Beehive loader

Articulated truck crane to load beehives

[@jayfromtexas6718]

Very nice!

[@jimandnanc]

Planning on building one my self this winter, much like yours, going to use 6000# spindle and hub for the main pivot and two hubs off a golf cart for the mid pivot. Looks great John, thanks for sharing!

[@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog]

Excellent work!

[@FarmerJohnStephens]

Thanks Ian

[@adeereplowboy]

Nice

[@RaySarasin]

Looks great cannot wait to see it used

[@JDS62]

Hope the link works facebook.com/1493340277/videos/10218384564554128/

[@user-go9hb4td8j]

Hi John, looks a really smart job. The PTO joint shaft at the base was a good idea allowing for leveling adjustment. The cable to the hoist, did you consider putting a rotational electrical connector (I think they're called a "slip ring") at the pivot x2 to ensure you never get a twisted cable? Your DIY build has got to be the best around, as you haven't used expensive hydraulics for leveling. A very sensible construction you are rightly proud of...... darn, we're all envious ha ha.

[@FarmerJohnStephens]

I did what I could afford.....I did remember to drill holes in the PTO joint cup to drain water out of the mast. It has worked out good.

[@user-go9hb4td8j]

Thank you for your reply

[@badbee4690]

Hi John good job regards from West Aust

[@baazigaj9125]

Good stuff!!

[@shoneshonesky4051]

Give us some dimensions

[@matthunt4512]

Sweet

[@graemediesel2936]

It will be interesting to see it working when its finished

[@Trinityoaksfarms]

Hi john, really like the boom. Now that some time has passed are you still pleased with the design and would you do it over again? I am trying to decide if I am going to build one myself.

[@FarmerJohnStephens]

Yupp the only thing I want to change is making the hoist a wireless model.

[@vanderpoolfarmsl.l.c.9983]

For everyone thinking about fabricating your own knuckle boom; remember this: Your entire time, operating a knuckle boom has you standing directly under the winch at the end of the second arm. IF your engineering fails, the boom will drop down and clock you directly on the noggin. It's easy to fabricate something that looks nice. BUT, when a boom fails, it happens suddenly. I do not believe that the primary arm on this boom is of sufficient diameter for a 14' knuckle boom. I sincerely hope that "boom" does not turn into "BAM".

[@FarmerJohnStephens]

I appreciate your concern. That first section is 3 in schedule 80 seamless pipe. The hoist is a 880 lb capacity at a double line pull or 440 lb at a single line pull. I do not plan on going past the single line rating but I did hang a static load of 550 lb on the end and measured the deflection in that 7-ft length of pipe and it was less than 3/16 of an inch. I have had it looked at by a couple structural people they feel it should be good for lifting beehives. I tried to build everything with a little overkill and the part of that unit that perplexes me is the hoist is mounted by factory recommended procedure which means an 880 lb capacity hoist is bolted to that unit with four 3/8 coarse thread bolts. I truly place more confidence in the structural integrity of that unit then I do the threads on those four bolts. I must also add I ran my own crane business, I am very aware of overhead lifting safety.

[@dellorton1829]

What thickness square tubing did you use and thickness is pipe on arm Going to build one this winter

[@JDS62]

The outer square tubing was 3/8 and the inner was 1/4, the 3" pipe was schedule 80, I have moved hives with it and it works fine. I did add trailer tongue jacks to the rear corners of the bed for stability (to help keep it level) The only upgrade I may do is swap out the hoist for one that has wireless control, the pendant get twisted but I'm learning not to spin the hive once lifted so the swap may never happen.

[@carlosmario4460]

Nice work John. How much did it cost you? Is that metal powder coated. How do you secure it in place while driving. Any chance for a follow up video.

[@tylersowell5376]

Would love to know as well

[@Gabyog96]

Hello, cool design, can you help me? My uncle is a small beekeeper and he want a beehive loader, but we are from Mexico and here is very difficult to find one, so we decided to build one. Can you tell me what material did you use? What kind of pipe, pivot, the square of the base did you use? Thanks, we will try to build something similar

[@glenn6xxm1tyler39]

I love your loader. where are you located, and do you plan to build them?

[@JDS62]

Northern Michigan and no that's a one and only.. but I love it.

[@carlosmario4460]

Any chance of you selling your plans for it then ? 🙂

[@stevesoutdoorworld4340]

Sweet looking rig! Are you still using it after two years?😁

[@FarmerJohnStephens]

Yupp

[@kamonreynolds]

Nice John. SO........ when are you going to sell these? LOL

[@FarmerJohnStephens]

Nope...one was enough.

[@andrewlong2003]

What did you use for the middle pivot point?

[@FarmerJohnStephens]

Front hubs and wheel bearings from a 09 Ford escape. Preloaded with 3/4 threaded rod thru the center.

[@rickvalentine8223]

That's fantastic iam looking at doing something similar do have plans???

[@FarmerJohnStephens]

Only in my head....

[@roycarter6235]

Hello John That is absolutely brilliant. Greetings from the Blue Mountains outside of Sydney. I hope you don't mind if I copy that.

[@FarmerJohnStephens]

Not sure what it will lift, I go 260 and hung on the end without problem. Looking at a crane scale and doing some tests, the hoist is a 440 lb single line or 880 doubled.

[@adrianistrate9166]

@@FarmerJohnStephens Buna ziua .Puteti spune ce preț are macaraua?. Mulțumesc

[@user-co8we9rw6x]

Здраствуйте, не подскажите размеры конструкции?

[@glenn6xxm1tyler39]

How high is the boom from the truck bed? THANKS

[@FarmerJohnStephens]

51 inches and the jack will raise it another 19 inches if needed.

[@ThatBeeMan]

It's great that you were able to match the color of your truck! Question, is there an advantage to running a 120V winch vs a 12V winch?

[@FarmerJohnStephens]

That is 120 volt lifting hoist not a winch there is a difference winches are made for pulling on a flat surface hoist are for lifting and suspending loads. I could not find 12 volt hoist.

[@ThatBeeMan]

@@FarmerJohnStephens Thanks. I didn't know there was a difference. I wonder what the difference is.

[@FarmerJohnStephens]

The difference is in the brake unit.

[@ThatBeeMan]

@@FarmerJohnStephens That makes sense, thanks.