Truck-Mounted Hydraulic Crane Built Out Of Semi-Tractor

Truck-Mounted Hydraulic Crane Built Out Of Semi-Tractor TRUCKS Accessories 22-5-36 This truck-mounted hydraulic crane I built during the winter of 1953-'54 out of a semi tractor and heavy-duty army surplus parts is still going strong after 44 years, unlike a lot of commercial machinery I've used in that time. I've used the crane for all sorts of projects over the years, including putting a new steel roof on my house last fall. The semi tractor is a 1947 IH KS-8 I bought used in 1953 with between 150,000 and 200,000 miles on it. It's powered by an IH "Black Diamond" OHV in-line 6-cyl. 269 cu. in. engine that was overhauled in 1952 and hasn't been opened since. The truck is fitted with a standard 26 ft. boom with 16 ft. jib extension I fabricated from stock pipe and metal. A large boom cylinder was fabricated for me in Winnipeg. All other hydraulic components - hoses, fittings, cylinders, pumps and valves - were purchased from Princess Auto in Winnipeg. Four 2 by 26 1/2 in. horizontal outrigger extension cylinders came from B-17 bomb bay doors. Four 4 by 18 in. vertical outrigger cylinders came from the landing gear out of a P-47 fighter plane. I operate the boom and outriggers with five army surplus "Berry" hydraulic pumps (12 gpm at 1,500 psi). I've used the crane for heavy lifting on bridge construction and concrete work, loading and digging with a clam bucket, machinery rigging and grain bin construction. It's never balked at any job. It cost $5,000 to $6,000 to build in 1953. If one were to build a comparable rig today, it would probably cost 10 times that amount. (Alan Kennedy, Box 10, Miami, Manitoba, Canada R0G 1H0; ph 204 435-2101)

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