Our Domestic Rainwater Tanks - Lifting the Bigger Tanks

Updated: 21 December 2011

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Our Domestic Rainwater Tanks - Lifting the Bigger Tanks back to the main tank article

Getting the two larger tanks in place was a minor challenge, as the corner of the deck at the rear of the house comes very close to the drop into the gully of the creek we overlook. There was just no way to roll or carry the tanks around the corner, and only a 900mm access down the other side of the house.

With the aid of my son and a neighbour we rigged up a rough "crane" and lifted them around easily and safely.

In essence, we strapped some treated pine landscaping logs to the top rail of the deck with duct tape. This stiffened the rail, and gave us a sliding surface without marring the rail (we lubricated the log upper surface by rubbing it with a bar of soap). Two more logs were bolted together to make a long enough beam, with large holes to take a 12mm nylon rope. We then proceeded as follows for each tank:-

the tank was rolled to a spot just below the end of the deck, close to the corner;
the beam was laid on the end rail of the deck;
The rope was slung around the tank, threaded through the end of the beam and lashed tight with the beam still resting on the rail, and the free end as high as possible.;
The heaviest of us (me!) then pulled down on the beam, lifting the tank off the ground;
son and neighbour then slid the beam along the rail to the corner, then around to the back of the deck. Some puffing and grunting was needed ;)
once approximately over the tank stand position, I let the free end of the beam rise, dropping the tank into place;
we then flipped the tank from its side on to its base, and slid it into final position (these tanks are light when empty).
That's it - did not take very long at all. It would have been a bit easier with 4 people; an extra to help hold down the free end of the beam would have been helpful - as it was, my weight and strength was only just enough.
Here are some photos:-