I am so excited, the portable engine crane I bought for the ramp truck showed up today. It was $97 (shipped) on ebay and it looks pretty well made. I think I am going to store it one of the giant compartments we added and mount it to a receiver for the hitch, so I can take it on or off easily. Should be able to pull motors at the track, or lift the front end of a lightweight wrecked car to move it around.
This has been one of the most hellish (everything is big, heavy and rusty), but fun projects we have done. Next, I have designed (let's see if I can execute it) a shelf to store our EasyUp on that comes off the truck and turns into a workbench on the side of the truck.
Full details to come soon in GRM. Better get a subscription (and definitely a few for your friends) so you don't miss this one.
Tim Suddard wrote:
I am so excited, the portable engine crane I bought for the ramp truck showed up today. It was $97 (shipped) on ebay and it looks pretty well made. I think I am going to store it one of the giant compartments we added and mount it to a receiver for the hitch, so I can take it on or off easily. Should be able to pull motors at the track, or lift the front end of a lightweight wrecked car to move it around.
This has been one of the most hellish (everything is big, heavy and rusty), but fun projects we have done. Next, I have designed (let's see if I can execute it) a shelf to store our EasyUp on that comes off the truck and turns into a workbench on the side of the truck.
Full details to come soon in GRM. Better get a subscription (and definitely a few for your friends) so you don't miss this one.
Watch out for large bending loads on the hitch receiver.
The ball coupling to a trailer does not transmit direct bending loads, so receivers and mounts see vertical loads from tongue weight, large fore/aft loads from trailer weight, and medium lateral loads from towing.
A 500 lb motor lifted at 5 ft crane arm offset will create 3500 ft-lb static bending, and dynamic loads could easily go 5x that (17,500 ft-lb).
I'd be concerned about worst case, where the crane arm is 90 degrees to the receiver axis.
Look into reinforcing the receiver mounts to the chassis.
A failure under load could seriously spoil your day.
We're gonna need some pics.
In reply to erohslc:
Can a trailer Jack be added to the hitch or crane so as to transmit the weight to the ground and reduce the torque at the hitch?
Harvey
Dork
12/16/15 10:42 a.m.
Crane Technique, no can defense.
erohslc wrote:
Tim Suddard wrote:
I am so excited, the portable engine crane I bought for the ramp truck showed up today. It was $97 (shipped) on ebay and it looks pretty well made. I think I am going to store it one of the giant compartments we added and mount it to a receiver for the hitch, so I can take it on or off easily. Should be able to pull motors at the track, or lift the front end of a lightweight wrecked car to move it around.
This has been one of the most hellish (everything is big, heavy and rusty), but fun projects we have done. Next, I have designed (let's see if I can execute it) a shelf to store our EasyUp on that comes off the truck and turns into a workbench on the side of the truck.
Full details to come soon in GRM. Better get a subscription (and definitely a few for your friends) so you don't miss this one.
Watch out for large bending loads on the hitch receiver.
The ball coupling to a trailer does not transmit direct bending loads, so receivers and mounts see vertical loads from tongue weight, large fore/aft loads from trailer weight, and medium lateral loads from towing.
A 500 lb motor lifted at 5 ft crane arm offset will create 3500 ft-lb static bending, and dynamic loads could easily go 5x that (17,500 ft-lb).
I'd be concerned about worst case, where the crane arm is 90 degrees to the receiver axis.
Look into reinforcing the receiver mounts to the chassis.
A failure under load could seriously spoil your day.
Probably a legitimate concern, but I think as long as the receiver is well built, it will be fine. A small attatchment to support the cranes main upright at the trucks deck height should add much strength.
Harvey wrote:
Crane Technique, no can defense.
You sir, have made me laugh.
Trackmouse wrote:
Harvey wrote:
Crane Technique, no can defense.
You sir, have made me laugh.
If the crane isn't named Mr. Miagi by the end of today, I'm going to be very disappointed in the Suddard clan.
Wax on!
Wax off!
(But never wax on! whacks off!)
44Dwarf
UltraDork
12/17/15 7:37 a.m.
The unit we have at work has two angled trailer jacks to help share the load and stabilize when you rotate the crane and load.
Me I always wanted a Western Mule Fold-A-Way Bumper Crane.
fold a way bumper crane
44Dwarf wrote: Me I always wanted a Western Mule Fold-A-Way Bumper Crane.
fold a way bumper crane
I've seen those, a few of the local city public works departments have them on their service trucks. They're pretty slick.
