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Ohio

I was wondering what every one uses to lift there pumpkins up to load into their trucks or trailers.

I made a wooden tripod that Bart Toftness gave me pointers on, made out of 4x4's with a 2 ton chain hoist to lift my 776,711 and 1019, and I did the loading all by myself. I don't advise this if you don't have to do it this way, if you can get some help , get it!,lol

My other two larger pumpkins I used a back hoe, and to me, I really cant see a difference in ether method of lifting as far as work goes or which one is safer to use.

This year I decided I'm going to use my tripods on all my pumpkins, and was thinking about replacing the wood legs with metal poles.
The only thing about the 4x4 wooden legs is that they start to split in certain places in the wood.
A lot of guys invest a lot of money in there growing but how many invest in a good lifting device, or on straps and chains? Inspect your straps and chains good, take it from someone who knows,lol. My chain busted right at the link. Only thing I can think of is why that happened is because maybe the chain was heated up to extreme heat and then cooled a few times. But I now have thicker chains that I will only use for my pumpkins and nothing eles.

Brooks

2/28/2008 3:01:08 PM

Alex, IN

I have not grown anything huge, 644 is my best followed by 448 and 308. We have loaded all of those by hand. I have been wanting to get plans to build a lifting ring to load fruit that we may grow bigger than 644.

Mikkal

2/28/2008 3:53:16 PM

Santa Rosa, CA

Brooks,

Your chain probably broke because you grew such a huge pumpkin (1402 pounds !!!!).

I use the lifter that the Pennsylvania Pumpkin growers sell. It is metal (orange) with 8 straps and a big rope at the bottom. As long as you have a tractor that can lift havy loads, it works great. It is on their website.

Chuck

2/28/2008 4:27:05 PM

Indiana

Brooks, it would take a massive amount of force to break a 4x4 split or not split. The weight is essentially spread amongst 3 of them.

I dont think a 5000 lb pumpkin would break the tripod....anyone else have any comments on this?

2/28/2008 4:36:24 PM

Wallingford,CT

I store my 4x4's in the garage and after 3 years they don't look any worse for their age. The tripod method works for me especially when I don't have any choice. Brooks is correct...get some help. I don't think I could get the tripod setup by myself but it is very easy for 2 men or even one man and a boy. After its the rest is easy. As Brooks points out ....use good equipment and inspect everything. A broken pumpkin is nothing compared to personal injury. 1171 is the most I have lifted with the tripod and it didn't show any signs of distress. I think its good for a lot more.

2/28/2008 5:12:11 PM

Fairport,NY

How about posting some schematics on these tripods?
would really like to build one this year
thanks

2/28/2008 5:39:46 PM

Ohio

Bart, it takes just about everything ya got to set the 4x4's up by your self, I put the two legs and spread them out beside the pumpkin , then I pick up the leg opsite of the two legs by the bolt and walk it up. Its risky though, Ya gotta brace the back two legs, cause one slip and a leg kicks out its gonna put a nasty scratch on your pumpkin,lol.

2/28/2008 6:39:51 PM

Ohio

I never used the tripods up untill last year , and it really didnt worry me so much of how much it could hold but rather a leg kicking out on me, and down goes the pumpkin.
I learned once you have your legs placed in the right postion to pick up the pumpkin, is to pound something (pipe) down in the ground right behind the legs so they cant kick out. After I did this I felt more comfortable with it.

2/28/2008 6:50:50 PM

East Lyme CT.

I use a device developed by Matt and Jim DeBacco. It is made from a motor lift modified to fit into my trailor. Rails extend beyond the trailor with supports under the rails(for leveling) straddling the pumpkin. Rigging (lifting ring) is attached to the pumpkin and hooked to the hydraulic cylinder on the lift and jacked up and then rolled into the trailor. I have moved 1000+lbers by myself with this device. Ilove it. Cost is about $200.00 for the motor lift and $100.00 for modifications (steel and welding). Set up time is minutes. My lift will pick 1500lbs with room to spare.

2/28/2008 7:29:24 PM

Saegertown Pa.

I have used a tripod with the 4 X 4 posts on all my big pumpkins with out any problems. It's easy to do by your self just put a step ladder about 10 feet from pumpkin and lean one post in the middle of the top of step later on the side away from pumpkin, and lean the other two post on the other side, line up your holes, put the rebar threw and walk it up.

2/28/2008 7:35:56 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

J.Benge, do you by have any pictures of your lift. I would like to see some photo's if you have any to see just what it looks like. [email protected]

2/28/2008 7:43:29 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Our neighbor is a dairy farmer, and he loads my pumpkins up with a skid loader(I think it's able to lift 1700 lbs. safely....so next year I may need something more heavy duty LOL!). We use manpower and a lifting tarp to get the pumpkins onto pallets.

2/28/2008 9:22:56 PM

Ohio

thats a good idea Quinn,
I dont have rebar that goes through my holes , a bolt holds my legs together, but I can easily take the legs apart and put them back together using that ladder method, never even gave that idea a thought before, it will sure save my back in the long run.
Quinn, when you use the rebar do you use anything to keep the rebar and legs together at the top from moving or shifting? Or do you need anything since the rebar is long enough?

2/28/2008 9:33:43 PM

Wallingford,CT

www.team-pumpkin.org has pictures of the tripod, its assembly and a link to a short video showing it's setup. there is also a powerpoint file with all the details. Quinn, you ladder idea sounds good. Soon as the kid leaves home I will try it.

2/28/2008 9:55:47 PM

Indiana

Brooks, you gotta give me a break here. I am about 5'9" 180 lbs, just put on 20 lbs of fat. Definitely not a big guy or a strong guy. I sit at my desk all day now. I put up the 14 ft tripod all the time by myself. Just do it ya big weenie! LOL

2/28/2008 10:59:26 PM

Ohio

Im just a big ol weak fat guy Tom! and 40 years old, hell , Im half way to 80! , Before I realize it, Ill be walking with a cane and playing bingo at our local fire station and sitting at the mall for crying out loud!

2/29/2008 5:34:37 AM

Jericho Vermont

I like Barts design alot and have used it for a few years. The only modification I made was to put two eyelets on each 4x4 about 7 feet up and attach a chain from post to post with a dog type hook. As I put the tripod up I measured at the seven foot height to make each leg equal distance and then made my chain at that length. So now every time I set up the tripod I know it is square (triangular) if you will. Sometimes it is hard to see if it is uneven and as the chain is pulled taught on each leg I know they are equal.
John

2/29/2008 6:31:04 AM

Saegertown Pa.

I put a chain around the top weaving it around the post and rebar. if you put it on before you have it all the way to the top, when you put it the rest of the way up it tightens together. I have a bad back and I do the pumpkin lifting by my self all the time.

2/29/2008 9:02:35 AM

New Brunswick

Brooks,ihad a pumpkin lifter made last sumner that 2 ton would be no problem for any kind of lifting and no help needed,so Brooks if you go over the TON mark i will come out with my lifter and give you a hand.Edmund

2/29/2008 9:09:17 AM

[email protected]

Lifting ring & a grapple truck.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=74834

Thank you Harlen Denny & Rick Capacelatro!

2/29/2008 5:12:02 PM

[email protected]

Bart's tripod is very cool. Unless built with poor lumber or set on a hill I doubt that even Brooks could screw it up....But then again....

2/29/2008 5:15:31 PM

Wallingford,CT

I use a ladder to put the chain on mine at the top after its up. John, I like your idea for spacing so I will be adding it to mine this year. In the past I have used a tape measure.

The original credit for the design goes to Andy Wolf who sent me his drawing.

2/29/2008 5:36:53 PM

Ohio

LOL Edmund, you remember you said that!! cause its gonna be a long drive from Canada to Ohio,lol!!

2/29/2008 6:54:14 PM

Ohio

Tremor,I just caught that remark!!,,,, what you talking about Willis!?,,,,LOL

2/29/2008 6:56:16 PM

Williamsburg,KY

Thanks for asking that question Brooks, I was just thinking about this very topic the other day and wondered what I was going to do. My PB is 450 but Im hoping for something really big. Now if I can just get my husband talked into making this for me..lol I do have access to a very large tractor so perhaps I could just use a lifting ring without the tripod, but now..where to find a inexpensive one..Croley

3/1/2008 8:40:14 AM