Pickup truck crane / hoists

[venturesomerite]

I have a modified HF one on my bumper, it is actually the small non winch model, but I made it taller, and welded a winch onto it basically making it the winch model. When I bought it I had a pick up bed so when I put my utility body on it, I modified it to suit my needs. I'll grab some pictures of it tomorrow.


Found some pics of my olf set up. This is the HF crane with 8 1/2" bolts to a steel plate, with gussets to a plate that sandwich bolted to the chassis against another 1/2" plate. It still flexed the bed some. What was nice about where I mounted it is that it tucked right under my bedside box and wasn't at all in the way. The brace utilized existing bolt holes in the chassis, and went through to another plate drilled to match, so that chassis in sandwiched in between.

OLD SET UP






Here is the best picture I have of how I connected it to the frame:





NEW SET UP - same crane, just modified.


Everywhere it bolts to something there is a 3/8" plate behind it.













And it goes a lot higher too, Not fully extended in pic






I have a sling that I use to get my loaded job box you see in the bed in and out all by myself, very handy and easy. Job box has casters so I just roll it back and hook it up.




And this is how I store it when not using. The top lids to the boxes can still be opened, but not fully so you have to hold them open on the crane side. I just keep cords and misc in that box so I'm not in it too much anyways.

 

[Riverside]

I mentioned something recently on another thread about pick up cranes/lifts involving an a-frame set up possibly using the rear stake pockets.

If you want to use it to lift things into your truck bed, you might consider using longer poles, mounting it in the middle or FRONT stake pockets, then figuring out a way to mount the winch further forward. That way you would have less concerns about clearance and you wouldn't have to raise the frame as close to vertical (which could be dangerous if something shifted unexpectedly).

 

[Sureshot]

I'm not following that. I plan on mounting the winch forward in the truck bed if only temporary. I was wondering about using that same line to lift and stand the frame. But I haven't figured it out.

Look at the pics of the oilfield gin poles.

http://www.fastline.com/v100/Bramco...ail-02d69c66-7b4e-4e69-afc2-472efd2319ed.aspx

If you have the ****** block back like that all you do is tighten the winch and they will stand. Best to use a clevis or something for the tie back line so it can't come unhooked. We used to have a hook setup on each pole so you could tie them to the back bumper in the upright position so you could swing a load on the deck or drive with them up carrying stuff. If you make the tie back line adjustable length you can have the poles from vertical to leaning way back. When vertical it is easy to push the load on the deck and set down the winch. The use of the snatchblock will also help keep the load on the poles more in compression.

I also think to go from the front of the box directly over top would put you in a funny situation if the load swings forward it could lay the poles down and you can't do that no matter how heavy the load. I promise

To lay the poles down you stand to the side and pull sideways on the tie back line as you loosen the winch line and over they come.

Someday this will be you

Some good pole action here and in a couple spots you see the setup.

After watching those you will likely want to leave Cali and go play on the big trucks in the mud.

 

[Zeke]

Seems to be 2 schools of thought on how to run the primary line. For my simple and light duty purposes I will run it straight over the top. But you're right I can see some potential dangers. I think I'll mock one up out of wood and see what kind of trouble I can get into lifting something like a wheel barrow. That will make me think about slings and such.

 

[sparky7]

i bent the frame of my truck with the harborfreight crane... like an idiot i tried to lift too much weight with a receiver mount made of 2x2 solid stock welded to a half inch plate with the crane bolted to it.

I think the setup would have worked fine if i had just used a couple of blocks under the receiver mount with a jackstand supporting the bottom of the crane. So that the receiver is just steadying the whole setup instead of taking all the weight.

 

[Mbrule]

venturesomerite

Did your "old set up" work OK?

In the picture you have an engine and stand lifted, would you have been able to lift it high enough and pivoted the engine and stand into the truck be?????

thanks for your advice and experience!

 

[venturesomerite]

venturesomerite

Did your "old set up" work OK?

In the picture you have an engine and stand lifted, would you have been able to lift it high enough and pivoted the engine and stand into the truck be?????

thanks for your advice and experience!

That picture was taken BEFORE I made the brace, so after noting the significant (as in afraid to lift any higher) bend/flex in the bed, I decided to build a brace.

I added a picture of the brace to my original post.

It did work ok, but I wouldn't do it again, even with the brace I built (described above) It still flexed noticably. If I were to do it again, I would have added another crossmember to tie the frame rails together, or maybe a drop down foot.

As for height, yes it would have gone in the bed, but it would be a little work (since there is no winch to give or take slack as needed). It was easier use this if you removed the tailgate, or atleast undid the straps and let the tailgate go down more. You might be able to get around this by mounting it further back than I did.

For what it's worth, the winch is totally worth the extra money. As I said, I had one so I just modified the crane with a plate to accept the winch. The other crane's big draw back from my experience is that once you got it up and in the bed, you wanted slack to slide/roll the load in then unhook.

 

[MoparTruck85]

I'm in the planning/material gathering stage of building one that will be somewhere between the HF crane and an Autocrane or similar like what you see on service trucks. I'll post some pics when I begin fabrication.

 

[hot rod 91174]

does anyone know, or have seen a way to put a crank system on these type of truck cranes to rotate them with? a lot of times I am picking something up and almost never on level ground, so gravity seems to take over and the object being picked up swings w/gravity and makes it hard to control! also maybe have some sort of a brake tied in w/it to stop the swing if needed, say to keep from slamming into the trucks bed, lol, something I have been contemplating, but unsure how or what to use to make that work on my crane. btw, my crane is similar to the HF model, but a lil stouter, kinda looks like a mini engine hoist.

 

[big.jim]

google harvey frost winches for some ideas , i dont know if they are available in usa but try e bay too

 

[hot rod 91174]

bump

 

[Lelyar]

I apologize for the intervention...it's only my thoughts...
I built one like this Rage Powersports model http://huntingfishingplus.com/best-deer-hoist/ (the picture below) I used a 2x2 square tube that fit into the hold and leaned out the back door. Then I came up with 2" round pipe about 3 feet. I launched the bolt 1 foot below the top and finished the rest of the upper part with a with 1.5" pipe. I installed a boat winch on this part and a pair of pulleys to keep the cable/rope from binding. With this setup, I can skin myself away from the pole or swing into a truck. When not in use, it moves apart to keep it easy.

I built a similar one for my woodcutter, and with the best advice, I can give it's to make it higher than you think you need.

 

[Hdonly0]

Not on a truck, but I built this one on the back of my tractor.

 

[kbs2244]

Things I have seen

For those thinking of a hitch mount,
Think of a trailer jack for support.

Also think of putting the crane over at the right end of the bumper so you can pull up alongside the load , swing the crane over to grab the load, and then swing it into the bed.

That is a 270 degree swing so your wires an cables need that kind of room.

 

[driftpin]

Not attached to a vehicle but used to lift items into my 2-car garage loft. It's powered by a 120 V winch, I designed to fit the jib crane swiveling tower which holds the boom.The base is stationary. Both the jib crane and the winch are rated at 2,000 lbs, but I have no plans to lift half-that.

My friend who is a 40-year plus P.E. reviewed my plans for the design. He said as-long as I keep the loads at the ratings of the equipment, I should have no issues. The loft was designed by a P.E. who sealed the plans, and the build met all inspections.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=348003&highlight=jib

 

[86turbodsl]

fwiw, reworked it to move the foot away from the vehicle to reduce twist

Wow, i built almost the same thing as this, without ever seeing yours. It works, but setup is a pita. I only use it a few times a year to recover waste oil from my supplier. He's happy he doesn't have to help.

 

[Majordisorder]

Modified Harbor Freight Pick up bed jib, 2500# ATV winch/remote, and power supply/jumper box. The supplied base was cut off the jib crane and welded to 3" pipe. The 3" mast quickly mounts down through a bracket in the bed and into a receiver that sits on top of my frame mounted receiver hitch. Sets up in less than 2 minutes. The jumper box simply hangs with a bungee strap.

 

[82elky]

I’m needing a crane on my long bed f250 to be able to load engines. I’d like some feedback how well these bed mouned cranes work for that. Almost all of them are a bit on the short side, which I suspect will cause issues with clearing the tailgate. Of course, the tailgate can be removed or I could be carrying a regular cherry picker, but the whole point of having a bed mounted crane is to be able to quickly and easily load the truck.
I plan to tie the crane to the frame of the truck with multiple plates, not just bolt it to the bed. It needs to be on the back corner, leaving enough room for a sheet of plywood.
Most loads will be in the 300-600 lb range, but I think a fully dressed rv big block with a transmission, cast iron intake, ac compressor etc could be close to a 1000 lb. Something like that might need a bit help from a second lift, that’s hopefully available.

This 2000 lb crane seems to be the best choice for me, but the length concerns me.
https://m.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200672545_200672545

The hitch mounted cranes might work too, but they need setting up and have the short boom lengths.
Another concern is the back of the truck squatting, and the crane being tough to swing around. I don’t want to beat up the outside of the truck bed.
So, any feedback on my type of use? Or should I just carry a cherry picker?

 

[cvairwerks]

Cherry picker would be way better. Takes me less than 2 minutes to break down and load mine in the bed of the truck and only about 30 seconds to load on the trailer.

If you were doing this often, it would be worth investing the time and money to install an overhead rail.

 

[firebirdparts]

I’m needing a crane on my long bed f250 to be able to load engines. I’d like some feedback how well these bed mouned cranes work for that. Almost all of them are a bit on the short side, which I suspect will cause issues with clearing the tailgate.

I don't use one, but the first thing in my head on the "old setup" picture is that I would remove the tailgate if I was going to load an engine. The crane would be short enough to swing inside the bed.

You can "boom up" to shorten the reach, so it's fine either way if you don't mind using human power to do either one.

 

[Daedalus]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008CE0WCW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Kind of gimicky. I bought 1 but haven't used it yet. 1 aspect is it's actually offset from the bed, so you can make use of a longer arm to reach into the bed a bit. Plus, you're not dumping a bunch of bending loads over a small footprint bolted to the truck somewhere. It breaks down into a number of parts. Total weight is pretty heavy, but the breakdown makes it manageable. I expect it'll work in a pinch, but might be more of a last resort kind of tool. Look for a sale if you want 1; I wouldn't pay the $280 they're asking for it now.

 

[82elky]

As much as I want to have a truck mounted crane, I’m starting to think the cherry picker is the most sensible solution. I like the overhead trolley idea, and may revisit it later depending on the frequency of use.
I think a folding cherry picker can be lifted into the bed without any disassembly, although it might need to come apart partially so it takes up less space. Possible changing some bolts to pins would speed assembly and disassembly although it doesn’t take much time to finger tighten bolts.

 

[82elky]

The hitch mounted crane also seems like a decent idea on paper, but I suspected it may not be awesome in real life with loads that are more than a couple hundred pounds. This is good feedback. Daedalus, Please let us know how it works once you get a chance to try it out better.

 

[madhatter]

I have mine modified to be a hitch mount; I put jack stands under it when using it to stabilize it and prevent it from straining the vehicle to much.

 

[kaffine]

I just bought a portable gantry crane http://complift.com/light-duty-1-complift/

Only 600 pound capacity the extra money for the higher capacity one wasn't worth it to me. Haven't had a chance to use it yet.

 

[PhantomEB]

This thread gives me ideas.... to incorporate one into my flat bed car hauler. Truck is getting 35s so I rather make the trailer more versatile.