Reciever Hitch Crane Mount

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A friend of mine gave me this Harbor Freight truck crane about a year ago because he no longer had use for it.  I didnt want to mount it in the bed of my truck for several reasons.  They being:  I didnt want it staying in full time and taking up needed space, the beds of pickups are not that strong to withstand the added stress of a load even with added support above and under floor, and I wanted a fairly easy removal setup.  It will be used to load/unload my welder generator and other things to the bed of my truck.  Crane is rated to 1000lbs but I dont plan on going above about 500max.  Reciever input is 2 x 2x 3/16 slid into 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 x 3/16 tube which makes up most of mount.  Pad that crane base rests on is 1/2 plate.  Cross tube that fits in end of cross reciever tube and helps support weight and torque twist of crane mount is 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 x 3/16 tube (with some 3/8 flat bar added to take up the slack between the two diminsions of the tubes) and 1 1/4 x 1 1/4 tube stub to slide into 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 reciever stub located next to crane base mount plate.  Everything is a snug fit and takes a little wiggling to set it home but it seems like it will work for what I was looking for.  After it was fitted, welded up, mounted, and tried for function, I slapped some paint on it.  Original color was that drastic HF orange.  My friend tried to cover it up with blue.  I hit it with black.  Below are pics. Attached ImagesA few of my toys !LinuxMintManjaroMiller Roughneck 2E Lincoln WeldPak 100HTP MTS 160 Chicago Electric 80amp Inverter   Victor O/A
Reply:Thats a neet idea of coming into the side of the hitch also, should help to sturdy things up.
Reply:That's pretty clever. I like it.
Reply:Adding a trailer tongue jack out next to the crane mount would make a great "outrigger" for a firm footing. Nice install, I like it.
Reply:Nice!
Reply:I like that.  I have been looking to do something very similar.  May want to add a vertical support beneath the 1/2" plate that the crane bolts to. It would eliminate any flexing when the load is hanging from the boom.StephenMillermatic 251Miller Syncrowave 200Miller 30A SpoolgunHypertherm Powermax 30Etc., etc., etc.............Cancer Sucks!
Reply:Originally Posted by markfugaAdding a trailer tongue jack out next to the crane mount would make a great "outrigger" for a firm footing. Nice install, I like it.
Reply:Originally Posted by goinssrI like that.  I have been looking to do something very similar.  May want to add a vertical support beneath the 1/2" plate that the crane bolts to. It would eliminate any flexing when the load is hanging from the boom.
Reply:Originally Posted by goinssrMay want to add a vertical support beneath the 1/2" plate that the crane bolts to. It would eliminate any flexing when the load is hanging from the boom.
Reply:Originally Posted by duaneb55..... The photo angles don't allow one to tell but does the jack clear the corner of the truck box when the hoist is pointed forward?....
Reply:Yup, would work great.My last post should have read ". . .beyond the CL of the truck, the rotational point. . ."MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:That's using the old noodle, simple enough for me to do......retractable vertical support is a good idea....
Reply:Pretty slick. If it lifts more than the ole back it's a keeper."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:I could use something like that.  My current hoist, the husband, is getting worn out.Nice work.Lincoln AC225 and CartLincoln WeldPak HD and CartOne hand