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Ruby in NC
02-17-2003, 5:33 AM
Ron's thread below with pictures of his haul of logs, reminded me of a question. His thread: http://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=127

I think I have the opportunity to score some logs and veneer cores. However, the challenge is to load them in the pickup. Even with the LOML on one end, this little ol lady can't handle her end of the log. :(

So, I've been thinking about buying a truck crane, such as this one from Harbor Freight.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=37555

Since I've never seen one of these in operation on a pickup, I'm wondering if it would really help. I can "see" it aiding with the lifting, but don't have any idea how much strength it takes to operate it.

If you've used one of these truck cranes (HF or others) your thoughts will be appreciated. Even with HF's return policy, giving one a try will require putting holes in the truckbed, so I thought I'd better ask first.

Again, thank you for your comments and advice on this.

Regards,
Ruby

Joe Suelter
02-17-2003, 8:44 AM
Ruby, I have a friend with one of these in the back of his pickup. It is levered in such a way that it takes very little effort to lift a heavy object. The bottle jack is doing 90% of the work. My only drawback to these is the jack itself. It is merely a 2-Ton bottle jack (made over-seas). On his, even right out of the box, when you move the handle, you are lucky to get 1/4" of lift out of the jack. He has since upgraded the jack on his with an American made bottle jack from a local hydraulic company (he paid around $75), and when you pump the jack now, it travels almost an inch! I'd say go for it! Good-Luck!!!!

Jim Fuller
02-17-2003, 8:53 AM
Ruby, I am a diesel mechanic by trade. I work for a Cat dealer (as a manager now), but for years I worked in the field. I had a similar set up on my service truck, when I was independent, only heavier. Now the way I understand what you are asking you only need help loading these logs. This would be a great assist. Now be carefull always park level. When loaded this thing will swing to the low side. also if you up the capacity you stand a chance of damaging your truck, as it is not designed to handle this type load. My 2 cents worth.

Bob Lasley
02-17-2003, 9:03 AM
Ruby,

I too have used similar cranes and they work well up to a point. For what you are wanting to do, I think this would do fine. One thought on installation, put a steel plate under the bed to bolt through, don't trust just the thickness of the bed to hold this puppy.

Good luck,
Bob

Ruby in NC
02-17-2003, 9:07 AM
Thanks for your feedback and the tip on the jack. I wouldn't have a problem with replacing the jack, if the crane gives me the ability to move those logs.

Looking forward to getting some of them within the reach of my electric chain saw. :p

Thanks, again for your reply.

Regards,
Ruby

Ruby in NC
02-17-2003, 9:21 AM
Originally posted by Jim Fuller
Now the way I understand what you are asking you only need help loading these logs. This would be a great assist. Now be carefull always park level. When loaded this thing will swing to the low side. also if you up the capacity you stand a chance of damaging your truck, as it is not designed to handle this type load. My 2 cents worth.

Yes, loading and unloading the logs (and other things from time to time) is what I'm after. Just don't have the physical strength to do the lifting.

Thanks for the tips on loading. Knowing the pitfalls up front will help cut down on the learning curve mistakes. Never fear however on overloading. LOML will keep that in check with his truck. ;)

The loading site is level, so that won't be a problem. It'll be more tricky with unloading, but with your warning, changing the angle of approach should compensate for the slope.

Thanks, again!

Regards,
Ruby

Ruby in NC
02-17-2003, 9:28 AM
Originally posted by Bob Lasley
Ruby,

One thought on installation, put a steel plate under the bed to bolt through, don't trust just the thickness of the bed to hold this puppy.

Good luck,
Bob

Thanks, Bob, for adding your comments. LOML's nephew has a body shop. Had already planned for him to do the install so he can do any reinforcing needed. I would hope the crane comes with such a plate, but if not, should be easy to fabricate.

Thanks, again. I may be getting some of those logs after all. Just got to wait out all this snow and ice before venturing to HF to see the crane up close and personal.

Regards,
Ruby

Joe Suelter
02-17-2003, 11:21 AM
Ruby, one thing that I realized when I read the other post about the plate, My buddy's came with some 1/4" thick spacers to go under the bed, they where about 1 1/2"x3". These where to prevent the bolts from piercing through the truck bed. I like the other comment better, about using a steel plate. Should be easy to find one small enough to fit the footprint of the hoist! Joe

Howard Barlow
02-17-2003, 11:25 PM
Or can the upright be pulled out of a socket of some type? When installed, is it out of the way for a sheet of ply?

Ruby in NC
02-18-2003, 5:45 AM
Originally posted by Joe Suelter
I like the other comment better, about using a steel plate. Should be easy to find one small enough to fit the footprint of the hoist! Joe

I agree with you. Even with HD washers/spacers, I want something more solid attached to the truck bed metal. Nephew-in-law should be able to fabricate a plate (maybe 2 / top & bottom) to secure this thing. May also do some additional support underneath, tying to frame, if that's feasible. As thin as metal skins have become these days, I have a fear that a panel may buckle, even with a plate. Probably over engineering, as I probably wouldn't attempt to load a log with that much weight. But, from past experience, good ol Murphy loves to hang around here.

Thanks for your reply. Appreciated.

Regards,
Ruby in NC

Ruby in NC
02-18-2003, 5:56 AM
Originally posted by Howard Barlow
Or can the upright be pulled out of a socket of some type? When installed, is it out of the way for a sheet of ply?

Good point, Howard. That's one of the things I want to check when I can get a hands-on look at one. LOML won't drive around with that permanently raised in the back of his truck.

Also, will check to see if the base fully fits inside the space behind the fenderwell, so ply can still be loaded.

Thanks for bringing up a good point. Appreciate your thoughts on this.

Regards,
Ruby

Keith Outten
02-18-2003, 6:19 AM
Ruby,

I just purchased one of these truck cranes. I didn't buy mine to mount in my truck, it will be mounted on my trailer. I have a one ton capacity trailer that tilts and I welded a 2" receiver to the front rail. I can mount a boat wench in the 2" receiver and can use this to simply pull logs onto the trailer. (See Picture) Unloading a log is a snap, pull the pin and drive forward.

I bought the truck crane to mount to the trailer as well but I intend to use it to unload cabinets I build for York County Schools.
Using your truck to load and carry logs will take a serious toll in body damage, no problem if it is an old truck but if it's new better get a trailer or rent one.

All of my vehicles have a 2" receiver mount. My truck, lawn tractor and mower are all equiped and soon I will have one mounted in my workshop. All of the lifting gear I own and some other attachments can share the 2" receivers and I can use equipment almost anywhere. The receiver in my shop will be used to temporarily mount metal benders, vises, and a host of other gear.

Jason Roehl
02-18-2003, 7:06 AM
Some great idears there! I'll have to keep those in mind for a rainy day!

Keep up the good work (on the site, that is)!

Jason

Ruby in NC
02-18-2003, 9:09 AM
Originally posted by Keith Outten
Ruby,

I just purchased one of these truck cranes. I didn't buy mine to mount in my truck, it will be mounted on my trailer.

Thanks Keith. Hadn't given the trailer a thought in this. Our's is a small one, so I'm not sure if the crane will mount, but it's well worth checking out.

Thanks, too, for the other ideas. Ditto for all the work you and the others are doing on this site!

Regards,
Ruby

Jim Fuller
02-18-2003, 9:26 AM
Ruby, if you have a good supply to get logs, you could get a larger heavier trailer and set the winch and/or mount your crane on it. This would really save on the wear and tear of the pu bed. Also the trailer would be available for other uses, then when you wanted to sell you could sell with or without your lifting equipment. The trailer, unlike the pu, doesn't depreciate with age a lot.

Ruby in NC
02-18-2003, 9:59 AM
Originally posted by Jim Fuller
The trailer, unlike the pu, doesn't depreciate with age a lot.

The more I think about the trailer idea, the better I like it. Thanks for adding your thoughts.

Regards,
Ruby

Keith Outten
02-18-2003, 12:16 PM
Ruby,

You don't need the truck crane to load logs onto a tilt bed trailer. Buy a $20 boat wench and drag the logs onto the trailer bed. My wench will pull 3000 pounds but it will not lift that much. It is better to drag logs than to lift them anyway since it is much safer. Lifting requires 4 times the mass in equipment. If you were doing this for a living buying expensive equipment would be the least costly option. For an occasional use or short term project even a small light weight trailer will work if you cut the logs into manageable sizes and weights.

Last summer after a storm I pulled a 20 foot cedar tree out of the ground for a neighbor whose tree fell over in a storm. Didn't even leave a mess in her yard and I only had to cut the tap root after the tree was about 90% on the trailer.

You can't beat a trailer made from welded steel. They are tough and have more uses than you can imagine. I have a twelve hundred pound mower I haul, use my trailer for outside shows by erecting a tent on the trailer floor and have used it as a portable photography platform. My cub cadet has pulled my trailer with over 4500 pounds of plywood on it in the yard. You should have seen the truck drivers face when he saw a mower pull a load like that :)

Bill Grumbine
02-18-2003, 2:55 PM
Hi Ruby

I see you are getting some good responses on your log hauling dilemma. I went a bit different route, and a friend of mine does pretty much the same thing. I bought a pair of ramp ends from Home Depot, and made up some ramps which fit to the back edge of the truck, tailgate on or off. With these we have rolled logs in excess of 900 lbs up the ramps.

My question to all of you who have these crane thingies is, how do you swing a big log into the bed of the truck? That is, if the crane is extended far enough to pick the thing up, don't you have to crank it way up high to get over the side of the bed?

The best thing of course, is to have someone handy with a front end loader, or a great big machine designed for moving logs. Then you can move logs like this...

<img src= "http://www.enter.net/~ultradad/bigwalnut02.jpg" >

Just for reference sake, I am 6'2" and approximately 375 lbs. This log is a little bit more than 48" high, and 37" in diameter.

Bill

George Summers
02-18-2003, 9:16 PM
Ruby -

Where are you getting your veneer cores? From the veneer plant over on Rt 56? And what are you going to do with them, slice them for lumber or cut them for turning blanks? Just curious.

George

Gary Hern
02-18-2003, 10:14 PM
when HF had them on sale. Unfortunately, it was one week prior to leaving my job and starting my own business. I haven't had time to set it up yet. I am going to mount it on my trailer instead of on one of my trucks. I figure with the trailer being lower to the ground I have less chance of messing things up or getting hurt. It's still in the box so I can't reply on the quality of it although it did look like a decent piece of equipment when I picked it up.

11 hours of sheet rocking today and loving every minute of it!

Ruby in NC
02-19-2003, 7:24 AM
Originally posted by Keith Outten
Ruby,

You don't need the truck crane to load logs onto a tilt bed trailer. Buy a $20 boat wench and drag the logs onto the trailer bed.

Thanks for the suggestion. This might, indeed, be an economical way to approach this, since I won't be hauling a lot of logs. I'll check into one before making the decison on the crane.

Thanks, again.

Regards,
Ruby

Ruby in NC
02-19-2003, 7:39 AM
Originally posted by Bill Grumbine
Hi Ruby

My question to all of you who have these crane thingies is, how do you swing a big log into the bed of the truck? That is, if the crane is extended far enough to pick the thing up, don't you have to crank it way up high to get over the side of the bed?

Bill, this isn't the first time I've been green with envy with your wood handling capabilities. :) (Posts on the Pond and your website.) At approximately 90 lbs dripping wet, I can only watch moving your chunks of wood from the sidelines.

We have a set of ramps to load the riding mower, but LOML and I would have to have either friends or merchanical assistance to get anything sizeable rolled up the ramp.

FWIW, I have the same question about the crane. I'm hoping that the log only has to be lifted to the height of the truck or trailer bed. Then orient the log to line it up lengthwise with the bed and move it in over the tailgate or backend of the trailer. Sure hope log doesn't have to be lifted over the sides.

Thanks for your reply and posing the question.

Regards,
Ruby

Ruby in NC
02-19-2003, 7:55 AM
Originally posted by George (Oxford)
Ruby - Where are you getting your veneer cores? From the veneer plant over on Rt 56? And what are you going to do with them, slice them for lumber or cut them for turning blanks? Just curious.George

Yes, George, that's the one. I called them last summer about their discards. Response: "Do you have a dump truck?" At that time they said I could have all I wanted. Just needed to come by the office before picking up anything. I need to call them again, before I commit to a hauling method, just to make sure they're still giving them away.

As to the usage, for the most part the cores will become firewood. Suspect they're going to be too small to obtain much usable woodworking wood. However, what I'm really after are the log butts and such that aren't suitable for veneer in their discard pile. When we drive by, sometimes there's chunks (guessing 4-5' long) much like Bill's post above. There's usually a lot between that size and the cores. Might not be suitable for veneer, but has good potential for other things, including bowl blanks.

Regards,
Ruby

Ruby in NC
02-19-2003, 8:06 AM
Originally posted by Gary Hern
I am going to mount it on my trailer instead of on one of my trucks. I figure with the trailer being lower to the ground I have less chance of messing things up or getting hurt.

Thanks Gary for adding your advice using a trailer. As this thread goes on, it's more and more apparent that's the route that I should take for both safety and easier loading.

When you get the opportunity to install your crane, please post a review. With thoughts now of getting a larger trailer, it'll be a while before I can get everything worked out. And, I'm sure your review will be useful for others, too.

Thanks, again.

Regards,
Ruby