I edited the title a bit to reflect we are also talking about my hoist installation.

I dragged my second hoist frame home today. Let me tell you, these things are heavy! Lots of work on a hot muggy day after a night of rain. Wet bugs are angry bugs!

On to the hoist.



No, I did not roll my Ranger onto it's side. Sometimes rotating pictures does not work the way you want it to.

This hoist is considerably heavier than the one I started with. It also is longer. I may be able to use that, considering lengthening the bed. It is upside down in the box and you can see the cylinder lower mounts sticking up.

I removed the fixed portion of the lift and positioned it on my F250.




Now the cylinders clear the fuel tank without relocation. I did have to remove the tailpipe on the right side, but that will be solved at the muffler shop.

Here are some pics of the deck I will be using and the electric over hydraulic power unit.








That's all for today. It will be a couple days before I can get back to this. Work beckons!

 

OH YEA! That looks really good. Seems to fit just right. Good find!

 

Finally got back to this today. Busy week.

Spent a lot of time with the cut off wheel today. Modified the cylinder frame to lower the deck as much as possible. There were flanges welded along the lower edge of the frame by where the cylinder braces were attached. They rested on top of the rear tank. Obviously intended to stiffen the frame, but I think they were overkill. Still, I will be putting some of it back by adding 2 more stringers and cylinder braces to the opposite sides (insides) of the lower cylinder mounts. Better in my opinion.



Now the rear mounts sit directly on the back corner of the truck frame. Simple nut and bolt after drilling a new hole to line up with the existing bed mount hole.



It's important to square the deck to the back of the cab. There was some interference with the crossmember in front of the rear tank which was adjusted with a big hammer. Also had to lose the rear bumper. Now it's starting to look like a deck truck!



A crossmember will have to be fabricated for the front mount of the lift frame. Have to squeeze it in between the rear of the front tank and the shock mounts.



I will be extending the deck, but I'm toying with the idea of spacing it back from the cab to make room for a spare tire mount and possibly a post with a small crane.



That's it for tonight!

 

Today's update. Crossmember fabrication and installation. All in place and bolted in with shiny new grade 8 5/8" hardware.



Made the crossmember out of a scrap piece of 3"X3" 1/4" angle. Had to drop the front tank and remove the RR shock to get it into place. Tight fit between the shock mounts and the gas tank. Bolt clearance was tight around the tank as well.



Found some wear in the top of the frame rails from the old box. I'm going to incorporate a plate over this along with the bolts holding in the new crossmember.



Everything pretty much sits where it is supposed to. Will have some trouble with the filler hose for the front tank and the lift arms will rest on the bolt head into the new crossmember. Not sure if I'm OK with this, but I'm thinking it will minimize the squeaks from the lift arms sitting full contact on the cylinder frame.




Hopefully, I can start fitting the deck tomorrow.