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This is a quote of a post I added to a thread here, but then I realized might be someone else looking to save injuries, etc. I realized it would work with most any truck with the receiver. All the hard work is done, it could be strengthened, even have a block or bottle jack placed under it to minimize bed drop while loading.
Originally Posted by tbear853
A few posts back I showed a hitch crane, but this right here might be of greater use, for things like old appliances to be hauled off, etc. Looks like it is limited to 300 pounds. Hitch-Mounted Lifting SystemNo, not thinking of spares or jacks, but would work for some stumps, etc. If you had just one end of a item on it, would get that end up on the tail gate, then you could wrestle the other end up as you'd only be lifting part pf the weight. Back saver, if it saves it once it's worth it.
For me what's amazing is that I have zero restrictions when it comes to lifting or physical activities.
The surgeon told me that I can't hurt that fusion.
I think they set those screws with Super Glue.
I still have other back issues so I do try to take it easy.
I have titanium screws in my skull, titanium implants in my mouth, that fusion and two titanium stents in my heart arteries.
The Million Dollar Man.
Last edited by Rubiranch; Apr 5, 2026 at 08:45 AM.
tbear853 that is a awesome find for sure. Since the dicussion about back saving/lifting ideas has been started. How about some other ideas AND "trailer" ideas I have found and or have used over the years. How is it Ford truck related, all these ideas work in the reciever hitch of a Ford truck. And or the trailer attached to said Ford truck.
Pretty sure DOT wise its a NO NO to put a chain in a stake pocket. But the ratchet strap hook is not going to fit.
Drop in stake pocket chain adapter.
Stake pocket drop in tie down point.
Stake pocket spare tire carrier.
Can't see the back/end of the trailer because your truck is lifted or the tailgate it in the way. Mirrors broke, or mirror back up challanged? Put some vinyl fence pieces in the rear stake pockets. That way you can see the end and outer side of the trailer over the tailgate. Put reflective trailer side tape on the front edge to make them easy to see at night.
Drop down trailer end stabilizer, so you can feel better about loading it, with it NOT connected to the truck. IMO unsafe, but some times it has to happen.
Stabilizer and if it can go up enough, easy way to change a flat.
Weld the round piece to a stake pocket. Thay way the stabilizer can be taken off.
Need more storage room, like for a lawn service trailer. Add on outer baskets, milk crate idea on the inside pretty good also.
Tired of wrestling the heavy ramps, make some mini ones good for a SxS, buggy, 4 wheeler.
Got a tall trailer and you have short legs.
Drive over fenders/fender narrowing ideas.
Flip them put of the way and drive on.
U-haul been doing it for years. Also lets you open the car door once loaded.
Or just quick pin them off.
A home made folder idea.
The back of the trailer mod that happens some times.
Use your trailer to bend metal.
Tired of wrestling the heavy ramps back under the trailer. Add stubs to the sides of the ramps, that will let you drop them into the stake pockets.
Last edited by 77&79F250; Apr 5, 2026 at 10:06 AM.
Hey, I saw that ............ and a right back atcha!
Originally Posted by 77&79F250
Well you know me, I am not a one and done kinda guy. Lol
I have, over the years, learned a lot here. Ways to do things, ideas to take and use, sources for parts, etc. Things as simple as those hand holds up beside my windshield, Wife loves them, comments every time we get in. I know my '07 has them, but until a post here it never occurred to actually put some in my '77. I sometimes think I go too far in pictures, etc, but no more.
Take JACKS for example. Recently we mentioned floor jacks, and you posted the 3 ton off road jack. Maybe 30 years ago I picked up a heavy Craftsman 3 ton floor jack, on sale, $99 and it included jack stands. It's all steel, and the only place I could easily use it was the concrete basement porch. It was a bear to get across the yard. I added a pair of larger non caster rear wheels, then a easily hooked, unhooked, adjusted by link chain to limit handle drop so I could steer it by pressing down on the handle. I run the original steel front wheels up onto metal or other hard surface. It is a slow pump though.
We bought a Mustang in 2013 and soon I bought a low profile rapid pump 3 ton jack, and I think I'll make the same additions. I have added a ball to each to better grip when pulling, but on the newest Badland OR 3 ton jack, I just added a nice hole through the handle near grip to put a bar through to bertter grip in pulls. I like the handle locks on it too.
I had a Trike and mowers, etc, and over years have also acquired three aluminum racing jacks, 1.5 tones each. They each have a hang up place out of my way, one has no wheels nor handles, one has wheels but no side handles for getting in close, and one is stock, then I have a 50+ year young steel regular 1.5 ton onewith no wheels, just a belly plate for sliding on basement or shed floor or yard use.
Take Winches now. Maybe 8-10 years ago I grew tired of using come-a-longs, too slow for many jobs, cumbersom too. I was in my HF and spied this worm drive hand operated winch, I had an idea. 2000 Lb. Capacity Geared Winch I bought it used a gift card, and did some experimenting. I added a section of chain bolted to the sides, added a hook, I can hang it or anchor it, like in front of my trailer, or my truck hitch. It's slow winding by hand, and unwieldly doing so, but removed the handle and welded a nut to the shaft below, nut is 13/16". Remove handle, use 20 volt drill, it works fast and is no strain on the drill, and since you're not turning a crank, it's easy to control. Worm Dive is low gearing, and no brake is needed. Once slack is taken up, it doesn't wiggle. To extend cable, just hook hook to an anchor, hold wincgh base, back up with drill in reverse.
Powered just with that little 20v drill, was a day I needed my trailer which had been parked beside my shed in the edge of woods, then it had accidently rolled further backwards where I didn't want to back my truck, a tree stopped it. Thought about a chain and pulling it up out of the brush but was deemed too chancy it might hit the shed corner, so I used this winch with the chain on the truck hitch, pulled enough cable out to reach, then I applied the drill as I watched. It pulled the trailer to within reach, might near directly, and clear of the shed corner. Very controlled too. I also used it later to drag my Moms JD yard tractor up hill out of the yard shed and then up ramps into my trailer which I had backed down to load to haul it away during estate settling, little 20v drill never slowed. It can always be used by hand too. One turn of handle input moves bi toothed wheel of spool one tooth, and there's 48 teeth, so is a 48:1 ratio there.
I have one of the 3500 pound 12 vdc winches. I have not yet found a use for it though. Might just mount it on steel plate on a 2x2 tube for use in hitch receiver of either truck, trailer, wheel horse, etc.
On the handles of ALL my big roller floor jack's (on pavement and off road jacks) I add anti slip grip tape to the last 2'. Rough on bare hands, but works great with a greasy bare hand, or a gloved hand. Do not even get me started on winches....
Same winch 3 mount options, actually 4 I can put it on the passenger side also. And on any other truck with a reciever hitch. And on the front of both my flat deck haulers. The power cables have welder wire QD connections and I have a set of QS with jumper cable clamps so I can get power from ANY truck. The Bronco has long enough cable that I can get power to all 4 winch locations and thay are QD also.
Next we will talk about ratchet straps for securing a vehicle to a trailer. J hooks, ratcher boomers, ****** blocks......
Experimenting with different configurations, so not the finial solution.
Easy way to carry it in lockable water proof cans. You have to weld a chain link or add a threaded eyelet to the box to be able to paddle lock it.
Last edited by 77&79F250; Apr 5, 2026 at 10:23 PM.
These little batteries will pull more than you think. Here is the same size battery pulling a truck onto my car trailer with a 3000lb Warn Vantage winch.
I bought a similar hitch mount crane to lift (200lb each,) 2 x 12 x 20 stair stringers into place. I bolted the hitch end into the framing of the house, used a block and tackle to get it close, then used the hydraulics for the small adjustments.
I'm gonna sell it now that I'm done with it.
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