Lifting sled with overhead hoist

JeepTherapy

JeepTherapy

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Dec 26, 2005
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is there a safe way to lift my sled with an overhead hoist? 02 VMax... if so where do I attach the lift straps? My hoist will lift the front end of my jeep with no issues so I will assume (sometimes really foolish) that it will lift the sled without a problem. Just don't want to break somethin doin it....
 
JeepTherapy said:
is there a safe way to lift my sled with an overhead hoist? 02 VMax... if so where do I attach the lift straps? My hoist will lift the front end of my jeep with no issues so I will assume (sometimes really foolish) that it will lift the sled without a problem. Just don't want to break somethin doin it....
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I would plan a three point sling, securing the front part to the ski spindles (may need a spreader bar) and the rear strap to the rear bumper. It would probably best to secure those lifting straps to a bar that runs the length of the sled. I've seen it done that way and it works well. It was the solution a friend worked out after he had hoisted sled tip down and slip forward and hit the ground nose first from straps secured to the trailing arm too close to the center of gravity.
 
sure, like a leveling T device over the top with straps down to the spindles... any idea where the CG is I am sure that is listed somewhere.... I assume the CG is close to the exhaust outlet or so...
 
JeepTherapy said:
sure, like a leveling T device over the top with straps down to the spindles... any idea where the CG is I am sure that is listed somewhere.... I assume the CG is close to the exhaust outlet or so...
Click to expand...

My experience with shop dollies suggests that that's about right, but I'd sure feel more secure by hoisting with the front straps hooked to the ski spindles. I know that those can support the weight of the sled without crinkling anything, and that they're well forward of the CG.

The idea of a "T" shaped lifting bar is a good one, better than my suggestion of a single point for two straps with a spreader bar.
 
Many racers lift from the steering hoop. I know some of them reinforce them so that they will take the stress.

Are you lifting it to work on it, or to put it someplace?
 
want to be able to pick it up and set it on a table/work platform. but it has to be easy physically. With my disabilities I can't lift much and bending over isn't all it could be.

the CG question is to get an idea for a starting point for a loop in the middle of my T. Eventually I will just weld a loop that is as close as possible to balance.

I agree with lifting from the spindles. I am going to make a hook that will fit around it. I will plasticoat the hook to keep from scratching. I am going to use a wratchet strap in the back to allow for some minor adjustment.

once the sled is lifted I am going to set it down on 3 or 4 500lb saw horses. I will probably use 2X6s and some OSB to make a small platform for the top of the saw horses, mostly for a place to lay stuff... saw horses placed under the center of the track and directly under the spindles. If the 500 pound saw horses are not stable enough I will move up to some 1000 pound horses.

When I am done with it, all of it can be folded up and stored.
 
You can pick most sleds up in a fairly balanced manner simply from the belly pan in front of the track. Be sure you have a big enough contact point to spread the weight out and it shouldn't damage anything. I have lifted sleds with most everything imaginable including backhoes, forklifts, tractors with a carry-all on back, come-alongs, chain hoists, floor jacks, etc.

Thus CG for most sleds would be between the steering post and the engine somewhere.
 
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A really nice lift mechanism would be a fork setup like the ones that they put roofing and construction materials on roofs with. Basically a fork with a swivel attachment point above the load. In other words, the forks go under the load (pallet, etc.) and then bend up far enough to clear the load and then bend back over the load where they attach to a swivel point. This alllows the load to be safely turned and twisted in any direction safely. This would be really cool for placing sleds up on storage racks, etc.

I actually have several fixed stands that I have made myself. All you need is some 2x6's screwed together. After using them for many years now, I realize that the only part the sleds really rests on is the belly pan from about the rear trailing arm attachment point to just in front of the engine. This is all of about 15 inches or so. You have to apply pressure of remove lots of weight to get it to tip either forward or backward. You could easily make these stands collaspable by using hinges at the joints and a stay for the upright position.

I can take some pics if it helps, as I have one sitting on a stand right now.
 
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Ding, if you have some pictures, or a picture... I would like to see it. Just to get a comfortable feeling that I am not putting too much on too little. I usually have a real problem with overkill... but then have to have room to store it...

My sleds go into an enclosed trialer for the summer, so i don't really need storage racks so anything i build or use has to be able to be stored in my single car garage...
 
did any body see the new snow trax yesterday morning? in there tech section thay had a hydrolic lift that you drive the sled up to then there was two arms that came back to the running boards to lift the sled. was pretty neat since then you have easy access to the sled with nothing in the way
 
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