DIY Harbor Freight LADDER HOIST?

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This video is for educational purposes. Any and all HVAC repair work is done at your own risk. The DIY HVAC Guy channel is not responsible for any possible damages or injuries caused by the use or misuse of the provided information.

[@ODucks55]

I’ve used this same technique installing a ductless condenser on the side of a building. Attached the hoist directly to the ladder. The carpenter on the job with me was very impressed 😊.

[@chrisE815]

I installed mine about 4 feet up from a truck tailgate with help of someone else. Man, that was sketchy- and that was only a 24k btu unit.

[@billrehm3590]

Being a roofer, sliding stuff down over the shingles will probably damage the shingles. Should lay plywood on the roof. If you damage the shingles you won't be able to repair the damage shingles, you will have to replace the whole section and that will be a lot more than what you are saving on a crain.

[@diyhvacguy]

If you heard that part of the video, this unit had plastic rounded feet that glided right over the shingles, so they did absolutely no harm.

[@larrysepicmovies5044]

The shingles will "crush" where the "feet" are and eventually leak.

[@freedomisntfree5573]

​@The DIY HVAC Guy you can still damage them. Especially if its an old roof

[@LazyCrazyGuy]

​@@diyhvacguybrother some roofs are so old and brittle that simply walking on them can damage them. If 40 mph winds can damage shingles it's not hard to understand that 200+ lbs can create a lot of problems for shingles.

[@MichaelDillin]

I'm a professional homeowner and I love your video I do agree with putting some plywood down or maybe even using some corrugated plastic instead of plywood just to spread out the load so that it doesn't possibly damage the shingles

[@lego40404]

Omg, we have a few installs coming up and this is a game changer. Some of these units we work on here in Buffalo NY were not thought out as to where they should be put for the person who actually works on it

[@tippyzuk1]

I installed signs for many years and used similar method when the space was too small for our equipment. The man at bottom of ladder is very important. Great info, thanks.

[@maxball6388]

I made a ladder hoist years ago out of tube steel and a hand crank winch. Frame locks into ladder rungs and I built it for hoisting compressors to the roof. Also some ductless outdoor units. Nothing over 250-300 pounds. No power required, can pop handle off and use a 5/8 socket and a drill on low speed.

[@MichaelDillin]

The simplest engineering is the best and you are a genius engineer great job thank you I shared it with my HV AC guy and I'm going to remember this for a long time

[@cjmueller5455]

Your narrative was very clear and logical. Well done!

[@larrybell4599]

Great setup! Thank you for sharing it.

[@hdcsp3]

A good idea.....very sketchy though. Also....the whole sliding of anything across shingles is a very bad idea....all it takes is one damaged shingle and the job ends up being free. Careful. Very careful.

[@petersmart1999]

Absolutely correct,one or two damaged shingles will result in a complete re-roof in a court of law!

[@diyhvacguy]

Yes I was going to do a still shot of the risers on it, but they were rounded on the edges and about 6” tall so it would have been really hard to damage the shingles

[@ericjohnson9468]

100%… PROTECT the roof shingles…. Though retired, I spent a career in construction, & that was the most glaring fault I saw in this video. I couldn’t tell, but I assume the ladder’s base was WELL anchored….

[@rusosure7]

Awesome dude! Now I'm scheming in my mind how to do this with other stuff.

[@daveallen924]

Nice work-around. I may have to give it a try. At least I know it could work. Thank you for sharing.

[@user-gd5bn2qp2c]

Like your idea! Thanks for sharing and be safe!

[@kraftzion]

You can make the bracket by running allthread through two rungs and bolting a couple of pieces of plywood to each side of the ladder. A piece of pipe with another piece of allthred through it for your attachment point.

[@guyin916]

if under 450 lbs, a 12' or 15' material lift can be rented from a nearby rental yard for not much as well. very clever technique that you use. (edit: 450 lb, not 250 lb)

[@guyin916]

@@ronsencillo1920 yes, indeed. level concrete/blacktop surface required. and i think the capacity was 450 lbs. it's been a minute. the lift has many uses.

[@OcRefrig]

Yea, i've Used Material lifts a lot. they are Great Crank up Lifts. Can be put in the back of Pick up truck bed or trailer. I also like Scissors lift s.

[@paulcormier7036]

Genus man this is cool now I got to check your other vids

[@RonaldDCass]

We've hauled thousands of gallons of tar with a pulley & rope attached to a ladder. The ground assistant attaches the pail to the rope & pulls the rope as the roof help holds the ladder away from the building until the bucket is above the edge, then pulls the ladder to the edge & removes or empties it into a cart. Your idea takes the labor away.

[@ReliableHVACR]

Pretty cool 🤘🏽 had that in mind just never put one together

[@GroovyCachinDude]

Cool video. Thanks for posting in the comments that the condenser only weighs about 150#...I was concerned that the ladder rating wouldn't measure up.

[@seanconnolly2179]

I want this for carrying our Duralast rolls to the roof this looks like a practical solution

[@maderightamerica3216]

Amazing system. Job well done.

[@akeemhoque5976]

My man did it again. Thank you for this video!

[@PeteGaughenbaugh1]

We use one all the time, though ours isn't Harbor Freight. Works great for residential and light commercial condensers and compressors

[@billiamc1969]

Bad ass man...MUCH RESPECT from Baltimore

[@frankrodriguez1977]

That is an awesome tool. Thanks

[@darrinrentruc6614]

Worked out great guys, Ladder rigs have been used for centuries.

[@jeffalvich9434]

For over 50 years the urban search-and-rescue teams have used similar techniques, however your attachment point leaves to a vulnerability. The rungs of a ladder or only designed to support a limited amount of weight typically 300 lbs. The correct way to employ such a device is too attached to the rails of the ladder not the rungs. This is referred to as a lean-to Derick.

[@lawrencejoy9346]

Only thing that might make it safer, would be to add a way to extend that T bar being used to move the ladder away from the house/ roof, possibly use a pin to make that T bar longer and at a different angle relative to the roof, otherwise great idea

[@hvacrefrigeration5204]

Very creative idea man👍

[@mkuer5687]

Great Work! Greetings from Germany

[@alexramos1435]

I need this for Sunday side job

[@Martin1519]

That’s awesome. I was thinking a good alternative for a DIYer would be to use a pulley system that reduces the weight so that whoever is lowering, or raising the item is only pulling a fraction of the full weight.

[@bretgreen5314]

Nicely done

[@Mike-ym6rl]

What a great idea!

[@mnight207]

Really cool video!

[@UQRXD]

Thanks for showing.

[@fernandomurillo9272]

Hell yeah that’s awesome. I have that hoist thank you found a new use for it now

[@wannamonslo9626]

Looks good. Looks like the hoist bracket could (under extreme influence) shift to the right and off of the cross member.

[@diyhvacguy]

The zip screws keep it from moving, but even if it did, the other bracket is sandwiched between the cross member. It would take something serious for that to want to shift to the right like that though

[@mplscarsales6652]

Sweet thank you welding video of how to make brackets and measurements please .

[@utoobuser206]

Looks like a laddervator commonly used in roofing. Nice job and improved design, although a chain hoist or cumalong or two pulleys or hand crank winch could be cheaper and just as effective?

[@sawhite27]

Nice work man.

[@LadderMover]

That's an elegant solution using a ladder, I like it, although it looks a little dangerous! As others have stated, I would avoid sliding across the shingles. What do you think about my ladder involved solution?

[@samelloit602]

I had my doubts, there has to be a safer way , nice work

[@UltraHydrophobiccoat]

too dangerous

[@fredbecker607]

Safety third!

[@fhl1996]

Gracias muchas gracias. Muy buena idea, ten tu like y un nuevo subscriptor.

[@garyhenry2546]

It would Be Safer to just Push it off the roof

[@jimgresham5529]

🤣

[@user-ow6qb5dc9k]

Nice diy. Good job

[@badsamaritan8223]

An even easier way, would be to have a second ladder attached to the first, perpendicular to it. With the hoist riding on rollers in the channels on the side of the perpendicular ladder. You would be able to lift the AC unit and slide it from peak to gutter without touching the shingles/roofing at all, and you wouldn't have to do that awkward thing where you tilt the ladder away from the eaves, with someone else holding the bottom.

[@normansabel1850]

You should attach a pole to the hoist bracket that would make it possible to push the ladder away from the building.

[@TomLombardi]

I am impressed!

[@FryFam2021]

Crane operator here looking at making a career change. Love running cranes but need a trade that keeps me home every night with my family!

[@budmanzoom4441]

Great idea

[@edp8218]

Pretty cool man 👍

[@Raykenn1]

Excellent !!! 👍

[@andy-ti9zf]

dam that was some cool thinking dude

[@bobjimenez4464]

Friendlier than tumbling it over the edge of the roof like all of the HVAC guys around here do. : )

[@HVACGUY]

I use a duct jack for situations like that

[@HeyChickens]

If you had to lift something even heavier than this AC unit and really wanted to make this whole setup work as smooth as butter, use a long ratchet strap on each side of the ladder to keep it from sliding left or right, anchoring them down in a straight line with the feet of the ladder so as allow the ladder to be tilted upward without tightening or loosening those straps. Anchor the feet of the ladder in place with stakes or with something very heavy just in case. Then use another very long strap or a strong rope attatched to the very top of the ladder to lift the top of the ladder back away from the edge of the roof. Once all that is done, you will have a very sturdy makeshift crane in place that won't tip or fall on you all of a sudden.

[@diyhvacguy]

Thanks for the tips!! Cheers

[@HiTechDiver]

Pretty clever, though I would have a liability disclaimer at the beginning of the video.

[@curiosity2314]

Carefully a good idea.

[@at6098]

Do you have a video on the construction and material list?

[@annatrutv]

Very smart way ever nerver See any one in Here do that way.

[@keltonlowry8844]

What size is your power station and how many lifts and lowers do you think you could get off of one charge?

[@richardbizzoco624]

important contribution......

[@curlyelp7530]

Good video, and I know you made one using aluminum, good idea. Do you have any measurements, and adjustments. Like maybe a longer lever handle, I saw you were having problems trying to push up and stand the ladder? Thanx, GOD Bless !!!

[@jimgresham5529]

Nice project for "Thrill-Seekers".

[@bartdaw6681]

Way cool!

[@wannabetrucker7475]

Very cool

[@chrisE815]

What do you think of some sort of telescoping leg that rests against the roof? Step one would be extend and lock the leg out (resting on the roof) and then lower the load to the ground.

[@diyhvacguy]

That’s a brilliant idea. I’m going to look into that. I don’t use this that often but when I do that would make a huge difference!

[@chrisE815]

​@@diyhvacguy Nice- Hopefully it turns out to be a helpful idea. To me, it looked a little sketchy when you were balancing the brace/ladder and also using the hoist, but I don't enjoy heights! Another random thought- I have a metal roof so perhaps factor in corrugated metal roofing when designing the feet. Man, I gotta learn to weld!!!!

[@rupe53]

I had a similar thought, but my brain is freezing up on how to get the unit back over the edge of the roof gracefully so you can lower the load without the ladder slipping. Of course, the rest of my mind is wondering why anyone would put an AC on a roof in a residential situation.

[@chrisE815]

@@rupe53 I agree and with the popularity of side dischange I don't think it's going to be common anymore. But I still think the ladder hoist would be useful for side discharge units mounted to the side of a house

[@henryxavier3751]

i knew that could be done but how? Now i know😊

[@justinirwin863]

Great job man, seriously! Do you have the plan or rendering of size and parts needed to build this life changing apparatus lol?

[@BRExteriorPro]

Show us a plan to build this.

[@bobsopinions]

Great idea except for the scooting across shingles, but why would anyone install the condenser on the roof? Its always in the sun and very hot up there. I prefer on the ground, on the north side, if posible.

[@alexciocca4451]

I pushed my 5 ton up the ladder with one helper got it dun very strong ladder

[@diyhvacguy]

Wow that is brave right there!

[@a-verybasic2]

I admire your ingenuity but a 16’ genie lift would be much safer

[@mnight207]

Dave, Love your videos man. Id like some advice. This is a long story but im gonna cut it super short. We bought a new house..it has one hvac unit in the attic that serves the master bedroom and one for the rest of the house. Both units should be replaced but the main house unit is working currently. Anyway, we got a quote to replace one and both. its 35k to replace both, which, we can afford easily, but dont want to pay that for these units. A light went on in my head...why not use a mini split in the bedroom. What are your thoughts on that?

[@diyhvacguy]

Absolutely. Mini splits are far more efficient so if you could use that for the master that would be fantastic

[@mnight207]

@@diyhvacguy You have no idea how much I appreciate this info. What about the main house? Would a mini split be a good idea or stick with a traditional unit?

[@mnight207]

@@diyhvacguy Also, I have background in framing, auto mechanics and am not afraid of hard work. Is a mini split something someone like myself could do?

[@robertberin4872]

​@@mnight207 I did this. I installed 1 18k in the family room and a 9k in the master br. Going to install another in the other br. Closed the door to the master and can heat the room to 68 while the rest of the house is 56 for only $1 per night. Same cost during the summer. Costs me less than $1,500 for both.

[@robertberin4872]

​@@mnight207 you can do it yourself. Tips I have are to put the line set covers under the line set coming out of your house before you tighten everything down. You will get a cleaner look. Also before you release the refridgerant make sure everything is the way you want it to look at the end of the day. I spray painted the line set covers the color of the house to camo it.

[@Otis884]

Do you worry about bending the gutter without a stand off on the ladder ?

[@diyhvacguy]

I’ve never bent a gutter but it is something to be cautious about

[@joebaucom4537]

Great !

[@dennisd2911]

Can you share the dimensions on the ladder crane?

[@hitekrednek66]

Oh man deleted..😮. That's ok....you know I am a fan and am always looking out for you sir! 😊

[@diyhvacguy]

What was deleted? I responded to your other comment

[@hitekrednek66]

Sorry sir...I went to add some suggestions and couldn't find original reply. No worries sir! You know I support ya, always. Think you are doing great!

[@danlah1303]

Genius!

[@marcosescobar7675]

Dude how I can get the crane

[@dickkapp336]

verry cool

[@Todjcam]

That looks dangerous AF! 😱

[@tymz-r-achangin]

lol and so if the unit is just being removed and a new one not being put in, you put a lot of extra work and time into that when could just easily shove the thing off of the edge and let it drop. Its not like it would damage the concrete from a mere 10-12 foot drop

[@rupe53]

... but then there would be no video of the fancy lift!

[@diyhvacguy]

Um all the refrigerant would leak into the environment. So that’s a no go. I’d rather recover refrigerant off my trailer then in a rooftop

[@imnotgonnasay3612]

Terrifyingly clever. What a scary job!

[@zachj8212]

Nice and sketchy 👌

[@theapocilip]

Aye that’s pretty cool

[@ryanbesvold5733]

Where did you get the ladder bracket the winch connects to??

[@diyhvacguy]

I built it.

[@ryanbesvold5733]

@@diyhvacguy wanna build a second? I can't find much that will work

[@joeshmoe6969]

Is disassembling the unit an option? Or just tossing it off?

[@diyhvacguy]

If there is no refrigerant in it then yes. But this unit was full of refrigerant so that wasn’t an option.

[@eternalbeing3339]

Refrigerant can be drained bud. There are cheap kits online.

[@OcRefrig]

Good idea for a Compressor not a Whole unit. Get a Crane. That ladder was shaking pretty good. ( Max ladder load/ Rung - Probably exceeded ! ) That Looked Like You were shaking pretty good too. That Looked Pretty Sketchy. I'd rather spend a Few Hundred dollars for crane. $350.00 for a Crane around Here. 1 up & 1 Down 5 ton unit. Money Well spent.

[@diyhvacguy]

Some situations literally can’t fit a crane so this is the only option. Part of my shakiness was this design. I’m re engineering a new one with an aluminum frame that is going to be much easier to handle. But one of these days I’ll hire a crane. I still never have 🤣 thanks for the input!

[@cooperharvey6624]

Smart way of removing that unit

[@kylecanaday1276]

100% OSHA Approved!

[@diyhvacguy]

Lol

[@williamrosenow6176]

If OSHA took an honest look I think it could be legal. A crane needs to lift 2x the weight without collapse. he had the weight on 2 steps of a 300lb ladder I assume, so 600lb capacity. Then 75-80% of tipping. He pushed the ladder away with one hand so not much weight at that angle plus it can only fall against the house so it can't fall that way. A good ladder that hasn't layed out in the sun for years should do the trick just fine. I wouldn't stand under it but who would. It's kind of like a breast derrick that we used for picking heavy rocks in fields or yards. Better than letting it down on a rope. I wouldn't ask them they get all worked up about things that aren't in the book.

[@Sctronic209]

@@williamrosenow6176 Not

[@handimanjay6642]

🫢 Sketchy. Pretty sure that is not OSHA approved. I’d have demo’d that unit in place or just rolled it off the roof. Ladders are not designed for that kind of loading.

[@diyhvacguy]

Each rung is rated for 250lbs, and it’s actually higher then what they say for safety reasons. This might be up there but it not over 250lbs for sure

[@Jiangster]

I had to google this... TIL: 3 ton condenser does not weigh 3 tons :)

[@raisagorbachov]

The weak point is the bit that holds the ladder extension, extended. Personally, I'd just have shoved the thing off the roof and let gravity take care of it.

[@gradyrm237]

Dude you exceeded the weight limit of that cheap aluminum ladder by 100s of pounds. Try explaining that to your insurance company. Also, you owe that customer a new roof for "shimmying" a massive block across their roof.

[@copernicus633]

Why the hell do they put a/c units on the roof? You need special equipment to hoist. You can damage the roof and cause leaks. It’s hot on the roof and therefore less thermal efficiency. You risk injury to installers. It complicates maintenance. Etc. Why not just have a ground level installation , surrounded by chain-link fence or concrete blocks?

[@diyhvacguy]

Amen bro…

[@um8440]

When i was on a 2 story building i just throw it down, forget the hoist.

[@diyhvacguy]

🤣

[@joeblow6478]

Something tells me the homeowner will be looking for a roofer by winter.

[@diyhvacguy]

The unit had soft plastic feet. I ensured that zero damage was done to their roof. And the homeowner was the one helping me. 👍🏼

[@robertberin4872]

now lets see how its done alone. I need to move 20 50 pound solar panels on the roof.

[@diyhvacguy]

It basically was done alone. The customer just wanted to help and he helped me shuffle it over to the ladder

[@ivarOkie]

Why go through all this trouble? Gravity will bring it down without trouble. Getting new one up is difficult!

[@diyhvacguy]

Because all the refrigerant is pumped into it. A lot easier to recover in my garage then up on a rooftop!