04Boom.JPG
841 hits | 64.64 KB | Posted: 11/26/11
I haven't been able to find a bed crane that stows out-of-the-way, so I'm building one.

13Assy.JPG
1186 hits | 52.83 KB | Posted: 11/26/11
These tubes will reinforce the bed so the crane can handle some load without bending the sheet metal...

14TestFit.JPG
781 hits | 89.92 KB | Posted: 12/18/11
It's coming together slowly...

23Hung.JPG
753 hits | 90.09 KB | Posted: 12/22/11
Apparently, my base plate is pretty strong, since that's all that's holding the ~70lb assembly up ri...

24Hoisted.JPG
767 hits | 102.01 KB | Posted: 12/23/11
It fits! It works! A lot of it is just tack-welded, so I have to take it apart & finish booger-wel...

25Hoisted.JPG
715 hits | 97.01 KB | Posted: 12/23/11
Even with the boom fully compressed, it has enough reach to lift something over the t/g. But extend...

26High.JPG
786 hits | 95.01 KB | Posted: 12/23/11
I still have to drill the holes in the black boom for the extension pin, and then sandblast & paint ...

27Low.JPG
703 hits | 96.7 KB | Posted: 12/23/11
Extended at full droop, it just clears the t/g.

28Up.JPG
1231 hits | 86.66 KB | Posted: 12/23/11
This isn't FULL-height, but it's close. Obviously, it can only be used like this when the camper sh...

30Stowed.JPG
1034 hits | 88.81 KB | Posted: 12/23/11
This is the main reason I built my own instead of buying one - storage, and accessibility. It self-...

32Cable.JPG
739 hits | 91.44 KB | Posted: 1/6/12
I built the cable long enough to use the snatch block at full extension, but it's still short enough...

36Engine.JPG
780 hits | 121.36 KB | Posted: 1/6/12
I kicked it off into the deep end: the test-run is a complete 5.8L engine with a full torque convert...

41Engine.JPG
1398 hits | 116.54 KB | Posted: 1/6/12
This boom is thinner tubing, so I expected it to fold as I was raising the engine, but it held. So ...

46Engine.JPG
948 hits | 79.03 KB | Posted: 1/6/12
After resetting with the normal boom, I stripped it to the long block. The crane is relatively easy...

53Engine.JPG
943 hits | 83.71 KB | Posted: 1/6/12
This was with the long boom swung straight to the side, which puts the most load on the bedwall & br...

54Engine.JPG
857 hits | 71.49 KB | Posted: 1/6/12
With the shorter boom, it swings inside. I put one strap on the engine to keep it from swinging, an...

07Enh.JPG
806 hits | 107.82 KB | Posted: 7/22/12
This engine/trans came out of my '83 Bronco and is going onto a '93 Bronco frame with all the '83's ...

Camper01.JPG
499 hits | 130.25 KB | Posted: 3/25/14
I need to haul my front door, and it won't fit in the bed, so I'm removing the camper shell. The cr...

Camper02.JPG
430 hits | 128.78 KB | Posted: 3/25/14
I had to add a small plywood pad, but the crane lifts the shell easily, and reaches very close to it...

Camper03.JPG
405 hits | 121.91 KB | Posted: 3/25/14
It's on the bedrails to keep it from tipping in the breeze, but the camper's weight is entirely on t...

Camper04.JPG
634 hits | 131.88 KB | Posted: 3/25/14
It's on the bedrails to keep it from tipping in the breeze, but the camper's weight is entirely on ...

Camper05.JPG
561 hits | 126.42 KB | Posted: 3/25/14
I lowered the crane until I could pick the camper up on my shoulders, and walked it to the back yard...

Camper06.JPG
499 hits | 123.39 KB | Posted: 3/25/14
This is the first time I've had the camper off, and probably the first time it has been off in more ...