Front-End Loader Moving box blinds

[foggy1111]

I bought a as mounting plate for my loader and welded some “high forks) to the plate. They are 5’6” long. Now I can pick up blinds up to about 14’ high at the floor....and very carefully move the to new locations.

We have nine blinds and after logging our deer property some needed moving. Gotta have good ballast and be super careful with these forks but they have worked pretty slick for me.


ADVICE: Dont try this on Hilly Land. Be ready to set the blind down in an instant.

 

[houser52]

Great idea, Good job!

 

[rbtjr]

Interesting. We plan on moving one of our blinds. It's a 4' x 6' blind on an 8' support. We have 6' extensions for our 4.5' pallet forks. So, lifting the stand isn't an issue. The issue is how to handle the stand over uneven terrain to the place we want to move the stand to. We have pretty much decided to cut the legs on the stand down to 4'. The new location will be on high ground, so the 8' high support isn't necessary. I wouldn't be comfortable moving the stand with 8' legs over the terrain we need to cross to get to the new location. But kudos to you for your method of moving a stand on a really high support.

 

[FTG-05]

I've moved two blinds this way.

The first one, I way overbuilt the blind and had to have my neighbor with his 90 hp tractor move it.

Pics:

Getting ready to go down the hill:

About a thid of the way down:

Made it!

And how it looks now:

 

[FTG-05]

Interesting. We plan on moving one of our blinds. It's a 4' x 6' blind on an 8' support. We have 6' extensions for our 4.5' pallet forks. So, lifting the stand isn't an issue. The issue is how to handle the stand over uneven terrain to the place we want to move the stand to. We have pretty much decided to cut the legs on the stand down to 4'. The new location will be on high ground, so the 8' high support isn't necessary. I wouldn't be comfortable moving the stand with 8' legs over the terrain we need to cross to get to the new location. But kudos to you for your method of moving a stand on a really high support.

That's one of the reasons I use those "elevator" brackets. Install them during the build (in my shop), then attach the 4x4 posts at the site. I use 5/16" bolts (the directions say use 5/16" lag bolts), so they can be disassembled. You do have to make sure the bracing is disassemblable as well (I use Deckmate screws with the T-25 head).

 

[TheFarmerInAdell]

And how it looks now:

That's not a blind, that's a condo! :laughing:

my FIL has one like this and I pick on him often about it. :thumbsup:

I never did like hunting enclosed like this. You can't see or hear anything. Then again, I hunt in the wooded areas and the deer walk right underneath you, making it difficult to sneak out the door. Also, the enclosed is not real easy for bow hunting.

 

[Deerherd]

Big plush office chair, heater and WiFi. And a crossbow works fine.

Tractor makes a good mover and helps tremendously in leveling. I always have to dig.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

That's one of the reasons I use those "elevator" brackets. Install them during the build (in my shop), then attach the 4x4 posts at the site. I use 5/16" bolts (the directions say use 5/16" lag bolts), so they can be disassembled. You do have to make sure the bracing is disassemblable as well (I use Deckmate screws with the T-25 head).

Can you give more info on the "elevator" brackets? I haven't heard of them. Thanks.

 

[Thomas]

Just another good reason to own tractor etc. :thumbsup:

 

[Shaneard]

I built one on an old trailer so I can move it easy or pull it down the road, not too far, lol.

 

[rbtjr]

Can you give more info on the "elevator" brackets? I haven't heard of them. Thanks.

Same here. Are those brackets at the top of the supports? Sounds like a good idea but I am not familiar with them. Sounds like what we need to do with our blind on an 8' support is to lift the blind, remove the support, install these elevator brackets, move the stand without a support, then lift the stand and install the support under it at its new location.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

Same here. Are those brackets at the top of the supports? Sounds like a good idea but I am not familiar with them. Sounds like what we need to do with our blind on an 8' support is to lift the blind, remove the support, install these elevator brackets, move the stand without a support, then lift the stand and install the support under it at its new location.

I googled it and figured out what they were. It's a type of corner bracket.

 

[Avondale]

My wife\s mobile battle wagon.She won't climb trees

 

[FTG-05]

Can you give more info on the "elevator" brackets? I haven't heard of them. Thanks.

They have 2x4 brackets, 4x4 straight and 4x4 compound angle (8 degrees out in two directions): 4 x 4 Compound Elevators - Elevators They are about $80 at HD; I order them and they deliver free.

 

[FTG-05]

Same here. Are those brackets at the top of the supports? Sounds like a good idea but I am not familiar with them. Sounds like what we need to do with our blind on an 8' support is to lift the blind, remove the support, install these elevator brackets, move the stand without a support, then lift the stand and install the support under it at its new location.

If it's already emplaced and working good, why install the brackets?

 

[FTG-05]

That's not a blind, that's a condo! :laughing:

my FIL has one like this and I pick on him often about it. :thumbsup:

I never did like hunting enclosed like this. You can't see or hear anything. Then again, I hunt in the wooded areas and the deer walk right underneath you, making it difficult to sneak out the door. Also, the enclosed is not real easy for bow hunting.

I have two words for you: I don't do cold.


And yes 40 degrees (that's a positive number BTW) is cold. You American Siberians (i.e north of KY) can suck it.

 

[rbtjr]

If it's already emplaced and working good, why install the brackets?

Because we don't like the current location--it is not working well where it is now--and want to move the stand to a better location.

 

[TheFarmerInAdell]

I have two words for you: I don't do cold.


And yes 40 degrees (that's a positive number BTW) is cold. You American Siberians (i.e north of KY) can suck it.

40 degrees is just cooling off! :laughing:

I remember a few years ago hunting opening weekend for gun season (the Saturday before Thanksgiving here in WI) and it was -2 degrees out! Yes, I sat in an open stand. Yes, I was cold. I did see deer, just none worth removing my glove to take a shot at.

 

[FTG-05]

Because we don't like the current location--it is not working well where it is now--and want to move the stand to a better location.

Missed the part about moving it, oops!

If it can't be moved as-is, lift, remove support, move, attach elevators, add supports, drop and level.

A couple comments about using the elevators:

- I don't use 5/16's lag bolts, I use actual bolts, don't trust the lags to hold.
- While the elevators are securely bolted to the 2x6 or 2x8, they are still only held by the 2x itself. In other words, it's not too hard to pull the 2x itself right off the structure; there's a lot of torque on the other end of that 4x4x8 or 4x4x10. I reinforce them prior to emplacing.

Good luck!

 

[tractorshopper]

You guys have given me a new idea. This is why I love TBN.

I need to build some good sized blinds outside on the lawn in different areas around the house, then tell my wife I can't move them with my BX because it won't reach high enough or lift enough at height, so I have to buy a huge tractor to place them. Here comes the Kubota M series cabbed tractor for my current 3.3 acres.

This will be great. Of course, then I need to buy a 24' gooseneck because my 16' trailer won't have enough space or capacity at a mere 7,000 lbs rating because you know I'll have to offload these blinds at my hunting lease and some more at my brother's property.

Then of course, I have to buy the 3500 dually to pull all that with. Man, I'm getting excited. Y'all are the best!!