Anyone use a bed lift?

[76zimmer]

I usually have to work alone and as big and bulky as a full size dually bed is I need to be sure I don't damage a good one.
Wondered if anyone has used one of these bed lifts or something similar that could be used w/o anything overhead available?
I have a cherry picker to use with it

 

[sweetk30]

built my own real easy with 2 sticks of square tube . works great !

only thing I would say is make longer legs for engine hoist if your legs can slide in/out like lots of them do nowadays

 

[brans87]

Got a piece of 6x6 wood I use with cherry picker.

 

[76zimmer]

Does the reach of the cherry picker need to go all the way in to the middle of the box?

 

[brans87]

I didn't on a regular bed but was sketchy

 

[sweetk30]

if the tires on the truck are smaller and with of picker legs apart fits I go in from the side.

 

[brans87]

Mount just bare rim that might work narrows it up!

 

[rampage]

Does the reach of the cherry picker need to go all the way in to the middle of the box?

Needs to have weight centered front to rear and from side to side. You can locate it more towards the rear if you add counterweight to rear also.

 

[diesel4me]

I've used one and it worked slick--previously I had to link 4 chains together and anchor them to the stake pockets at each corner...the beds I took off I left the tailgates on them,to prevent the bed sides from caving in,plus they would have been front heavy without it in place.

I recently lifted a bed off a friends truck using the crane on my pickup..had to extend the boom out to the last position to reach..worked good with the bed lifter..his truck was not on asphalt and using a cherry picker would have been a real pain..

 

[76k5blazerr]

I recently used just a 2x4 with my cherry picker to install the bed on my 83 k10. Ran it from side to side under the bedrails and turned it "vertical" so it would flex as much. Worked fine.

 

[Capt Ron]

I have a spreader bar { I will post some pics tomorrow} and Rob said we could use his tow truck to lift the bed off, if we cannot come up with enough manpower. I imagine on your end a vertical 2x4 or 4x4 will be able to do the job to get the bed on your truck.

 

[skunked]

I've used wood several times, shortbed though.

 

[76zimmer]

Some great experienced ideas guys, not sure if going in from the side will be any better (dually fenders)?
Before I built the new shop, I used an overhead come-along to take off the original bed...with a 2x4 spreader, it kinda sucked but it did the job but was not easy to reach the come-along when the bed was finally high enough to remove from the frame. That is why I was looking for other alternative/safer methods this time around for picking up the new(er) bed I'm getting from Ron!

I have a spreader bar { I will post some pics tomorrow} and Rob said we could use his tow truck to lift the bed off, if we cannot come up with enough manpower. I imagine on your end a vertical 2x4 or 4x4 will be able to do the job to get the bed on your truck.

Ron, that sounds real good, I will trial fit my bed on the trailer, so we should just be able to drop yours on, bolt it down and be done!
I think I can use my lift to remove it from the trailer (maybe just attach at each corner pocket with the hoist arms) and put it on the CC frame!

 

[rampage]

Before I built the new shop, I used an overhead come-along to take off the original bed...with a 2x4 spreader, it kinda sucked but it did the job but was not easy to reach the come-along when the bed was finally high enough to remove from the frame...

I know it's after the fact, but is there a reason that instead of hooking the come-along in a hard to reach place, why didn't you put a pulley in its place and run a line to the come-along in a more convenient spot?

 

[76zimmer]

I know it's after the fact, but is there a reason that instead of hooking the come-along in a hard to reach place, why didn't you put a pulley in its place and run a line to the come-along in a more convenient spot?

creature of habit I guess...I've had that chain in the ceiling for over 20 yrs...I used it for pulling a lot of things, and everytime I was able to reach the come along w/o issue...Proof once again another set of eyes is invaluable!

 

[rampage]

creature of habit I guess...I've had that chain in the ceiling for over 20 yrs...I used it for pulling a lot of things, and every time I was able to reach the come along w/o issue...Proof once again another set of eyes is invaluable!

Know exactly what you mean, been there.

 

[diesel4me]

I was going to suggest the pulley idea too--one friend of mine has a hand cranked boat winch anchored to the back wall in his shop,and the cable runs up the wall,and over two pulleys,one on the wall above the winch at ceiling level,and another pulley in the center of the truss in the middle of the shop....

That way he can crank up or lower the winch cable from safe distance away..it works well for removing the cap off his pickup or lifting heavy items to load in the bed,but sometimes you need to be close enough to the lifted object to steady and guide it,and you cant,being a few feet away operating the winch,like when your pulling an engine,etc..he plans to upgrade to a Harbor Freight electric winch with a remote control to overcome that issue ..
I would like to put one of my 1500 lb. winches on my trucks crane,manual cranking is tough for me,but I dont use it often enough to justify all the effort of wiring it,making a 4 solenoid power in-out switch,and then have to worry about it getting stolen..

 

[Capt Ron]

My spreader bar and 2 or 4 heavy duty ratchet straps and tow truck boom extended all the way should get it loaded on your trailer.

 

[76zimmer]

looks like the trick!
I'll bring some straps along!