HF pickup truck crane.

[CTyankee]

Had a 25% off coupon to burn today so I got this for about 72 bucks.

https://www.harborfreight.com/12-ton-capacity-pickup-truck-crane-60732.html

My plan is to attach it to my utility trailer for loading non-rolling stuff. Probably nothing more than 200 pounds. Anyone have one....or can foresee any problems I might have in trying to do so?

 

[plinker]

Install a couple of trailer jacks to the rear of the trailer (assuming you install it there) to stabilize the trailer or take a pair of jack stands with to do the same thing.

 

[metalhead212121]

+1 on what plinker said.

^^^ I watched this video and was sold on it... Went to HF about a year ago and just didnt feel comfortable spending the money on.... just looked cheaply made. (Gut feeling). Please keep us updated on how you make out with it.

For the record YES I have a HF Engine hoist... Ive used it more times than I an count. YES its works.. The wheels on it ****... anybody have suggestions for new ones? The holes to put it together do NOT line up perfectly... PITA to put together.... I used different hardware and a different hook than what they supplied. Yeah.. I didnt pay much for it... so I got my money's worth...

Again.. just didnt feel comfortable buying the truck crane.

EDIT- I should also note that doing a quick google search of similar models at 2 to 4 times the price of HF models leaves me wondering if spending more will get me a "better" model.

 

[59 wagon man]

i had the short one yo show and returned it for a similar one they have but the barrel is about 3 ft high and it has a hand crank winch on it. i replaced that with a 2500 lb remote control winch from hf and bolted it into the back of my truck. ill grab a few pics of it tomorrow

 

[oldtractors]

I had one on a trailer and it really wasn't that handy for me. I think I used it once in 10 years. I even had to replace the hydraulic jack because the road salt caused it to quit working.

 

[CTyankee]

Install a couple of trailer jacks to the rear of the trailer (assuming you install it there) to stabilize the trailer or take a pair of jack stands with to do the same thing.

I figured I'd probably need to do something along the line you mentioned.

+1 on what plinker said.

^^^ I watched this video and was sold on it... Went to HF about a year ago and just didnt feel comfortable spending the money on.... just looked cheaply made. (Gut feeling). Please keep us updated on how you make out with it.


Again.. just didn't feel comfortable buying the truck crane.

Will do..and thanks for the video. After watching it, while the jack seems to do the job, mounting a winch would definitely be a great improvement.

i had the short one yo show and returned it for a similar one they have but the barrel is about 3 ft high and it has a hand crank winch on it. i replaced that with a 2500 lb remote control winch from hf and bolted it into the back of my truck. ill grab a few pics of it tomorrow

I was debating between to 2..but didn't think I'd use it enough to justify the cost. If I had a pickup, I'd have gone that route. I already bought one of those ATV winches I'm planning to mount on the front for loading rolling equipment. Maybe I could figure out a pulley system so I could use it for both. Would like to see some pics if you get a chance.

I had one on a trailer and it really wasn't that handy for me. I think I used it once in 10 years. I even had to replace the hydraulic jack because the road salt caused it to quit working.

My feeling is it probably won't get a heck of a lot of use either....but I'm usually always working alone, and I can think of a few times when it would have been a big help. My trailer doesn't see a ton of road time and only under decent conditions. Hopefully I won't have an issue like that...hopefully.

 

[driftpin]

I used a different model, more heavy-duty, and a HFT electric winch, both rated at 2,000 lbs to serve as a shop hoist.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=348003&highlight=hft+winch

I took the hoist to my machinist and had him add a tapered roller bearing to the vertical pivoting shaft and foot. This removed a great deal of 'slop,' and made me feel much-more secure about using it in the fashion I ended-up with in my shop. I have a friend who is a P.E., and I had him help me in the design phase of the lift and its mounting. I gave him my tentative plan, and he made me some suggestions which I incorporated into the design. I'll never be lifting anything remotely-close to the limits of the hoist or the winch. You could do the same design in a truck, but you would need to give yourself space for the winch mount, when it swings. Another advantage would be that you can remove the upper boom/winch as a unit, leaving the lower pipe mount, and just put a cap over it, when you don't need it. Of course, you would need to install a 12 V DC winch in place of the 120 V AC winch my shop hoist uses.

There is a design for a hoist that folds-into its own bumper, for full-size trucks. Not cheap, but handy, if you need to lift heavy things on occasion.

 

[metalhead212121]

any update CTyankee??

 

[Ign]

I was never a fan of that style. Just doesn't make sense to me, as you go up you risk binding on your load as the angle of the boom increases severely.

I do, however, like the better style with the hand winch. Those are incredibly useful, I've loaded fully dressed 14 bolts with those before without breaking a sweat.