We use hammer unions in the oilfield on trucks for headache racks and such ,weld the bottom end ,hammer off take of back portion of rack when not in use ,,just a thought ,here's a link
http://www.americanblock.com/flowline-hammer-unions.php

 

I had an AutoCrane on my F-750 when I was doing gas work. It was handy as can be. I forget how long it could be extended, but even fully extended it would move a half ton easily from the work site to the back of the truck and put it right where I wanted it.

 

An Autocrane would be nice but too rich for my blood. I was thinking of fabbing something myself. The hard part would be making the boom extend, I guess it wouldn't have to go too far out really. Most anything I'd be lifting wouldn't be more than 4' long.

 

I have made several with pipe in pipe, manual height adjust ,with a pin at the base. Then use a hand wench to pick up and let down. A lot of them we fastened to the ladder/pipe rack, then height adjusted with cables, to front of rack, here again we used a hand wench. The weight you're talking about is not hard to handle.

 

I built a crane for my F-350 that mounts into the 2" receiver. It was one of the northern tool 1000lb ones with a winch. I am on the road and can't get to it for pictures but I'll describe it:

- hitch without the ball that goes into 2" receiver, $11 at lowes
- 2"x3" 1/4" wall rectangular tube, about 1' long, cut a hole to slide it over the end of the hitch and weld both sides
- longer piece of same tube welded to the pice on the end of the hitch but long enough to put the crane past the side of the truck tailgate, at angle to bring crane base up to bumper level
- 3/8" plate welded to top of tube
- crane welded to plate
- trailer jack on outside end to support crane
- 1000lb pickup truck crane from northern tool for about $200

One mistake was that forces actually LIFT the crane when it is loaded so I needed the trailer jack on hitch side of the rig.

I have lifted 500lbs with this without the trailer jack extended and it doesn't appear to torture the receiver at all but I would feel better with the jack extended.

It pivots very nicely and swings in over the truck bed so single person loading of heavy stuff is very easy. I paid for the hitch and the crane, everything else was laying around the shop.

 

I think I understand, the trucks suspension drops and without jack under crane upright it pulls truck down. I have some 4" threaded pipe I think I'll use that with a threaded pipe coupling to the plate to swing the boom, maybe use another one at the top with the plate to pivot the boom, if things dont work out I can mod it then lol.

 

I lifted many a pumps and motors with scaffolding, I beam, and chainfall. Scaffolding worked great to carry or roll to the work area. Setup over the opening, set a I beam or timber on top, add sling and chain fall. The lighter loads I used 2'' schedule 80 pipe on top of the scaffold and a piece 2 1/2'' with a eye welded to it for the chainfall hook. Once motor is clear , cover opening with timbers and plywood. Lower onto cart.

 

I do have some sections of scaffold and wheels, and some biljax baker for smooth surfaces, thats a great idea, usually I can shinny the stuff onto tailgate and sometimes I could use the setup to lower the motor to the pump flange. Man that would make lining up those wood type couplers a lot easier. A lot of times the people who make the pump frames build them so small that they cut the foot mount off the motor, it's crazy out there.

 

I got a 1 ton Davit off eBay for my toolbox build. Even added a hf hoist and short extension for 500 lb loads. Works good, might be just the ticket for a budget truck hoist.

 

That must work great but I don't know where I can get batteries that size to power it!

 

That davit looks like a sweet setup.

 

I have a spitzlift. It is light and folds up to fit behind a truck seat. Worth looking at the design even if not interested. I got mine from a salesman, excited about the product gave me a demo before selling it to me for $250. The hitch stand does not break down conviently, they sell a bed mount option.

 

Have you looked at the Western Mule bumper crane? I think I may put one on my next truck. I like how it folds away. Never priced one but they have models rated for 750lbs to 2500lbs.

[video=youtube;vGR-ka__4WU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGR-ka__4WU[/video]

 

Last I checked (about 4 years ago) the 1500 pound model for a pickup was about $3400.00.

Yes, really. $3400.00!


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Highly recommend this video. EC gives some good insights on the little things he did, like that hitch, and the crane's functionality.

[video=youtube;y2GmmvL-MPo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2GmmvL-MPo&t=671s[/video]

I've looked at those cranes that mount in the trailer hitch and like their convenience, but it's kind of a trade-off since they're also a bugger to install and pull out when you're done. If you're doing a lot of work, such that a crane is seeming a better idea every day, it might be time to upgrade to a real crane that's always ready to go. Plus they just look cool!

 

I'm glad this got revived. I need to figure out what's would be best for me.

I've been spoiled all my life having truck mounted forklifts to pick up most of my goodies. As of last summer I now have nothing. It's kinda like being naked !

Hope you guys have lots of pics and ideas.


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Just get a sky hook and you'll be good to go.

 

Would be great for lifting heavy cans of SPAM like the thread reviver wants to do

 

If you are only concerned about loading stuff then the little corner mount cranes are hard to beat. You can load stuff with an A frame but there is a little more to it. However, the A frame will do a whole lot more after you get used to using it and it will lift a whole lot more.

 

I built an A frame set up that latched on a gooseneck ball in the truck. A triangle from the ball to each rear corner of the bed. Electric winch in front of the ball, & gin poles hinged right at the tailgate. You could use a snatch block to lift it in & out of the truck pretty easy so it was basically self contained. Gin Poles folded over onto a headache rack on the truck. Worked better if you took the tailgate off the pickup, really worked slick on a flat bed.