I am looking into picking up some pretty heavy stuff with my trailer

I need to get the stuff on and off of the trailer.This picture is what I dreamed up.

I think it's called something like a shear leg crane or somesuch.

The trailer can only hold 1200lbs, so it doesn't have to be too heavy duty.  The crane frame components would be part of the side boards when not in use. The wood would be used compressively, which is how they are strong. The boat winch is the item that would take all the strain, so I need to check into how strong that is.

The boat winch is something I have already on the trailer at that location. 

I'd just need to get the chain lift part. Maybe a cable come-along?

The crane end should only go to about even with the trailer tires. I will probably have a couple of ropes to enforce that. If it goes past it's center line, bad things would happen.

Anybody build something like this before? Anything I should know about my idea.

.

Join the Conversation

30 Comments

  1. not too bad. this may be a good way to get part of the tool on part of the trailer…then set down and re-attach to the tool towards the end and it would be more like sliding the tool onto the trailer. I don't think we would want that "crane" to get too vertical. 

  2. not too bad. this may be a good way to get part of the tool on part of the trailer…then set down and re-attach to the tool towards the end and it would be more like sliding the tool onto the trailer. I don't think we would want that "crane" to get too vertical.

  3. I am going to have a safety rope from the back of the trailer to the A frame that allows the crane boom to go no further forward than over the wheels of the trailer. I figure this is good as it would center the the load over the wheels which is where I want the load anyhow. 
    The safety stop would keep the crane from going over center and putting the load in the back of the trucklet. That would be bad. Very very bad. Like sleep in the back of the smashed vehicle until it's fixed bad.

    +Eric Michalsen Can we get the tools out of the building to the trailer if I can get this crane rigged up?

  4. I am going to have a safety rope from the back of the trailer to the A frame that allows the crane boom to go no further forward than over the wheels of the trailer. I figure this is good as it would center the the load over the wheels which is where I want the load anyhow. 
    The safety stop would keep the crane from going over center and putting the load in the back of the trucklet. That would be bad. Very very bad. Like sleep in the back of the smashed vehicle until it's fixed bad.

    +Eric Michalsen Can we get the tools out of the building to the trailer if I can get this crane rigged up?

  5. have Dad's old one in the garage, we used it to erect a 60-foot television antenna to get the Bears out of South Bend long ago – also still have a couple sections of that tower around

  6. have Dad's old one in the garage, we used it to erect a 60-foot television antenna to get the Bears out of South Bend long ago – also still have a couple sections of that tower around

  7. I was originally thinking chain hoist as that should allow me to let things down gently. But I see http://www.harborfreight.com/8000-lb-cable-winch-puller-543.html is half the price of the chain hoist I was looking at http://www.harborfreight.com/2-ton-chain-hoist-631.html

    I think I like the chain hoist better though. It ought to be safer for spotting the load. $30 to keep my fingers and toes is a bargain.

    I have a boat winch on the front of the trailer already I was planning on using to control the boom. If it's a 1 ton unit, it should be good for 1600lbs if the strap is in good shape, which I think it is. 

  8. I was originally thinking chain hoist as that should allow me to let things down gently. But I see http://www.harborfreight.com/8000-lb-cable-winch-puller-543.html is half the price of the chain hoist I was looking at http://www.harborfreight.com/2-ton-chain-hoist-631.html

    I think I like the chain hoist better though. It ought to be safer for spotting the load. $30 to keep my fingers and toes is a bargain.

    I have a boat winch on the front of the trailer already I was planning on using to control the boom. If it's a 1 ton unit, it should be good for 1600lbs if the strap is in good shape, which I think it is.

  9. have both here (though mine are kinda ancient) and willing to lend for testing etc. if desired… not sure from drawing how you'd use the chain hoist, unless in a garage and then wouldn't need the crane – we used the chain hoist to pull engines

  10. have both here (though mine are kinda ancient) and willing to lend for testing etc. if desired… not sure from drawing how you'd use the chain hoist, unless in a garage and then wouldn't need the crane – we used the chain hoist to pull engines

  11. The chain in the drawing represents the chain hoist. 

    2 degrees of freedom. The hoist from the end of the boom, and the angle of the boom controlled from the front of the trailer.

    The idea is that I can let the boom down, pick up the item, lift the boom so the end is over the wheels and let the load down. For safety, I would likely play out the chain hoist as the boom is moved so the item is only a few inches off of the trailer.

  12. The chain in the drawing represents the chain hoist. 

    2 degrees of freedom. The hoist from the end of the boom, and the angle of the boom controlled from the front of the trailer.

    The idea is that I can let the boom down, pick up the item, lift the boom so the end is over the wheels and let the load down. For safety, I would likely play out the chain hoist as the boom is moved so the item is only a few inches off of the trailer.

  13. ah, got it – chain hoist puts quite a bit of weight (30 lbs for that new one, guessing more for mine) out on the end of that boom – doesn't save any gas if I ride 'em out and back

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

WordPress Appliance - Powered by TurnKey Linux