Replies

1. 
   Michael_Rimoldi | Jan 10, 2002 02:01am | #1

   *
   Bob,

   I rent a personnel lift with a lift hook attachment whenever I set trusses. $150 per day for a 47' model that pulls behind my truck.

   Easier than lifting by hand (and safer too!) yet less expensive than the $250 per hour the crane guy charges.

   Mike

1. 
   TLE_ | Jan 10, 2002 03:40am | #2

   *I would check crane prices in your area.The trusses aren't so heavy that it will require anything special in crane capacity.The crane operator that I use charges $95/hr with a 3 hour minimum.I have never needed a crane for more than 4 hours.Terry

1. 
   CaseyR_ | Jan 10, 2002 03:41am | #3

   *Michael -Are you talking about a manlift such as a JLG or a Genie? I rented a 60' manlift and it ran $400 a day in the SF Bay area. I guess not, as those babies weight about 8 tons and aren't towed behind a truck... My 45' JLG has a lift capacity of 500 lbs, so if you had someone in the bucket, that could limit the size of the truss you could lift. It would seem like that under some conditions a forklift with a high lift boom could get them up there, but perhaps not move them into position unless it was a single storey on a slab that would take the weight of the fork lift.

1. 
   mike_westerfield | Jan 10, 2002 05:49am | #4

   *Bob, I would hire a crane operator to lift them for you. Your not just paying for the use of his crane, but his experience too. A good crane operator can make your day and a bad one could...... well you know. This may be more than a homeowner/builder wants to attempt, but we always put a section of trusses together on the ground and have them locked together with bracing and set it as a unit. Most houses can be done with just a few lifts. Makes it much sturdier (sp) sitting that on the plates vs. just a single truss. Just an opinion. Mike

1. 
   Mike_Willms | Jan 10, 2002 06:40am | #5

   *I think this has all been discussed before, but... The trusses would only be 9' tall. Scaffold plank down the center of the house would be all you need. Crane the bundle on top the walls, set them by hand. In comparison, these are baby trusses. I would set the whole roof solo.

2. 
   Michael_Rimoldi | Jan 10, 2002 07:08am | #6

   *Terry, Your crane guys are cheaper than ours! For that price, I'd hire one too!CaseyR, I've used either a 38' or 47' Eagle Lift. Some models are battery operated so they're nice and quite too. The bucket removes on some to attach the lifting hook. Even if it didn't remove, I wouldn't have someone in it because as you said, the weight limit would be exceeded. Both are tow behind models.Mike Westerfield, Yeah assembling on the ground is the way to go although most guys don't do it.Mike Willms, You and the others who have mentioned setting trusses solo are more of a man than I. Honestly, I've done quite a few and haven't even thought of doing them myself. Way too scary for me.Mike

3. 
   The_Tennis_Court_Builder_...on_t | Jan 10, 2002 05:46pm | #7

   *Bob,Set all my trusses by hand...It's easy...but yaa can die doing it too. 40' truss...get the truss specs/drawing and figure out what they will weigh.Sign companies and tree removal companies work here for as little as $60/hour to set trusses.near the stream,aj

4. 
   Boss_Hog | Jan 11, 2002 02:41pm | #8

   *A 40' scissor truss probably weighs about 300 pounds. I'd never set the dang things by hand - too much work and they're too big. Pulling them up on the walls and dragging them around can damage them.Check with the company you're getting the trusses from. They may furnish the crane for nothing, have cranes of their own, or at least know what crane companies have good operators and what they charge. This varies greatly from region to region. Keep in mind that scissor trusses of that size are more unstable than flat bottom chord trusses. Don't skimp on the bracing, and get someone experienced to help you.

5. 
   Tn...Andy | Jan 11, 2002 03:03pm | #9

   *Here's something I did...I built the gambrel trusses on my shop building...they span 35' total, with a 24' king post style on the top and a 2x6 "leg" running down the 45 degree angle on the side. I used rough 2x6 lumber for all of it, so they were quite heavy. I rented a duct lift from the local rentall...it's like a mini fork lift with short forks and a telescoping boom that you crank up with a manual winch, like a winch on a boat trailer. The whole lift is on casters. What I would do is stand a truss upright on the shop floor, steer the ductlift under the bottom cord and start cranking. I kept the truss turned at an angle until it cleared the outside walls, then turn back so the ends were over the wall, and cranked down until the truss just touched both wall tops. Then up a ladder to tie the trusses to the wall top and up another tie the top into the previous truss. I set all the trusses on a 75' building by myself.The lift was about $25/day if I remember right.

6. 
   Tim_Kline | Jan 11, 2002 03:38pm | #10

   *Get the help, and get the crane. We pay about $80 per hour in PA and it is well worth it. Use the extra guys to fully brace immediately and then use the crane to put your plywood in small piles spread around the roof on level makeshift 2x4 supports.