Truck / trailer mounted crane

MossRoad · Dec 18, 2019

4570Man said:
I致e seen those for setting septic tanks but not for much else.

LouNY said:
Used to see similar units on trucks or trailer mounted to carry and set pre cast burial vaults in grave yards.

Yep. They use them to deliver vaults and septic tanks around here.

oldnslo · Dec 19, 2019

Possibly look for an old mechanics service truck that has a small crane on it. These would have the hydraulic rotate, winch pulleys, etc.

cstamm81 · Dec 19, 2019

Smokeydog said:
I like building stuff. Most everything I have has been repaired or modified to suit my needs. Equipment used for lifting usually has 10x safety factor and design features the help prevent failure.

Had a neighbor, friend, farmer, machinist and talented fabricator build a nice tractor size log wagon with self loading grapple. A retirement gift to himself for his personal use. Very professional looking and functional. He used it for a year gathering quite a bit of timber. His family found him, crushed to death by a failed pivot point one evening when he didn稚 come home.
I think about that a lot when I am working, building or designing equipment and enjoying this lifestyle. Whatever you do make sure you get to come home.

This is a really good point, I appreciate the input. I'm sorry to hear about your friend, that's a sad story.

Since I've had kids, I always think about their safety first and foremost, but also much more for my own safety. With that in mind, the thought of home made vs engineered equipment has come to mind. I have a really burly log splitter, I bought it years back, it's home made. The welds and the fit and finish are impressive, and I swapped all of the hydraulics to make the machine cycle faster. 2 winters ago, I was lazy and didn't replace a bolt that had backed out on the pusher plate. Well, I tried to split a twisted piece that put sideways leverage on pusher plate and snapped the cylinder. Nothing bad happened, but it did scare me, the thought of that potential energy.

That said, my thoughts on a home made crane are mainly that I'm trying to design it so I won't be close enough to be injured were something to break. Am I wrong in thinking that as long as I'm not under the load, or standing right next to the crane itself, that I am very unlikely to be injured if it were to suddenly break?

You're also right about this type of lifestyle and its inherent risks. I can't see living another way, but consistently being around / operating equipment raises your risk no matter how competent of an operator you are.