Swivel Crane Ute Upgrade

**turpene** · 20th May 2017, 08:35 PM

Now that I'm into the realm of looking for some decent machinery, I noticed that the weight of most of the stuff woth buying was going to be not much fun to get off the back of the ute once I got home. So I picked up one of these this morning - A353 | TCS-450 Swivel Crane -Truck or Ute

In terms of price vs added functionality, it's one of the cheapest upgrades I've done, and should pay for itself soon enough through helping me avoid delivery fees and chiropractic appointments.

The crane didn't come with any steel or bolts to attach to to the underside of my tray, so there was a little added cost picking up some things from Bunnings.

https://www.bunnings.com.au/carinya-...acket_p3961588 x 2 ($36)
https://www.bunnings.com.au/zenith-m...-pack_p2260608 ($12)
some lock and flat washers ($5?)
and a coupla hot dogs ($5)

As I don't intend to lift over 200kg, I didn't go nuts with welding to the frame or anything.

The 6mm steel angle brackets slid in between the T rails under my aluminium tray, but due to their spacing and the dimensions of the crane base, I had to use the 50mm edge under the rear side. The pre-drilled holes didn't line up with the crane base, so I had to widen the centre hole on the 70mm face of the font side a little and drill new holes right and left. The centre hole on the rear 50mm face lined up well, so I only had to drill the right and left for those. I'm glad to report my cheap Ozito drill press got through it alright.

I didn't bolt the centre holes in the base, as it ran directly over a T track and I conveniently estimated that it would be stronger to leave them intact.

After that, a little work putting the rest of the crane together, and job done.

Now I have no excuse not to cart home some raw timber and heavy machinery

All in, cost under $300 total, and I've done a test lift of 150 kg without seeing any signs or sounds of metal stress or deformation in the tray.

The only downside is that it increased the height of the ute to about 2.3m, but that probably only makes fast food less convenient which is a good thing.

**Handyjack** · 25th May 2017, 09:46 PM

If the height is now 2.3m put a reminder on your dash. It might restrict you going into some carparks and it might hit some kerb side vegetation. Other than that, if it saves an injury it will pay for itself.

Thank you for showing it to us.

**bryn23** · 26th May 2017, 09:06 AM

i'm not sure if you have any experience with welding.

But you could make up a base with a 500mm tube large enough for the crane shaft to fit inside.

Then its removable.

off course it has to be welded well and designed to be able to handle the stresses, but my Spilzlift is set up like that and its really handy.

there is a few photos on there website that shows the base https://spitzlift.com/pickup-trucks/

you made the right choice getting a crane, you only have one back

**bryn23** · 26th May 2017, 10:41 AM

here is a detail view of the base.

3lbow2-4-m6.jpg

**turpene** · 26th May 2017, 12:23 PM

Thanks for the tip. I've got an old arc welder in the shed (technically a mate's), but to be honest I've not had much of a play with it. I've got a few uses for it in mind though to get a bit of practice, though I'd be more comfortable practicing on things with a lesser load bearing until I'm confident of my work. I'd like to upgrade to removable though, and will update here when I get around to it.

**bueller** · 26th May 2017, 01:44 PM

Cheers for the photos, I've been wanting to add one of these to my ute for quite some time. Might have to get onto it next time I see them on sale.

**clear out** · 2nd July 2017, 09:50 PM

I put one of these on my Hilux about 10 years ago.
Wrecked the floor in no time short amongst other things lifted a motor and overdrive gearbox that weighed about 600lbs similar weight thicknesser and various other machines.
Moved it to the other side and put it on a 10mm steel plate with 50mm x 10mm angles underneath.
One trip with a full load I destroyed a tyre in a few hundred ks.
It was hitting the angle on full spring compression.
Gave it to a mate when I sold the ute and he put in on his Landy.
He made a removeable leg from under the tray to the deck to stabilise the Landy when lifting with it.
Mine was easily removeable the main piece just slipped into the base piece.
I was too slack to take it off most of the time and paid for it eventually.
Drove into the local supermarket underground car park and hung under the 5" water pipes for the fire system.
The was a few hundred grands worth of cars in there but I managed to back out finally.
Recommend you make yours removeable.
H.

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