Is this a stupid idea?

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A guy wants me to build him an aluminum cart/wagon for his fishing stuff (cooler etc.) no big deal i can do that easy. Problem is he has major back issues and cant lift a thing. he wants it to be able to be transported in the hitch of his truck. Heres where i'm on the fence. I wanted to know if this would be to dangerous. here is my idea i was thinking of taking a jack like this.http://www.harborfreight.com/rapid-p...html-7814.htmland cutting off the bottom piece that is not needed. and making it into a hitch mount. with a place where the cart will attach to the jack. like this. sorry for the super fast sketch...Do you think it will break from bouncing?.. Would you as a pro welder take on the liability of this? It would have safety chains. I know i could make the adapter very solid im not worried about that. it is mostly the jack parts that scare me.www.performancealuminumfabrication.com
Reply:I don't know much about designing this kind of stuff but just like you stated, I would be worried about leverage when bouncing that thing so far from the hitch! And if that jack relies on an hidraulic cilinder you would be better off securing it somehow just in case it leaks and let's the cargo down.Mikel
Reply:He needs a Tommy lift (sp?).My name's not Jim....
Reply:Last year I saw a system by Knack or another manufacturer that had something like this for large job boxes. the system had casters on crank legs that raised and lowered the box and a mount that would go in your reciever. You'd roll the box up to the back of your truck and crank up the legs till you could slide the mount into the reciever and secure it. Then you'd crank up the legs and drive away. The mount was rigid and fixed and all the legs did was raise it up temporarily. I wish I could remember who made the system exactly..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Think he would be able to push the cart up a ramp?http://www.harborfreight.com/automot...ier-67599.htmlEd Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Originally Posted by Mikel_24I don't know much about designing this kind of stuff but just like you stated, I would be worried about leverage when bouncing that thing so far from the hitch! And if that jack relies on an hidraulic cilinder you would be better off securing it somehow just in case it leaks and let's the cargo down.Mikel
Reply:He needs a Tommy lift (sp?).
Reply:Never ever count on cheap hydraulics (and that is REAL cheap Chinese) to hold a load up.
Reply:What about a hand winch with a locking pin instead,  or a receiver mount cargo rack with ramps coming off of it like broccoli1 said?Nothing Ever Got Done By Quitting, Never Give Up.
Reply:what about  just a regular hitch rack you put your contraption in. then a  pickup truck crane like here  http://www.harborfreight.com/1-2-hal...nch-37555.html  to load and unload. you can make it as user friendly as you like you can even replace the hand winch with an electric so he doesnt have to crank it buddies paralyzed brother had same type of setup on his truck  worked like a charm  there are better versions then the HF just depends what he wants to spend350P 30A spool gun cut master 51  syncro 250 other stuff " take a dog off the street and make him prosper and he will not bite you sad the same cannot be said for man" i didnt use punctuation just to piss you off
Reply:how about using an electric trailer lift like http://www.harborfreight.com/3000-lb...ack-67597.htmlits just a linear actuator the likes of which can be found on ebay or google it.   i would have a couple guide s and lock pins on either side of the lift assemble.Too bad you are not closer,  I have a tommy lift, wheelchair lift, and a electric over hydraulic truck crane sitting in my back yardTiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:That first set of drawings looks like something Ed Hack would do (and then call it good).Several more viable alternatives have been presented.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:Many of the pool cleaning guys around here have a cart that slips into the receiver.  Maybe you could make something like this.
Reply:Originally Posted by mjbMany of the pool cleaning guys around here have a cart that slips into the receiver.  Maybe you could make something like this.
Reply:Originally Posted by SundownIIIThat first set of drawings looks like something Ed Hack would do (and then call it good).Several more viable alternatives have been presented.
Reply:The pool cleaning cart is designed so there isn't much "lifting" involved to lock it in place. The way to get a DRAMATIC ease-of-lift-increase is to make the top taller. That way the owner can push forward while standing to put it in position instead of bending and lifting.A spring-loaded latch plus a pin and all is good.[quote]Too bad you are not closer, I have a tommy lift, wheelchair lift, and a electric over hydraulic truck crane sitting in my back yard [/quote[To bad you aren't closer to me. Since I started "letting the machine do it" life has been much easier. Now I'm collecting more of them so they are even handier and one piece can aid in setting up the next.
Reply:is he wanting to have a functioning tailgate or does that matter?tackleexperts.comwww.necessityjigs.comhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/mach...dingequipment/
Reply:Originally Posted by soutthpawhow about using an electric trailer lift like http://www.harborfreight.com/3000-lb...ack-67597.htmlits just a linear actuator the likes of which can be found on ebay or google it.   i would have a couple guide s and lock pins on either side of the lift assemble.Too bad you are not closer,  I have a tommy lift, wheelchair lift, and a electric over hydraulic truck crane sitting in my back yard
Reply:Originally Posted by bruceris he wanting to have a functioning tailgate or does that matter?
Reply:Originally Posted by Broccoli1Think he would be able to push the cart up a ramp?http://www.harborfreight.com/automot...ier-67599.html
Reply:I don't think that idea would work simply by where the handle of the jack would be, nevermind the bouncing of the rig.  You're talking about jacking up a cart with a 1.5 ton jack and probably having the leverage of a spoon.  IMO 2 cents opinion, build the lifting portion into the trailer, and not the hitch.  Either that, or figure the clearance needed, and see if the wheels could just be simply removed after sliding into the hitch.  If you had a 12" wheel, you'd have 6" of clearance.  May not be much, but may be enough.I think Brucer has the best idea....you could winch the cart on, if he was completely unable to physically push it, or even pull it.  Wouldn't even need a winch, a series of pulleys would reduce the load if necessary.  Another option to that would be a tilt trailer setup where the ramp would tilt, then lock in once the load was on.  I'm just brain storming ideas here that might work.Aint gonna ask if you could weld aluminum because I've seen your ladder rack  Last edited by BuckFever; 07-01-2011 at 05:00 AM.
Reply:Originally Posted by BuckFeverI don't think that idea would work simply by where the handle of the jack would be, nevermind the bouncing of the rig.  You're talking about jacking up a cart with a 1.5 ton jack and probably having the leverage of a spoon.  IMO 2 cents opinion, build the lifting portion into the trailer, and not the hitch.  Either that, or figure the clearance needed, and see if the wheels could just be simply removed after sliding into the hitch.  If you had a 12" wheel, you'd have 6" of clearance.  May not be much, but may be enough.I think Brucer has the best idea....you could winch the cart on, if he was completely unable to physically push it, or even pull it.  Wouldn't even need a winch, a series of pulleys would reduce the load if necessary.  Another option to that would be a tilt trailer setup where the ramp would tilt, then lock in once the load was on.  I'm just brain storming ideas here that might work.Aint gonna ask if you could weld aluminum because I've seen your ladder rack
Reply:Hear is a jack lift that i had seen
Reply:Actually...if you wouldn't mind using pro engineer or Catia next time, that would be great...Just kidding...you were probably able to draw that up and get your point across faster than my solidworks takes to boot up. No judgment hereOn your hitch idea, my buddy built a dirt bike carrier for his duely out of 4 inch channel and a 1/4" wall square tube for the hitch ( with lots of gussets). That thing bounces all over the place, and is effectively useless the way he drives 4x4 trails. So, my vote is for a Tommy gate or small crane.Speaking of which...Soutthpaw, you say you have these items in your back yard? I wouldn't mind doing the 2 hour drive to save them from a lonely Colorado summer...
Reply:I was thinking of omething similar to what TEB showed. I see them all the time around hear, and if they can hold a 400 pound XR 650, theyshould be able to hold an AL wagon.I would definitely go with a self powered lift system based on my experience with a bad back.  Almost 5 years ago I threw my back out leaning into a space to pick something up and never getting that far thanks to a few muscles that were asleep on the job.  A day later I tried to lift something bending from the knee's and really threw it out bad to the point that walking, breathing and taking a trip in the bathroom to go bear huntin caused be terrible pain.  Any kind of lifting or pushing force over 5 pounds made me see double so if this guy really does have serious back issues then a basic winch and rotating hangman assembly would be best if its a truck or van.Welding Supervisor Department of Corrections.
Reply:I was visiting my local home depot, and saw this in the rental portion of the store.  Its a pretty heavy machine for digging in a sprinkler system.  Included with the machine is a receiver mount / hoist system.  The system works with a sliding tube lifted by the hand winch. Its tough to see in the photo, but the left side 90 deg angle is mounted to a smaller tube, slid inside of a much longer tube.  The photo shows the system with cable pulled tight.  You could certainly modify this design for your application.  You can get more info from the ground hog web site. www.groundhoginc.com trencher carrier --zip Attached Images
Reply:If he has a pickup why not see about talking him into a bed mounted cherry picker? This way he can use it for more than just one thing, you do the install and build him a cart with a lifting eye, everyone goes home happy, and he winds up getting more use out of his truck!72 Chevy Cummins Project94 3500HD Welding Rig build Sold NOV 2011