boom pole- did i do something unsafe

[jake98]

Going straight up an incline with a heavy load suspended from a boom pole would certainly create conditions for a backward flip. And, while boom pole accidents are not reported much, the physics really are similar to stump pulling using the 3pt hitch/toplink. Flip overs occur much faster than operators can manipulate controls.

Good advice from the man from 'Prudence'..

 

[Argosy]

Argosy, how about posting a pic of your boom pole.
Interesting concept. I could probably use one of those myself. :thumbsup:

I just saw your post. Will get it out in the next couple of days and post some pictures here.

 

[600rider]

I have a home built boom pole (we call em pig poles arround here!) that has a hinge and a cylinder so I can lift it higher to load things on a trailer. I work in manufacturing and drive jitney sometimes and when I took my drivers test for the jitney was told to back up an incline so the mopmentum of the rear wheels would force the fronts to the ground instead of to the sky. It works with my tractor when moving heavey loads with my BP and the front feels light I will move it in reverse (suspended load) so I cannot flip over end to end. This also works with my 3ph forks. Ken

 

[The Haymaker]

I have a home built boom pole (we call em pig poles arround here!) that has a hinge and a cylinder so I can lift it higher to load things on a trailer. I work in manufacturing and drive jitney sometimes and when I took my drivers test for the jitney was told to back up an incline so the mopmentum of the rear wheels would force the fronts to the ground instead of to the sky. It works with my tractor when moving heavey loads with my BP and the front feels light I will move it in reverse (suspended load) so I cannot flip over end to end. This also works with my 3ph forks. Ken

Different forces at work here. Going in reverse is doing nothing to help if you are picking up something heavier than the tractors weight can counterbalance.

 

[IslandTractor]

Backing up an incline when you have a heavy suspended load on a boom pole makes total sense.

 

[Argosy]

Driving down an incline makes sense for the same reason. If the tractor isn't heavy enough to counterbalance you need less load or more tractor. There are limits to what anything will handle.

EasTexan, the picture for you. Got it real cheap from a buddy who thought he could just bolt it to the bed of his truck. He quickly found out that thin sheet metal won't support weight swinging around without a lot of reinforcement.

The base is welded to an old draw bar. I rolled a piece of 3/16" x 2 strap to go around the tube. Welded a couple of short pieces on the end where the top link pin goes through for reinforcement. Because it's designed to be stored with the lift tube stored over the pickup bed I had to drill a hole through the inner pivot tube. All and all pretty easy to modify and a lot better than a fixed boom pole.

It's handy because you can extend the tube and snag something light without having to move anything in front of it. Being able to jack the arm is great for tall loads. The cable winch is a pain, like any cable winch. But it's easy to latch onto something solid and untangle it, unlike most cable winches.

Next up is a set of rear forks, as soon as I find a cheap trashed pallet jack.

 

[The Haymaker]

Backing up an incline when you have a heavy suspended load on a boom pole makes total sense.

Not quite sure that's the only condition he meant though.

 

[IslandTractor]

Different forces at work here. Going in reverse is doing nothing to help if you are picking up something heavier than the tractors weight can counterbalance.

You technically cannot pick up something heavier than the tractor's weight can counterbalance....you'll just pick up the other end of the tractor while the object remains on the ground.

 

[The Haymaker]

You technically cannot pick up something heavier than the tractor's weight can counterbalance....you'll just pick up the other end of the tractor while the object remains on the ground.

Umm, yeah. BUT you can pick something up that is close to the point of moving the center of gravity beyond the footprint of the axles. IF he meant traveling in a specific direction on a flat surface under this condition was any safer, I'd have to disagree. Yes, traveling in a specific direction on a grade can make a difference, but what do you do when you get to the flat spot on either side?

The practice he mentioned had more to do with transfer of weight to driven axles for traction purposes than to vehicle stability. Confusing the two could end up in one spending a lot of money on Band-Aids.

THIS goes a long way towards explaining how it works for those that don't grasp it. PIT's must be operated in a specific direction on slopes, differing for a laden or unladen state, for both reasons. Traction and stability.

 

[IslandTractor]

As I visualize traveling with a heavy load suspended from a boom pole and then needing to climb a slope: If you go forwards the load will actually swing even further back which further imbalances the tractor. If you back up the load swings toward the tractor which increases stability. I may be unclear but it doesn't seem like there would be a big effect on traction (especially with 4wd). In either dirrection there will be a lot if weight on the rear axle.