“These homes that we’ve been moving with this method average seven, eight feet in elevation,” Hungerford said. “These would take way more time with a crane, taking into account the setup, delivery, and the footprint of the crane itself.”

The Phoenix Lift, which GH Lifts worked on in conjunction with Alabama-based Trans Lift, enables Hungerford and his team to move two single-section homes in one day, far faster than previous methods. The Phoenix Lift is added onto a Trans Lift unit to achieve this. Hungerford’s engineering and transportation history led to the design of the Phoenix Lift, while Andy Hill of Trans Lift handles new sales of the mover.

“The biggest positive of using this lift is the time saved versus, say, bringing in a crane,” Hill said. “This house lifting system is very precise, and very safe.

According to Hungerford, setting a home into place using this method can take mere minutes, compared to hours using a jack-lift.

The two pillars of this new innovation that Hungerford and Hill both emphasize above all else are precision and safety.

Hungerford first tested the Phoenix Lift on his ranch in Texas with a fully furnished multi-section home. He said the home was sited with enough precision so that not even the front porch had to be re-adjusted.

The increased safety of using the Phoenix Lift over a crane or jack-lift is significant as well. By keeping workers from being under a home that’s several feet above the ground, movers can more easily do their job, often at a faster pace that doesn’t compromise workplace safety.

Implementing a new mover like this one into communities keeps community operators from having to wait on orders for home transport equipment and avoids empty lots due to restrictive zoning laws that keep cranes from being able to move homes in some areas, Hungerford said.