Another Silly Crane

Bob La Londe · 2025-02-10T22:50:08+00:00

first thing I note is its going to be very limited by the vertical you bolt it to. I'm not clear how long the arm is, and the support in tension may be why its rated as high as it is. The brace won't buckle in tension.I'd like to have a jib crane just inside a 12'H x 10'W overhead door. Its a silly reason. It might be handy for a few things, but the main one is to reach out side and lift the 5th wheel companion (locks into my under bed goose neck hitch) out of the bed of the truck, swing it inside and set it on a relatively high shelf out of the way.This toy won't do it, but it brings to mind that I may be way over thinking how much steel is required for what I want to do with one. 1300 lbs is a lot. More than a big block V8. More than a 250HP outboard. A lot more than a 5th wheel companion hitch. More than a field harvest citrus box full of folding tables or folding chairs.The big negative for me for this application is the brace in tension (strut?) reduces the maximum vertical height.This does not take away my desire for a gantry crane. It would just fill a very small niche in the shop.I actually might be interested in the one in the link above for working over my manual mill and lathe. Or even a lighter version. The 100lb vise I sometimes lift on and off the mill table, and the awkward lathe chucks I don't change often for fear of dinging the ways would certainly justify 71.99.

Feb 10, 2025 Last reply: 1 year ago 21 Replies

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Clare Snyder 1 year ago

You can be guaranteed you will not find a use for it until 3 days after you throw it out!!!

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Jim Wilkins 1 year ago

I was thinking wheel bearings might be a cheap option. I have actually replaced (and saved for a while) three spindle hub assemblies off the front of the Silverado 2500HD over the years I owned it. Like a lot of junk I thought I might use it someday, and then I threw it away. LOL. Pitched the last one after I sold the truck last year. Bob La Londe

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Your suggested loading may be within the capacity of small inexpensive trailer wheel bearings. The tradeoff is cost vs effort to adapt them. I try to keep long shafts within the 1-3/8" spindle bore size of my lathe, and preferably the max 1" 5C thru-hole collet. jsw

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