How to Connect Stuff to a Boom Pole?

[Suburban Plowboy]

I'm thinking of getting a boom pole for the rear of my Kubota L3710. The local Rural King sells a heavy-duty Tarter job for about $300.

I'm wondering how to attach things to the pole. Do I just get a length of 3/8" chain and use two shackles and a slip hook?

Also wondering if there is anything out there that can be lowered around rocks to pick them up, like a crane in an arcade machine. Tying a rope to a rock is not easy.

 

[zzvyb6]

Double set of ice tongs. Pallet forks seem to work the best. You sneak in under them and close their spacing. Every rock is different because of shape, weight, and source. Sometimes I find it better to just push them to a location rather than pick them up.

 

[WranglerX]

Rocks resist any sort of movement... Best thing I have found is approach with FEL and try to get under them, if that fails (and it will) roll rock into bucket, if it wont stay in bucket use some chains to keep it from falling out of bucket....IF a single chain fails maybe a net sort of thing using old tire chains or something similar... Oh and you will need some sort of hooks on bucket for chains and if you don't have a rear ballast you might consider one... Kind of spooky to try to raise a 500 pound rock and rear wheels of tractor lifts....

Dale

 

[sodamo]

As for what to use with boom pole. i’ve used rope, chain, even a 12vdc winch.

Bucket approach has been my successful rock mover.

 

[bullbreaker]

Heres one I used to own (sold it) square tubing World Agri Corp or also known as International built like around 2001 . It came red I painted it JD green to attract the "greenies" and add value to it > Also here's a blast from the past classic boom pole thread : https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/248603-tractor-supply-boom-pole.html

 

[Tractor Seabee]

For other than big tractors you, better have some counter weight on the front of the tractor, you put that load way back from the rear wheels creating a lot of leverage. With my BX use my BH with the outriggers down and 500# counter weight on the front, any tractor movement the outriggers are lifted only an inch from the ground to create over tuning prevention and move like a snail. Un-level ground, beware! BPs become more dangerous as the load weight goes up.

I had a design for a boom that rotates and has its own outriggers, all hydraulic. Never got around to building it, now probably never will. I think I would prefer a front mounted boom in place of the FEL.

Ron

 

[CalG]

Just because this is a "BOOM POLE" thread,

The most important safety aspect of fitting any load to the business end of a boom pole is that it should slide away freely in the event of too much load, too high, and the tractor may well upset.

Best boom pole end I've seen is a bare open pipe. The hooking on part was a short length of pipe that slipped into the pole. Nothing wrong with slipping over.

A short length of chain dangling from the pole end, with grab hooks on the chain that goes to the load. Bob IS your uncle!

 

[WranglerX]

Also keep in mind with boom poles that the longer the boom the more it decreases lift capacity....

Dale

 

[Utopia Texas]

Having driven tractors for over 45 years and owning 6 at the present time I have never found any job for a boom pole that a front end loader cannot do better, more efficiently or safer.......

 

[/pine]

With a boom pole you can actually see what you're lifting and everything around it...using a loader you can't see crap (without a spotter)...

As for a rock basket...I made one by making a series of chain circles of increasing size (from 8" in dia. to about 32" in dia)...then connected a cross of chains connecting all the loops with long enough tag ends for a lift ring...(think of a chain spider web)...

Another thing I did to my boom pole was put a ball hitch on it...works great for hauling logs especially with a pair of log tongs on the boom...can load logs on the trailer without even getting off the machine...