stone/sculpture lifting equipment, No: 1 choice

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

Hi all,

Thanks for all your ideas and suggestions so far they have been very
helpful.

My No:1 choice (at the moment) subject to someone telling me that its
crazy is based on seeing what the septic and monumental masons Co's
use, Truck mounted cranes or their tractor based diggers....the
folding engine lifters and a realisation that scaffolding and most
other solutions would impinge on the amount of stone/sculpture space
available in the trailer.

As I already have an engine lifter it seems like a good idea to use
the main lifting parts, boom, ram and post.

 From the truck mounted cranes I have borrowed the idea of having
adjustable stabilizers (both outwards and to the ground) that can be
used to level the trailer prior to lifting, transfer the weight
directly to the ground and give much needed extra stability to the
lifting.

This whole unit will be permanently bolted on to the underside of the
trailer close to the rear and will be designed to minimise any direct
load being transferred to the trailer itself, in addition to the
stabilisers and located on the outside of the trailer there will be a
reinforced post on to which the engine lifter boom etc can be attached
allowing to it rotate.

Fearing that the rotation could be frighteningly vigorous if the
trailer was not absolutely level it will be controlled by a strong
winch system operated well clear of the load.

In my mind I don't think I've missed anything and this solution seems
to have so many advantages that it would be hard to beat: No loss of
space in the trailer, minimal erection time, ease of erection, and
thoroughly adequate coverage of usable space. After all it is really
only a manually operated truck mounted crane.

What have I missed?

Regards to you all and many thanks again for your input. Clive