3-pt shop crane

Ilikeurtractor · Aug 24, 2013

I always wanted to rig up a 3-pt connection to move my shop crane around. Finally got around to it. Works great for pulling up small trees/shrubs with the mobility it has now. I only plan on transporting it and not using it like a boom pole but I suppose it could be used like that as well. Just throwing out ideas for those that already have a crane or someone looking to get a boom pole - this might be a more useful option for close to the same price and a little fab work.

Xfaxman · Aug 25, 2013

Good idea! :thumbsup:

I had one mounted in the back of the old farm jeep I had several years ago.

The shop crane that I have now has a bracket on it, to hold it to the goose neck hitch in my pickup.

Ilikeurtractor · Aug 25, 2013

Thanks. A couple nice features of a 3-pt crane:

1.) It allows smaller tractors to have the ability to lift more than a typical boom pole and loader setup. Of course the crane needs to be set down to do so. You can still pull the unit along assuming the ground is hard and level enough to allow the crane's wheels to work. I realize crane manuals state you're not suppose to move the crane under load but I think they're pretty useless if you don't and have seen it done a lot.

2.) With the crane attached to the 3-pt, there isn't a big need to put down the legs which I find can cause problems with access to the item you're trying to lift.

As a test, I hooked up a 300 lb. load to the suspended crane just to see how it would hold-up. I added some extra bracing since the last picture.

My crane is only a 1-ton version, but I probably would have bought the 2-ton now. Something else to consider...

bcp · Aug 25, 2013

You could put some larger wheels on it like this

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/146927-engine-lift-field-use.html#post1696454

or like the towable hoists.

Towable Portacrane Engine Lifter : Hirepool

Bruce

xring100 · Aug 25, 2013

Awesome you could always make it so the cylinder was quick change and throw in one you can run off your tractor if you had a valve setup it would make pulling stumps easier.

Ilikeurtractor · Aug 25, 2013

Neat stuff. Thanks for the links. I figured others have explored similar designs but the main thing for me is that it was kind of a hassle to move it around - the folding legs aren't rigid when they are upright so you can't grab it and move it easily by them and it doesn't roll the greatest. All the wheels swivel and it makes it hard to direct. I also have an inclined driveway and it can be a challenge moving it up and down it (well down is easy

- lookout below!). This helps a lot with that and has a couple of added benefits. It is a good idea to run it off the tractor hydraulics - could save a lot of time if you're doing a lot of work with it off the tractor.

NHmitch · Aug 27, 2013

That is a great design! Where did you get the crane from before your modified it? I need to invest in one, some day. Thanks for the photos of your project!

timster2 · Aug 27, 2013

Another project to add to my list of neat things to do!

Ilikeurtractor · Aug 27, 2013

I bought the crane from Harbor Freight when they had the $99 sale on the 1-ton version which they have periodically it seems. I think with shipping it was around $150-175 but I can't remember now. It's a little more compact than the 2-ton version and cheaper of course, but I suppose I probably should have gone with the 2-ton version now that I have exapanded its role some. I don't use it a whole lot but I can think of some projects where it will be handy on the tractor.

Ilikeurtractor · Dec 15, 2018

Update for 3-pt shop crane:

3 pt crane pneumatic operated ram - YouTube

downsizingnow48 · Dec 15, 2018

Nice job. I put my old 2 ton Harbor Freight shop crane on the front of the tractor with a SSQA conversion. Extremely handy to have an all terrain mobile shop crane. I can use it in the shop if I need to, and anywhere else as well. Since I already had front hydraulics on the loader, it was easy to swap in a hydraulic cylinder to replace the HF jack.