Slate as Motorcycle Hauler: Fit, Estimated Range & Real Limits (Article)

[TPL]

This thread gives me a great idea for a new Slate accessory: a rear-mounted crane or robotic arm.

 

[Visualvalhalla]

Like this?

 

[Doctors Do Little]

Like this?

Who needs a spare tire carrier when you can have THIS!

 

[kvermeer]

Like this?

@motorolas Why the laugh? That's a normal and readily available product:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F6YNZTN7

Note that most of the force is borne by the outrigger legs that the AI conveniently omitted, you'd need a REALLY stiff receiver and mounting tube to cantilever that load that far away, and I don't know that I'd get *that* one, but that's not unheard of. Usually, you lift the load with a winch at the rear of the arm, not just the hydraulics, and real service trucks have much better cranes - note that more weight capacity and more reach cost more money fast - but that's a system that works.

Personally, if I have something heavy to lift into and out of the back of a truck, I'd use a ceiling-mounted chain hoist that I drive away from or back under, or a portable engine hoist rolling on the ground on wheels, but I'm usually doing that lifting in my garage and using a forklift, tractor, or skid steer at the jobsite to unload. If you have to unload in the field and don't have heavy equipment to help there, a tool like the crane above is a reasonable solution!

Lots of other options here:

https://www.northerntool.com/categories/truck-cranes

But do your own research if that's a thing you need. I do think that a temporary attachment to the Slate and the ground through the receiver is probably among your best options, most of those davit cranes are intended for upfitters welding up service bodies for full-size trucks with ladder frames.

Perhaps the roll cage mounting points in the Slate could support one? The mount point really wants to be at the corner so you neither have to lift above the bed rails nor reach around the taillights, but those are sturdy starting points with preexisting threaded attachment points.

Those roll cage mount points would also be a great attachment point for a goosneck or 5th wheel hitch.

 

[motorolas]

@motorolas Why the laugh?

Cause it’s a great option that I didn’t know was available. As mentioned, I don’t have a motorcycle and don’t know what’s out there. Not sure where you are going with this, but it was not meant to offend.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

@motorolas Why the laugh? That's a normal and readily available product:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F6YNZTN7

Note that most of the force is borne by the outrigger legs that the AI conveniently omitted, you'd need a REALLY stiff receiver and mounting tube to cantilever that load that far away, and I don't know that I'd get *that* one, but that's not unheard of. Usually, you lift the load with a winch at the rear of the arm, not just the hydraulics, and real service trucks have much better cranes - note that more weight capacity and more reach cost more money fast - but that's a system that works.

Personally, if I have something heavy to lift into and out of the back of a truck, I'd use a ceiling-mounted chain hoist that I drive away from or back under, or a portable engine hoist rolling on the ground on wheels, but I'm usually doing that lifting in my garage and using a forklift, tractor, or skid steer at the jobsite to unload. If you have to unload in the field and don't have heavy equipment to help there, a tool like the crane above is a reasonable solution!

Lots of other options here:

https://www.northerntool.com/categories/truck-cranes

But do your own research if that's a thing you need. I do think that a temporary attachment to the Slate and the ground through the receiver is probably among your best options, most of those davit cranes are intended for upfitters welding up service bodies for full-size trucks with ladder frames.

Perhaps the roll cage mounting points in the Slate could support one? The mount point really wants to be at the corner so you neither have to lift above the bed rails nor reach around the taillights, but those are sturdy starting points with preexisting threaded attachment points.

Those roll cage mount points would also be a great attachment point for a goosneck or 5th wheel hitch.

I’m sure within a half day I could fabricate multiple uses for this bad boy! Sort of like why we need multiple sets of dishes? Same thing

 

[sodamo]

Or https://www.harborfreight.com/1000-lb-capacity-pickup-truck-bed-crane-60732.html

 

[gnarly180]

The capacity now shows 2kip so it should be alright.

Also, just lie to uhaul. Usually the employees don’t care.

I like that your units are in kips! More people need to use kips in everyday use, not just on jobsites or in engineering offices.