Loading Heavy Items

[KzScrapper]

Had to pick up a 100 gallon water tank and knew there was no one but left the secretaries at the pluming company when I would be getting there. Tank was over 700 pounds and there was no way I would be getting it in the van myself.

I did have some room to work with and was in a lot covered in rock so the first thing was to tip it over and roll it behind the van. Then I used a 4 x 4 post ran thru the open windows up front for a hitching point for a come-a-long. Used the car ramps for it to inch it's way up the back, and after about 15 minutes I was on my way to the yard.



You may want to use a beefier strap then I used depending on the weight and a towel draped over the cable/strap is a good idea in case it breaks it will slow down the whiplash.

[scrapping4ever]

Would you have any suggestions on how to remove a 500 lb. boiler

[Mick]

You might also want to be careful of bending your window channels.

[Wolfwerx]

Whoa, what a coincidence: one of yesterday's freebies on CL was a 100 gallon water heater. Your idea is great for pulling heavy stuff up into a van, I like it.

[copycat]

pretty crazy. If I did that it would surely bust the van up glad it worked out

[99problems]

hmm. i have been debating asking owners of a printing company about the engine they have sitting on pallet out back. but still have no clue how i would get it into a van, truck, or car if they said "get it out of here please" i like the idea but do wonder if it would hurt frame around window.

[99problems]

if i was looking for a "come a long" what would it be listed as , and is it at part store or tool store? do they have it at harbor freight?

[99problems]

is this it?
4000 Lb. Capacity Cable Winch Puller


funny thing is i put come a long in search and it brought it up lol

[Jvcr1]

A small ATV size winch might be a little easier than the ol' "Come a long" ... a few bucks more,esp if a remote control, but you're also not in the line of travel if a cable should happen to break.
Mind you if if the cable is in good condition and you follow some basic winching techniques, ....ie draping the cable with something heavy, ie fabric like an old jacket or carpet perhaps can minimize the cable whipping if it breaks.

[KzScrapper]

Would you have any suggestions on how to remove a 500 lb. boiler

If you don't have to worry about stairs try a heavy duty flat dolly, if there are stairs then try and separate it into several pieces.

[KzScrapper]

You might also want to be careful of bending your window channels.

I was concerned about the window frame but they are pretty solid on my van and after checking them once the load was coming on they seemed fine and not so much as a mark when finished...Built Ford Tough.

A "D" ring mounted to the floor with bolts run thru would be a good idea.

[KzScrapper]

if i was looking for a "come a long" what would it be listed as , and is it at part store or tool store? do they have it at harbor freight?

I do use stuff from Harbor Freight but do not like their come-a-longs. I've had mine for years and want to say they came from Home Depot.

[Bear]

I once used the doors of a van to tie a rope on each post, then another rope down to the tranny, and used a screwdriver to twist the ropes until the tranny was in position to stab it onto the engine.
I'd just swapped engines, and the newer engine was out a standard tranny(had a pilot bushing in the crank) and the automatic wouldn't bolt up. I musta dropped that tranny and tried again over a dozen times, before I figured out it was the pilot bushing stopping it from fitting in there. By then I had it down to where I could completely drop the tranny and then lift and bolt it back up in about ten minutes haha, without even breaking a sweat ; )

[Jvcr1]

I've also found that a well used come along, its assembly consists of several plates of sheet metal sandwiched to create it's gears, and under lots of use, ...they splay/separate, and I have had to hammer them back to shape and weld the sheets together to prevent that from reoccuring. So that also plays on my lack of usage of those anymore. Keep in mind that was probably like 20+ years ago that I was using comealongs. Don't get me wrong they are good in a pinch when you need them, and this is info on how to extend the life of it's main ratchet gear.

[taterjuice]

I thought I was the king of "making do" and finding unorthodox solutions. Til I read this post that is, I'm truly impressed!

[auminer]

Simple. Ingenious.

Kudos.

[webuyselltradestuff]

If you have say concrete stairs out of an infinished basement (ie they can take a bit of abuse) you can always use a couple of cut sheets of plywood or a couple 2x8s..put them down on the stairs (this is assuming a straight shot out of said basement by the way) and use the come along idea hooked to either the van, truck or trailer to pull the large honking boiler/water heater or other out of the basement...it will slide right up the 2x8s or plywood...just need to guide it a bit and make sure the thing fits throught the door. Same application just using an inclined flat surface where the large object will slide.

[ginofrater]

It is a very good post ,and the pics are clear and well taken.

It make the forum look very good.

Thanks for sharing.

ginofrater

[KzScrapper]

Turning out to be Hot Water Heater Week...#10 scheduled for this morning.

[TheRecycler]

Had to pick up a 100 gallon water tank and knew there was no one but left the secretaries at the pluming company when I would be getting there. Tank was over 700 pounds and there was no way I would be getting it in the van myself.

I did have some room to work with and was in a lot covered in rock so the first thing was to tip it over and roll it behind the van. Then I used a 4 x 4 post ran thru the open windows up front for a hitching point for a come-a-long. Used the car ramps for it to inch it's way up the back, and after about 15 minutes I was on my way to the yard.

You may want to use a beefier strap then I used depending on the weight and a towel draped over the cable/strap is a good idea in case it breaks it will slow down the whiplash.

Brilliant, thanks for sharing. Now that's working smart.