[fyouberg]

I am ready to take control of my fermentation temps. I am leaning toward a 5 or 7 cf chest freezer, but am concerned about lifting 40+ pounds of wort in and out over the top edge. How have others rigged it up so as to save their lower back?

[Stevie]

I have seen some people rig up a pulley system. One even used a ratcheting hand crank from a boat trailer. Can be done cheap at Harbor Freight.

[james]

When I used carboys I would keep them in plastic milk crates and that helped put them in.  At some point I switched to fermenting in stainless half bbl keg, after cleaning and sanitizing, I'd set it in chest freezer, pump wort in, and use co2 to push the beer out.

[theDarkSide]

Go with Better Bottles to lighten the load a bit too.  I'd go with the bigger chest freezer as well.  One better bottle in a milk crate fits in a 5 cu ft freezer but barely (scrapes knuckles lowering his in).  The 7.2 cu ft would give you more space, and possibly allow you to put 2 carboys in there.

You could also go with an upright freezer if you're concerned about lifting and lowering.

[euge]

You'd need some sort of hoist. I just bite the bullet and try to minimize any lifting. Usually all I need to do is lift once per fermenter.

[dkfick]

Oftentimes what I'll do is just put the empty fermenter in there... and pump the beer in from a bucket/buckets using a self priming pump.

[euge]

Like to add that I built a shelf in each of my 7cu freezers so that the buckets are off the bottom and I don't have to bend over very far.

[bluesman]

I pulled a tricep muscle a couple of years ago by pulling a fermenter out of a chest freezer. It took quite a while to heal, so I can relate to this concern. If you're going to go the chest freezer route, then practice proper lifting and pulling techniques to avoid potential injury. A hoist or pulley system is a great idea and a back saver for sure.

[yso191]

Or buy an upright.

[jeffy]

Or get more exercise.

[Pinski]

The handles on a BruHauler help keep "better" lifting form.

[Jimmy K]

The handles on a BruHauler help keep "better" lifting form.

They are great, although getting a full carboy out of a freezer will always be awkward.

You could also use CO2 to push beer out of the carboy and into a keg or bottling bucket.

- Sent by my R2 unit

[Upstate Dan]

I have no issues with just a Brew Hauler. Although I'm so paranoid it will unclip I quadruple-check the fasteners before lifing.

I'm way too much of a nervous Nelly to use a pulley system.

[thatgeekguy]

I've used buckets, but the single handle is literally a pain with a full bucket in a chest freezer. If Better Bottles, i use a milk carton. Just recently purchased a Speidel, I think I'm really going to like it.

[AmandaK]

My fiance works well for this. But if he's not in the house, I lift them in two stages.