Frequently Asked Questions

In short, not much. In the National Elevator Code, they’re called “inclined elevators,” but many use terms like lifts, trams, funiculars, outdoor elevators and others interchangeably. They’re all synonyms for describing the same thing. It really only varies by the person you talk to and the region they’re from. There’s no right or wrong way to describe a Hill Hiker®.
In fact, we hear many different terms for these systems when our customers search for us. They include things like hill climber elevator, outdoor lift, outdoor tram, outdoor elevator, lakeside lift, lakeside elevator, lakeshore tram, high bank lift, waterfront elevator, beach elevator, exterior lift, inclined elevator, incline tram, cottage lift, hillside trolley, commercial hill lift, hillside home elevator, custom hill elevator, etc.

Hill Hiker’s® are outdoor, cable-driven, inclined elevators with permanent rails/tracks and a wheeled cart with seats for riders. They’re powered by electric motors with heavy duty gearboxes and either winding drums or traction pulleys that move the cable, letting the cart up and down the rails or track.
Much like a traditional elevators, there are push buttons at each landing station and onboard the car for users to control the system. For more general info, check out one of our product pages: Residential Systems or Commercial Systems.

On average, our outdoor inclined elevators go around 60 ft/min. Depending on application type and location, this can vary.

Hill Hiker® Inclined Elevator systems are designed to operate at an ambient noise level that is unobtrusive to the surrounding environment (arounds 60 decibels, which is about the same level as a normal conversation or background music). That being said, the noise level of the system varies based on factors such as the size and type of drive system as well as the distance from the system.
Distance From Drive System – Noise Level
2ft – 63dB
5ft – 55dB
10ft – 49dB
15ft – 45.5dB
20ft – 43dB
25ft – 41dB
30ft – 39.5dB
NOTES:
Max decibel readings shown based on a residential 5hp WD drive system.
Max readings occur during the short startup period when the elevator begins to move.
Noise figures are general and may vary.
Many factors such as motor housings, insulation, landscaping, foundation types, etc. can further reduce max noise levels.

We design each of our systems to have a minimal impact on their surrounding environment. This involves using clean, electric motors and energy-efficient, variable frequency drive controllers. In some cases, we even use alternative energy sources like solar to power the onboard controls or the whole system. In general, inclined elevators / funiculars have a far smaller footprint and less impact on the earth then alternatives such as stairs or paths. In comparison, our funiculars disturb far less soil and allow for vegetation to grow under and around the tracks unlike stairs or paths.

All Hill Hiker® systems come standard with keyed security to lock the controls and prevent unauthorized use whether from children, nosy neighbors or worse.
If you don’t want to worry about dealing with keys, upgrade to our keyless keypad controls. Simply create your own keycode or use the corresponding key fobs to unlock the controls.

This depends on the size of the car,  drive system, local code requirements and whether it is rated for residential or commercial use. The following are based on the national elevator code (ASME A17.1 -2016) guidelines:
– Small Car (3×3): 435 lbs residential, 804 lbs commercial
– Medium Car (3×4): 867 lbs residential, 1054 lbs commercial
– Large Car (4×4): 1156 lbs residential, 1462 lbs commercial
– XL Car (4×5): 1406 lbs residential, 1838 lbs commercial
– XXL/ADA Car (5×5): 1758 lbs residential, 2404 lbs commercial
– HD Car (5×6): Call us to determine
– HDX Car (5×7): Call us to determine
– HDXL Car (5×8): Call us to determine
Depending on local regulations and design of the car and drive system, higher or lower capacities can be achieved. Final capacities will be listed on the proposal/quote and manual.
Hill Hiker® by far offers the largest range of car sizes and capacity ratings on the market.

There is not necessarily a limit in terms of length of travel. It all depends on the site conditions, capacity requirements and type of drive system being used. Our longest lift to date travels 505ft in the tropical rainforest of Belize.

Hill Hiker® lifts can be installed on anything from gentle, rolling hills to vertical cliffs. For example, check out the image below featuring an 80 degrees incline in St. Thomas, USVI.

It can be. Our team is well-versed with ADA standards, and we’ve built many ADA approved and non-ADA approved handicap accessible lifts in the past. With handicap accessible lifts, it’s extra important to have well-designed landing platforms and ramping, if needed, in addition to the design and function of the elevator car itself.
Two great car options:
– Our XL car has a 4 ft by 5 ft interior floor space and comes with a 36 in wide door which works well for most wheelchairs.
– Our XXL/ADA car has a 5 ft by 5 ft interior floor space and 36 in wide door that meets the technical square footage requirements of ADA.

Regular maintenance is critical for safety and longevity. A hillside tram is a piece of heavy machinery that requires regular maintenance just like a car or a boat, but unlike a car or a boat that you can park in a garage, your tram lives outdoors 24/7. Because it is constantly exposed to the elements year-round, regular maintenance is critical to keep it running safely and reliably.

For residential systems in standard environments, we recommend a full routine maintenance check every 12 months by a professional elevator mechanic. For commercial systems or residential properties in harsh environments (such as coastal or tropical areas), we recommend a full service check every 3 months. We also recommend all owners perform a quick visual safety check before each use.

A professional check should include a full inspection and test of the electronics, structure, hoist rope, and safety systems, along with the lubrication of all bearings, grease zerks, the hoist rope and the replacement of wireless batteries.

Hill Hiker, Inc. has traveling factory service crews and also works with many local dealers and partners to provide service depending on your location. Check out our Service page to learn more.

Yes. Some individuals choose to DIY or go with unproven low bidders that don’t follow the national elevator safety code, pull permits, use quality components or even have basic things like product liability insurance, warranties and customer service. Unfortunately there can be severe consequences for choosing this route including serious injury and litigation. Like vertical elevators, these systems can be dangerous if improperly engineered and installed. In fact, the consequences for flaws are even greater as these systems endure more stress over their lifetime due to their exposure to the elements.
Hill Hiker® Hillside Elevators systems are all designed to meet or exceed the National Elevator Code: ASME A17.1 5.1 or 5.4. We pull the necessary permits and are fully licensed and insured. You can trust that our largely American-made components and in-house fabrication will outlast the competition. After 20+ years, we’ve worked with everything from Fortune 500 companies to government organizations to small residential projects gaining invaluable experience in this unique market. We’re experts and will be there for you from the quote to long after the installation.

Yes. Our customers have reported an uptick in their properties’ value. The amount depends on the market and location. We get many calls from realtors, developers and homeowners that can’t sell their properties without first installing a solution like the Hill Hiker®.

Here are a few of the primary things that help us get a fast and accurate quote:

• Length of travel (What is the distance from where you want to get on at the top of the hill to where you want to get off at the bottom? If you currently have stairs how many are there? At least a guess is helpful)
• Angle of incline (How steep is the hill? Can you walk it without climbing gear or is it closer to a cliff?)
• Capacity (How many people do you want to move? How big of a cart do you need?)
• Soil type (What is the dirt like on the hillside? Is there a lot of rock, sand, clay, etc.?)
• Application type (Is the lift for residential, commercial or industrial use? Does the lift need to be ADA handicap accessible?)
• Location (Where is the project site located in the world?)

For a deeper dive into how these factors influence your final price, check out our comprehensive Hillside Tram Cost & Pricing Guide.

Have these details ready? Contact us today to request your free quote!

There are many factors that affect price including:

• Application Type: Commercial, Residential, Industrial, Municipal, ADA Handicap, etc.
• Local Building Code: Requirements vary depending on State/Province, County and City
• Site Terrain: Length & angle of hillside, access to hillside, soil type, vegetation level, etc.
• System Type & Finish: Winding drum or continuous loop traction drive systems, galvanized, painted or stainless steel finishes
• Capacity Requirements: Size of max load desired, in-cab floor space (square footage)
• Aesthetic Preferences: Car size, design and style, paint color or type of finish
• Additional Options: Extra safety features, roof, cooler carrier, keyless security, etc.

For a more detailed breakdown of how each of these variables impacts your final price, read our complete Hillside Tram Cost & Pricing Guide.

Ready to discuss the specifics of your property? Contact us today to request your free custom estimate!

Every Hill Hiker® is engineered, manufactured and installed using the highest quality materials, components and workmanship to meet each customer’s unique needs and desires. Because each system is custom designed, pricing varies and each system needs to be quoted individually.

Pricing can generally be provided after a short phone consultation or site visit. For a detailed look at the specific variables that influence the final price, read our Hillside Tram Cost & Pricing Guide.

Ready to get an estimate for your property? Contact us today to schedule your free consultation!

Getting a custom quote is easy! Give us a call at 952-476-2422 or fill out our online contact form. Our team will reach out to discuss your specific property, answer your questions, and provide a free initial estimate.

Most likely, yes. We are truly a small, family company serving the world. From hard to reach places like a remote island with 40 foot tides to urban environments, our team can bring our systems to your country or state.  

Here’s a map detailing our past and present projects. Don’t see your area on the map? Don’t fret. Our team is always looking to expand to new places.

In the market for a residential system in the US? Check out our comprehensive table outlining residential inclined elevator permitting, licensing, and installation requirements across all 50 states.

If your project is in North America, Central America, The Caribbean, Australia or New Zealand, we already have experience and units installed in your area. If your project is in the EU, we are currently in the process of obtaining the necessary CE product certification marks to begin offering our funicular trams and lifts in your area. If you’re anywhere else in the World, let’s talk, we would love to learn more about your project and see what we can do for you.

Hill Hiker®’s portion of the install takes about 1-2 week for most projects.
Project Phases:
– Pre-construction: design, engineering, permitting, planning
– Manufacturing: ordering, fabrication, material finish, assembly, QC, shipping
– Installation: clearing, foundation, system install, landings, inspection, close out
The entire project duration from start (down payment) to finish (inspection) can vary greatly and depends on many factors such as the complexity of the system, material ordering lead times, the level of engineering, permitting and inspection needed, the foundation and landings type, shipping, etc. Because many of these tasks are out of Hill Hiker®’s control, it can be very hard to give accurate and complete timelines. If you want to learn more about the project process, check out our Manufacturing and Installation Process page or contact us.

Yes! We work with a network of full dealers and regional partners who assist with everything from sales to installation and service.

Factory & Dealer Installs & Open Project Locations as of Jan 2026

If we don’t currently have a partner in your specific area, don’t worry—our certified factory crews travel to install systems across North America and beyond.

For residential projects in the US, check out our state-by-state permitting and installation guide to see exactly who handles installations in your state.

Interested in joining our network? Contact us here to become a partner or dealer.

Hill Hiker® Hillside Elevators come standard with over 25 different individual safety features and design components. Some of the most important include:
– Emergency stop button – on car and at each station
– Slack cable safety brake – in the event of a cut cable
– Speed governor with integrated safety brake – to prevent the car from traveling too fast
– Captured rail design – to prevent the lift from going off the tracks
– Car door and gate stop switches – to prevent the lift from operating if any doors are open
– Electromagnetic motor brake – for normal braking and stops
– Keyed or keyless security – to prevent unsupervised use
– Low voltage controls – to lower potential shock hazard
– ADA non-slip grate flooring – to minimize slip hazards
– Final terminal switches – in the event of over travel
– UL listed electronics – every system is individually tested and approved by an independent UL licensed panel shop
Learn more on our options or specifications pages.

No. This won’t ever happen with our unique captured rail designed track. Featuring C-channel guide rails, our track holds the car and chassis captured inside of its rails. If you could spin the rail upside down the car would still not fall out of the tracks.

In the extremely rare case that a cable were to break our mechanical slack cable brakes located on the chassis would immediately engage the rails and bring the car to an instantaneous stop.
For reference, Hill Hiker, Inc. uses a minimum of 3/8th in. dia. galvanized aircraft cable on our standard systems which is rated to 14,400 lbs of breaking strength. This is thicker and stronger than what most of our competitors use.

Very safe. From the very start of our company, we’ve designed our systems with safety as the most important priority. With more than 25 standard safety features and over 10 optional safety features, and years of R&D and improvements, we are proud of our safety record with hundreds of systems installed.

Inclined elevators are a heavily regulated industry with strict safety standards and codes but that doesn’t mean all systems are created equal. Many competitors and one-off installers bootleg their products in without ever having licenses, insurance or even looking at the code or pulling permits.

You can rest easy knowing Hill Hiker® builds each of our systems to meet or exceed the highest national elevator safety standards as outlined in ASME A17.1 5.1 for commercial systems and 5.4 for residential systems. We will pull the necessary permits and pass the necessary inspections. Many times this includes performing full load break-away testing among other tests to pass rigorous state inspections.

Hill Hiker, Inc. as a company, our lead factory technicians and/or our local partners hold their elevator contractor and master elevator mechanic licenses wherever required. Check out our 50-state permitting and licensing guide to see exactly who pulls the permits, holds the licenses and handles the installation in your state. Hill Hiker, Inc. also has full product liability insurance and a 29+ years of experience to backup all our systems.

NOTE – Like with any heavy piece of machinery (for example: an automobile) regular maintenance and inspection is critical to ensure safety. Our systems are outdoors in the elements 24/7 – 365. Over time this exposure will cause normal wear and tear and the only way to ensure safety is to have routine maintenance and safety inspections by authorized and trained individuals. We recommend all systems have at least one maintenance / safety inception a year. For more information please see your owners manual or contact our service department.