Game Crane for lifting, loading

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granpajohn

Minister of Fire
Jul 13, 2007
661
Central Maryland
Anyone tried a Game Crane style of hoist on the back of the truck? Would be helpful to lift rounds and other items. I found one that would appear perfect:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...h/search-box.jsp.form1&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1

But it is listed at 57 pounds, (although in 2 pieces), thus too heavy on its own. (I am handicapped; sorry)

This one is listed at 35 pounds, (also 2 pieces), but doesn't specify that it will work with the gate down, which is important.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=145631

My criteria: Must swivel, work with gate down, be sturdy.
I believe the brands are Monarch and Biter. The biter website promises to address my criteria in the next release, but it's out of date.

Anyone have experience with these?
Thanks.
P.S. I hope the images link. I often have trouble viewing pictures on this (secured/filtered) machine.
 
If you look at one of the pictures on the sportsmansguide.com you will see the weight of the deer bending the metal. I don't know how that will hold up with a lot of us. Jeff
 
I dunno if you really want to wrap a heavy round and crank it up with that. Next time you're at HD check out their small equipment trailers. With a small tow trailer you could more safely move the few big rounds ya get onto that...then use the truck bed for the smaller easier to handle stuff. Of course I've used a cabled come-along to load all kinds of heavy stuff in the back of my PU with ramps but I'm able bodied...

...come to think of it I recently did it with a full arm cast on too. Maybe that would work out for guess you're just gonna have to think about its application.
 
You're right about the truly heavy rounds. But, in my weakness, a normal round has become a heavy round for me but would not be heavy for the hoist; (or the old me, for that matter.) I have a tripod arrangement I designed and built for use anywhere. I use a pulley hoist, but it could use a chain hoist as well. The idea with the game crane is to use the pulley hoist, not the windlass that comes with it. (Too slow.) And, it would be much faster to set up than my tripod.

Of course, I use the ramps as a usual thing, (like most folks), but they can be a pain at times for just some smaller items.
 
Looking at the photos, I wouldn't expect either to work with the tailgate down. Not sure about the weight, but I've seen small crane type hoists that are designed to go in the stake pocket of a truck, and lift by a hydraulic jack. I think that if you could handle the weight (or leave it on all the time) that one of that style would do a better job for you. No links, but I'd probably start looking in JC Whitney or other places that do auto-mechanical type stuff - I've seen them used as engine hoists...

Gooserider
 
Don't know if they would work for the OP, but those are the type of unit that I was thinking about...

Gooserider
 
Yall are going through the same thought process I did. It's too much to tell here, but back when I designed the tripod, I designed a stake pocket crane also. Problem is that the stake pocket is not designed to take too much weight in torque/moment. So I ended up with something that is like an abreviated ladder rack, but that's a lot of stuff to put on just for occasional lifting.

Naturally, I intended to buy one of those HF items years ago. But they also work best with the tailgate removed. I made a little mock-up of the 53" extension, and it barely gets past the gate. Furthermore, weight rating, (and elevation), drops off quickly with extension. (Torque/moment again.) Although that's not a problem. 500 pounds is enough.

The Monarch claims to work with gate open. The Biter claims the new version will, but no guarantee this is the new version. The distance from a receiver to the edge of the gate is surprisingly short. I think 14", but don't remember for sure. (I'm using a 2003 F150).

Thanks for the replies/brainstorming.
 
granpajohn said:
Yall are going through the same thought process I did. It's too much to tell here, but back when I designed the tripod, I designed a stake pocket crane also. Problem is that the stake pocket is not designed to take too much weight in torque/moment. So I ended up with something that is like an abreviated ladder rack, but that's a lot of stuff to put on just for occasional lifting.

Naturally, I intended to buy one of those HF items years ago. But they also work best with the tailgate removed. I made a little mock-up of the 53" extension, and it barely gets past the gate. Furthermore, weight rating, (and elevation), drops off quickly with extension. (Torque/moment again.) Although that's not a problem. 500 pounds is enough.

The Monarch claims to work with gate open. The Biter claims the new version will, but no guarantee this is the new version. The distance from a receiver to the edge of the gate is surprisingly short. I think 14", but don't remember for sure. (I'm using a 2003 F150).

Thanks for the replies/brainstorming.
Click to expand...


Look at the one northerntool.com has.i forgot the name of it.
 
My log splitter is built on a 1/2 ton chevy axel, so it is really sturdy. What I ended up doing to lift big rounds onto it is take some big round pipe, (I forget the ID or OD of it) and weldid about a 3' piece on the axel, then I had a bunch of 4" round pipe that I slid over the pipe welded in place. That way the outer pipe would spin around freely. I then welded and trussed up another piece of pipe for a boom. I have a 12v winch hooked to it because my splitter is electric start.

I use it on my splitter and it works great. You might be able to fab something like that up for a truck or trailer.
 
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