Ricks Bronco: 1and 1/2

[rookieshooter]

Ok, before I go into detail on what "In blue blazes" is this all about.
I went out early this morning bow hunting which was nothing more then taking my bow out for a walk.
I noticed something without even giving it any thought, it was less vibration in the transfer case shifting handles.
Now I know that those helical cut gears are super strong but are generally more noise then the spiral cut gears. But there was less vibration then with the Amsoil, well I know what your thinking, "your just saying that cause that's what you decided to put in the case". All I can say don't knock it unless you tried it.
I'd love to hear if any one else running an Atlas has noticed this also when switching from Amsoil syn.. to Lucas T-Rex oil.
I looked on the bottle of the Lucas gear oil and low and behold it does say that it quiets the gear noise down, Hmmm.

Any rate about the new project. I'm tired of trying to hoist a deer up by pulling rope over limb or even using my winch to do it for skinning or butchering. It's just too much for my weathered body.
I need something self contained. So enter one removable crane boom that will utilize the front winch.
Planning to have it also relocate to rear.
Also can be used to lift all kinds of stuff around the garage to elevate for what ever reason.

 

[janderson4010]

It will be like jurassic park 2 when they have the jeep with a crane to pick up dinosaurs lol. Why dont you paint ur hunting rig cammo Rick?

 

[rookieshooter]

I'm done painting...well at least for now ha ha.

The vertical piece is 38" and the horizontal that the snatch block will hook to is 22" but may put a telescoping piece in also.
Material is 2x2" by 3/16" wall.

Going to mount this receiver on top of the front bumper in the vertical position...maybe.
It won't be welded but bolted on so I can remove it.

 

[broncobra22]

Atlas

Knew when you installed the case that you would love the mods that make it more serviceable, but for me I just like looking at the piece of art that your filling up...if It was under my Bronco I think I would take naps under her on a creeper just so I could wake up to her beautiful presence!

Too old, too tired but still enjoy!

 

[rookieshooter]

Knew when you installed the case that you would love the mods that make it more serviceable, but for me I just like looking at the piece of art that your filling up...if It was under my Bronco I think I would take naps under her on a creeper just so I could wake up to her beautiful presence!

Too old, too tired but still enjoy!

Hey, I resemble that last remark

Now back to the OBC or On Board Crane

Need to make the receiver hitch so it tilts down so I can slip the boom in.
Why lift all that weight when the whole idea is to eliminate heavy lifting.
I stole the hitch of an old riding lawn mower.

Tilted down for loading of boom.

In the working position. There will be more bracing after I see what parts are flexing from lifting . The boom will sit flush on the steel plate when in the upright position.
.

Just slid in boom.

Raise up and install the locking pin.

Now just to lift something and see where to add some more supports.

And now with just a push of a button, up it goes.
Have some rotational twist in the bumper tube. I'll preload the bracket back toward the grill with some welded supports to the part that has the locking pin.
From just an idea yesterday morning to a working crane.
I know I'll have more uses for this then I ever imagined. But with the Deer season already in, I'm sure I'll find some use for it.
Oh ya, the bottom of the horizontal beam is 7' off ground.

Once completed I'll just stow the boom in the rear bed. Just need to secure it well.

 

[MrQ]

I can think of a 101 uses for a winch...thanks to Rick, however, its now closer to 200.

 

[rookieshooter]

I can think of a 101 uses for a winch...thanks to Rick, however, its now closer to 200.

Oh I'm sure I'll find stuff to lift that I'd never even thought about lifting before.

Going with a removable chain that is directly behind the boom for the rear bracing.
The chain is connected to a bracket that is welded to the boom.
Then I welded a tab to the tube radiator support. For right now it's got a bolt through it, but later I'll add a turn buckle at the radiator end with an open hook.

 

[broncobra22]

Yard arm

I wish I had thought of that when we were working with Mulies and Elk, course would have had to scale up for the bigger animals. Have 'ya got game scales or a set of cotton scales? Could get live weight, just a manner of speaking, be hard to get any cooperation or enthusiasm for that one, and dressed total while in the field. Always interesting to keep tabs on a herds general condition by tracking kill weight over the years.

I think I could use a lift setup in a similar fashion for my DD B2. Might just eliminate a future back injury...good project on your part!

 

[rookieshooter]

Here in WV they don't weigh them at the checking stations. Now when I hunt in Md they do weigh them the last time I hunted there.
There's just too many deer and not enough hunters. The private farm that I hunt the browse line is as high as the deer can stand on their rear legs.
Nothing to see a couple of hundred yards through the woods and this is when there is still foliage on the trees.
The herd here in the Eastern Panhandle of WV is healthy. Now there are some counties that are getting that "Wasting syndrome" that was first found in the mid west I think. Your not even allowed to take a kill from those counties into another county.
It's just plain crazy driving at night during the rut. It's like playing bumper pool with deer.
Used to hunt the Flat top mountains in SW Colorado years ago. Wonderful country.

Wife got the kids an Xbox game and even bought me Cabala's Big Game hunt trying to keep me in the house I suppose. I lasted 5 min and I got bored and never played that game or any game again.

Back to the crane. I'm going to see what's involved to relocat to the back. I'll most likely just use a Come along device but might have a rotational plate to set the boom on so after I pick-up something I could swivel it around to the bed.

 

[broncobra22]

Conservation

You got a good feel for the deer, starvation is absoluutely the worst way any animal could go but the Walt Dizzy over Bambi generation would prefer this to a harvest and utilization of resources for food. Thank God for the trees during this drought...don't know how the deer would have made it.

When I was a kid it was unusual to even hear of a deer sighting in my county, now it's like you say, driving at night is a peril. Quality of all game is still great but it is only a matter of time. Can't blame it on wildlife regs pretty enlightened group here in Ok. & Texas but even the Ranchers who make their living on scientific breeding don't want anyone taking does or old spikes...unbelievable!! Texas Hill country deer are so stunted that a full size Collie could stand shoulder to shoulder with one and an 8 point rack could be covered with size 7.5 gimme cap.
What can I say vid games suck...

 

[rookieshooter]

Now with my crane I hope to give my back a break (bad choice of words) from this kind of lifting. And this was after dragging up one hill down another and across a creek. But no medication lowers my Blood Sugar as hunting or any good heart pounding exercises.
As you can see from the pic this doe is in fine shape. They always give birth to twins which is a good general sign of the herd's health.

I know these critters love eating the fawns while while mother doe is giving birth.
Every spring while trying to call in an Old Gobbler some of these fellas come sneaking in and there's always more then one. They look like a wolf when staring at ya when you first see um about 30 yards away crouching while coming in.
Killed this guy with one shot of bird shot. Now ya know he was halitosis close.

 

[janderson4010]

yeah we used to go coyote hunting all the time, my dad has a rem 22-250 set up just for that purpose with a bull barrel and leupold scope, we set up for a lot longer distances apparently haha, with that setup you can watch them kinda fall apart haha. I missed my chance to get an extra doe tag, i was supposed to put in for it like 2 weeks ago, it would have given me the opportunity to hunt a doe in the area my dad lives in, all id have to do is sit on his porch with a shotgun, they come into his front yard every morning, we had to put a 10 ft fence around the garden and all the small trees because of them, he was kinda mad we missed that tag, it would have been me my dad and 2 of my 3 brothers. would have really thinned out his deer prob, oh well i guess ill get a mule deer tag and go to the mountains for it.

 

[rookieshooter]

I can't blame your dad for getting upset. Post up some pics when you get that 4x4 buck loaded on your 4x4.

Now back to the OBC mod as it lifts an Old 190 lb. Buck. Belive me this Buck has seen better days. But it's all I had to check out the On Board Crane.
Warning this video is graphic in nature

Gruesome Old Buck video

The rear turn buckle really supports the boom nicly.

 

[bats]

Vid was gruesome, thanks for the warning!

 

[broncobra22]

Hunt & lift

I gotta get one of those lifts to play on! Certainly wasted no time in putting it to use...very successful hunt I'd say, healthy looking coyote, just a manner of speech, dead but left a fine pelt.

 

[rookieshooter]

Painted all up and secured in the riding mode if I decide to drive with it attached to the bumper.

Took it out to make sure there were no problems while driving and it went fine.

Next was to make a rear mount that will let the crane swivel.
I just used an old trailer ball, large washer and a piece of square tubing that will slide into the boom.

Just did a trailer ball flip and welded the ball end with the flat part of the ball on the exo cage and the side of ball on the swing out tire carrier support.
The square tubing is welded to a large flat washer and then welded to top of the large nut.

Then slide the boom over the smaller square tubing and it swivels on the nut.

Make sure it rotates so I'll be able to lift up the load and then swivel over to lower in bed. The boom is out to the side in this pic.
The 8" long inner tubing keeps it straight while turning and additional support when lifting.

Next was to add one of those hand cranks for lifting. Got this at Tractor Supply for $19. Still need rope for it.

Here it is turned as if your going to lower or raise something in bed.
Also if I decide to drive with it located in the rear I'll use the ratchet strap like you see.

It took me a few years to do it, but most satisfying I must admit.

Edit: The ratchet strap idea on holding in position may change to a Pull Pin located near the base to hold in from spinning around, but strap will work for time being. I'll also add a gusset to the side of the ball.

 

[broncobra22]

Your going to use the heck out of this boom lift, solves a lot of lifting/hauling problems...good tool!

 

[rookieshooter]

Your going to use the heck out of this boom lift, solves a lot of lifting/hauling problems...good tool!

 

[rookieshooter]

Went out and purchased some steel cable for the hand winch.

Found a spare bumper mounted tow hook that was laying around and thought that would fit the bill perfectly. 10,000# rating, a little overkill but it's not doing anything constructive laying in a tin can.
Also the snatch block tha you see was actually a brand new sheave block, but a removable pin in place of the bolt did the trick.

Now the cargo carrier compliments the "BuckCrane"

Still have to do a couple more things to the crane before it's finished, but then again, is anything ever finished on this project.

Now when playing on the rocks or some challaging trails, the boom can be left off or secured in the bed.
But most likely, since Hunting season came in early this year, the boom will just stay in the rear or front for months to come.

A small vice sure would be icing on the cake, don't ya think?

 

[gmanpaint]

How about a travel/luggage deck to slip in the hitch, to haul your trophy back home with? Or is the rack in the back not removable?