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Tipp City, Ohio

Looks like I may have something bigger than I can pick up with my two hands for a weigh off barring anything drastic.

I am thinking of using 4x4s for the tripod. What length should they be? I saw Quinn Werner's on the OVGPG patch tour. Something simular to that is what I would like to do.

Tom

8/12/2005 9:27:59 PM

No Place Special

12 or 14' I think mine are

8/12/2005 9:44:49 PM

Indiana

if you want to back a pickup truck under it, you definitely want 14-16 ft.

Tom

8/13/2005 9:25:08 AM

Selbyville, Delaware

Does anyone have any plans on how to build a safe one?

8/13/2005 10:27:36 AM

Montoursville, PA

The one I saw, on the Ohio Tour, two years ago was four by four inches, eighteen feet timbers. The grower could back the pickup truck under the raised pumpkin, with no problem.

Measure the total width, of your truck or trailer. Give that width, to any person good with math. From that base and an eighteen foot side the angle, of that cut, can be easily established. The center piece does not get cut. All three pieces get drilled. The metal rod, in the one,I saw was a three quarter inch piece of re-bar, stuck through all three pieces with a fair amount, of extra bar, to avoid bar movement that might be difficult should it come apart.

A chain was the wrap around that circled the tri-pod under the through bar and over the spread top, to which the lifting devise was attached. This could be a standard block and tackle or a chain hoist. Cabela's Catalog lists a one ton chain hoist for $49.99. It has a 32-1 ratio. That would lift nicely anything up to a ton. If it is rated, for a ton, the upper limits are a good bit more.

I will be making one using these specs this year. I have tried other set ups each, of which, left a good bit of safety to be desired. It would be a bit of a gunt but one or two guys can set the tripod up and load the monsters with relative ease.

8/13/2005 9:02:21 PM

Montoursville, PA

ps!!!! don't forget to tell your math person the base is in the air to clear the side rails on your truck or trailer plus at least a foot for ease of backing into the tripod.

8/13/2005 9:15:15 PM

Montoursville, PA

The easiest way to load is still with a back hoe with a front end lifter.......assuming you have the equipment and access, to work with that equipment.

8/13/2005 9:20:18 PM

[email protected]

I think a lifting crane that large might just fit on the trailer right next to the backhoe. LOL

14-18' beams are going to be heavy too.

8/13/2005 10:27:08 PM

Tipp City, Ohio

Thanks for the replies!

I only want to lift the pumpkins high enought to place a pallet and padding underneath so I can later lift it with the forks on my tractor.....Tom

8/14/2005 9:01:56 PM

Montoursville, PA

Well you could roll them to the farm pond and set them afloat. Then back the trailer under them and drag them out just like your boat. :))))

8/15/2005 12:34:10 PM

Tipp City, Ohio

All the ponds have dried up around here. We recieved less than 1/2 inch for the month of July and just today passed that amount for August.

8/15/2005 9:40:36 PM