New workshop!

Howdy,

I put 16 panels on my roof, using my tractor and ladder to make a ramp.
I strung a heavy rope over the top of the roof and used my lawn tractor to pull them up the ramp and onto the roof.
No fuss no muss.... A one person operation, 72 years old....



Enjoy.....

At first I though you used the ladder as a long boom to turn your front loader into a crane.

We've see people tilt-up wind towers.
Crossed my mind that a ladder (with guy wires to the side for improved security) could be used to tilt-up delivery of a panel.

I do own a fall-stop now. Haven't set it up yet.
Arthur, do you have one? We want you to still be around after your install.

I started with the ladder in the bucket about waist high. The top of the ladder was the on the gutter, with a moving rug protecting the roof/gutter.
I put the panel (actually 2 panels stacked vertically), on the ladder and attached the climbing rope, which was strung over the roof, to the panel.
I raised the bucket.
Went over to the other side of the building, hopped onto the lawn tractor which had the other end of the rope attached and pulled them up.
Then climbed up another ladder and attached the panels to the roof.
And on and on......
I was going to wait for the weekend for helpers, but they weren't needed

For 1-story, I figure a couple 2x4x14' with cross members added (looks like a ladder), and plywood skid with 2x4 sides to keep it on the rails. Rollers could make it easier, but probably no need especially with rope lifting it off surface of rails. Bungee or similar to keep panel on the plywood.

But my tilt-up ladder idea seems feasible too. Except for dealing with unloading at the top, takes multiple hands unless you secure it against falling back. I think extension ladder supports 2nd story delivery.

I couldn't find a video of anyone using a scissor lift.

This looks cheap and easy

Be aware that panel frames just slip over edge of glass, may be bonded poorly or not at all. Screws in frame corners are the only things holding it together. Lifted by top edge, they try to spring off glass.
If you handle panels in portrait orientation, you can grab by left and right edges, holding them together when lifting.

Once laid on rails (will try to slide off roof), and clamped to rails, that holds frames together.

It can be useful to bolt a stop at bottom of rails (if oriented vertically) to support bottom edge of panel.
For horizontal rails, either need a support below rails to block panel from sliding, or put bolts and nuts through holes in panel frames so they hook on rails.

There are similar examples with panels vertical and that makes more sense to me.

Some people use a cheap HF winch too

Climbing up the ladder 30 times will be some good exercise for this fat old guy

Only 45, maybe 60 pounds to lift.
Rather than a winch, need a helper to do the lower lift so you don't have to run up and down the ladder.

Oh, OK. You had a reason for wanting to climb the ladder 30 times.
I used to climb stairs to 10th floor of a building at Berkeley, just for the exercise.

Have you heard of the "Standard American Diet"?
Industrial agriculture, government/political bedfellows, and unhealthy population of bacteria may be more the reason for our health than "calories" or "exercise"

A boss brought in to run a company where I worked said, "There's a lot of money to be made managing diabetes."

I thought, "That's true ..."
"There's a lot of money to be made managing diabetes."
"There's a bit of money to be made curing diabetes."?
"But there isn't any money at all to be made preventing diabetes."

Companies / Doctors don't have to do anything devious.
They always say to eat right and get exercise.
Nobody listens to that so the doctor has to try to find ways to keep people alive who won't eat right and exercise.