A New Size? OK, MechanicalElements.com has Gantry Crane plans – for years. Interestingly, one of our very first plans. Our latest release is the Perfect Size Crane for your Garage. These homemade crane plans are similar in build, though sized a little better for optimal max reach. Yet this gantry crane will still roll through a standard garage door.
The core system was the design from years ago, and many have been built (in various sizes) over the years. In fact, you can see some good examples on our Customer Stories page. (Including the author, who has had one for 25 years, and has built several with various modifications.) The newest in our list has a size optimized to fit a standard residential garage – made for the DIYers that want a mobile gantry crane.
So, What Is New?
In comparison to the first Mobile Overhead Crane Plans, and the much larger Upsized Gantry Crane Blueprints, these new plans fit right between for both size and capacity. Though there is some overlap with both, the new crane has a size optimized to fit easily through a typical garage door, yet have all the capacity a typical shop mechanic needs.
This latest design actually addresses some of the size and capacity aspects which makes it fit perfectly between the other slightly smaller and much bigger homemade crane plans we offer. Sure, it looks similar, but proportions make all the difference. Yes, I speak from experience.
The new “Just Right” size crane plans include your feedback about the designs, plus all we have learned and love about the many cranes we have built.
It is easy to use, and easy to breakdown for storage or for transport. The new crane is small enough to fit and to store, yet it maximizes height for lifting. Legs telescope down to pass through a standard garage door, then telescope up to give 10+ feet clearance under the beam! That is enough to lift engines from cars or from big machines, to lift boats from supports, and equipment onto trailers.
DIY, and all in your garage. That is the essence of the new homemade crane plans here at Mechanical Elements.
Ideal Size Homemade Crane
We talk about this one as “Homemade Crane Plans”, but it is certainly not limited there. We call it that because the design size is perfect for the home garage mechanic. However, it can just as well be perfect for the your business, or backyard shop.
In its prime revision, the crane has an 8″ aluminum I-beam (aluminum, 6061-T6), at 12 ft length, with spring loaded wheels to roll around on. The base legs are steel, 3″ square tube with 3/4″ hitch pins. Everything professionally powder coated.
Plans show both Steel and Aluminum options for the top I-beam. Aluminum for the top beam is light for assembling, disassembling, or when raising and lowering the legs. It also helps make the crane more portable for storage or transporting. Aluminum is great benefit in many situations, even if it does cost more.
The Steel beam option, on the other hand, can allow a little more head space because steel is stiffer for its size. See this analysis of Steel and Aluminum options for a gantry crane top beam. Super interesting to consider.
The wheels mount on spring loaded carriages for maximum safety. The crane rolls around easily even with a small load, but when lifting something heavy, the springs compress and allow the base to set firmly on the ground. This avoids accidental movement with a high load that can cause serious accidents.
In addition, you can install caster wheels with brakes, which allow you to park the crane, even without a load. It is one more east option that improves safety and convenience. It is all in the homemade crane plans.
Maximizing For Utility
This unique Gantry Crane maximizes height as noted above, and it also maximizes versatility with the I-Beam Connector Clamp. The clamp is not just for this crane, but it helps that it fits perfectly. The top beam mounts to move anywhere along the beam to reduce the distance between the legs which helps in 3 great ways:
First, Shortening the effective distance between the legs gives greater lifting capacity – for an 8″ aluminum I-Beam, up to 6000 lb when the legs are less than 8 feet apart; 4000 lb capacity with the legs at 12 foot beam width. Not bad for homemade crane plans.- Second, moving the legs allows the crane to roll around other equipment and store easier. The Mechanic usually stores it straddling the car with one end of the beam sticking out over the workbench. This makes it easy to put away. It is so much more convenient!
- Third, if you need an overhanging gantry, you can counterbalance the other end, and use the free end to lift. (Please note, lift capacity is drastically less for an overhanging end load. Also, you must block the end so your trolley will not roll off, and counterbalance the other end.) As far as we know, this is a feature NO OTHER CRANE HAS! (Probably because it requires you, as the user, to have good judgment).
That brings an interesting side note. We believe those who build a homemade crane are higher on the common sense ladder. We will give the cool options and you will understand the warnings. Please focus on the Crane Safety, especially with overhanging loads. Seriously, don’t be stupid with it.
The crane disassembles easily by removing the bolts connecting the top beam to the legs. The upper legs can also pull out – all of which makes it easy to manage and the crane is quite portable. Mobile to roll around the garage, and portable to put in the truck.
Update:
Another crane adaptation is now in the store. We now also offer conversion plans for lifting the top gantry beam and setting the height. The telescoping legs are nice, but adjusting them frequently – like to roll it in and out of the garage – can be a bit tedious. Check out the Gantry Beam Lift Conversion Plans for a few different ways to elevate the top beam by telescoping the legs. A super convenient DIY conversion for any of our homemade crane plans.
The Homemade Crane Plans
The new Gantry Crane plans come complete, including a full materials list with options. Engineering data is there for consideration if you wish to customize your crane. And, the plans give suggestions for accessories like an I-Beam trolley or the lifting apparatus (hoist). Easy to buy separately. For the most complete package, we recommend the Winch Pole to go with the crane. It may sound silly, but we really prefer the Winch Pole over a chain fall, come-along or any other lift we have used.
All loading information is accurate engineering data, but how you choose to load the beams can drastically affect the outcome. For instance, capacity for a swinging or bouncing load is significantly less. Please be careful, always, when lifting.
Please do not buy the plans if you lack common sense for safety. 🙂 If you are interested in the technical safety stuff, read here about some important Gantry Crane Failure Modes. This article also shows the “why” for some of the homemade crane plans design features .
For those who build from these homemade gantry crane plans, this is an awesome tool that will last for years and years – probably generations. It is also beefier, more flexible, easier to disassemble, more portable, and easier to work around than any Harbor Freight or similar Northern Equipment crane ever was. If you want an overhead gantry crane, this is it. The best homemade crane plans (or shop-made crane) around. Get the plans here, download immediately, and start building today!
Oh, and when you build it, please don’t forget to share some photos. We love the great stories our customers share. It is fun to see your creativity – in style, color, construction and mobility. We wish you the best of luck with your Gantry Crane project.
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