Pickup Bed Lifter

Nice Rick!
Yeah, it was always my brother & I that lifted off the beds. With just 2 guys, the hard part was getting it over the tires.
That tool looks nice. may have to get one if I can't fab one up.

Oh, I believe there is no copyright violation for that pic as long as you point to the website where you got it.

Chris,

The fabbing would not be that difficult if you had access to a welder and some square steel tubing.

Start with the center mass and make the extension arms able to slide into the center section for adjusting. The side arms slide out for width and the main section slides in and out for length of the bed.

A loop in the center for the cherry picker hook. Drill a hole and weld a nut onto it to lock down the adjustments so they don't move on you. And some 1 1/2" angle for the ends. Than a little piece of padding over the angle pieces to prevent damage to the under side of the bed sides.

If you want, I can take detailed pics of mine and send them to you.

Rick

My sons usually do the "man on each corner" thing, but if the help is not readily available this would be great.

If you are working on your own truck, all you really need is an attachment point in each corner and some appropriate rope, chain or cable. My truck has cleats in the corners, they are the best. They accept and securely hold a rope without tying a knot, just feed the tag end through the base, take a couple wraps and throw a half hitch over the horns. Very useful for securing things in the bed as well as lifting the bed off the truck. The cleats make it easy to adjust the length of each rope. Use four lines with a loop spliced on one end, whipping on the tag end to prevent unraveling. The four eyes attach to your hoist, the tag ends to each cleat. You can make it lift level by adjusting the length of the rigging at the cleat end.

Rope and cleats are probably cheaper & easier to obtain but it takes time to properly install them. Of course if the truck belongs to someone else they may not want cleats in the bed.

If you use three strand twisted nylon rope you can easily splice your own eyes and whip the ends, (a fid will make it easier but I have been known to borrow my wife's crochet needle) or just buy four ready made dock lines with a loop already spliced on one end, similar to the ones in this link. Obviously you need rope & cleats suitable for the task, this is just an example.

http://www.knotandrope.com/Store/pc/viewPrd.asp?i ... LhIcNLF_As

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Twisted-Nylon-Dock-Line-3 ... 0890913746

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MARINE-DOCK-CLEAT-6-GALVA ... 1203550063

Just make sure those cleats are through bolted.

Some put them on the truck with only sheet metal screws. I don't believe sheet metal screw will hold while lifting the bed. Don't want them tearing out as you get to the top of the lift.

Rick

For sure Rick. Through bolted & backing plates or washers. I use these cheap galvanized cleats, since it is a working truck, not anything for "show". On my '69 El Camino SS with a 396/4 speed I put some small nylon cleats in the corners with screws. That was sufficient to keep something light weight from sliding around, not much else.

Removed the 6 ft box from my Ranger by myself. Pair of work horses, few 2x4's, some blocks, couple inches at a time. Not really that hard. 2 guys could do it in 2 minutes. Now, a 8 ft full size box sure weighs a few hundred. would be a bit harder.