[flbrewer]

While I really enjoy my new chest freezer (fermentation chamber), I really don't enjoy lifting 5 gallons of wort into it. Getting an upright is out of the question right now, and I'm wondering if anyone has any solutions to make it easier on me.

I saw a few designs using lift systems like this...http://www.amazon.com/Hunters-Specialties-Lift-System-Gambrel/dp/B003RY9YIU

Any advice would be appreciated!

[Alewyfe]

That's very similar to what my husband rigged for me. I can move a 15 gal fermenter in and out of my chest freezer now by myself. Mine is a regular rope pulley with a brake on it he got from some local supply place. He decided he didn't want to have to do all the household stuff again while I had another ACL surgery.   He's just soooo supportive of my brewing habit.

[metron-brewer]

I just purchased this:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_120327_120327

Although I have not installed or figured out HOW I'm going to install it yet. It seemed like a reasonable price and a good solution.

[Alewyfe]

We looked at electric hoists too, but I have 2 chest freezers in 2 different locations and the rope hoist is lightweight and easy to just clip on an eye bolt or the garage door rail.

[kramerog]

Would it be possible to put the freezer on its side or on its end?  I assume it would still work, but I don't know.

[metron-brewer]

Would it be possible to put the freezer on its side or on its end?  I assume it would still work, but I don't know.

Pretty sure it's not recommended to run freezers in any orientation other than what they were designed for.

[dak0415]

Would it be possible to put the freezer on its side or on its end?  I assume it would still work, but I don't know.

Not just NO, but HE&& NO.  The compressor must stay vertical or the oil will drain away and bump - no freezer.

[metron-brewer]

We looked at electric hoists too, but I have 2 chest freezers in 2 different locations and the rope hoist is lightweight and easy to just clip on an eye bolt or the garage door rail.

My second freezer is strictly for fermentation of 5 gallon buckets. I plan on using the electric hoist for the kegerator but I may look at your setup for the fermentation freezer.

[Alewyfe]

Yup, it's nice for lifting full cornies, buckets, whatever. Take care of all those young bodies out there. Your back and joints will thank you for it. It's not the weight, it's the position you get into trying to lift stuff over the edge and lower into position. It can be just that one time when you're not positioned correctly and something goes twang.......that was the voice of experience speaking

[flbrewer]

We looked at electric hoists too, but I have 2 chest freezers in 2 different locations and the rope hoist is lightweight and easy to just clip on an eye bolt or the garage door rail.

I assumed you had to clip to a bolt screwed into a stud. Are garage door rails safe to hang that type of weight? It would work out well in my case as a garage door rail runs right over the freezer.

[Alewyfe]

Can't vouch for it being safe, but I  do lift cronies that way. The garage door rail is song enough, it just depends on how strongly it is mounted. We have an electric hoist on a garage rail reinforced in another area and we hoist engines with it.

[Alewyfe]

Bet you all feel sorry for my cronies at this point! Ha.

[metron-brewer]

Bet you all feel sorry for my cronies at this point! Ha.

Assuming they are barrel-aged?