Car & Chassis
Drive System
Electrical Control Panel
Track Rail
Landing Platform (by others)
*Sample system shown. Each Hill Hiker® hillside lift system is custom designed and configured.
Hill Hiker® Residential Inclined Elevator System
Forget the hours spent trudging up and down the stairs from the dock, patio, garage, etc. to the house. Hill Hiker® residential hillside elevator lifts and funicular trams provide a convenient way to get your family, friends and supplies safely up and down steep inclines. Hill Hiker, Inc. is here to help every step of the way.
Quality | Safety | Reliability
Hill Hiker, Inc. offers high-quality residential inclined elevator systems to meet whatever your needs may be. We use our years of industry knowledge and experience to help provide our customers with the highest quality, safest and most reliable solutions custom made to meet their specific needs and aesthetic preferences.
Design | Manufacture | Install | Service
Vast Capabilities
Hill Hiker, Inc. has experience working all over the US and much of the World on many different types of projects, for many different types of owners and in many different types of weather climates. Providing access to our customer’s lakes, rivers, ocean waterfront, garages, pools, gardens, homes, cabins, cottages, etc. from Alaska to Australia and Dubai to Hawaii.
With the most capability in the industry we pride ourselves on our ability to serve our customer wherever they are in the world and with over 29 years of experience, Hill Hiker, Inc. is here to guide you every step of the way.
Project Locations
Quality Materials & Components
Hill Hiker, Inc. prides itself on using only high quality, long lasting components. We strive to make our systems the most reliable and well built on the market. We are confident if you ask around and compare our systems, including each individual component, you will find out why we lead the industry.
Here are a few highlights based on a standard residential system:
Drive Unit
- Industrial strength outdoor rated American made gearboxes & motors with integrated brakes
- Solid SS through shafts and grooved drums
Car
- Fully customizable design
- Poly-carbonate walls & ADA non-slip flooring
- Composite wood or ipe Brazilian hardwood trim & seats boards
Electronics
- UL certified & tested control panels
- NEMA 4x outdoor rated enclosures & components
- IP67 weather protection rated & ASME A17.5 elevator approved switches
- VFD for soft start/slow down, etc.
Structure
- Stainless steel, galvanized or powder coat paint finishes
- Superior captured rail track design
- Stainless steel bolts, shafts, springs, etc.
Technical Specifications: Hill Hiker® vs. Other Systems
| Component | Hill Hiker® | Other Guys |
|---|---|---|
| Track Guide Rails | Captured Rail Design (car rides captured inside the track guide rails to prevent escape) | Cart rides on top of track guide rails |
| Track Cross Members | Every 1ft | Every 5ft |
| Support Options | Pin Piles, Concrete Columns, Concrete Slabs, I-beams, Helical Piles, Buried Posts, etc. | Pin Piles |
| Angle of Incline Capability | Up to 70 deg (up to 90 deg depending on local regulation) | Up to 50 deg |
| Gearbox | Double Reduction, Worm to Worm (safer than helical design) - Made in USA | Single Reduction - Made in China |
| Drive Shaft | Solid 2"+ dia. steel shafting through entire gearbox, drum & support bearing | Undersized shafts or unsafe multi-part shaft coupling systems |
| Motor | 5 hp - Made in Italy (options up to 20hp) | 3 hp - Made in China |
| Cable Diameter | 3/8 in min. (14,400 lb breaking strength) | 1/4 in (7,000 lb breaking strength) |
| Frame Material | 100% Steel | Steel / Aluminum |
| Track & Car Hardware | 100% Stainless Steel | Galvanized |
| Car Seating | 2 Bench seats | 1 Bench seat |
| Car Paneling | See-through Polycarbonate | Metal cage |
| Car Flooring | ADA compliant, slip resistant, marine grade fibergrate | Metal or wood |
Note – Comparison is based on observations made over the years and is by no means a complete list.
Note – Comparison is not between only one specific competitor.
Custom Design
Every Hill Hiker® is engineered, manufactured and installed using the highest quality materials & components based on:
Application Type & Local Building Code
- Commercial, Residential, ADA Handicap, etc.
- Requirements vary depending on Country, State/Province and City
Site Terrain & Local Climate
- Length & angle of hillside, access to hillside, soil type, vegetation level, etc.
- Proximity to corrosive salt water, seismic zone, rain, snow, heat, etc.
Motor Drive Type & Capacity Requirments
- Winding drum or continuous loop traction systems
- Size of max load desired, in-cab floor space (square footage)
Aesthetic Preferences & Additional Options
- Car size, design and style, paint color or type of finish
- With the most customizable options on the market we put our clients first
Explore Options
Engineered for Safety
Hill Hiker® Outdoor Hillside Lift & Tram Systems are engineered to meet or exceed the strictest structural building codes and elevator safety standards in North America (ASME A17.1 5.4). With Handicap and ADA approved options.
We pride ourselves on doing things the right way. That means selling a fully engineered product backed by full product liability insurance and years of experience. We have a spotless safety record and always pull the required permits.
Drawings & Specs
A Family Company
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 | Code 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. What they came up with was amazingly simple yet advanced: the first generation Hill Hiker® hillside lift system. Learn more:
About Us
Comparison: Hill Hiker, Inc. vs. Competitors
| Criteria | Hill Hiker, Inc. | Other Guys |
|---|---|---|
| Engineered Design | Follows North American Elevator Safety Code – ASME A17.1 5.1 | Maybe |
| Elevator License | Licensed Supplier and Installer in most of US (use certified partners or dealers in other areas) | Maybe |
| Insurance | Product Liability & Workers Comp | Maybe |
| Manufacturing & Installation | In-House Manufacturing & Factory Installation | Maybe |
| Service | Service Crews, Local Representatives, Factory Phone Support | Maybe |
| Experience | 29 Years of Business with 630+ Projects in 16 Different Countries | No |
Note – Comparison is based on observations made over the years and is by no means a complete list.
Note – Comparison is not between one specific competitor but many.
Hillside Site Solutions
There is a lot that goes into a residential outdoor inclined elevator system from design and planning; to permitting and engineering; to manufacturing and shipping; to installation and inspection; to service and maintenance.
With over 29 years of experience, Hill Hiker, Inc. is here to guide you every step of the way.
Project Process
Featured Projects
