Setting Instructions for Basement Systems

 

  1. Positioning the inboard beams and stands inside the crawl space wall.

     

    1. Place the jack stands and support stands inside the basement foundation, as shown in illustration below.  The jacks should be almost fully extended, reserve 1/2" of stroke.  NOTE: When the home is in the lowering position, the jack should be positioned directly under the home frame.  (See #4 A & B for stand placement)
    2. Place the inboard beams on the jack stands and support stands.
    3. Connect the beams by using two connecting plates and four 1/2" x 2 1/2" bolts at each joints.  NOTE:  Always support the beams under the joints.  The beam connection just inside the basement wall should be 1/2" away from the wall, with a steel plate underneath to support the connection.
    4. Place stop pins in the ends of each outside beam to avoid accidentally rolling off the beams.

     

  2. Place home next to the basement foundation.

     

    1. Position the first section or unit of the home at least two feet from the basement foundation.
    2. Level the unit using four hydraulic jacks, air jacks, air bags or other leveling device.

     

  3. Raise the home and remove the axles from the frame.

     

    1. Place four jacks, two on each side of  the home as follows:
      1. Place rear jacks near the rear axle.
      2. Place the front jacks approximately ten feet back from the front of the home.
      3. For modulars place the jacks 1/4 of the way in from the ends of the home near the desired position for the H-beams.
      4. When using a 3 rail system you will be placing 6 jacks under the home.
    2. Place the jacks about 24 inches away from the desired position of the beams.  NOTE:  Be sure that the jacks are level and solid before lifting unit.
    3. Use a frame protection plate, hydraulic jack head plate, or air bags to protect the frame of the home from damage.
    4. Always lift the home using two or four jacks at at time to avoid racking or twisting:  NOTE:  Safety cribbing should be used whenever possible.
    5. Raise the home to a sufficient height for the frame to clear the basement foundation.  NOTE:  The axles may be disconnected when the wheels have cleared the ground.

     

  4. Place the "outboard" beams under the home near the jacks as follows:
    1. Place the rear H-beam as near as possible to the rear axle. NOTE:  It may be necessary to drop the rear axle and position the beam in its place.
    2. For mobile homes place the front beam approximately 8 to 10 feet back from the front of the home.  For modulars position the front beam a 1/4 of the way in from the ends of the home.  Connect the outboard beams to the inside H-beams.
    3. Align and level the outboard beams with the inboard beams at the desired height.
    4. Support the beams at a minimum of every nine feet.  (Span based on five tons per roller, longer spans may be used for lighter loads.)

     

  5. Position multi-directional dollies on the beams directly under the frame.  Use a piece of flat bar or angle, clamped under the frame.
    1. C clamps are positioned on the frame of the home 4 inches from each end of two of the top rollers to prevent too much lengthwise movement while rolling the home sideways.  The top rollers need a certain amount of movement when rolling sideways to allow the frame of the home to adjust on the top rollers.  This keeps the weight of the home directly over the rolling system, preventing side pressure on the system.
    2. When using the lengthwise movement adjusters the C clamps are not necessary.  The two rollers that are attached to the lengthwise movement adjusters should be placed on one end of the home.  These will help prevent to much lengthwise movement while rolling the home sideways.

     

  6. Lower the frame onto the top rollers of the multi-directional dollies.
    1. Always lower two jacks together, lowering either one end or one side at a time, or lower all four jacks together.
    2. Remove the jacks from under the home.

     

  7. Roll and position the first section of the home on the basement foundation using winches or come-a-longs attached to the end of the beams.
    1. Remove the wedges from the bottom dollies.
    2. Roll both ends of the home at the same time and at an even rate.  NOTE:  One end or the other may be moved a short distance independently, if needed, to align the home with the foundation.
    3. Roll the unit to the desired lateral position and wedge the two bottom dollies on the outside edge.
    4. Remove the wedge from the top dolly and roll lengthwise to the desired postion.
    5. Wedge two top dollies at opposite corners of the section.

     

  8. Lower the home onto the basement foundation.
    1. Raise the jack stands enough to lift the beam a 1/4" off from the center support stand.
    2. Move the center support stand toward the outboard beam until the support stand clears the beam joint by 1/4".
    3. Remove the connecting plates from the center joints.
    4. Lower the home in stages, resetting the jack stands as necessary until the frame is within 1/2" of the piers or foundation.  Jack stands should be lowered and pinned in 2 1/2" increments.  NOTE:  By the use of beam pockets and/or wall brackets the beams can be positioned to allow the home to be lowered in just one or two stages.
    5. Remove the wedges for final alignment.
    6. Align the unit and release the jacks so that all of the weight is on the crawl space foundation or piers.

     

  9. Remove the beams and dollies from below the home.
  10. Switch the support stands for jack stands under the remaining beams in preparation for rolling the second section of the home.
  11. Repeat the overall process for the second section of the home.

2 Rail Basement System

3 Rail Basement System

 

 

 

           

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