Lifting question

[Mussels]

I would like to find a way to lift a 250Kg glass box onto a sideboard in my lounge, as it's a similar size and weight to a motorbike I'm hoping there will be some clever ideas.
It's a concrete floor so small wheels will work fine, I don't really want to spend £500 on a proper bike lift but I'd rather do that than pay a removal company a small fortune to do the lift.

[cheb]

Would an engine crane fit? One of these: https://www.sgs-engineering.com/ec1000- ... 5610224834

Added: I should have said you can hire these quite easily. Also they seem to be a lot more common than a bike lift so possibly you know someone with one.

[Count Steer]

Hope the sideboard is sturdy!

[Mussels]

Hope the sideboard is sturdy!

It's more like a welded steel frame dressed with some wooden panels.

I didn't realise engine cranes could be so cheap, my problem with them would be the lack of clearance under the cabinet. I'm picturing more of a lifting platform that you'd roll a bike onto, I could raise it up alongside the cabinet and side it over.
A quick look through eBay tells me most of the bike lifts aren't as flat as I imagined.
I was tempted with using a large jack and concrete blocks lifting one end at a time but I worry it will fold like a pack of cards.

[Horse]

my problem with them would be the lack of clearance under the cabinet.

So your 'dead weight' will be offset from the lifting equipment? Further away it goes, the more counterbalance weight you would need.

Instead, could you build another frame alongide with rails across, engine hoist rolls under that, then slide the case across?

'Just' a matter of:
- building second frame
- getting the box to slide
- lifting the box off the rails to remove them.

Whatever you use, you'll still need to get the straps (whatever) from under the box.

[Mussels]

That could work, I can use 2x4 and make it strong enough.
It will never be rested on the floor, I'll bring it in using dollies with a supporting board underneath.
When it's low to the ground I can use a car jack to move dollies around and get it over the small threshold.
This is positive as I now know how all steps can be done, I just need to find strong enough kit to do it all. The hoist above doesn't quite have the lifting range but it's close.
An alternative is having it built on site, each pane will be a lot lighter on its own. I have a feeling that will be more expensive.

[Horse]

It will never be rested on the floor, I'll bring it in using dollies with a supporting board underneath.

Exactly that, though: how will you lift it to get the board out once it's in place?

[Mussels]

It will never be rested on the floor, I'll bring it in using dollies with a supporting board underneath.

Exactly that, though: how will you lift it to get the board out once it's in place?

The board will be the same height as the resting place and I'll 'just' slide it over. I can use suction cups to take some weight while I move it across.

[Cousin Jack]

250 kg? Pffftt - 2 man lift.. After all, if it is too heavy they can drop it.

Seriously, I assume it is a fish tank. AFAIK big ones are usually built in situ.

[Mussels]

It is a fish tank, the factory list it as 210Kg but I want something a little bigger made specially.
I've seen a video of two blokes lifting one almost that size but apart from mistakes being very expensive they could really hurt, for both reasons I won't ask my kids to help.
I'll get a quote to build on site but that won't be cheap either

[Count Steer]

250 kg? Pffftt - 2 man lift.. After all, if it is too heavy they can drop it.

Seriously, I assume it is a fish tank. AFAIK big ones are usually built in situ.

Possibly not going to have water in? Might be a lizardarium.

Just looked at some YouTube vids on moving big glass tanks and they all seem to rely on muscle power. One at each corner and as many as can get a grip on the tank in between them (with straps under if necessary).

The removals people just tell you how to prep them for the move.

[cheb]

A fist tank you say. Empty it first, it'll be way easier to move.

[Count Steer]

You might be able to hire something like this:

https://www.safetyliftingear.com/prod ... g/pt03322

For heavy duty dollies (and skates, sack trucks, storage etc etc) I've always bought stuff from Slingsby.

[Horse]

'just'

I'm always wary when Filly uses that four letter word. Usually massive consequences or preparation required.

[cheb]

Would hi lift jacks, beloved in the off road world be any use?

[Screwdriver]

I've got one of these you could borrow.

https://www.llmhandling.co.uk/item/port ... r-ezilift/

Worth having a few hands nearby too and if you can collect it, you could collect me with it. Depending on where you are in the world, might work out.

[Mussels]

I've got one of these you could borrow.

https://www.llmhandling.co.uk/item/port ... r-ezilift/

Worth having a few hands nearby too and if you can collect it, you could collect me with it. Depending on where you are in the world, might work out.

I hadn't seen those before, that could work nicely. Roll it up the the stand and slide across, the forks aren't long enough to fully support the tank but a thick bit of wood underneath should fix that.
I'm a good 2 hour drive from you near Tunbridge Wells so it would be quite a mission, I might come back to you on that kind offer. I'm hoping one of the manufacturers say they can fit it in place but all of their T&Cs offer a non-commital best endevours, if best endevours fail I need a backup in mind.

[Mussels]

Would hi lift jacks, beloved in the off road world be any use?

It needs to be stable enough to hold a 2.2m long box, what Screwdriver posted is probably as small as I'd want to go.

You might be able to hire something like this:

https://www.safetyliftingear.com/prod ... g/pt03322

For heavy duty dollies (and skates, sack trucks, storage etc etc) I've always bought stuff from Slingsby.

That could do it as well, others I saw were too weedy and not high enough.

[Silly Car]

A genie lift might be man enough (not dissimilar to screwdriver’s solution.

https://www.hss.com/hire/p/454kg-lift-stacker-10-manual

On wheels, starts off just above ground level, easy to raise to height and pretty sure you could support full length of tank on some 2x4’s on the forks whilst lifting

[Mr. Dazzle]

You might be able to hire something like this:

https://www.safetyliftingear.com/prod ... g/pt03322

For heavy duty dollies (and skates, sack trucks, storage etc etc) I've always bought stuff from Slingsby.

This ^^^

This is how you'd approach the job (I think) you're describing were it in a factory or owt. Makes sliding heavy shit from one table to another an absolute piece of piss. Done >250kg with one of those.

We've got dozens of them at work. Sadly they're not for borrowin'