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How to Install a Gantry Crane

If you frequently need to lift heavy items, you might want to consider installing a gantry crane in your garage. This type of crane consists of an overhead beam supported by a pair of upright posts mounted on a wheeled base. Although you can remove and replace car engines with a portable engine hoist, and a ceiling-mounted hoist can be used to load and unload moderately heavy items from a pickup truck, a gantry crane is a much heavier-duty alternative that can handle those tasks and more.

Things You'll Need

Instruction manual
Socket wrench set
Combination wrench set
Jack stands

Instructions

- 1
  Clear a 10'x10' or larger area on the floor of your garage or workshop.
- 2
  Use the supplied bolts, nuts and washers to fasten the wheeled casters to the two base sections. Tighten the bolts.
- 3
  Lay the beam on the floor. Lay the two upright posts on the floor so their upper ends meet the ends of the beam, as shown in the manual.
- 4
  Bolt the posts to the beam with the supplied bolts, nuts and washers. Do not tighten the bolts yet.
- 5
  Lay the base sections near the opposite (lower) ends of the posts. Raise the ends of the posts and support them on jack stands.
- 6
  Bolt the base sections to the ends of the posts with the supplied bolts, washers and nuts. Bolt the diagonal support members to the base sections and posts.
- 7
  Raise the crane to the upright position. Tighten all bolts securely.

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