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Mastic Beach, New York

I'm trying to see what everybody use's to lift there pumpkin. I just brought 2 used sections of scaffolding (less then $50) needs a good cleaning and paint ...stole the idea from kilr...lol also useing a chain hoist w/ lifting straps from P&P...i also might make a lifting ring at work for a back up..if you could put a photo in your diary

9/4/2004 2:50:05 PM

Indiana

42" lifting ring, and tripod or tractor. Straps from waterman also

9/4/2004 3:18:13 PM

Woodburn, Indiana

beer + friends = lifting team

9/4/2004 4:13:31 PM

Walkerton Ont

Made a homemade ring hopefully it holds this year

9/4/2004 4:38:04 PM

Cologne / Germany

Have the fruits growing on wooden pallets since July. A hand pallet truck will be all I need in early October :-)
Since I grow them in my backyard, in the last 2 years removing and carrying the fruits away from the patch was always pretty difficult and dangerous.
Pallet growing was a good idea with the bad weather we had, I hope it will also pay off when it comes to transport the pumpkins.

9/4/2004 5:30:59 PM

Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, Germany

Ingo,

I guess your pumpkin will not fit into your small bus this year again :-)

Martin

9/4/2004 6:16:55 PM

Cologne / Germany

Martin, you´re right. The pumpkin is already bigger than the door of the bus. I have to look for something else :-)

9/4/2004 6:22:12 PM

[email protected]

Beer + Tarp + Friends + Cookout + Kubota B21

9/4/2004 7:22:32 PM

Saegertown Pa.

lifting ring from Pa. organization and tripod I made from treated 4x4

9/4/2004 8:11:31 PM

Whidbey Island

I agree with Tremor, but in a slightly different order.....Friends and tarp first, then beer and chili after the pkn is all loaded up.

WPM

9/4/2004 8:17:29 PM

Western Pa.

billy,

Two things to remember when lifting with scaffolding: First, make sure the scaffold is absolutely plumb and level, use blocking to assure it doesn't sink into the ground. (The scaffold in your diary is specially designed to be able to walk through, be careful because it tends to be "top heavy"). Second, when setting up planks to arrange lifting beam, straps and hoist, make sure scaffold planks have "dogs" or wooden stops on the ends.(Lost a pumpkin this way! Also, it's a good idea to add dogs to the lifting beam so it won't shift! Neglecting either one of these two can spell disaster!

9/4/2004 8:30:12 PM

So. Maine

Same thing I have been using 4 over 10 years.....nylon sling with a carpet insert + a tractor ....... AB

9/4/2004 11:45:42 PM

Key West, FL

lifting rings are the way to go.

9/5/2004 3:22:01 AM

Long Island,New York

Me, my wife, my 9yr old and my 11 year old should just about do it.........

9/5/2004 9:26:24 AM

Vermont Green MTN State

John Deere!

9/5/2004 1:50:16 PM

Streator ,Illinois

I might be using a shovel & wheel barrel but normaly a tarp , friends and a bobcat

9/5/2004 2:51:06 PM

New Brunswick

A piece of mill felt with hand holds cut in it, hubby, son, and two neighbours who oofed and grunted two of my punkin's onto our 4 wheel drive Nissan.

9/5/2004 6:08:00 PM

Mastic Beach, New York

Thanks Kilr..i was gonna give you a hollar about the pro's and con's of the scaffolding..
Ben... lifting ring is sounds good , but do you connect it to..tripod,bobcat,A frame?
G...either your wife/kids very strong or YOUR SANDBAGING about the size...lol I can make house calls too if need!

9/5/2004 10:04:31 PM

Amherst, WI

I built a monorail which I attach to the bed of my pick-up truck. I back up to the pumpkin, put bottle jacks under the rear bumper so I don't flatten the leaf springs. Then hook up the straps and lifting ring to the pumpkin and pick it up and roll it in to the truck using a chain hoist and trolley. I think there's a picture of it in my diary from last year.

9/5/2004 10:07:21 PM

Sancoins / Cher / FRANCE

In my newspaper you will be able to see photos of the manufacture of my lifter of pumpkin with belts, by hoping that that can help you.
Here is my link:
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryView.asp?season=2004&grower=18757&action=L
Jean louis

9/6/2004 1:11:46 AM

Hamburg, NY

7 X 7 Tarps and the Strap Lifters have been a big hit this year. Also 5 X 5 tarps have been in big demand. The Strap Lifter is well made (as are the tarps - Amish Tarp Maker) and you just use a tractor clevis on your tractor loader (or your neighbor's!) Plenty of time to order - all US orders are sent via USPS Priority Mail and USPS Global to Canada and other Countries. Quality is great and the prices are right - www.atlanticgiant.com or www.bigseeds.com

If you're growing pumpkins you need to move them! Thanks - Ray

9/6/2004 8:26:15 AM

Eveleth MN

myself, 171lbs. was pretty tough though, I lifted it into the back of my F-150. Next year HOPEFULLY the 743 Bobcat will be needed to do the job (will lift about 1500lbs.)

9/6/2004 11:49:22 AM

Sequim, WA

Kubota tractor with bucket, length of chain, tow strap wrapped around the fruit like the stitching on a baseball and tie down straps to keep the tow strap from slipping. Drop the pumpkin on the pallet with a tarp on it and place forks on bucket and lift into bed of F-150. Next year I hope I'll need a bigger truck.

9/6/2004 10:47:57 PM

Deer Park WA

36 HP Cub Cadet 4X4 with pallet forks, lots of friends to get it em on the pallets BBQ and Beer!

9/6/2004 11:04:12 PM

Billerica,Massachusetts

beer,pizza,and a tarp, oh yeah and about 10 friends.
Glenn

9/7/2004 8:23:44 AM

No Place Special

Large lifting ring(tested to hold over 2000 lbs)suspended from my grandfathers wrecker/ boom. If I dont use the wrecker, I'll be using 3 4x4's again with a chain hoist. Just worry that they may not hold. No problem with the 614 last year but this year im a little bigger.

9/7/2004 2:26:07 PM