Lift Stores Big Stuff On Shop's Upper Level

Lift Stores Big Stuff On Shop s Upper Level FARM SHOP Maintenance Dan Grasser gets the most use he can out of his shop thanks to his big lift platform It allows him to store items as large as a Model A Ford on the shop’s second level “I bought an old 6 200-lb electric forklift for my lift ” explains Grasser a former highway bridge contractor “It was worn out and had seen lots of hours but the mast still seemed good I built a 6 1/2 by 10-ft platform for it with two uprights that are topped by small rubber-tired wheels As the platform is raised they push against a hinged ceiling panel on the upper level forcing it to lift and make room for the platform ” The free-span shop is 60 ft square with sidewalls made from 14-ft long by 6-in thick by 17 1/2-in wide recycled bridge stringers Grasser used 8-in square steel plates to tie the stringers together The sidewalls sit on 2-ft concrete stem wall foundations The shop has a gable roof that peaks at about 28 ft Clear span trusses are 60 ft long and made from 8 by 8-in square 1/4-in thick tubular steel beams They rest on two similar beams that run the length of the walls Spacing between the trusses varies from 12 to 20 ft “I figure those trusses would hold up to 56 lbs per sq ft ” says Grasser Ceiling or second floor joists are 2 1/2-in by 6-in bridge decking Plywood sheets attached to the decking forms the ceiling/floor One 20 by 60-ft section has a 10-ft high ceiling The second floor of this section is suspended about 4 ft below the trusses by U-shaped steel saddles attached to the trusses Similar U-shaped supports extend up from the trusses to support the roof beams The remainder of the shop has a 14-ft ceiling Here the floor joists are attached directly to the clear span trusses The lift is placed in the shop so that both levels can be accessed When raised to the 10-ft height smaller items like motorcycles parts and equipment anything under 4 ft high can be rolled off and under the trusses Larger pieces including Grasser’s Model A Ford can be raised to the 14-ft level and rolled off and down the floor between the end wall and the nearest truss “With the lift I can make use of every bit of space above the ceilings ” says Grasser “If anybody is in the area I’d be glad to show them what I did and how it works Just give me a call ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Dan Grasser 17980 County Road 30 Stratton Colo 80836 ph 719 348-5363 or 719 349-1035

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