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Location

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Date Posted

Pataskala,OH

This is my first year going to a weighoff, How do I move a 600lb pumpkin? to a weighoff

9/25/2008 4:27:40 PM

[email protected]

From a postal standpoint, you first need to get a change of address card filled out.

9/25/2008 5:51:54 PM

[email protected]

You will need a lifting tarp or lifting apparatus if you do not have a friend with a fork lift. Once you get the pumpkin lifted with a tarp (I would go no less than 6 or seven guys (100 pounds per man you should figure), you need to hoist it into a pickup with a padded pallet. Transport to weigh off, be careful driving with a giant pumpkin, they shift if you hit the brakes quickly. You need to ensure it is strapped down and padded well. At the weigh off, there will be forklifts to move your fruit to and from your vehicle. When you get home, get those friends to help you unload it.

9/25/2008 5:55:11 PM

Midway, UT

To add to that I would throw a "pumpkin party." A pumpkin party hides the fact that you are asking friends to do hard work moving the pumpkin. You suggest to them food, fun and beverage and then while they are there you start telling them to grab onto the lifting tarp straps. I'll tell you how my pumpkin party goes tomorrow. LOL

9/25/2008 6:00:28 PM

Pataskala,OH

A pumpkin party wont work last year I couldnt Get 11 people to move A 200 Lb pumpkin. (: lol

9/25/2008 6:24:03 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Nic, without a bunch of friends, family (maybe all your Dad's buddies) to get a tarp underneath it and lift, then as Rock pointed out, you need to get it on a pallet and use a fork lift....get it on a truck or trailer and your good to go.

600lbs....good for you!!

9/25/2008 6:51:27 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

That's great...The hard part...growing that sucker is over...Now Logistics is the next obstacle..slope, distance, weight, height...etc...party doesn't start till it's on the pallet in the truck...Then the crew can go wild! Congrats..but the learning isn't over for the year till it's on the truck!

9/25/2008 7:02:32 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

I found out, I invited 8 to move about 450# and got zero.
Ask more than you may think you'll ever need.

Or get or make a lifting tarp and/or tripod and lift ring and move it that way. Next year I'm going tripod and ring!

9/25/2008 10:06:28 PM

[email protected]

Magic flying carpet.

9/26/2008 12:16:42 AM

Sunnyvale, California

I'm a newbie to Big Pumpkins and I've made my suggestion in the Newbie forum. I just use a cherry picker (hydraulic engine hoist) which can be rented cheap or borrow from a friend if you dont have one. Most are breakdown so placement is easy .Plywood makes a good platform and you will need to lay a piece over the legs to slide the pink (pull the punk ) to a point directly below the lifting beam.FRP(fiberglass reinforced plastic sheet is non abrasive and I lay a piece over the ply if its not smooth.This keeps your punk from abraded its skin while you drag it. If the lift has wide feet you wont need the ply on the legs but can lift it directly. Lift harness? I use a truck cargo strap and simply loop it under the exposed bottom sides of the punk and directly thru the lift hook where I put a knot in it. You'll have to try it to work out the particulars but it will lift a very heavy punk high enough for a standard pickup bed(monster lifted trucks would be a problem).With lift hook very close to the punk the strap will capture the punk amazingly well ,even tho it looks like the punk would fall out the bottom. Necessity is the mother of invention and this is how I currently do it-Alone. The Army says it takes 4 men several hours to put up a GP medium tent (16 x 32 x 12 feet tall at the ridge. I can do it in a day by myself. Of course having a herd of willing bodies to help out is always nice (and easy) but sometimes, if you want it done ,you gotta do it yourself.

9/26/2008 12:23:25 AM

Buffalo, New York

mine is estimated at 350 pounds, i plan on doing this:

having 2-3 guys tip it up perpendicular and another guy setting a pallet down underneath. then the guys lay it down gently onto the pallet. then i will slide (2) 2x4's through the pallet and each guy lift an end of the 2x4 and carry it to the truck bed where we can push the pallet in.
from there, i will somehow place a 1/2 of 2nd pallet or something so the pallet cant slide and i will use this bed poles to prevent the fruit from sliding.

for all you guys with bigger pumpkins, i cant help you there.

i plan on doing something like this video below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlxanGIYtmM&feature=related

9/26/2008 12:49:17 AM

Hobbiton New Zealand

I just tell my farm workers it is in their job description to help move them. LOL

9/26/2008 3:24:53 AM

Billerica,Massachusetts

put up a sign that reads " FREE BEER AND PIZZA" enough people will show!

Glenn

9/26/2008 8:09:21 AM

Pocatello ([email protected])

If you plan on doing this year after year, if you're a "lifer", and plan on being at 600+ each year, get a tripod! I used to fret over getting help at the time I needed it. Also, while my back can take it, my neighbors might not, and you don't want to live with that if something goes bad.

All that gear is expensive at first, but it can be used again and again.

In case anyone hasn't seen my photos of the tripod gear, it might be helpful:

http://cliffsgiantpumpkin.blogspot.com/2008/09/tripod-closeup.html

9/26/2008 11:39:18 AM

Wilmington.Ma.

All it takes is a 30 pack and good friends.

9/26/2008 11:51:08 AM

Pocatello ([email protected])

Without a tripod, and if it's too late and you're in a bind... for this year you can do it but 600 is just about the limit of what you want to attempt. It can even be done without a tarp if that's necessary and you can't get one in time.

Get a sturdy pallet, and cover it with carpet. Roll the pumpkin on it's side, then place the pallet next to it and carefully roll the fruit back on to the pallet. At this point, you can get a lot of bodies around the pallet and lift it on to the truck. You'll need 6 to 8 guys for 600 pounds, also note that the pallet itself weighs 50 pounds or more. What if your fruit is 20% heavy? That's great, but not in this situation!

Or if you have a tarp (a real pumpkin tarp with handles), do the same but use the tarp to get it on the pallet, then lift the pallet into the truck.

Please note that this is not desirable... just a stop gap measure if you can't get any equipment at this late date.

9/26/2008 11:57:53 AM

Pinedale, WY

I just pick it up by myself and put it on the pallet in the back of the truck, that way I don't have to worry about anyone else messing it up. I don't know about 600 lbs though, once they hit about 500 it is hard to do by yourself.

9/26/2008 12:20:10 PM

Pataskala,OH

It seems like beer is the best way to go but Im only 15 and my friends arent allowed to drink. (: lol

9/26/2008 5:28:53 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Beer didn't work here. Beer and steaks didn't work.

9/27/2008 11:44:47 AM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Make sure you drink all the beer AFTER the big lift.

9/27/2008 3:48:16 PM

Midwest

cliff, nice tripod... question. Did you join two pieces of 4X4 together with the 2X4s ?

9/27/2008 9:44:54 PM