poor mans rotissery idea

[The Ghoul]

Ive been thinking about this for a while... basically what it is is two box friams that bolt to the front and back with connector bars to keep it from tweeking (wich I think is a bit of over kill).
basically when you want to put it on its side you take the wheels off of it and lower it down to the ground with a cherry picker.
then roll it on its side (frame is bigger in every dircection than the body).
then use the cherry picker again to lift it up and put the wheels on the other side.
what do you guys think?
it would be easy to store.
I wonder what thickness tubing I should go with if I tried it?

[Telvis]

I don't know about that. It would make me a bit nervous.

[Mike DC]

           
This is the first time I've ever heard a person who as access to a cherry-picker talking about saving money on a rotisserie.


The idea might work if you built it right.  I don't see any theoretical reason why not.  I'd definitely go ahead and use the extra bracing, though.

           

[phat69charger]

You could just make your own if you can weld and have tools:

http://www.autorestorer.com/articles/art106.html
http://www.autorestorer.com/articles/rotisserie_art106.gif

http://www.prostreetcar.com/body_rotisserie.html

[shag766]

hi; i understand your therory but i am missing the cherry picker.

[The Ghoul]

You could just make your own if you can weld and have tools:

http://www.autorestorer.com/articles/art106.html
http://www.autorestorer.com/articles/rotisserie_art106.gif

http://www.prostreetcar.com/body_rotisserie.html

I have seen the rotisserie's made out of engine stands and its a very slick idea. I was always nervious using the stock engine stand stance... just seems like it would tip to easy.
also you would have to get the car pritty high in the air to get it on the stands which might be tough for a single cherry picker.
my last consern with it is hight. if you look at my pics you can see my garage door is kinda low so if I use the engine stand idea it might be too high.
for my applacation I need large phneumatic tires because of my gravel drive way... I guess I can mod it to work tho.
the chevell artical is about what I had in mind.
oops, eather I forgot to upload the photo-chopped pics of what I was thinking or my cpu at work isnt seeing em...
tonight I will check it out and see about uploading the pics again.

[dodgecharger-fan]

Eastwood used to sell something like that.

The steel frame was arched and you would actually just roll the car up on it's side.
They showed in use with the engine still in the car and everything.... obviously you need to drain the fluids first..
But I'll bet that's why they don't sell it anymore. 

[Big Lebowski]

Just pull $1300 out of the wallet for the one with yard tires or shop wheels, the jack lifts the car then rotates it. It's really cool, my buddy has one, I want to borrow it.

[is_it_EVER_done?]

If you have the room to use it (side to side, and overhead), your idea would work great, but if you used 2.5" square 11 gauge steel, plus the plate that you would need for connectors, you will be in for around $250.00 just for steel.

I'm currently building/finishing one, but I'm using two 2-ton engine stands that I extended (height and width). They were only $50.00 each (on sale), about $70.00 in steel, $25.00 in grade 8 fasteners, about $100.00 in mig wire/gas, cut off wheels, and about 10 times more labor hours than I initially calculated.

Over all, I would have been ahead by just buying one, but there is a certain amount of satisfaction in building one yourself (though I would gladly trade the satisfaction part if I could regain all the time and labor I invested).

In the long run, you would probably be better off just buying one, unless you have plenty of extra time.

[Charger_Fan]

How about this one?  

[sharpspike]

you can try this one, they flip a truck on its side. looks scary to me.

http://www.accessiblesystems.com/etfiles/et01.php

[Big Sugar]

Sometimes trying to save a buck will cost can cost you triple ! If you need a rotisserie to do the job, hunt down a used one, or find a reasonably priced one. Chances are you can probably sell it for about 1/2 the initial cost  when your done with it ! ! You can't build one that Cheap. !!
   Secondly you've got to take in how much money that Rott. will save you in labour, Your time is money as well. you'll do a far better job on your car if the work is easier.
    Thirdly and probably the most important. SAFTEY rigging up a jig to support an awkward chunk of Charger
could easily backfire on you and still have you working in weird positions.
   Wanna save some money now ??
Get yourself 4 good Jackstands and a Comfy Creepy and a good set of goggles. Have fun, Don't Smile.


Ron
Look for a used one,Sell it when your done.

[The Ghoul]

Get yourself 4 good Jackstands and a Comfy Creepy and a good set of goggles. Have fun, Don't Smile.


Ron
Look for a used one,Sell it when your done.

I did that up to this point, the thing is when I finaly get down to paint.. It would be alot easier to spray the under body when the cars on its side.
I wouldent be able to justify buying a new rotessiry. I wouldnt have the room for a real one.
basical it boils down to this:
I havent seen one small enough with the tires I need.
I havent found one cheap enough to justify the expence.
My labor is free... to me 
I never bought into that whole 'my time is money' mindset.. this hobby isnt about money to me.
that wooden contraption seems very intresting.
this is what I was thinking. the box frames on the ends and maby 2 stringers connecting the bottems and one connecting the top (very overkill)

[Old Moparz]

You may want to save a lot of trouble & get a rotisserie kit from US Car Tool & weld it up yourself. They are a sponsor on Moparts & the guy's name is John. He sells a finished kit for more money, but I recall seeing the do it yourself one for a lot less. Maybe at least contact him to see what the difference in cost will be?

http://www.uscartool.com/

[Telvis]

I don't trust my welding skills. I woold be afraid my car would drop and fall on me. I have no where to store a rotisserie once I am finished with it. I am sticking with the jack stands and creeper.

[Charger_Fan]

I happened to trip over the guy's plans for that wooden thingie today.
One thing's for sure, it would be cheap!

[PocketThunder]

here is one that Jeroen (member chargernl) has/used from his website  www.charger.nl   that i reference every week

[Old Moparz]

I happened to trip over the guy's plans for that wooden thingie today.
One thing's for sure, it would be cheap!

Ratchet straps & wood?

Now I know you've been drinking today. I've done some weird stuff, like the 24 foot steel "I" beams on the lazy susan from under my TV, but I ain't rolling my car over with that set up.   

[Charger_Fan]

I happened to trip over the guy's plans for that wooden thingie today.
One thing's for sure, it would be cheap!

Ratchet straps & wood?

Now I know you've been drinking today. I've done some weird stuff, like the 24 foot steel "I" beams on the lazy susan from under my TV, but I ain't rolling my car over with that set up.   

Hey, I didn't say it was officially endorsed by C_F.

[The Ghoul]

I think it looks like a good cheap little set up.
if you get some beefy 4 X 4 it should be fine... Im not too sure about drilling thru it but I cant think of a better way to attach the shell.
The week point I see in the whole set up is the hinge.
If you think about it alot of people have easily hoisted out there engines with trannies attached by a chain hoist bolted to a 4X4 beam strung across two of there 2x4 ceeling beams in there garage.
What does a bare shell weigh? I know me and a friend can pick mine up off the stands and we arnt big dudes so Id say under 700 lbs..
my worrie would be about tweeking the frame but its been sitting on those dollies I made with no issues.

[is_it_EVER_done?]

You want cheap! I ran across this picture. I don't think it's possible to get much cheaper -- except for the story I heard of someone using several old mattresses, and a few friends to roll the car on it's side.

[Big Lebowski]

  Wow! You Win, that's cheap allright

[The Ghoul]

thats not so much cheap as it is frickin dangerious!!

[is_it_EVER_done?]

CHEAP or SAFE. You can only choose one! 

[The Ghoul]

CHEAP or SAFE. You can only choose one! 

B.S.
you can convince your self that the more you pay the safer you are, but Id rather save a couple $ for more important things. like Oh, say something id use more than once.
Plus, how safe do you think a mclaren F-1 is?

[is_it_EVER_done?]

Perhaps if you look at my comment in context, it might not infuriate you so. I even included a smiley to portray humor!

You want cheap! I ran across this picture. I don't think it's possible to get much cheaper -- except for the story I heard of someone using several old mattresses, and a few friends to roll the car on it's side.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wow! You Win, that's cheap allright

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thats not so much cheap as it is frickin dangerious!!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CHEAP or SAFE. You can only choose one! 

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[The Ghoul]

Perhaps if you look at my comment in context, it might not infuriate you so. I even included a smiley to portray humor!

You want cheap! I ran across this picture. I don't think it's possible to get much cheaper -- except for the story I heard of someone using several old mattresses, and a few friends to roll the car on it's side.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wow! You Win, that's cheap allright

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

thats not so much cheap as it is frickin dangerious!!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CHEAP or SAFE. You can only choose one! 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

do i realy come across as that angry?
Thats the second time tonight that some one has thought I was realy mad when im not.
just felt it required clarifacation that this can be done cheaper and in a safe manner. was just razzin you a bit, sorry if you thought I was angry... my fault for not throwing in a couple of these 
I rarly intend any thing angrily.

[Telvis]

You can't enjoy yur car if you are dead or paralyzed. My vote is do it right or don't do it. If you have to ask if it will work, it probably won't.  It might work great for a while but there might be that one time it fails. Why risk it?

[Big Sugar]

 





Ron

[Shakey]

CHEAP or SAFE. You can only choose one! 

B.S.
you can convince your self that the more you pay the safer you are, but Id rather save a couple $ for more important things. like Oh, say something id use more than once.
Plus, how safe do you think a mclaren F-1 is?

Having a couple extra $ for more important things - rehabilitation or a funeral are two items that come to mind when it comes to cutting corners.

[Shakey]

Perhaps if you look at my comment in context, it might not infuriate you so. I even included a smiley to portray humor!

You want cheap! I ran across this picture. I don't think it's possible to get much cheaper -- except for the story I heard of someone using several old mattresses, and a few friends to roll the car on it's side.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wow! You Win, that's cheap allright

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

thats not so much cheap as it is frickin dangerious!!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CHEAP or SAFE. You can only choose one! 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

do i realy come across as that angry?
Thats the second time tonight that some one has thought I was realy mad when im not.
just felt it required clarifacation that this can be done cheaper and in a safe manner. was just razzin you a bit, sorry if you thought I was angry... my fault for not throwing in a couple of these 
I rarly intend any thing angrily.

When you start a post referencing another members post with B.S. (which I am going to assume means bullshit) it usually strikes a nerve.

[Shakey]

You can't enjoy yur car if you are dead or paralyzed. My vote is do it right or don't do it. If you have to ask if it will work, it probably won't.  It might work great for a while but there might be that one time it fails. Why risk it?

While I'll agree you can't enjoy your Charger if your dead, there are a couple of members here that seem to enjoy their Charger's very much who are shall we say, not walking due to unfortunate cicumstances.  Not only do they enjoy their own Charger's, they contribute as such so that other members can enjoy theirs as well.

Thumbs up to Dan & Mike for not taking the easy way out after being dealt a shitty hand.

[Mike DC]

"Safe" and "stupid" are pretty relative terms in this hobby.  

----------------------------------------------------------------------

We take 40-year-old car bodies with structural rust.  We cut the undersides out, and then we (who are usually self-taught uncertified welders) proceed to cut & paste the frames of the cars back togethe.r We use patches of scrap cars and Taiwanese sheetmetal that's obviously weaker than the original stuff.

Then we overhaul a used 40-year-old engine (often swiped from a totally different model car), pile it full of Chinese hi-po parts (produced with no corporate/legal oversight), and blast it with nitrous oxide.  All to push that rebuilt Johnson-era car chassis to 140 mph.
 
Then we stop the whole mess with disc brake setups that we home-made from piecing together parts from junk cars that were built in later decades, believing it would work because some fellow car-guys wrote a magazine article insisting that it would.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

What's the big deal if Ghoul wants to make himself some glorified jackstands from square tubing?  I'm not saying I'd reccomend a 15-year-old do this for welding practice, but let's keep things in perspective.

     

[Telvis]

You can't enjoy yur car if you are dead or paralyzed. My vote is do it right or don't do it. If you have to ask if it will work, it probably won't.  It might work great for a while but there might be that one time it fails. Why risk it?

While I'll agree you can't enjoy your Charger if your dead, there are a couple of members here that seem to enjoy their Charger's very much who are shall we say, not walking due to unfortunate cicumstances.  Not only do they enjoy their own Charger's, they contribute as such so that other members can enjoy theirs as well.

Thumbs up to Dan & Mike for not taking the easy way out after being dealt a shitty hand.

That wasn't a put down at any disabled members. I know they enjoy their cars and contribute a lot around here. I also don't think they would advocate anyone go out and do something to make themselves paralyzed. If you get paralyzed or maimed because your car fell on you...I think it might put a damper on the enjoyment you get out of the car. It might also slow down that all important undercarriage restoration you risked your life for. If anyone wants to do a goober job and build a questionable rig to flip their car, then go for it. I guess we all have a value on our lives and have a right to endanger it as we see fit. I just hope they have health and life insurance. I would hate to think that our tax money will pay for the critical care and surgeries they might need if a tragedy occurs. I don't care if you risk your life. Just don't ask everyone else to pay if things go wrong.....I see the poor mans rotissery as a potential future Darwin Award winner. 

[Shakey]

You can't enjoy yur car if you are dead or paralyzed. My vote is do it right or don't do it. If you have to ask if it will work, it probably won't.  It might work great for a while but there might be that one time it fails. Why risk it?

While I'll agree you can't enjoy your Charger if your dead, there are a couple of members here that seem to enjoy their Charger's very much who are shall we say, not walking due to unfortunate cicumstances.  Not only do they enjoy their own Charger's, they contribute as such so that other members can enjoy theirs as well.

Thumbs up to Dan & Mike for not taking the easy way out after being dealt a shitty hand.

That wasn't a put down at any disabled members. I know they enjoy their cars and contribute a lot around here. I also don't think they would advocate anyone go out and do something to make themselves paralyzed. If you get paralyzed or maimed because your car fell on you...I think it might put a damper on the enjoyment you get out of the car. It might also slow down that all important undercarriage restoration you risked your life for. If anyone wants to do a goober job and build a questionable rig to flip their car, then go for it. I guess we all have a value on our lives and have a right to endanger it as we see fit. I just hope they have health and life insurance. I would hate to think that our tax money will pay for the critical care and surgeries they might need if a tragedy occurs. I don't care if you risk your life. Just don't ask everyone else to pay if things go wrong.....I see the poor mans rotissery as a potential future Darwin Award winner. 

I knew you wern't putting anyone down.

I agree with you 100%

[The Ghoul]

Perhaps if you look at my comment in context, it might not infuriate you so. I even included a smiley to portray humor!

You want cheap! I ran across this picture. I don't think it's possible to get much cheaper -- except for the story I heard of someone using several old mattresses, and a few friends to roll the car on it's side.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wow! You Win, that's cheap allright

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

thats not so much cheap as it is frickin dangerious!!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CHEAP or SAFE. You can only choose one! 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

do i realy come across as that angry?
Thats the second time tonight that some one has thought I was realy mad when im not.
just felt it required clarifacation that this can be done cheaper and in a safe manner. was just razzin you a bit, sorry if you thought I was angry... my fault for not throwing in a couple of these 
I rarly intend any thing angrily.

When you start a post referencing another members post with B.S. (which I am going to assume means bullshit) it usually strikes a nerve.

sorry, guess I play a little harder than most. 

I think I may have crossed a fiew wires here
I am planning this rig to flip the car for painting purposes after all the metal work is done... so i will never be under it while its on this rig. I hate the idea of paying $500+ for something im going to use once than kick it around or loose half the money on.  Yes I would have lost the money on the tube steel but I could always use it for something else later down the road. I would be less inclined to chop up a store bought than i would a home rig.

[ChargerBill]

IMO if you can run a decent bead and get good penetration, AND you use good quality steel that rated to handle the load, then build it yourself. if not, I wouldn't even consider it. As far as using wood goes...I would probably use 4X4's minimum and SLEEVE all my joints with steel. I honestly think that as a ONE TIME use it would be OK. Myself, i would rather KNOW that I'm safe without ANY doubt and use steel. As far as the upside-down T shaped thing in the diagram...NOT ON YOUR LIFE..OR MINE. It looks IFFY at best. THINK about it long enough and you will figure out a way to build a better version. As far as CHEAP goes, I wonder if the ROLLER that Jeroen used could be fabricated out of anything that you might find in a salvage yard or trucking company scrap pile.

As far as ingenuitive goes, a friend had these X shaped steel STANDS laying around his yard. The stands would LAY on the ground where they would leave an X depression/imprint in the ground. They were 6 foot from end to end and the cross section of the steel was 8 inches...the gauge was about 1/4". He was complaining about wanting to build a CHEAP rotisserie. I suggested cutting TWO legs off each X and welding a pivot sleeve at the cut point so that NOW the stands were an upside down V...(like this = ^ with a pivot point at 3 feet off the ground. He welded casters under each side of the unit, tied them together end to end once they were on the car with a piece of square tubing and constructed pivot heads from my design (should be on this site some where)...they could hold a Mack truck and the whole deal took him about 5 hrs to build and he has about $100 into it. You can build a rotisserie from ANYTHING that has a useable configuration and is made of sturdy enough material...just use your imagination.

Wait, it just dawned on me that you could possibly use TWO trailer frames standing on end (cut to proper length) where you would weld your pivot point/sleeve at the same location that you cut the trailer hitch off. I bet you could find a few junked trailers at just about any junkyard. Reinforce them if needed, build a couple of pivot head assemblies and shouldn't cost much at all...then bring them back to the junyard when you're done.

[is_it_EVER_done?]

Ghoul,

First of all, I want to apologize for getting your thread off topic, I think it is en extremely important topic. Secondly, I want you to know that I certainly took no offence to your comment, and only posted the quotes to show that I was replying to the posts after I pasted the photo of the Charger up on 2X4's. I offered this only as a humorous "sidenote" to your question - (I ran across it when I was planning a low cost rotisserie myself, and doing web research). I in no way was referring to your idea as dangerous, and most certainly was not trying to discorage your idea.

If you go back over the whole thread, you will find that I support your idea. As you will see, I too built my own, and only posted to give you an idea that (at least for me) it took much more time than I could have ever imagined, and cost more than I thought. Overall I'm happy with my decision, but it sure took allot of time.

If you can weld, there is nothing dangerous about your idea, and I say go for it. Even if you can't weld, threaded thick wall pipe and elbows would do just as well (except where the rotisserie connects to the frame/body). If I had a scanner, I would offer a drawing of an even far more "minimal" idea that this thread gave me, but yours will work just fine.

I say go for it! - As a side note to those that are crawling underneath their car to scrape undercoating, paint, etc., REMEMBER that these cars were built with asbestos based undercoatings and sealers! Whatever it takes to flip them on their side to restore the undercarage is going to be safer/better!

My hat's off to you Ghoul for thinking outside the box. your solution may be the answer, or spawn some other affordable solution that will help these cars survive another 30+ years, while helping keep backyard/garage restorers (like me) safe.

[The Ghoul]

Ghoul,

First of all, I want to apologize for getting your thread off topic, I think it is en extremely important topic. Secondly, I want you to know that I certainly took no offence to your comment, and only posted the quotes to show that I was replying to the posts after I pasted the photo of the Charger up on 2X4's. I offered this only as a humorous "sidenote" to your question - (I ran across it when I was planning a low cost rotisserie myself, and doing web research). I in no way was referring to your idea as dangerous, and most certainly was not trying to discorage your idea.

If you go back over the whole thread, you will find that I support your idea. As you will see, I too built my own, and only posted to give you an idea that (at least for me) it took much more time than I could have ever imagined, and cost more than I thought. Overall I'm happy with my decision, but it sure took allot of time.

If you can weld, there is nothing dangerous about your idea, and I say go for it. Even if you can't weld, threaded thick wall pipe and elbows would do just as well (except where the rotisserie connects to the frame/body). If I had a scanner, I would offer a drawing of an even far more "minimal" idea that this thread gave me, but yours will work just fine.

I say go for it! - As a side note to those that are crawling underneath their car to scrape undercoating, paint, etc., REMEMBER that these cars were built with asbestos based undercoatings and sealers! Whatever it takes to flip them on their side to restore the undercarage is going to be safer/better!

My hat's off to you Ghoul for thinking outside the box. your solution may be the answer, or spawn some other affordable solution that will help these cars survive another 30+ years, while helping keep backyard/garage restorers (like me) safe.

yeah,
its cool man.
I was too touchy..
sorry man, we good.
yeah, Im a bit undecided still... I think the two engine stands seems the best rout for making my own.
It would prolly be best to take the casters off em...
bout the aspestos thing........
ooops

least I was wearing a some what affective resporator

[ChargerBill]

Dude, you look like you belong in the group GWAR, or are an extra from Mad Max...LOL

Hey, just be safe is all I think ANYONE here is saying. Two engine stands has been done MANY times before, and if an engine stand can hold 1,200 lbs worth of engine then 2 of them can hold an empty Charger shell without a problem. If you need them I have pivot head designs that will give you proper dimensions and show where to mount o the body...they're probably archived on this site somewhere as well. Good luck bro.

[chargerkid]

Ghoul,

As you know, I am in the process of building two rotisseries.  Hopefully, it will be done this weekend.  I purchased the steel last week.  12 sticks of tube...21' tubes.  Cost is $1300.00.  Round tube $100.00.  Thread and bolts $267.00.  (4) Torin Long Ram Double Piston 3 ton...$270.00.  It will collapse and store easily. The rotisserie will be able to be moved in and out of the shop.  The car can be loaded on the flatbed to delivered to the media blast shop.  am sure the two rotisseries will be busy.  I'll show all when finished.

[The Ghoul]

Ghoul,

As you know, I am in the process of building two rotisseries.  Hopefully, it will be done this weekend.  I purchased the steel last week.  12 sticks of tube...21' tubes.  Cost is $1300.00.  Round tube $100.00.  Thread and bolts $267.00.  (4) Torin Long Ram Double Piston 3 ton...$270.00.  It will collapse and store easily. The rotisserie will be able to be moved in and out of the shop.  The car can be loaded on the flatbed to delivered to the media blast shop.  am sure the two rotisseries will be busy.  I'll show all when finished.

so what you are saying is you will drop one of them off at my place when it is freed up 
top shelf Idea, thats about when I will be ready to paint the under body 
just kiddin.
yeah Id go all out too if I were planning to keep it around for a good long time.
cant wate to see how yours turn out.

[Charger_Fan]

Since we're on the subject of inexpensive things like this, check out this guy's body lift! This one looks pretty tough, I'd endorse this one.

It lifts not only the car (complete with all the glass, doors & who knows what else), but the rotisserie too! And that sucker ain't no light duty rotisserie either.

[chargerkid]

Can anyone else hear the wood cracking? 

[Steve P.]

Wood is much stronger than most people think.   Just take into consideration the weight on most roofs in the snowy North. In much of upstate New York you are allowed (3) layers of roofing shingles. Dump on top of that thousands of pounds of snow. Add high winds and still the wood construction handles it with ease.

Looking at the pic. I would say at the very most he only has 500lbs. on each cable.. That's nothing. His "A" frames are well built and can handle much more..  The thing I don't like about it is that I would have to keep running back and forth to each come-along for a click at a time.. 

[4402tuff4u]

We quite often run into very difficult task at work that require some ingenuity to fabricate tools to get the difficult task done in a safe manner. One of the most important lesson we've learned is to use the right tool for the right job - simple premise to understand. Trying to reinvent the wheel to save money will only get someone hurt and possibly damage the car. Save the money to get the right tool or borrow the tool from someone. To go ahead and try to develop a structure that will handle the weight and size of a Charger for the sake of saving money will put anyone in a course with disaster, unless you understand the loads that will be transfered to the frame that will allow the vehicle to roll. The simplest form of turning a vehicle on it side on a safe manner would be something like PT's photo shows. Stay safe for the sake of your loved ones. You might really spoil someones life if something did happen to you.  Think before putting your plan in action!

[chargerkid]

I think 4402tuff4U said it all!

Here's the rotisserie that we built.  I feel safe and its easy to move.  One finger turns the car over with ease.