GRCS Storage

[RyanCafferky]

I have found that I would rather have each component separate and secured than have a giant box taking up space. I just made a spot in my van that has a piece of 2x10 cut out so the GRCS frame sits vertical and can’t fall over or slide around. The bollards both slide into a little nook beside that and the bar slides into a piece of PVC pipe.

 

[Vicente]

I have found that I would rather have each component separate and secured than have a giant box taking up space. I just made a spot in my van that has a piece of 2x10 cut out so the GRCS frame sits vertical and can’t fall over or slide around. The bollards both slide into a little nook beside that and the bar slides into a piece of PVC pipe.

Yea I keep my parts separate, too heavy/ awkward to move around otherwise.

 

[rico]

I store the shrapnel from my nuked GRCS in a bucket in the shed, and my Hobbs lives in my truck..No custom storage needed and despite my greatest efforts I have been unable to break or detroy it....

 

[Barc Buster]

I immediately thought of Dan's video, and I have spent more than a few minutes looking at the setup at the store, but I have been thinking that since I usually have a hand truck on hand, that a stack of totes that are designed to stack together nicely, like the black and yellows that various companies make,

HDX 27 Gal. Tough Storage Tote in Black and Yellow 999-27G-HDX - The Home Depot

This heavy-duty HDX 27-Gallon Tough Tote is designed to handle all your storage needs. The recessed lid enables you to stack multiple units effortlessly, while the tapered design facilitates easy nesting

www.homedepot.com

should work about the same, and I can make some dividers out of a variety of things. The cost savings seems worth it, and they make a variety of sizes, with configurations that stack nicely enough. I currently pack all my gear in milk crates and a 75l backpack, with my big rigging line and removal gear in one of these 27 gal totes I wanna swap all my milk crates for solid wall totes with lids to keep debris and water off of my gear when it's not in use. But I have very limited storage space, and stackability is crucial.

I have some of those black and yellow totes for shelf storage. They are pretty sturdy but agree I’m not sure how well they would hold up to daily tree work abuse. I also agree with you something like a hand cart and nondescript cases would probably be a better idea than the Milwaukee pack out.

 

[GregManning]

How 'bout contacting Greg Good directly for storage / transport recommendations ?
He is a VERY personable guy !

Link: https://www.goodrigging.com/

 

[Fivepoints]

I store the shrapnel from my nuked GRCS in a bucket in the shed, and my Hobbs lives in my truck..No custom storage needed and despite my greatest efforts I have been unable to break or detroy it....

View attachment 86530

How did you kill a grcs?

 

[27RMT0N]

I use the Rubbermaid 35 gallon ActionPacker, and honestly it's... ok... I like keeping tools/systems all together in one place so it is always easy to grab and know everything is there, and having containers with lids really helps keep things clean, dry and in good condition.

This particular case is like $100 and not nearly as sturdy as I'd like it to be, or expected for the price (had to order online, didn't feel it first). It is heavy as hell with everything in it (which I expected) and so wide I can't actually grab both sides to carry it, so that requires two people. However, I can slide it onto that little wood table which has wheels, and then wheel the box right to the tailgate of my truck, so I can load it solo. To actually use it on the jobsite, take pieces out as needed at the truck, leave the un-necessary pieces/accessories in the box so things don't get scattered around.

Given the lack of quality of this box, I doubt it would stand up to super regular use, being lifted in and out of trucks, around the jobsite, etc for more than a year or so. I did feel those black and yellow ones at Home Depot, and those are WAY to weak for something heavy like the GRCS.

 

[evo]

It’s a funny thing to pack. I’d like to find an easy solution to keep it all together, it then dealing with weight and that damn breaker bar.

 

[27RMT0N]

Yep, having that one long awkward part really changes what you can fit it inside.

 

[treegongfu]

I keep the winch and handle in a milk crate and the tensioning bar, aluminium bollard and bracket are just in truck cabinet. Anything else seems ambitious.

 

[Vicente]

It’s a funny thing to pack. I’d like to find an easy solution to keep it all together, it then dealing with weight and that damn breaker bar.

My I keep a breaker bar under my back seat.

 

[Vicente]

It’s a funny thing to pack. I’d like to find an easy solution to keep it all together, it then dealing with weight and that damn breaker bar.

I keep my breaker bar under the back seat, out of the way and always on the job.

 

[evo]

I keep my breaker bar under the back seat, out of the way and always on the job.

I lost mine, so I bought two. One for each truck.

 

[flushcut]

It’s a funny thing to pack. I’d like to find an easy solution to keep it all together, it then dealing with weight and that damn breaker bar.

How about this idea: cut the winch bar in half weld a large nut on one side and a matching bolt on the other. Half as long for storage and just screw the two together when needed.

 

[rico]

How did you kill a grcs?

Throwing some big fir logs at it. To be fair it was one of the early models which were known to be a little under built for what we were doing. It is my understanding that the newer/current GRCS has addressed the problem and by all reports is a wonderful device. Durability and simplicity are muy importante to me so it was back to the Hobbs. I have been using a Hobbs for a very long time and it has never let me down, so I never felt the need to revisit the GRCS..

 

[Mike H]

Throwing some big fir logs at it.

Were you negative rigging onto the Harken winch? I can't imagine it failing during a lift without dynamic loading
I transport my GRCS (The Goodes) in a black and yellow tote with other rigging gear and carry individual pieces to the tree. Carry the winch with two hands on the base plate, don't carry holding the winch self tailer.

 

[rico]

We were negative rigging big fir logs, so yea there was a some “dynamic loading“ going on. IMHO the Hobbs is simply a better tool when dealing with heavy dynamic loads.

 

[Vicente]

We were negative rigging big fir logs, so yea there was a some “dynamic loading“ going on. IMHO the Hobbs is simply a better tool when dealing with heavy dynamic loads.

Mine came with a big aluminum bollard for use with heavy negative rigging only takes a minute to switch out.

 

[rico]

We nuked the mounting plate with the bollard in place. Again, I believe they have beefed up the mounting plate as well as the internals on the winch. Both of which desperately needed fixin.

So with the GRCS you have a device that can take a heavy dynamic load and also lift. The problem is you need 2 different attachment for these 2 individual tasks. Thanks, but no thanks. I have been in this game long enough to know that there are times when you need a tool that has the ability to do both without being forced to change parts midstream (essentially impossible when a couple thousand pounds is hanging on the bull rope).

 

[flushcut]

I've always been of the notion a GRCS is a lifting device and a HOBBS is a lowering device. Both are awesome in their own game. And when you use them together you can move mountains.