DIY - Boom / Lift pole (with pics) for around $100

[TSO]

Just finished this earlier today. My inspiration came from when I bought my tractor and my used Box-Blade... the BB was sitting in their yard, in the middle of a pile of BB's - they used one of their yard tractors with a front boom to pick mine out of the pile and carry it over to my trailer. I knew that instant that I HAD to have one :thumbsup:

So anyhow, here's what I used:

2" hitch receiver - 3000lb capacity, ebay: $30 shipped
60" steel tubing (2"), .250 wall thickness (1/4"), ebay: $51 shipped
2"x2" 3/16" angle iron, from metal/scrap yard, $12
2 - 5/8" hitch pins, tractor supply: $10
Misc bolts, loops, etc: $10
TOTAL COST = approx $113
WORK TIME = approx 3 hours

So far, I haven't had the chance to do much work with it, but from the little work I did, it works great. I picked up my 66" heavy-duty box-blade with it, and without any hesitation or problem. I don't know for sure, but I'd guess the weight of the BB is at least 350lbs, but maybe closer to 500lbs. The only issue is ballast, but if I was actually doing work with it, I'd have the BB mounted to the rear for the ballast anyhow; I just picked it up today as a test.

Definitely well-worth the minimal cost and effort. The hardest part was just taking the time to drill the holes into the steel. I'll weld the applicable points later when I get access to a welder.

I first mounted the hitch-receiver to the top, and put the tubing into it to see if that would be enough. NO WAY! The top of the bucket started to bend with any amount of weight, and it would definitely overwork it to the point of breaking. Using the brace out of the angle-iron, resting on the cutting-edge of the bucket solved that problem.

Anyways... this will help me move trees and other large objects around as needed. Enjoy

 

[Ozykioti]

Nice one, another thing for my "must do" list.
Is there much flex along it's length? Looks like it might need a triangulated brace on top of the boom? The angle iron brace is a good idea, how is that held in position on the bucket?

 

[J_J]

I have a suggestion for you, and this is similar to rear tractor boom poles.

Weld a 6 in extension on top of the connection point. and weld some rebar from the start of the boom, across the extension, to the end of the boom.

No holes in boom unless at the end, to late.

Weakest point is at the holes in boom.

Connecting points for the boom can be anywhere along the boom, the closer you have the lifted object the more weight you can lift.

Similar to this.

I modified the end for a small receiver tube for attachments like in the third pic.

 

[TSO]

Nice one, another thing for my "must do" list.
Is there much flex along it's length? Looks like it might need a triangulated brace on top of the boom? The angle iron brace is a good idea, how is that held in position on the bucket?

I haven't noticed any flex, and that box blade is probably the heaviest thing I'd pick up with any regularity. I used the angle iron as a brace simply because I don't have a welder yet, and needed something that could be bolted; however, the base of the brace, which grabs the bottom of the bucket, is about 18" wide... so it does spread the weight a bit, similar to a triangular setup.

I made the brace just long enough that when you attach it (first onto the boom with the hitch pin), you lift slightly on the pole so that the brace is held onto the cutting edge by weight/tension. The only time it can "come loose" from the bottom of the bucket is during travel, going over bumps, when there is NO load keeping it pinched into place. So, I currently have a rubber bungee that keeps the brace in place during unloaded travel. The permanent fix will be a small section of chain, connected from the brace to the bucket/hitch receiver. I'm just waiting to get to the store to buy some, as I don't want to break any of my current chains for it.

............

And JJ, thanks for the suggestions; I'll look into it once I get a welder.

 

[PatasColo]

...
I modified the end for a small receiver tube for attachments like in the third pic.

Ha! That last one looks like a piece of equipment for the Bomb Defusing Squad! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :laughing::laughing::laughing:

Can you tell us what that is used for?!? (Besides looking like a lot of fun ).
-Mitch

 

[J_J]

Well, the last picture above, or third pic is a tree limb cutter, or root cutter, or whatever you want to cut.

It can turn side ways, upside down. vertical, etc.

It could pinch the head off a gator or snake.

Second picture is a limb cutter made by Power-Trac

 

[TWD]

I have a suggestion for you, and this is similar to rear tractor boom poles.

Weld a 6 in extension on top of the connection point. and weld some rebar from the start of the boom, across the extension, to the end of the boom.

No holes in boom unless at the end, to late.

Weakest point is at the holes in boom.

Connecting points for the boom can be anywhere along the boom, the closer you have the lifted object the more weight you can lift.

Similar to this.

I modified the end for a small receiver tube for attachments like in the third pic.

That's an awesome idea, thanks for sharing!