truck crane?

[treeman82]

Anybody ever used these? http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_74569_74569

I'm thinking about putting one on my chip truck for loading those logs where they have to be halved or quartered in order for 2 people to lift.

 

[ropensaddle]

Anybody ever used these? http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_74569_74569

I'm thinking about putting one on my chip truck for loading those logs where they have to be halved or quartered in order for 2 people to lift.

What I always wanted to do to the split dumps at asplundh was
weld a I beam down the center and have a rolling electric wench
with the I beam sticking out just enough to clear bed with winched
chunk. I want to design my own truck someday with many ideas to
make life easier.

 

[clearance]

I had a similar one on my pickup. It didn't have a winch on it. However I managed to get a big maple log (like 3' across, 8' long) by lifting one end up onto the box (no tailgate). Then I hooked a come-a-long to the headache rack behind the back window and started to pull. Then I hooked the crane to the other end of the log and lifted that up. Working the two the log slid right in. From the way the truck sat dowm on the springs I figure it wieghed well over 1500lbs.

Cheap thing to get, make sure it is mounted properly.

 

[BC WetCoast]

It would probably be faster to buck the log into smaller pieces and throw them into the truck than use that manual winch. Would be better with an electric winch.

 

[woodchux]

We had the one without the winch from harbor freight. Bolted it to just the truck bed, and the first time it was used it bent the bed. You've gotta add some steel under the mounting spot. Anyway, like they say it was just too slow and never got used much. Waste of money in my opinion.

 

[clearance]

Better plan.

Best thing to do is to weld an eye right at the top back center of your chip box, and an eye at the center top tailgate end. Then with a winch and block you can load big logs. That and using the dump. You can lift the box to its max, suck one end of the log onto the box and then change the pull to the back and pull the log in as you lower the box.

I have done some interesting things, like loading logs into a bucket/forestry truck by using the lower boom and a pickup, with a block hung top center at the back of the box. Many ways to skin a cat.

 

[ropensaddle]

Best thing to do is to weld an eye right at the top back center of your chip box, and an eye at the center top tailgate end. Then with a winch and block you can load big logs. That and using the dump. You can lift the box to its max, suck one end of the log onto the box and then change the pull to the back and pull the log in as you lower the box.

I have done some interesting things, like loading logs into a bucket/forestry truck by using the lower boom and a pickup, with a block hung top center at the back of the box. Many ways to skin a cat.

Yeah but with ibeam and rolling winch you could do the same
but with the ability to slide the chunks back and that is the way to go. Cut the logs a little under the width and stack them to the back then blow chips and go all done! I have done the boom thing
on my lowboy trailer but did not like to do it to my life line.
I now have a grapple it get these loads but I used to get
crafty. Like two blocks log tied each end of log and the to truck
which is then pulled forward to raise log enough to back trailer
in under it.

 

[Blakesmaster]

Seems a bit chinsy and like a slow operation to me.

I always figure that I gotta cut up the chunks to get 'em to the truck most times anyway, may as well toss them on too. Not to mention we cut them up for firewood, whether this happens at home or on the job doesn't make that much of a difference. I think it could come in somewhat useful if your trying to move logs off a job site. Much easier than lifting one end and then the other.

 

[Bermie]

I use a crane truck rather than a truck crane!
I think that attachment would be useful, like someone said though be careful how you attach it, I'd add a larger base plate and brace the upright to make sure...

There are many independant truckers here, its more cost efficient for me to hire one. On several jobs I saved a lot of my time, hassle, wear and tear of bodies and equipment by hiring a crane truck to come and remove the logs. This one I use has a 45' reach and 2 ton capacity (or maybe more...)
Picture is loading large sections from a takedown. He got everything out in one load...

 

[treeman82]

The last time I had to hire a truck to come and get some logs it cost $450, and he only took a couple of big pieces (sugar maple at that) I just get rid of the stuff, so once it's on the truck, all I have to worry about is getting it off the truck again. For example today, I had to go and deal with a PITA client who had a bunch of big norway maple logs... probably 2 truckloads with my truck. I would have had to have quartered the trunk sections in order to load them by myself.

 

[ropensaddle]

The last time I had to hire a truck to come and get some logs it cost $450, and he only took a couple of big pieces (sugar maple at that) I just get rid of the stuff, so once it's on the truck, all I have to worry about is getting it off the truck again. For example today, I had to go and deal with a PITA client who had a bunch of big norway maple logs... probably 2 truckloads with my truck. I would have had to have quartered the trunk sections in order to load them by myself.

Treeman heres what you need put a set of gin poles
on it and your in business.

 

[crashagn]

Anybody ever used these? http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_74569_74569

I'm thinking about putting one on my chip truck for loading those logs where they have to be halved or quartered in order for 2 people to lift.

Treeman.. I looked at em and didnt like how they were made so i made my own. Works great.
http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=71977

 

[treemandan]

What I always wanted to do to the split dumps at asplundh was
weld a I beam down the center and have a rolling electric wench
with the I beam sticking out just enough to clear bed with winched
chunk. I want to design my own truck someday with many ideas to
make life easier.

Would it have a picture of Clint in it?
I HAve an anchor point in the front of the bed and just pull logs up an into it no prblem,

 

[Rftreeman]

i have the one that doesn't have the hand winch mounted in the bed of my pickup but I had a friend cut out a thick plate of steel and had it mounted solid and it works great for picking up heavy stuff but for logs, I have a 16ft trailer with a 8000# winch to drag the logs up on to it.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Yeah but with ibeam and rolling winch you could do the same

There is a guy near here who has one of those, can get a lot of wood in the truck.

If you have a GRCS, and a tree you can park under, you can do something similar with a blocks. Having a drill like Milwaukee's "Hole Hog" makes it even easier. Great for when there are only a couple but sections to get on the back of the truck.

 

[skyhightree1]

We had the one without the winch from harbor freight. Bolted it to just the truck bed, and the first time it was used it bent the bed. You've gotta add some steel under the mounting spot. Anyway, like they say it was just too slow and never got used much. Waste of money in my opinion.

Been there done that wish i could take a pic of how it messed up my truck bed and didnt work well... I wasted a day on installation and trying to get it to work