In 1997 Hill Hiker, Inc. set out to engineer the BEST outdoor hillside lift system on the market. To founders Bill and Laurel this meant their system would need to excel in a number of key areas:
Quality | Safety | Reliability | Compliance | Value
To accomplish this goal they employed Bill’s industry knowledge, Laurel’s business savvy and Laurel’s father, Noel Davis, an MIT mechanical engineering graduate and accomplished inventor.
Engineered for Excellence
In the 29 years since 1997 we have never stopped improving our product and growing as a company. Our current commercial Inclined Elevator Trams and residential Hill Hiker® Hillside Lift systems are better than ever blending modern electronics, high quality components and time tested design and fabrication techniques.
Architect & Engineer Downloads
Quick links:
SMALL CARMEDIUM CARLARGE CAREXTRA LARGE CARADA / XXL CARTRACK RAILSPECS
Small Car
Small Car
Standard Small Car Details:
- Frame: 40 3/4 in wide x 55 1/2 in long outer dimension (with single door & not including sill plate)
- Floor: 3 ft x 3 ft interior floor space (not including fixed bench seat)
- Door: 1 sliding door with 19 3/4 in opening, left or right side
- Walls: Open car style – 42 in high walls with curved safety hand railing
- Paneling: Transparent polycarbonate material
- Flooring: ADA compliant, slip resistant, marine grade fibergrate
- Seating: 1 fixed & 1 folding bench seat with composite wood material
Medium Car
Standard Medium Car Details:
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- Frame: 40 3/4 in wide x 67 1/2 in long outer dimension (with single door & not including sill plate)
- Floor: 3 ft x 4 ft interior floor space (not including fixed bench seat)
- Door: 1 sliding door with 31 3/4 in opening, left or right side
- Walls: Open car style – 42 in high walls with curved safety hand railing
- Paneling: Transparent polycarbonate material
- Flooring: ADA compliant, slip resistant, marine grade fibergrate
- Seating: 1 fixed & 1 folding bench seat with composite wood material
Large Car
Standard Large Car Details:
- Frame: 52 3/4 in wide x 67 1/2 in long outer dimension (with single door & not including sill plate)
- Floor: 4 ft x 4 ft interior floor space (not including fixed bench seat)
- Door: 1 sliding door with 31 3/4 in opening, left or right side
- Walls: Open car style – 42 in high walls with curved safety hand railing
- Paneling: Transparent polycarbonate material
- Flooring: ADA compliant, slip resistant, marine grade fibergrate
- Seating: 1 fixed & 1 folding bench seat with composite wood material
Extra Large Car
Standard Extra Large Car Details:
- Frame: 52 3/4 in wide x 79 1/2 in long outer dimension (with single door & not including sill plate)
- Floor: 4 ft x 5 ft interior floor space (not including fixed bench seat)
- Door: 1 sliding door with 36 in opening, left or right side
- Walls: Open car style – 42 in high walls with curved safety hand railing
- Paneling: Transparent polycarbonate material
- Flooring: ADA compliant, slip resistant, marine grade fibergrate
- Seating: 1 fixed & 1 folding bench seat with composite wood material
ADA / XXL Car
Standard ADA / XXL Large Car Details:
- Frame: 64 3/4 in wide x 79 1/2 in long outer dimension (with single door & not including sill plate)
- Floor: 5 ft x 5 ft interior floor space (not including fixed bench seat)
- Door: 1 sliding door with 36 in opening, left or right side
- Compliance: ADA / Wheelchair
- Walls: Open car style – 42 in high walls with curved safety hand railing
- Paneling: Transparent polycarbonate material
- Flooring: ADA compliant, slip resistant, marine grade fibergrate
- Seating: 1 fixed & 1 folding bench seat with composite wood material
3ft Track
Standard Track Details:
- Design: C-channel captured safety guide rail system
- Components: Cross rungs welded 12 in on-center w/ attachment couplers
- Mounting Hardware: Stainless Steel button head bolts and nylock nuts
- Dimensions: 3 ft wide by 10 ft long sections
CSI Specification
Specifications Details:
- CSI 3-part & Canadian CSC Architectural Spec
- Standard Hill Hiker® systems and options covered
- PDF and Word files available for download
General Specs & Features Overview
Specifications
- Motor Control: Variable speed soft start/soft stop electric motor control package for smooth, quiet operation
- Track Systems: Enclosed-rail designs in residential and commercial sizes
- Motor Sizes: 3 HP to 20 HP, depending on application
- Gear Reducers: Heavy-duty, industrial gear boxes
- Car Configurations: Standard and custom options, including fully enclosed, two-sided entry and handicap accessible
- Material Options: High grade standard steel, marine-grade aluminum or stainless steel
- Finishes: Environmentally friendly industrial powder coating in a wide choice of colors
- Safety: Fully engineered to meet or exceed all national A.S.M.E. (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) incline elevator safety codes
Standard Features
- High-grade materials and components provide for durable, trouble-free operation
- Versatile material options including high-performance metals designed to withstand harsh environmental conditions
- Underwriters Laboratory (U.L.) listed motor and electronics control package
- Certified and licensed Hill Hiker® technicians perform installations
- Many safety systems including multiple independent braking systems
- On-board controls for each direction, stop location and emergency stop
- Optional capacities from 600-4100 lbs
- Variety of lengths available ranging from 30 feet to over 500 feet, depending on grade
- Security control keyed push buttons at both top and bottom
- Wireless on-board control systems use 900 MHZ digital spread spectrum
Optional Features
- ADA handicap and wheelchair accessible car configurations
- Multiple stops at intermediate landing locations
- Keyless security control entry system
- Canopy – customizable roofing styles and material options
- Enclosed car design – customizable styles and designs
- Seating options – fully customizable styles and designs
- Mechanical/electrical interlocks on fixed landing gates and car doors
- Exit/entry from both sides of the car
- Car door safeties – car gate automatic shut off system or lock system
- Double cable drives for added safety and commercial application requirements
- Curve linear – curved rail design is possible depending on terrain
More Info
More Information Available:
- Full Hill Hiker® Hillside Elevator system general drawings
- More car sizes, fully enclosed cars and custom cars
- Upgrade options, add-ons and custom design
- General supports and foundation drawings
- General loads and structural information
- Full custom 3D BIM (Revit) drawings and engineering including structural approvals and stamps in all 50 states and Canada available through our partner when under contract
Frequently Asked Questions
Architect, Engineer & Contractor Questions
Yes, we work with a local 200+ man engineering firm here in Minneapolis, Minnesota that can approve our elevator system as well as the support structure in all 50 states and 9 Canadian provinces. If you would like to learn a bit more about some of the different support types we work with take a look at our Options & Features page. For even more information, please give us a call at 952-476-2422.
Yes, we have a CSI 3-part and Canadian CSC architectural specification. To download our spec sheet see our Engineering & Specs page. For more specific info such as electrical or landing platform requirements, give us a call at 952-476-2422.
– Hill Hiker, Inc. – to manufacture the elevator lift
– Hill Hiker, Inc. or Hill Hiker, Inc. dealer / partner – to install the elevator lift
– Electrician – to provide power to the elevator lift
– Carpenter – to install landing station platforms after the elevator lift installation
– Concrete Contractor – may be needed depending on type of system selected for support foundation
– General Laborers – may be needed depending on contract terms to assist during the elevator lift install
– Crane, backhoe or skid steer and operator – may be needed depending on project site and contract terms for moving heavy components
Yes, we have several instructional handout documents to help guide contractors with foundation layout, landing platform design and electrical disconnect sizing.
Yes. We can visit the site to go over things. Every project is unique and some will require many site visits prior to installation while others will not require any sales or pre-construction visits. Depending on the location of your site we may ask for reimbursement for travel expenses. Generally we recommend:
An initial consultation on site with the owner present to determine the rough location of the Hill Hiker®, take measurements, determine the type of system required, answer any questions and discuss what to expect prior to or just after signing the contract.
Another site visit before construction on site is scheduled to start with all contractors and an owner’s representative present to layout the final location, share instructional documents, discuss order of operations and answer any questions.
The number and types of permits required completely depend on the project location. In some regions, no permits are required at all, and in others, you may need permits from the state level all the way to the city and even neighborhood.
Potential permit types:
– State/City Elevator Permit – for the safety of the elevator, based on ASME A17.1 5.1 or 5.4, pulled by Hill Hiker, inc. or Hill Hiker, Inc. Dealer.
– Local Building Permit – for elevator structure, pulled by local contractor, Hill Hiker, Inc. or Hill Hiker, Inc. Dealer.
– Electrical Permit – for electrical to the elevator, pulled by local licensed electrician.
– Specialty Permits – DNR, local waterways regulating agencies, Army Corp of Engineers, Hydro Power Companies, etc.
– Neighborhood Approvals – some communities require their own building approvals.
We have successfully installed our inclined elevator systems in some of the strictest places to work across the country including the City of Los Angeles and the State of Michigan. We have the first ever commercial or residential permitted inclined elevators in many States like Wisconsin, Maryland and Georgia. We have worked with organizations like the Smithsonian Institute, TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority), PGE (Pacific Gas & Electric), Thyssenkrupp and Louis Dreyfus Company.
Bottom Line: Hill Hiker, Inc. is well versed in these matters and has the experience and knowledge, not to mention the licenses and code compliant product, to get your project through the permit process.
Yes, we are licensed or will work with local partners that are licensed.
Yes, we carry full product liability and workers comp insurance.
We can be bonded if it is necessary for the project.
All our drawings are done in Revit, a leading BIM software program in the construction industry. Drawings can be exported in many different file types. See our Engineering & Specs page for more details and CAD downloads or call 952-476-2422 for more specific info.
Yes, for many residential projects, general system drawings, that are not site specific, are adequate to receive the necessary permits and to use for construction layout. By using general drawings, time and money can be saved on surveying and drafting.
If full engineering including stamped structural plans are needed, we work with a local engineering firm that is approved in all 50 states.
If you are an engineer trying to size a support structure and need the Hill Hiker® live and dead loads, please give us a call at 952-476-2422 or contact us here. The load figures vary depending on the specific car and chassis size, system type and angle of incline.
