stone/sculpture lifting equipment

["Clive Murray-White" <clivemw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi all

I have spent far too long on the net trying to work out what's the best way
of solving my stone/sculpture lifting problems so I thought I'd see what you
all can suggest.

I'll outline the problem: maximum weight of lift 1500 kgs.

Aim: (1) to be able to deliver a finished sculpture to an uneven parkland
site, lift it from my trailer and accurately place it on top of a stand
unaided.

Lifting sculpture on to the tailer is not a problem because I have a good
overhead system in my studio and getting the sculpture to the site is also
not a problem, 4x4 Wheeldrive + very adequate trailer. My thinking is that
an aluminium tripod is suitably adjustable for the variations in ground type
and could be managed on my own. I could erect it over the trailer and lift
the sculpture and drive the trailer away but I don't really like the idea of
constructing the plinth with over a Tonne of sculpture hanging over my head!
There is also the limitation that the stand would have to constructed rather
than being a solid item it its own right.

I have also thought about a gantry system but feel that it could be to heavy
for me to erect on my own and that there are problems with stability on
uneven ground.

So then you start thinking about mounting some sort of manually operated
crane on the trailer itself, sure you could purchase a sophisticated item
similar to those seen on many trucks these days but I don't think the usage
would warrant the cost of one of these. Any alternatives?

Aim (1) is the most complicated lifting problem and if I get the right
solution it should probably solve:

Aim (2) to lift large lumps of stone on to the trailer, again uneven ground.

The tray of trailer is 2ft or approx 60cms off the ground
the total width of the trailer is 6ft or approx 180cms wide.

Maximum hight of sculpture plinths 100 - 120 cms around 4ft

Maximum dimensions of the sculptures 4ft or 120cms in any direction.

Maximum distance that a sculpture would need to able to be moved, approx
4ft.

Ideally the solution could be fabricated by any small engineering works!

Regards to you all Clive