thanks for the help and suggestions.

 

[sailfast]

You need to build a structure separate from the rafters that can carry the entire load the winch can lift

 

[300UGUY]

The bottom chord of the truss is the weakest

 

[s219]

I wouldn't mess with the trusses, however if it's for light loads only (and you can guarantee nobody will ever do otherwise) I bet it would be fine. I used barn door box rail to hang a hoist in the garage of my old house, for the purpose of loading/lifting a 80# hardtop off my former sports car. The box rail acted as a stiffener and let me move the hoist around. I lagged it into the floor joists above, which were certainly a lot beefier and more capable than the bottom chord of trusses, but I think if you're careful and you only do this for very light loads, you'll be fine.

I'd nail 2x4 blocking onto the side of the truss chord with rated 16D nails, and then lag your rail or support into the blocking. That way you're not messing with the truss structure other than a couple nails, which shouldn't be an issue. Stay away from or bridge any any splice plates in the bottom chord. Most 16D rated nails can handle 100# shear load each, so the nails will be far stronger across all the blocks/trusses than the lags and what you could/should be lifting.

So for me it comes down to whether or not you can guarantee the hoist will only ever be used for light loads. That means making sure some dummie doesn't come along and try to pull the engine/transmission out of a truck or something stupid/heavy like that.

 

[dieselcrawler]

How heavy is the item you plan to lift? What items might you lift that you currently have no plan to lift but 'Hey theres that electric lift in the barn, will that work?' moments in your future.

The plus side is the hoist is light, looks tobe 750 to 1500 lb rated? If you are only lifting 200-300 lbs, toss a 4x4x8' long across as many rafters you can get it to span, in the bottom of one of the 'V' where bracing comes to the bottom chord, and hang your hoist in the middle with a short chain loop around the 4x4. Much more than 200-300 lbs, and youre pushing the limits of the trusses.

 

[raybo777]

I would not recommend it. Those roof trusses are engineered to support weight from above by transfer thru the 'w' members to the side walls by way of the bottom chord. Usually just a 2 X 4. Pulling down would rip the 2 X 4 from the plates at the joints, different from compression from above weight.. I understand that a tent is not too weighty Maybe better to have a rolling gantry or install a couple of posts and a header located up inside truss bay. I know it may seem like more work than it's worth , but hey, would be better than a truss. I hear you about spreading the load over three or four 2 X 4's , If you had a 2 X 6 / 8 rafter system , I would say go for it. These are just my thoughts, good luck.

 

[Maxcustody]

Thanks for the replies, glad I asked. The roof top tent I plan on using it for is no more than 200lbs. This is the primary use. I can guarantee no one else will use it unless I am there and I know better now that it is not able to be used for a lot of weight as you all point out.

 

[Maxcustody]

I would not recommend it. Those roof trusses are engineered to support weight from above by transfer thru the 'w' members to the side walls by way of the bottom chord. Usually just a 2 X 4. Pulling down would rip the 2 X 4 from the plates at the joints, different from compression from above weight.. I understand that a tent is not too weighty Maybe better to have a rolling gantry or install a couple of posts and a header located up inside truss bay. I know it may seem like more work than it's worth , but hey, would be better than a truss. I hear you about spreading the load over three or four 2 X 4's , If you had a 2 X 6 / 8 rafter system , I would say go for it. These are just my thoughts, good luck.

Sounds like it is not a good idea and I do not want to cause issues with the joists............

 

[Maxcustody]

I would not recommend it. Those roof trusses are engineered to support weight from above by transfer thru the 'w' members to the side walls by way of the bottom chord. Usually just a 2 X 4. Pulling down would rip the 2 X 4 from the plates at the joints, different from compression from above weight.. I understand that a tent is not too weighty Maybe better to have a rolling gantry or install a couple of posts and a header located up inside truss bay. I know it may seem like more work than it's worth , but hey, would be better than a truss. I hear you about spreading the load over three or four 2 X 4's , If you had a 2 X 6 / 8 rafter system , I would say go for it. These are just my thoughts, good luck.

To clarify, I could use two large posts and a header which crosses over top but sits on the posts only to support the weight? probably will take up the least amount of space. May be the best option.......

 

[dieselcrawler]

I wouldnt use trusses to lift the motor out of your '69 Chevelle SS396, but a couple hundred pounds isnt any more stress than that big guy on the construction crew building the barn who could easily have put his whole weight in one place on a bottom chord during construction of said barn. If spread out, 200-300 lbs isnt going to stress things any more than a good heavy wet snow, or Bubba the Big Barn Builder climbing around.

My dad has used the 30' rafters in his pole barn as storage space for 35 years, no issues yet.

Be reasonable on the weight, no worries. Hang it all in one place, max out your hoist, you might break something.

 

[countrybumpkin]

Not a good idea to put any load on the bottom of those trusses, that design is not made for that. I have had a couple of systems in my shops and a friend also, all used to lift the tops from our jeeps. We have several perils tied together with 2xs to mount the winch on, however our perils are mounted on edge between the trusses. Sense your perils are laying flat on top i would install 3 -4 additional ones on edge between the two trusses were you want the hoist then a plate tied to them to install the hoist. That will allow the load to be transmitted through the truss. I just moved and in the process of building a new shop and have not installed a lift in this one yet , so no pics, do have one of how the perils are mounted, they are 2x6 and the trusses are 2x8.

 

[EddieWalker]

You really need to abandon the idea of hanging anything from your trusses and go with a Gantry Crane. You can build a light weight one from wood that should easily handle the weight you are talking about, or go for something like this out of steel that will handle what might come up in the future.

Hoists & Cranes | Cranes-Gantry | Vestil Steel Gantry Crane FHS-2-1 1' Fixed Height 2 Lb. Capacity | 24132 - GlobalIndustrial.com

 

[Maxcustody]

Not a good idea to put any load on the bottom of those trusses, that design is not made for that. I have had a couple of systems in my shops and a friend also, all used to lift the tops from our jeeps. We have several perils tied together with 2xs to mount the winch on, however our perils are mounted on edge between the trusses. Sense your perils are laying flat on top i would install 3 -4 additional ones on edge between the two trusses were you want the hoist then a plate tied to them to install the hoist. That will allow the load to be transmitted through the truss. I just moved and in the process of building a new shop and have not installed a lift in this one yet , so no pics, do have one of how the perils are mounted, they are 2x6 and the trusses are 2x8.

thanks for that info........

 

[Maxcustody]

You really need to abandon the idea of hanging anything from your trusses and go with a Gantry Crane. You can build a light weight one from wood that should easily handle the weight you are talking about, or go for something like this out of steel that will handle what might come up in the future.

Hoists & Cranes | Cranes-Gantry | Vestil Steel Gantry Crane FHS-2-1 1' Fixed Height 2 Lb. Capacity | 24132 - GlobalIndustrial.com

looks like the easiest solution, not the cheapest though...............

 

[zzvyb6]

Jib crane, placed inside or outside. Or make up a jib arm for your tractor loader. Our local Craigslist has quite a few. This way you will be safe when the thing you want to load is more than a tent. This kind of stuff finds more uses than originally imagined, as you can see,

 

[JMER817]

I used a 4x4x12 to span multiple trusses and then doubled up the bottom cord on two of the trusses. I lifted 1200 lbs on multiple occasions with zero issues

 

[Maxcustody]

I used a 4x4x12 to span multiple trusses and then doubled up the bottom cord on two of the trusses. I lifted 1200 lbs on multiple occasions with zero issues

What did you do to double up the bottom cord. Could you post a pic if possible. Thanks

 

[JMER817]

What did you do to double up the bottom cord. Could you post a pic if possible. Thanks

This was at my old house so unable to take a pic. My pole barn was 28 X 40 so the truss had a 28' span. I just nailed a 2 X 4 x16 alongside the 2 X 4 bottom cord.

 

[Maxcustody]

This was at my old house so unable to take a pic. My pole barn was 28 X 40 so the truss had a 28' span. I just nailed a 2 X 4 x16 alongside the 2 X 4 bottom cord.

Thanks

 

[ovrszd]

Knowing me,,,, I'd build a carrier that would withstand the capacity of the hoist. Because at some point I'm going to lift a heavier item than the original intent.