gantry crane or forklift?
 

What do you guys think is more useful around the shop between a gantry crane and a forklift? I'm gettig ready to buy one of the two, their both priced about the same, the gantry crane is a few hundred bucks cheaper. I can't make up my mind on what would be more useful so I wanted to get you guys opinion. Mainly just be used for working on the boat when needed, I like to have the flexibility of taken the engine in and out of the boat if something happens without having to depend on other people and also working on the boat. For those who use a forklift to drop or take an engine out of the boat do you find it more difficult than using a gantry crane? Or more flexible? The forklift goes up to either 12 feet or 14 I can't remember, the gantry is 15 feet hight and 13 feet wide. Thanks for any help :coolcowboy:

you can buy a forklift for the price of a Gantry crane ?? what state are you in i need to send a truck and pick up a dozen of these forklifts.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/g...-forklift.html

IMO - forklifts suck for pulling/installing engines. A gantry crane allows both forward and side to side movement making it so much easier....

I agree, you have to be dead nuts one, sometimes easier to move the boat than to move the engine. And the engine swinging around when you are driving is just scary.

Another thing to consider is your surface, forktrucks suck on anything but paved or concrete surfaces. Just a little mud and you are done.

Baja- is your engine done? What did you end up going with? Dyno?

i have both,i used to use the forklift to r&r,the gantry is much safer,and u dont need a second person to operate the forktruck,hope this info helps u with your decision.

Thanks guys it definitely helps! 4bus engine is almost about done, ended up going with a 540. It's cost me a lot of money but you get what you pay for. At least I know everything is brand new and top of the line stuff. By the way 4bus your cruiser is pretty damn nice! Enjoy that ac and room because I know sometimes when I'm on the water sweating my ass off I wish I had ac! lol Definitely a good buy on your part, congrats!

runninhotracing go to craigslist on florida, all over theres a bunch of forklifts for good prices. There definitely not brand new but a bunch of them look in pretty damn good shape.

I appreciate the help guys, you guys are definitely right a gantry sounds so much better I don't have to worry about somebody driving the forklift and me inside the boat moving stuff around. With a gantry crane it can be done all by yourself. This one I'm looking at is in incredible shape and has been stored inside, its I believe 15 feet hight and 13 feet wide, how the hell do you stand something like that up? lol I'm assuming you build it on its side then use a lot of man power from friends to lift it up from its side?

Gantry can't break down either!!!

That thing is going to be heavy to get up!

Something else that is nice to have when putting in the engine is I had an adjustable splitter bar that allows you to crank it and adjust the lifting point. It is great for making small adjustments front to back. Recently it also allowed us to lift the engine WAY up in teh front on a friends boat so that it would fit out of the compartment. VERY handy - also good for spanning blowers/flame arrestors...

Fixx
 

i also have both! my forklift goes 18' high and if you get one with side shift like my Toyota has you can drop a engine in with ease.. yes the gantry is easier to put a engine in with but if your use to using a forklift its just as easy..i use the forklift for everything like moving boats around too..just make sure it has at least 4k lifting capacity so it wont nose over with all the weight on the end of a 10' beam.

I have both also...

Most of the time I am working alone, so the gantry crane is my only option for engine installs etc.

The forklift is the mainstay in moving things around.

I might be tempted to use the forklift to drop my motors in if there was additional help.

(and they knew what they were doing!):eek:

We forgot to tell you the only way to lift a gantry is with a forklift....guess you got a catch 22? :grinser010:

What did you end up with for internals? Carb, intake, exhaust?

Are you going with new accessories?

Thanks for the good wishes on our sea bus, we will see how long it lasts lol

carefull on the good wishes BIG Daddy , he already pulled your drain plugz & grabbed your propelor :eek:think of the $ you'll be saving on gas :bigbird:

+ 1

I'm kind of partial to forklifts since I work at a forklift dealership.

Sideshifter makes all the difference. ( usually 8" back and forth)

Another use for a forklift is pulling drives.

Slide the forks together, put a couple of towels of the
forks and slide the drive off on to the forks.

I'm going to vote for the forklift. We have four of them at the marina I work at and although they're not quite as good as our gantry for pulling motors, they come in handy for all sorts of other things. (And yes, two of ours have side shifters for the forks.) Besides, you can bring the fork truck to the boat, but you have to bring the boat to the gantry. Just my 2 cents.

I agree the gantry is much better for single hand operation, but I would also say that my TowMotor is one of the most usefull tools I own. Makes moving things about the shop a pice of cake, and makes stuffing the boat back into the corner a breeze. With some pnematic tires it does just fine on compact gravel as long as you don't get stupid.

The "A" frame is the only way to go for a one man job, forklift moves and brings things to the chain falls,Now the limiting factor of the "A" frame is it's size.,I had a Boom for my 4 ton diesel forklift which could be used but again the there is the issue of controls and additional people involved.

I have a tool and die and metal stamping business. I have 3 5,000# Toyota fork truck. All have 3 stage mask that go 180" w/ side shift. I have a 12' boom that I can attach to the forks. We use them for mainly for loading trucks, moving steel and setting dies in presses. Occasionally for maintenance on press. But when it comes to needing to spit a die and handling things delicately. You can not beat a over head crane. Keep in mind if you use a fork truck to pull anything you'll need two people.

I Have both Make it easy to take boat of trailer or fork truck to move boat around jeff
http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/l...d/IMG_9975.jpg

http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/l...d/IMG_9947.jpg

http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/l...d/IMG_9934.jpg

http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/l...d/IMG_9973.jpg

Easy To Do by yourself

http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/l...d/IMG_9964.jpg

this forklift will pick up 2000lbs it is 31" wide a 1954 Clark Lift Was Green i powedcoated Every Part I could Take Off Needed new steering piston Had a couple of little problems but dont know how if you have a mans cave how to get away without it Jeff
http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/l...d/IMG_6939.jpg

I like the overhead crane set up ,put anything anywhere with one guy,look up lol :coolcowboy: