Anyone Use Truck Cranes?

[Haoleguy]

There are a number of times that I struggle to get heavy items(compressors, bricks, rotatiller, yardsale finds, etc) into my F150 truck bed. I thought about this before and it is striking me again.......this time between the ears and my lower back. So when I looked into to this a little I came across a number of cranes for pickups that fit into a plate bolted in the truck bed and hit around $100. I've also seen the Spitzlift cranes which seem to be better made and have a multitude of adaptive holders one of which cleanly fits the receiver hitch but this is 7x to 10x more than the other less expensive brands. I'm figuring I'm late to this show and others have purchased some of these solutions totally or have adapted them for specific use. If you have a crane for your pickup truck what solution did you come up with and what are the pros and cons?.......Gary

 

[Cami]

I sometimes use an A-frame and a come-along or two.

Pros:
-Cheap
-Cheap
-Impresses the Baden Powell types.
-Fits under your seat(saw and rope)

Cons:
-Relatively long setup/tear down time.
-Don't even think of taking it on the road when it's set up!
-Clients might think I'm a cave-man.
-I'm not sure what my insurance company would say.

I learned this work method with an old job I had. We'd be expected to move Heaven and Earth with a box of blocks, a spool of line and our sorry selves as the motive power.

Most often I move heavy items in and out of my truck by dragging them up ramps and into the bank; either with a winch or walking it with a bar. A shortcut I use with my welder at the shop is to move it between the truck and a stout welding table so there's only a 3" elevation change to deal with.

 

[Egon]

We used to call those Gin Poles. They were installed on a lot of trucks working in the oilfield.

They are no longer allowed in the area in which I was familiar.

 

[Skyco]

I mounted one of the truck cranes in the rear corner of my dump trailer to help load heavy items. So far I've only used it for firewood too large to pick up myself.
I reinforced the underside of the trailer bed and also welded the nuts on so I can quickly remove/install it from the top without having to crawl under or need two people.
I really question the strength of the typical truck bed, looks to me like they'd require major reinforcement to avoid bending/damaging the floor.

 

[Haoleguy]

I really question the strength of the typical truck bed, looks to me like they'd require major reinforcement to avoid bending/damaging the floor.

I agree on the truck bed strength as one would need to tie into the frame to match the weight capacity of the crane. One reason I was interested in the Spitzlift is that it can attach to an adapter that uses your trailer hitch(mine is frame attached) and the ground to support the weight. I'm kind of figuring others have done something similar without the cost....Gary

 

[clemsonfor]

i was also going to say anything over 200lbs would probly bend and eventually rip out of your truck bed unless you weld a plate and attach to the frame from the under side. You can always buy the crane weld a plate to bolt it to the weld a 2'' square tube to it to fit into the receiver and two 2" square feet, with plates on the bottom to keep from pressinginto the ground, for ground support that then can be mounted into the receiver, but this thing unless you have it to where it can be put togeather with pins will probly be as heavy as some of the items your using it to lift into your truck.

 

[dieselscout80]

I don't have one yet but I'm getting the parts slowly.

Reese hitch mounted truck crane - Shop Floor Talk
Inspired By Cutter's "White Trash" - Shop Floor Talk
Trailer Snatch? - Shop Floor Talk

 

[Haoleguy]

The following is a video for the Spitzlift ....... YouTube - Spitzlift Promo 2006 . Seems like a sturdy system from the info and endorsements on the web but I'm sure others have something similar.........Gary

 

[jenkinsph]

I move enough heavy stuff that I have TommyGates on two trucks with a 1300# rating. I find that these are safer to use because no one has to guide and swing the load in place. Lot less damage to the truck too. If the liftgate won't handle it then I use forks on the 110tlb.

I had a truck crane similar to what you are thinking and it is hard to use and can be dangerous too.