LOOKING FOR PICS OF TRAILER MOUNTED CRANES

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muddstopper

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After being out of sorts for a long while. I am finally getting caught back up on some of my honey do's. Cleaned out the shop today and backed my trailer in to mount a lift for loading wood. Plans are to make a boom with hyd lift and a winch for loading logs in 10ft lenghts. Kinda looking for ideals of how others have done this. I have a floater type dual wheel axle tube I will use to make the swivel. My dump trailer has a D3 subplate with 12vdc solenoide control valve. I plan on swapping the subplate to use two solenoids, one for the dump bed and one for the boom lift. I will also be adding a 12vdc winch, probably a 8000lb winch, to the boom. I want to mount the boom on the trailer tongue so I can load on the truck as well as the trailer. I think I know what I want to do, but would like to see what ideals others have done and what they do or dont like about their setup.
 
Mud,get on the Forestry forum and search for what your looking for....
Few years back their was a good build..
I have one,bought it new,j-90,Farmi
 
I think we are going in the wrong direction for what I am looking for. While I would love to have one of the small knuckleboom type loaders, It would be very difficult to mount one on the tongue of my current trailer. Here is something similar to what I need.
iu
 
Start searching Craigslist for cranes off service trucks. One off a one ton service truck would work perfect for your dump trailer. One brand that comes to mind is Autocrane. They usually can be bought fairly cheap.
 
I have been looking in all the usual places. Not finding what I want. The problem with the autocrane and similar lifts is the winch capacity. I want to use the boom and winch to drag logs up to the trailer. The factory cranes have little winches and would over heat dragging a log 75ft to the trailer. I have a small mechanics crane I use on my splitter and it works well, but the winch leaves a little to be desired when it comes to anything more than a firewood log and any real distance. Also the winchs dont freewheel the cable off, which is another drawback if you want to pull something laying over the road bank.
 
I went a different route with mine. I have a 14' dovetail that i have used to haul logs. I built a hoop that hinges flat down on the floor when not used and up and over the back when needed. From a winch (or come-a-long) on the tongue a cable goes over a pulley on the hoop and out the back to a log. As I winch a log in the hoop will lift it off the ground enough to clear the back of the trailer. Then the hoop folds up as the log is dragged into the trailer. I can then stop and rehook the cable to drag the log directly on the trailer and swing the hoop out for the next log.
I have the trailer down for a suspension and floor upgrade now, but I will see if I can get a picture of it later.
 
I went a different route with mine. I have a 14' dovetail that i have used to haul logs. I built a hoop that hinges flat down on the floor when not used and up and over the back when needed. From a winch (or come-a-long) on the tongue a cable goes over a pulley on the hoop and out the back to a log. As I winch a log in the hoop will lift it off the ground enough to clear the back of the trailer. Then the hoop folds up as the log is dragged into the trailer. I can then stop and rehook the cable to drag the log directly on the trailer and swing the hoop out for the next log.
I have the trailer down for a suspension and floor upgrade now, but I will see if I can get a picture of it later.
I think You posted a pic before. At least I think I remember seeing one like you are describing. Those are good setups, but lack the ability to load the towing vehicle as well as the trailer. Still, I would like to see the pics again if post it.

I think I have a pretty good ideal of how I want to build my boom. I was hopeing for a few pics before I started just incase some of my ideals turn out to be not so good. I have a bunch of spare parts and scrap metal, so except for having to buy a winch and a d03 subplate for the hyd. I should be able to build what I want pretty cheap. Unless someone can post up a few pics of their booms, I guess I will have to proceed with what I have in mind and just hope I dont screw it up. I'll be sure to take pics.
 
The hook in the middle is where I put a pulley for a long pull or if I can back up to the log I can hook a chain directly to it. Then I use a hand winch to pull the arch up thus lifting the log. In the first picture you can see it folded flat for car hauling. I am planning a wood floor that have a notch in it to recess the arch into. When I have loaded multiple logs I leave the arch on top and chain it down with the logs under it. Sorry I don't have any in action pics. I can't record any right now as I have the trailer torn down for some modifications. I just used what I had laying around to build it. If I bought material I would have used something stronger than the pipe I have for a frame.
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I think You posted a pic before. At least I think I remember seeing one like you are describing. Those are good setups, but lack the ability to load the towing vehicle as well as the trailer. Still, I would like to see the pics again if post it.

.
You are right about can't load the truck with this setup. I put large logs on the trailer and brush and firewood in the bed of my truck. I am sure there are better setups, but not cheaper. I spent $400 on the trailer and only the electric to run my welder for the arch. I also bought a hand crank 2 speed winch for $30 so once I mill the flooring and get the brakes working I will have $500 in this setup.


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I like the fold down out of the way approach. I dont think I would like the 2spd hand winch. I would spend the extra for a electric winch.
I found a warn 8000lb winch online for $179. I dont know if thats a misprint, or a sucker you in to something else ad. anyways, I do plan on something more than a atv size winch. I need something I can pull a large log up over the road banks and something that will reach around behind a house. There is the risk of turning the trailer over by using a large winch, but duty cycle at half load limit is a lot better than full load limit of a smaller winch. Here is a pic of the trailer I plan on mounting the boom on.
 

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Mud will be interested in what your solution turns out to be. My challenge is that some of the contractors that I work with will call and tell me that they have 16 cords of green wood that has to be moved in two days. So I have to drive up to a pile of wood and load rounds of wood that can weigh 600 LBS and get it done in eight hours or get a motel. So if I can move 6 cords a day good. I tried several types of booms with a winch with less than the desired results. I have a couple of self powered winches now and when they are needed they really are needed. The winches are usually chained to a tree then they drag logs or rounds near a truck. That part has worked pretty well for most part with the exception some times I will load a trailer with wood then winch the trailer up a hill or bank loaded to hook up to a truck. Quite often I will need to drive to a pile of rounds and load then into truck and trailer. The crane does not work well with one person. If the crane is not perfectly level the wood can not be moved. I was all set to buy a portable backhoe then add a grapple in place of the bucket until I discovered how short they are. I need a 14' reach. When you say mounted that says no way. I want to be able to attach and unattach at a moments notice. As with the crane it can be bolted and unbolted. What I am doing is setting up a knuckle boom that will bolt up to the back of my dump truck when needed then when the wood is loaded drop it onto the loaded trailer chain it down and go. Thanks
 
I like the fold down out of the way approach. I dont think I would like the 2spd hand winch. I would spend the extra for a electric winch.
I found a warn 8000lb winch online for $179. I dont know if thats a misprint, or a sucker you in to something else ad. anyways, I do plan on something more than a atv size winch. I need something I can pull a large log up over the road banks and something that will reach around behind a house. There is the risk of turning the trailer over by using a large winch, but duty cycle at half load limit is a lot better than full load limit of a smaller winch. Here is a pic of the trailer I plan on mounting the boom on.

Hang on to your wallet. With all your equipment, skills and knowledge, go hydraulic even if it means converting a cheap electric winch.

Ron
 
Ted, I think I understand what you are wanting. I am going to say first off, my ideal of the boom and winch isnt going to be the answer for moving large logs long distance. Also with a boom the center of gravity is pretty high. Pulling something to heavy can lead to lifting the trailer up and over. I do intend to load logs with my boom, but one needs to use common sense choseing which logs to load and which to buck up into smaller pieces. Just because the winch can lift 8000lbs doesnt mean one should. My dump trailer is 6x10 and the sides are 2ft high. It will hold one cord. With a partial load of wood for weight, I should be able to pull a pretty large log. Another thing to consider is a boom with a heavy load puts a lot of weight on the support bearings for the boom base. Try to pull to much and one could break the boom off.
 
If that is real that is a heck of a price. Depending on the model and condition those are worth $500-800. Even the Harbor Freight model is $279 with a super coupon.
Yea, turned out the ad was real, but a mistake. I tried to order and they had changed the ad. I should have ordered when I first seen it instead of waiting a day or two. Dont know they would have honored the ad, but it sure would have made them squirm, or they would have sent me a bill for the $500+ current price.

I am thinking about trying one of the badland winchs from Harbor freight. Just waiting for them to go on sale again. They are swear by them, or swear at them, winchs. Either you get a good one, or you dont. HF stands behind them and will replace or refund so its kinda worth the risk, I think.
 
I am thinking about trying one of the badland winchs from Harbor freight. Just waiting for them to go on sale again. They are swear by them, or swear at them, winchs. Either you get a good one, or you dont. HF stands behind them and will replace or refund so its kinda worth the risk, I think.
Download the Harbor Freight app on a smartphone. It just about always has a winch or two on a coupon. I also get their monthly mailer. Sometimes you get absolute garbage, but I go buy something like sandpaper on a 20% coupon and get free batteries for the kids toys every time I am in town.
 

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