Was at my local distributor getting my truck mount switched over to my new van. Long day! Anyway, I Noticed they had a Cimex on hand. Imagining someday owning one, I walked over and tried to pick it up like I was going to load it into my van! Wow! that baby's a handful!

You experienced Cimex guys, how do you load that thing by yourself? Looks like a 2 man lift, or is there a trick to it? (the head on this one was tilted back. Is that the lifting position, or does the head go down, making it somehow easier to lift?)

Thanks,
John L.

I load mine into the back of an Explorer everyday. With the head leaned back, I lower the handle about halfway which allows me to grab the frame just under the solution tank. Then I just pray the after I get it in the truck, I'll still be able to work the next job. I keep thinking I'll get a trailer or even a van one day, but for now I still flirt with a busted gut. Tell you this, though. I couldn't imagine not having the cimex.

I am a very lazy person by nature, so I always try & find the easiest ways of doing things.

I have a panel van with a sliding door.

I also have two metal ramps, each about three foot long.

I have lined the floor of my van with plywood & carpet.

I have drilled a hole in the end of each ramp, and also through the ply/carpet.

When using the ramps, I place the ramps in postion and then I drop a screw through the holes so that the ramps do not move.

I sit the head of the Cimex upright, it is held in place with a bungy strap, (long length of rubber), this goes from the lifting handle on the head, up to the handle.

Rest the Cimex at the base of the ramps, bend over the handle & take hold of the lifting handle.

Then pushing with your stomach, (against the handle), & holding the lifting handle, the 'Mex; rolls straight up into the van.

This is so easy to do.

I turned 58, about 27 months ago & find this the easiest way to get the Mex; in & out of the van, without busting a gut.

Taking it up & down stairs is also easy, but that's another story.

Cheers,

Shorty.

I turned 58, about 27 months

Baaaahahahah good one Shorty

man you fellas that lift it in are crazy! why not use a ramp? makes life a lot easier and no worries about back injury or a hernia....being realistic, those are real threats to anyones health let alone business!

i use my Bane ramp and i put some "anti-skid" strips on it....about 6 of them. they REALLY make it slip proof even in the snow and rain. here is the place i ordered my anti-skids....ya just drill them into your plywood ramp : http://www.handiramp.com/non-skid_safety_tread.htm

not cheap but well worth the money! my pop works in a large machine shop and after the fact told me he coulda made as many i wanted for free so ask around if ya can.

thanx --- Derek.

most of the time I use the trailer wth a ramp door.
If I just have the van, I have a 2'x4' chunk of 3/4" plywood I use as a ramp. I put it in the slot of the door slide, and pull the Cimex in backward from inside the van. If theres a curb, than the ramp is flat enough to push it in. Haveing the plywood with me helps get it up a few steps into buildings too.

Brian

I purchased a slightly used wheel chair lift on eBay for $350 and mounted it in my van. The ramps will work fine, but when someone accidently let one of the wheels slip off the side of the ramp---well you can guess the rest of the story. The wheel chair lift has an expanded metal floor through which water can pass, so when I need to work on the Cimex or just clean it out, I raise it to the up position which is a very comfortable work height.

that's ticket Ivan!

thanx --- Derek.

Being a muscular lad,, I merely put the head in the upright position.. give er' a lift and up and in she goes. EASY.

I am laughing but thats how I do it. I do need to make a ramp or something. it wouldn't take up much room and make it much easier.
Shorty has a good idea above.



Steve Dobson
ProFloor
Custom Cleaning Services

I have two Daws folding aluminum ramps that are 10" wide each and when extended are about 7' long. I installed 1/4 in. plywood on the metal grids. Just lay them next to each other and back the Cimex into the van. I even use them to load my 350 lb Star Stripper by myself. No problem. Daws is located out of Ga. I think.

Here’s a simple approach:

You can purchase a piece of 2'x4' 3/4" pre-cut plywood at Home Depot. Attach steel brackets to the end of the board. The 4-foot ramp works great on a ½ ton van, a longer board may be needed for ¾ or 1 ton vans.

The brackets shown here were fabricated at a welding shop for about $20. This makes an inexpensive and sturdy ramp. Just step into the van and pull it up the ramp backwards.

Here's what it looks like...





Rick Gelinas
encapman

I've got too much stuff in my van to back in with the Cimex. I can't go in the side door - got a HWE machine there. That means I put it in the back and put it in last.
I put the handle in the upright position, the head in the upright position, put the edge of the head on the edge of the floor at the back door, and lift up on the handle. When I get it up I push the head down so it's flat on the floor, swing the machine around and I'm in. By the time you get your ramps out I've closed the door and am driving away.

I took and old bed frame and built an arm that swivels out of the back of my Ford one ton van. I picked up an electric winch at the local auto parts store for $70 and bolted it onto the arm. Now I just push a button and lift the big yellow monster right up and swing it in. It is a cynch. I sent a bunch of e-mails to others inquireing about the system but have never heard back from anyone as to whether they built one or not. It sure works for me. Safe, foolproof and non-strenuous. (grin)

Thanks everyone for the great suggestions, diagrams, etc.

John L.

the gls machine eliminates the risk of large balls. Much sweeter to load and unload into van...up and down stairs whether residential or commercial.

I have had a ramp from a few years ago from link manufaturing when i first started with portables...i've installed ladder racks on top of the van http://www.tracrac.com/tracvan/tracvan.html
You can actually order these from home depot. Since my ramp is light and aluminum..it's ez to flip on top of the van and strap it down. When a commercial tile jobs comes up on my schedule...the cimax is loaded via ramp and the ramp is loaded on top of the van.

Raf, taking a journey into the Tile and Grout side of cleaning...