Home-Built Farm Crane

Home-Built Farm Crane FARM SHOP Tools 8-5-10 Iowa farmer Harold Peterson, of Larchwood, built a labor-saving crane and mounted it on the back of his 3/4 ton International truck to move hay and ear corn, and to perform a variety of other chores around his farm. Peterson has three different clamp attachments for the crane that'll handle large hay and straw bales, silage and ear corn. Towing a wagon behind the truck, Peterson can pick up bales, load them into a wagon and then unload them back at the farm ù all without leaving the truck cab. He also uses the crane to dig ditches, although he says it doesn't work as well as a backhoe. The crane, made from square tubing, has a 22-ft. reach, a 1,000-lb. lifting capacity and a 120? pivoting radius. It folds down into the truck bed for transport. The crane is bolted to the truck bed and is hydraulically powered via the truck's transmission. When needed, Peterson puts stands down to support the truck while the crane lifts heavy objects. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Harold Peterson, Larchwood, Iowa 51241 (ph 712 477-2985).

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