Ignoramus23984 wrote:

I am soon going to pick up six devices, each is a rectangular shape
approximately 2x1.5x1 foot. Each weighs 150 lbs. I hope that the
seller will load them into my pickup with a forklift, but unloading is
where I have my doubts. I could unload them with a chain hoist or a
"shop crane", but that is a hassle.

I do generally deadlift 170 lbs, but I am a little afraid that
unloading is a different kind of movement and is more injury prone. I
am not really all that worried to damage the devices, each cost me
around $6, but I do not want to get injured.


I put a 90 Lb vise on and off my mill without much trouble, but that is
about
my limit. No way would I try to lift anything weighing 150 Lbs, with
the possible exception of lifting one end at a time to slip a sling,
board or
whatever under it. (I have lifted a lathe apron that was close to that
weight just once, and it was a total bear.)

If you screw up your back, it will NEVER completely heal. Take that from
one who has done it! I made it to about 52 without wrecking my back,
but then
I had 3 incidents in 2 weeks that collectively did some real damage.
There are
now certain movements, generally reaching out in front of me
a little bit and lifting something heavy, that I can't do anymore
without risk
of a major breakdown in my back. If you don't have a shop crane of some
sort,
with all the stuff you are doing, you really need to get one.

I have enough stuff around here that I can't lift myself, so I don't
feel the
crane was wasted.

So, I am looking for some simple unloading ideas that could make it a
little safer. Such as, perhaps, to put a "step" close to the tailgate
so that I could first lower the thing on that step, and only then to
the dolly.


I do have a scheme where you put a ladder from the vehicle to the
ground, shim
the object up and onto a board on the ladder, and then slide it down.
It has
always worked just swell until I tried to do it to a 375 Lb surface
plate still in
the crate. I was trying to tug the crate over to the ladder when there
was a
"bad noise" from my back. That was that crowning 3rd incident that tore up
my back. I wasn't actually even trying to lift it, but I guess I was
trying to
reduce the weight enough to slide the thing. Now that I have the crane,
I won't
be doing that sort of insanity any more.

Jon