Body Weight

[redfishtony]

How much would a complete body weigh? Im thinking about hanging mine from the rafters in my shop while i work cleaning and painting the frame. all seats in it. Top is off and stored. Thanks

 

[hankjr]

I've hung mine from joists in garage months at a time. I do put a leg under middle joist when I do but no issues. I'm guessing less than 300#

Hank

 

[hankjr]

That's with all removable panels removed. Just the tub

 

[Rustytruck]

I know 4 very stout guys can pick it up and move it 20 feet. They helped me move my tub from the ground to my low flat bed trailer. The tub was stripped of everything that could be removed. A loaded tub would probaby need the joists sistered up and posts added close to the tub. Screw up your building then you will wish you farmed the Bronco job out.

 

[gnpenning]

While we have all done it, trusses unless designed for a load on the bottom chord have no strength that way. They are designed to carry loads on the top chord and spread out.

As rustytruck said I would look for different option .

 

[bronconut73]

Franko is a timber engineer that specializes in trusses.
He could tell you what to do to support the trusses for that kind of load....but he may just say Don't do it...

 

[bax]

If you can sheet the truss / trusses with plywood it will make them stronger. a steel flinch beam would make a good addition to the shop. Dedicated lifting spots are nice to have.

 

[redfishtony]

As I expected. Probably not a great idea. I think I will just fab a stand up to sit it on. My trusses span 30' so Id rather not take a chance. Thanks guys for the advice. Any other ideas would be great. I was not planning to strip the body. Just trying to conserve room in the shop.

 

[Steve83]

This was very cheap & easy to build; it's strong & portable; it's weather-resistant; and it CAN be set up among the joists of a shop:


https://www.supermotors.net/registry/2742/33395-2 (for phone apps)

It has been holding up a '93 Bronco tub for a few years now... :-[

 

[blubuckaroo]

Why not just build a one time frame from 2X4s standing on the floor?

 

[hankjr]

^^ this. So now that I read this again I led myself down wrong interpretation of question. I have 2x8 in wall studs supporting 2x6 that the frame actually hangs on. Free end hangs from joist but I have a leg under 2x6 every time I put load on it. Space between 2x6 and joists is where I store hood and tailgate. Again, I always use a leg in both free ends of 2x6 when I have any load on the frame. IOW, joist only supports free end of 2x6 when unweighted

Hank

 

[redfishtony]

Steve83, Thats an option also. I have access to tons of scrap steel from i beams to tubing. I might look at building a stand similar to the one in your pics. My shop has a 10 foot ceiling so it would work just fine. I bit you could even put wheels on it so you could move it around.

 

[blubuckaroo]

I've put car bodies on saw horses with a beam on top, lots of times.
We could roll the chassis right under it.

 

[Steve83]

My shop has a 10 foot ceiling so it would work just fine.

IDK if you took time to study the pics & read the captions, but that one's height is adjustable.

I bit you could even put wheels on it so you could move it around.

I've thought about that a lot, but I've had & used it for over a decade, and just this past year was the first time it has been on concrete. So I'm hesitant to lose the ability to use it on dirt. And even on concrete, it would take some STOUT casters to support what that thing can lift.

 

[redfishtony]

Didnt think about using it outside.

 

[bronkenn]

You could use a gantry. I use mine a lot. It can be used and left outside if needed. It has wheels and is easy to move around. You can find them on craigslist pretty reasonable. I gave 350 bucks for this one and painted it up. Ken

 

[Steve83]

Didnt think about using it outside.

https://www.supermotors.net/registry/media/902188


https://www.supermotors.net/registry/media/919754

 

[markw]

We use a gantry like BronKen. But that doesn't answer the storage issue. 2 x 4 body dolly on casters if you have the room in your shop.

 

[redfishtony]

I think a gantry is in my near future. Has anyone had any issues with the HF Gantry. Actually looks pretty good in person and with the coupon I can pick one up for about 500. Im also considering building one myself.

 

[markw]

Redfish I have the HF gantry. It's well made, I have no problems with it even though it lives outside. HOWEVER, if you buy it rather than make one, have several helpers to put it together. It is heavy and cumbersome. But very stout and easy enough to use.