Bed crane installation.
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Charleston SC
Bed crane installation.
Has anyone ever tried to install a bed crane? I got one at Harbor Freight and it looks like a straightforward install, but it says to attatch it to the frame. Well the frame does't exactly sit where all of the pictures show the crane to be typically installed......and besides that, I need it directly behind the wheel well so I can lift in and out the generator. Does anyone happen to have one of these things installed and possibly some pictures of how they reinforced the underside of the bed? I am working with a fabricator on getting some 3/8 inch plate bolted to the bottom and some tubing run down to the hitch frame. Anyone have any other suggestions with pictures? Thanks, Dave
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Slatington, PA
I'd get a nice thick plate like they use for gooseneck hitches, put it in between the bed and frame if possible. Extend it out past one side of the frame and bolt the crane to that. Anything heavy enough to bend a 3/8 or 1/2 inch plate would most likely break the crane itself
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: White Mnt's,New Hampshire
me and a friend built one from an old telescopic wrecker boom with a 5000 lb electric winch..it locks right onto his gooseneck ball for easy install and can be taken right back out...works awesome..
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Buckingham, IA
Ron, now you have me thinking. I have a BW ball hitch on my F350. I could make a post that would fit into the socket that the ball goes into and have an easy-in, easy-out crane mount. The arm would have to be a little long to clear the tailgate and possibly have a trolley on the jib but it would sure beat lifting heavy items. Would have to be careful how much weight is lifted so I wouldn't twist the ball mount. Sounds like a project for next winter.
Alaska Chapter ******
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Fairbanks
A guy I know has a lift installed in the bed of his F150 to lift his wheelchair in and out of the bed. I'll run him down in the next couple of days and find out the particulars for you.
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Dave,
I have one of those from Harbor Freight and I use it so I can move my generator from my shop to my house without having to have any help. You most definitely need to reinforce the bottom of the bed. I designed a a bracket to bolt in the bed and use a bolt hole from the tie down point. I'll see if I can find my drawings and I'll post them for you. My set up is completely bolt on with the exception of drilling the holes through the bed. I have it set up so I can leave the bracket in place and remove that ugly orange thing from my bed. It only takes about 5 minutes to bolt the hoist bracket back in and be ready to work.
I have one of those from Harbor Freight and I use it so I can move my generator from my shop to my house without having to have any help. You most definitely need to reinforce the bottom of the bed. I designed a a bracket to bolt in the bed and use a bolt hole from the tie down point. I'll see if I can find my drawings and I'll post them for you. My set up is completely bolt on with the exception of drilling the holes through the bed. I have it set up so I can leave the bracket in place and remove that ugly orange thing from my bed. It only takes about 5 minutes to bolt the hoist bracket back in and be ready to work.
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Joined: Mar 2004
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Dave,
I added a photo album called bed crane so you can see what I did. Sorry about the dirty truck haven't had the time to clean it. I've had that bracket in there for about 4 years now and it works out very well for me since I don't like that hoist's ugly post. I did have to flatten the bed in the area of the bracket. I found my drawing that I did to have it made but it's in paper form so I'll have to get it scanned if you're interested. Hope this helps....
Mark
I added a photo album called bed crane so you can see what I did. Sorry about the dirty truck haven't had the time to clean it. I've had that bracket in there for about 4 years now and it works out very well for me since I don't like that hoist's ugly post. I did have to flatten the bed in the area of the bracket. I found my drawing that I did to have it made but it's in paper form so I'll have to get it scanned if you're interested. Hope this helps....
Mark
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