New pickup bed crane - Page 2

I agree with KZ, excellent installation tater, im not often impressed but that's impressive

Crane was 400 and change. The 3/4" plate the winch bolts on to was 20 $ and however much the 2.5" square cost me, bought it for scrap and saved it for this project. Removing the bed might not been entirely nessecary but made a lot easier to weld up. Pulling the bed was a snap thanks to the gantry crane and a 6 ton chain hoist. My dad built it from scrap I beam he bought from a former employer, an ag equipment mfg company. Someday I'll have a shop that's as hooked up as the old mans but til then I'm just thankful he's willing to help me out by letting me use his.

Finally a pic of it in action

Lifted this 400# chunk of cast with ease

You need a gone fishing for the truck now.

Well it's not quite pulling stuff out of the river but it's quite handy. Since I adding the bigger accetylene bottle hand loading/unloading is not a option. Wished I would've bought this years ago.

A friend has a similar one but he didn't do that good a job installing the base. What he did do was make a bracket from the center post of the crane that also attached to the side of the bed. This little additional support helped a lot since it is a foot+ higher than the base, which takes advantage of leverage. I think you did an outstanding job on the installation and would consider the "side bracket" only if you find you need it. Mike.

Mainly have it for loading/unloading torch but will be used for anything i need it for. Could've built it myself but am lacking the time.

That's all excellent there tater, good job and everything. I hate to burst your bubble at this late date, but you should Not have welded onto that frame. Frames are tempered, and that just killed its temper and left it brittle. You'll want to watch that area over the years for cracks. Anyways, good luck, and stay safe ; )


Not sure what I was looking at when the pictures were first loading. When I wrote that post I was thinking it was mounted near the front of the bed(near center of the frame) but after looking at the photos again realized it was near the rear bumper. Not near as big a deal there but you still might wanna glance at it ever year or so, specially if it takes a lot of abuse under the weight of a heavy trailer on country roads etc ; )

Yeah that's if you get it too hot too fast. Learned this from a guy that made a living modifying straight trucks for a living, stretching frames or shortening them as well. Many, if not all, 2 ton trucks have a lengthened frame which always involves welding the frame. As long as the frame doesnt get too hot, it doesnt affect the tempering one bit. I've welded on several frames without any issues, welded the frame on my old '80 4x4, on the rear bolt of the front leaf spring where Chevys always bust. Over 3 years later and it's still running strong.

Your way too by the book, bear.

Originally Posted by Bear

You shouldn't have any problems where you're at there tater, but not getting too hot, too fast, isn't really a key to treated steel. If you made a puddle ( which is absolutely necessary in order to make a weld) your temps went well past any heat treated threshold, and if it wasn't treated on the way back to "cool" (which I'm certain it wasn't) there will still be a brittle area along the edges of the weld ; )

I know an old boy who's welded dozens and dozens straight truck frames who'd beg to differ.