# I just installed a hoist on an I-beam. I have a question about it **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 4, 2022, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-installed-a-hoist-on-an-i-beam-i-have-a-question-about-it/970938 "2022-09-04T17:05:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2022, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-installed-a-hoist-on-an-i-beam-i-have-a-question-about-it/970938/1 "2022-09-04T17:05:45Z")
I just installed a 1 ton electric hoist on a gantry lift (with I-beam) in my barn. Apparently there are two ways to configure it. One way is to use a simple end hook. The other way is to put the end hook into a slot on the hoist, and use a pulley hook. Here’s what I’m talking about. (These are not my photos. I found them on the web. I simply annotated them.) [![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52334076713_49de076aed_z.jpg) ](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52334076713_49de076aed_z.jpg) The hoist came with a pulley hook, so I could certainly install it. I am just curious what the advantages & disadvantages are for each configuration. (I t_hink_ I know, but just wondering what others have to say.) ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2022, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-installed-a-hoist-on-an-i-beam-i-have-a-question-about-it/970938/2 "2022-09-04T17:15:01Z")
A is twice as fast as B to lift the hook the same distance (assuming the motor can keep up with the load) but A requires twice the force on the motor as B. In other words, B uses half the force but twice the distance to accomplish the same amount of work (work = force x distance). ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2022, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-installed-a-hoist-on-an-i-beam-i-have-a-question-about-it/970938/3 "2022-09-04T17:20:44Z")
B also will double the pulling force on the snatch block (pulley hook) compared to A. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2022, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-installed-a-hoist-on-an-i-beam-i-have-a-question-about-it/970938/4 "2022-09-04T17:31:20Z")
Just be sure that the I beam can support the weight of the hoist plus the load. Using the snatch block will also give you more control. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2022, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-installed-a-hoist-on-an-i-beam-i-have-a-question-about-it/970938/5 "2022-09-04T18:26:06Z")
The configuration with the pulley block will also have less reach with the same cable. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-installed-a-hoist-on-an-i-beam-i-have-a-question-about-it/970938/6 "2022-09-06T01:30:02Z")
You don’t have to change the configuration to use it both ways. You can leave the pulley on when using it in drop hook mode, but you do have to make sure you don’t jam the pulley in the mechanism when reeling the cable in. ---
**Author:** ![Richox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@Richox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richox)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-installed-a-hoist-on-an-i-beam-i-have-a-question-about-it/970938/7 "2022-09-09T12:39:20Z")
Might be worth confirming if the rated load (1ton) is for both modes, or only the pulley mode. The rope might only be good for half ton. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-installed-a-hoist-on-an-i-beam-i-have-a-question-about-it/970938/8 "2022-09-09T12:49:53Z")
Yes, it says “1 ton” if the pulley is used, and “1/2 ton” if the pulley is not used. Which agrees with what others have stated here. 🙂 (I appreciate the replies.) Here it is. Was _not_ easy mounting that thing to the trolleys and I-beam by myself. 😟 [![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52345431004_bc21c0a587.jpg) ](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52345431004_bc21c0a587.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-installed-a-hoist-on-an-i-beam-i-have-a-question-about-it/970938/9 "2022-09-09T13:11:30Z")
Looks like a great shop. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-installed-a-hoist-on-an-i-beam-i-have-a-question-about-it/970938/10 "2022-09-09T14:06:40Z")
Damnit! Now I want one of those. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2022, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-installed-a-hoist-on-an-i-beam-i-have-a-question-about-it/970938/11 "2022-09-11T15:19:45Z")
So @Crafter_Man, could you tell me about your hoist please? Did you buy it? Make it? Any plans? What size I-beam is the top track? I already have metal and casters to make the base. Unfortunately the pieces of I-beam I have are only 4’ long so I’ll need to get longer material for the posts and track. I also have a winch that should do the job, might just start with it mounted in the center to start since it’s on casters and can move around. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2022, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-installed-a-hoist-on-an-i-beam-i-have-a-question-about-it/970938/12 "2022-09-11T15:30:08Z")
Everything was purchased from HF: [Gantry](https://www.harborfreight.com/1-ton-capacity-telescoping-gantry-crane-62510.html) [Hoist](https://www.harborfreight.com/2000-lb-electric-hoist-with-remote-control-62770.html) [Trolleys](https://www.harborfreight.com/1-ton-push-trolley-97392.html) I also made some L-brackets to secure the hoist to the trolleys based on [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXYFCJ7hfv4) design. I used a “20% off anything in the store” coupon when I purchased the gantry. The I-beam on the gantry has a 3 inch width. It is rated for 1 ton. I had originally thought about building the gantry myself. But after estimating the time + material costs, I decided it wasn’t worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2022, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-installed-a-hoist-on-an-i-beam-i-have-a-question-about-it/970938/13 "2022-09-11T15:54:00Z")
Yesterday I went to my mother’s house to pick up my stepdad’s toolbox. (He died earlier in the year.) It’s big (5 feet tall) and very heavy. It took a long time to winch the thing into my truck using a ramp made from wood planks. And it almost fell a few times. So my plan was to use the new hoist to lift the toolbox out of the truck when I got home. But the toolbox was too tall! So I secured the toolbox using lumber, and used my car lift to get it out of the truck. [![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52350333753_78da6c711f_z.jpg) ](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52350333753_78da6c711f_z.jpg) [![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52350405234_edd10007a0_z.jpg) ](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52350405234_edd10007a0_z.jpg) [![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52350401589_1dca971468_z.jpg) ](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52350401589_1dca971468_z.jpg) [![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52350082931_85cd47fe53_z.jpg) ](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52350082931_85cd47fe53_z.jpg) [![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52350081331_ba05b71abc_z.jpg) ](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52350081331_ba05b71abc_z.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2022, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-installed-a-hoist-on-an-i-beam-i-have-a-question-about-it/970938/14 "2022-09-12T00:09:37Z")
That’s a pretty good price from harbor freight, Maybe I should just buy one. I need something like this because I can’t lift heavy stuff anymore. Looking over the specs I see minimum height is 99". My max height will be 84" so the posts will have to change.