On Sat, 11 Feb 2012 07:33:36 -0500, "Jim Wilkins"
wrote:


"RogerN" wrote in message
om...

I found a picture of what I like for the truck mounted crane

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/7...bc95cbfwh5.jpg

My truck has a bed liner and I don't want to cut it up trying to bolt to
the frame of the truck. If I could support the crane with outriggers to
take the load and stabilize it with the truck I think it would do what I
want. I don't have hopes of loading Bridgeport's in the back of my Ford
Ranger but a crane like that could probably load anything that I wouldn't
need a trailer for.

RogerN

I have a similar one mounted on crossbeams that attach to the four rear bed
bolts, so no changes to the Ranger. It's rated for 1000 Lbs but the truck
suspension limits it to about 700 because of the extra moment arm when the
load is out to the rear, and the front crossbeam is too thin to take much
more. I use its deflection as the full-load indicator.

As a rough field measure, 1000 lbs in the bed drops the fenders to one
clenched fist above the tires. Even observing that limit I've already broken
and replaced the rubber stops.

Have you considered air bags? http://www.airbagit.com/ Then, if you
really overload the truck, it'll break the frame instead of the stops.



It's the low style, like HF #1647. I added a winch, boom-tip pulley and a
drop-on extension to the mast to clear light bulky loads like washing
machines. It has loaded an Atlas lathe without the mast extension.

Amazing! I had that style in my old F-150, and sold it with the
truck. (I got $1300 for the 17 y/o beastie?!)

--
Energy and persistence alter all things.
--Benjamin Franklin