Approximately 10 ft tall for all 6 versions of the Minerva Creek hoists.

All hoists are 8 ft wide without the two extension arms.  If you install the extension arms, your hoist will be approximately 11.5 ft wide.   The portable hoist legs are 8 ft long on both sides with two 500lb castors on each leg.

The top beam has a total weight capacity, with a “2x plus” safety factor, of 2000 lbs. in all 6 models of the hoists.  Subject to the restrictions on weight per cable block attachment point set out below, you can lift and hold up to 2000 lbs. in total weight.

If you have a hoist without the extension arms, you can hang up to 600 lbs on each of the two cable block attachment points that are closest to the vertical legs.  The center cable block attachment point is designed to hang an animal to provide additional space for gutting/skinning/caping (by moving a cable block to the center attachment point and routing the cable through it) but with your own pulley rope system you can use it to hang a third animal (three deer can easily be hung).

If you have a hoist with the extension arms, you can hang up to 600 lbs on each of the interior two cable block attachment points that are closest to the vertical legs and up to 400 lbs on each of the cable block attachment points that are on the extension arms. As above, the center cable block attachment point is designed to hang an animal for processing, but can be used to hang an additional animal provided you do not exceed 2000 lbs in total hanging weight.

Separately, the three interior cable block attachment points (those between the two vertical legs and, for clarity, not the cable block attachment points on the extension arms) have an individual 800 lb rating with “2x plus” safety factor.  You can hang one animal weighing up to 800 lbs from any single one of these interior cable block attachment points, but only one animal of this weight (800 lbs) can be hung.

Click on this link to see weight rating illustrations.

If you do not have the extension arms it does not matter. It is recommended for multiple animals on hoists with extension arms to first position the animals on the interior cable block attachment points, i.e. the points nearest to the winches that face inward toward the center of the hoist.  This sequencing is more important for the portable hoist with extension arms as the balance of the hoist is always best by hanging from the interior points first and working outward.

The 2 position hoists come with 2 sets of each, and the 4 position hoists come with 4 sets of each.

It is possible but we would want to discuss what you are thinking due to the bolt hole patterns, brackets, etc.  Also, electric hoists tend to have a higher weight rating that may exceed the weight rating of the top beam.  Electric winches also can have break designs that are not necessarily designed to work with hoisting; they are often designed more to pull weight rather than handle static weight.  We recommended using the winches that come with our hoist.

Yes, they slide inside the ends of the top beam and bolt through the top beam.  The open ends of the top beam have caps that are inserted to limit exposure to moisture if you do not have the extension arms.  If you have the extension arms, you would most likely always leave them installed.  You can purchase a 2 position hoist and, at any time in the future, purchase the extension arm kit to turn it into a 4 position hoist.

The portable hoists are designed to be mobile – you can move them from the inside to the outside of building, most easily on concrete surfaces.  Surface mount hoists can be installed on concrete inside a building or outside.  Inground hoists are primarily designed for outside installation, although a dirt floor or a hole bored through a concrete floor would allow for an inside installation.

Yes.  Keep in mind the hoist weight ratings.

Yes, this is one of the major benefits of the hoist.  Skinning hooks are built into the bottom of the inside of each leg to assist in skinning/hide removal using the included skinning chain.

Yes, but keep in mind the weight dynamics associated with hanging and swinging animals.  We recommend 1000 lbs or less of total hanging weight when moving the portable hoist.  It is best to have the animals low to ground when moving the portable hoist.  Also, always load the portable hoist from the inside cable block attachment points first.  Moving the portable hoist with an animal hanging from one extension arm only would create the greatest risk of imbalance. 

Any game or non-game animal can be hoisted, subject to the weight ratings and positioning of the weight on the hoist.  Elk are big animals and the 10’ height of the hoist will limit the extent to which it can be lifted off the ground.

Yes, but keep in mind the dynamic forces of swinging weight.  It is always best to hoist an animal from directly under the top beam.  If you are hoisting from your truck bed, back up to the top beam as close as possible and support the deer while hoisting to minimize swinging.

Lifetime warranty on the steel frame.  Your hoist is fabricated in the United States of America.  The parts that wear, such as winch/cable/cable block/gambrel and castors (if portable model) are not under the lifetime warranty but will last for years with normal use, and we will replace, at no charge to you, any of these items that exhibit a manufacturing defect within the first twelve months from date of delivery.  The heavy duty steel, high quality welds, powder coating, and grade 8 bolts/nuts are all designed to make this a one-time investment for a lifetime or more of use.  Our objective is also to provide you a finished look that you would be proud to show to your family and friends.

All parts and hardware are placed on a pallet, wrapped, and banded.  We will deliver to Missouri and Iowa locations or you can pick up your hoist in Springfield, Missouri or Des Moines, Iowa.  We will work with you to minimize shipping costs to other states.

No.  Step-by-step assembly instructions are available on our website.

Assembly instructions are located just below the buy buttons on product pages.