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Low-Cost Pickup-Mounted Crane
"It didn't cost much to put it together and it can be easily removed when it's not needed. There's not much on it that can go wrong," says Leonard Seltzer, Manhattan, Ill., about his "made it myself" swinging crane that mounts in the bed of his 1978 Chevrolet 3/4-ton pickup.
The crane extends about 13 in. b
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Low-Cost Pickup-Mounted Crane PICKUPS Accessories 26-6-41 "It didn't cost much to put it together and it can be easily removed when it's not needed. There's not much on it that can go wrong," says Leonard Seltzer, Manhattan, Ill., about his "made it myself" swinging crane that mounts in the bed of his 1978 Chevrolet 3/4-ton pickup.
The crane extends about 13 in. beyond the side of the bed and swivels 270 degrees. It consists of a 1 3/4-in. dia. vertical pipe about 5 ft. 3 in. long, with a 3-ft. long boom made out of 1 1/4-in. dia. pipe welded to it at a 45 degree angle. The vertical pipe rests inside two welded-on angle iron brackets that bolt to the side and floor of the bed. A block and tackle, which hangs off a 3-in. I-bolt that's welded shut and is equipped with a nylon rope, is used to raise and lower a load.
"It works great for moving small loads up to 200 lbs.," says Seltzer. "I use it often to load 5-gal. pails loaded with dirt or sand in and out of the bed. I also use it to lift a 120-lb. gas engine-operated soil-packing machine as well.
"I already had most of the materials and spent a total of only about $5, compared to commercial hydraulic-operated cranes that sell for hundreds of dollars. Commercial cranes bolt permanently to the pickup bed, which can be a problem if you want to drive under a low ceiling. To remove the crane all I do is pull the unit out of the bracket and lay it on the bed or off to the side."
He welded two lengths of 3/8-in. dia. rebar at the top to help support the horizontal part of the boom. He also welded a piece of 1/4-in. by 1-in. flat strap iron on the boom's back side for additional strength.
The pickup box that Seltzer uses was originally set up as a portable welding rig, which he converted to a more user-friendly unit. "With some minor adjustments, my homemade crane would work equally well on a standard pickup bed," he says.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Leonard Seltzer, 16040 W. Elmwood, Manhattan, Ill. 60442 (ph 815 478-3578).
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