Ideas for lifting AC unit to the top of a RV

[deandec]

I do not have two strong young people around to lift a replacement AC unit to the top of our RV. The roof is about 11' off the ground and the AC weighs 110lbs.

I do have a 6' high scaffolding to cut the height in half, but pretty sure two 70 year old guys (me and a buddy) could not "press" the 110 pounds 6' at a time.

I need your ideas of how to accomplish this task.

[Dutch_12078]

I helped a neighbor at a campground in Florida do the A/C "ladder slide" trick last spring. I pulled while he guided and pushed. Took us about 10 minutes to get it on the roof and another 10 or so to take off the shipping hardware and set it in place. I'm 72 and he was 69 at the time, and we weren't even breathing hard. 🙂

[Executive45]

I bet if you stopped by your local Home Depot, they'll put it up there with no complaints....Just don't go in the middle of the day when they're really busy. Slide it on a bunk of lumber, up it goes, slide it off...boom! you're done. Never hurts to ask....Dennis

[Sluggo54]

mayo30 wrote:
I too wondered about getting it up and the other down.Went to local lumber yard to inquire about a rental of some sort,the manager heard my question and turned and asked his yard man to stop with a buddy to put it on the roof after work on the way home.They showed up and walked it up the ladder,were going to haul the defective one down,but I told them to just throw it off the roof,which they did.Came down refused $50.00 and took enough for a box of beer.end of story 20 mins.Uncrated with shroud off it weighed 89 lbs.

Tell us who and where? Nice guys deserve a pat on the back.

[bighatnohorse]

fpresto wrote:
I am 68 years old and not in great shape and I just added a 2nd air conditioner. I had no difficulty pulling it up a sloped extension ladder (still in the box). I attached a rope and pulled it up while my wife stabilized it. It was not difficult. Don't overthink it.

That's how I did it. Bought a used AC (no box) and dragged it up a ladder with a thick mover's shipping pad under it. No help needed, just patience and perseverance.

[westend]

Aren't you supposed to pull the ropes over the top and tie them on the wife's car bumper? No wait, that was the guy trying to climb his roof. 😉

[fpresto]

I am 68 years old and not in great shape and I just added a 2nd air conditioner. I had no difficulty pulling it up a sloped extension ladder (still in the box). I attached a rope and pulled it up while my wife stabilized it. It was not difficult. Don't overthink it.

[The_Texan]

Having watched RV mobile techs do this multiple times, their system must work. A 20' extension ladder, 2 ropes, to the roof and the AC left bolted to the platform it come in. Drag it up the ladder to the roof, uncrate the AC and throw the crate to the ground. You need help setting it, so there are going to be 2 or 3 people around to do the job. Last one I watched was 2 OLD geezers and they had it on the roof and ready to install within 20 minutes.

[wbwood]

Search for "rv prepper wayne" on youtube. he replaced his old AC with a newer used one. He used an extension ladder and pushed it up the ladder while climbing the ladder. Would be easier if you had one on top pulling while the other is pushing and guiding.

[mayo30]

I too wondered about getting it up and the other down.Went to local lumber yard to inquire about a rental of some sort,the manager heard my question and turned and asked his yard man to stop with a buddy to put it on the roof after work on the way home.They showed up and walked it up the ladder,were going to haul the defective one down,but I told them to just throw it off the roof,which they did.Came down refused $50.00 and took enough for a box of beer.end of story 20 mins.Uncrated with shroud off it weighed 89 lbs.

[path1]

Buy a case of beer. Put in car. Drive around town, look for strong back that would enjoy case of beer.

[deandec]

Here is the link to the Material Lift machine solution.


http://www6.homedepot.com/tool-truck-rental/450LB_Material_Lift_12/2412/index.html

[MrWizard]

MFL wrote:
Slide it up an extension ladder, one fellow pushing, the other on top, pulling with a rope.

Jerry

this is what i did last time

but i was about 8yrs younger, not quite 60

[frizzen]

A tree and a block and tackle or a come a long.

[midnightsadie]

admit this no job for us 70,year old guys , I know we can do it better than those 25yr old kids, but we gotta let them learn, lift time,, a nice supper for your help, and the doc,s bill . cheaper to let the kids do it.

[Terryallan]

deandec wrote:

Terryallan wrote:
Bite the bullet and pay to have it done. Not worth getting hurt over few bucks.

Probably the best suggestion, but where is the fun in that? :B

The fun is. Being able to walk into the RV, and turn on the AC instead of waiting until DW comes to visit at the hospital to ask her how it's doing. :B