Incline Tram Installation Procedure
At Lake Shore Tram our goal is to provide a top quality product with safety and service in mind. protecting your environment by not disturbing it or changing it any more than necessary is equally important to us. As we discuss below, our incline tram installation procedures demonstrate that the installation of an incline tram can be accomplished in a variety of settings and conditions.
1. Site Inspection
First we prefer to do an on-site evaluation for any Lift System that will be installed on an angle greater than 45 degrees. This allows us the ability to quote your job fairly based upon your terrain and needs, complete a quality installation of your Lift System and ensure the safety of our employees while installing your Lift System. (Quality pictures from the top (looking down) and bottom (looking up) may work in lieu of the on-site evaluation.)
2. Tram Location Selection
Next, we determine the best location for the Lift System. Customer preferences of starting and ending locations as well as the area with the least amount of trees, shrubs or growth to be removed (if any) are all determining factors. if any growth does need to be removed, we cut it off at ground level leaving the root system intact so it will not cause any erosion problems now or in the future. The homeowner is responsible for any permits for tree, shrub, or growth removal (as necessary for your location) as well as the periodic trimming which may be necessary.
Our track is built in both 5 and 10 foot sections. We bolt them together, starting either at the top or the bottom of the hill depending on the location of existing decks or landings, or where the high water mark of your lake or river is located.
Each section of track is installed with multiple support legs. Our support legs are 1 1/4″ round steel tubing with a 10 foot length. We have a variety of methods available to install the support legs. Our standard method is to drive the support legs into the ground using a demo hammer to a minimum depth of 6 feet. The depth of each support leg being driven into the ground will depend on the soil conditions. In rocky conditions, we can drill holes and bolt the legs directly to the rocks.We can also pour concrete footings when necessary. Each job will determine which method(s) we use.
Each set of support legs is braced by a 1″ round steel tube to stabilize and secure the Lift System. When needed, we also install cross members to additionally stabilize and secure the Lift System. (Lift Systems very near the ground level do not require cross members). Our track is built with a special bar joist support system for extra strength. When the track is completely installed, you will have a very stable and secure Lift System that will not rock, sway, or wiggle as you ride up and down.
On hills of varying angles, we try to keep the track as straight-line as possible, so you don’t get the ‘rollercoaster’ effect. The track does ‘bend’ to follow the ground on gentle slopes. To level the Car, we make sure the angles of the track at the top and bottom of the Lift System are the same, so you have a level platform when you enter and exit (this is not always possible). The Car may ’tilt’ slightly (depending on your hillside) as the angles of the hill change as you go up and down, but it sure beats climbing up that long flight of
To learn more about the possibility of having an incline tram system installed on your property, please visit our Incline Tram System Information Request