Dock Lifts are a great solution for storing your boat or personal watercraft right by the water. Not only does it save you time and energy, but it also protects your boat from damage until you need to use it again.
Loading dock lifts replace ramps and truck wells and allow your equipment (forklift, pallet jack or walkie) to transport loads from trailer height to ground level. They are available in a variety of sizes and capacities.
Dock lifts transfer loads from ground level to any truck bed height — and they do it faster, more securely and safer than ramps and inclines. They are also less expensive than recessed dock wells and more versatile than dock levelers.
The lift capacity of a dock scissor lift is determined by its platform size, vertical lift travel and actuation method. The platform size is determined by the number of feet of the safety tread steel platform that will be in contact with a vehicle when it is in a fully raised position. The vertical lift travel is the distance between the highest and lowest platform positions. The actuation method is the means by which the lift is powered – there are several options available, including manual hand cranks, screw drives, foot pumping and ratcheting.
To determine the lifting capacity of a dock lift, add the weight of the vehicle and the weight of the operator to the maximum platform load. Then divide the total by the number of feet of platform in contact with the vehicle in the fully lowered position. This will provide a safe operating load range.
Dock lifts come in both recessed and top-of-ground designs. They are also available with a single or double scissor design, depending on the space available and application needs. For instance, a low-profile dock lift is perfect for grocery stores, schools, hospitals and postal services. It mounts on locating cradles and wear plates, bypassing the need for costly concrete pit construction.
Both recessed and top-of-ground units can be installed on flat concrete slabs for use when no dock is available. They are rated to allow slow speed vehicles to drive over the lifts when in the lowered position. They can be equipped with optional oversized, heavy duty wheels for improved ground clearance and extra stability.
Both types of dock lifts are typically equipped with remote power units that can be mounted inside buildings or weather protected outdoors. They are UL listed and CSA approved and feature positive mechanical stops, limit switches and hydraulic cylinders with lifetime lubrication. They are also available with oil emersion heaters to help prevent freezing and deterioration of the hydraulic system.
Axle Rating Capacity
Axle capacity is important to consider when selecting a dock lift, as it’s the amount of weight that the dock lift can support while the transport equipment and operator are on board. While the static load capacity is easy to determine, dynamic capacities are harder to determine due to many factors that could impact the amount of pressure that a dock lift is under while it’s in use. This includes things like incline, frequency of use, speed at which the load is moved, if there are mechanical attachments on the load and more.
Some manufacturers may also state a rolling load capacity, which is the maximum amount of weight that the lift can support while it’s lowered to transport the load. These ratings are based on evenly distributed loads that are loaded onto the dock lift with the trailer wheels resting on the platform.
Dock lifts are designed to be a safe and efficient alternative to traditional methods of moving goods between a truck bed and a loading dock. Traditionally, this has been done by manhandling the load between levels or using skate conveyors to roll the goods to ground level where they are restacked on pallets. These methods can result in back, shoulder and hand injuries for operators due to the heavy lifting, twisting and turning required.
Dock lifts are designed to be a permanent and safe solution for moving materials from a truck to a loading dock. They feature a safety tread steel platform and bevel toe guards on all four sides (or a 3” vertical toe clearance between the dock lift platform and the floor on top of the ground unit). They utilize steel tube scissor legs that are built with lifetime lubricated bearings and have a minimum of 58” travel from a fully lowered height. They also include a hydraulic operating system with controls, safety devices and accessories. The power unit and all electrical components are UL listed and have a weatherproof pendant push button control, magnetic motor starter with three pole adjustable overloads and 24-volt control transformer.
Platform Size
Whether you’re loading and unloading small, medium or large trucks dock lifts make it safer and more efficient to level load your vehicles from the ground up rather than attempting to lower them from the truck bed. They’re also the only equipment that can reach from ground level to all sizes of vehicles ranging from low step vans to large refrigerated reefers. The type and size of vehicle you need to lift determines the size dock lift you need. Dock Lifts come in a variety of options that can accommodate all types and sizes of vehicles and dock heights.
Usually the largest factor in choosing the correct model is the weight of the vehicle you will be loading and unloading. Each lift is engineered to carry the listed amount of weight and not a single pound more, so you want to be sure that the total vehicle weight including driver and passengers will not exceed the capacity of the lift. It’s also important to consider the water depth and flow in your area when selecting the right lift for your application. Those factors will affect how much a lift can move and at what speed.
For those applications that require a quick lowering of the vehicle at the end of the ramp, the CrossDock Speed-Lift is the right choice. This unit operates as a combination lift and ramp and can move the vehicle from any dock level to the ground on one side and the truck/dock height on the other with a simple push of a button. It is available in a range of capacities and features a 58” travel with a 6’ x 8’ safety tread steel platform with bevel toe guards on all four sides (or 3” vertical toe clearance between platform and floor on top of the ground units). Steel tube scissor legs, lifetime lubricated bearings and a hydraulic operating system complete the package.
Another thing to consider when determining the right lift for your application is the roll over capacity. This is the maximum axle loading capacity that can be allowed for a slow speed drive over of a fully lowered lift. Most recessed dock lifts are rated at 10,000# axle load slow speed drive over which is generally more than adequate for most standard vehicles. However, specialty vehicles and high capacity fork trucks with small hard wheels may occasionally exceed these limits. In these instances, warn the lift manufacturer so they can modify the lift with thicker deck plates or other forms of reinforcement to handle these abnormally high loads.
Controls
The controls for dock lifts (docklifts) are important to understand. They help the operator to safely and quickly access the water with a boat or to move it back into storage when not in use. A number of different types of control systems are available depending on the type of dock lift and the application.
For example, scisor lifts use linked, folding support members that move together to achieve lifting action, while screw lifts function via a mechanical advantage using threads, rack and pinion lifts utilize a straight-toothed rack to elevate the platform or bucket, and telescoping and articulated lifts have multiple sections that retract and extend into and out of each other to lift a boat. Some lifts also have tilting and rotating features.
Regardless of the lift type, a standard push button control station on a cord is usually installed as a default on most dock lifts. These control stations can be upgraded to include key lock push buttons, which are useful in preventing unauthorized operation of the lift. They can also be upgraded to include a coil cord that is 4′ retracted and 20′ extended to minimize the amount of cord lying on the ground. A remote control is usually available as well, which makes operating the lift much easier, especially from a vehicle.
Some dock lifts can even be controlled by a mobile phone or tablet. This is becoming a popular option and is particularly useful for those with seasonal or full-time residences at the lake. The ability to operate the lift from a distance is also helpful for those with limited mobility.
Other features that are common to most lifts include power unit covers and a variety of hand or safety rails for operator protection. Some models may have wheels to provide rolling for load transport or positioning, and truck mounting to accommodate the truck tailgate of a forklift. Some may have tilting, rotating and articulating functions as well. All of these features are designed to improve loading and unloading efficiency in warehouse environments. They can reduce manual lifting and lowering of loads, reduce strain on personnel, and prevent damage to the load and facility.