Worldwide Beekeeping
Sustainable Living => Homestead => Topic started by: Perry on November 07, 2016, 06:38:23 pm
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My buddy Kevin who owns Nova Nectar Apiaries (100 hives), has a flat deck truck that he runs with a lift gate on the back. He does move hives from time to time (not a lot) and was always telling me I should get one.
Well I found one on kijiji off of a wrecked 2007 GMC and it was for sale for $250. I went and picked it up for $225.
I believe it is a Waltco, almost identical to this one:
http://www.liftgateme.com/Waltco/PDF/Waltco%20Lift%20Gate_Medium%20Duty%20Rail_ptn_series_om.pdf
It needs a bit of minor work (2 pieces of minor channel iron needs replacing) and the cover for the guts where the motor/pump/tank is housed is rusted with a few holes, but these are only minor cosmetic repairs more than anything.
I will have to remove my tailgate and rear bumper, but the one thing I overlooked was the trailer hitch receiver. I am hopeful the gate will clear the receiver or I may have to remove it, or adjust the mounts of the lift gate and move it back enough to clear the hitch.
Thinking about it, since I bought the truck in 2002 and had the receiver hitch installed to pull the trailer across Canada, I have only ever used it once since, and that was just last week to move a friends utility trailer.
I could probably recoup what I spent on the gate by selling off the receiver (with adjustable hitch) and brake controller.
Does anyone else have or use a lift gate? I have to admit they are nice when lifting heavy stuff, and my back is not getting any stronger.
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I would love to have one on my service truck. :\'( Great find.
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I used them often in the past, though not for bee hives, and I can tell you that you will not regret that buy one bit... A two wheeler to roll the hive to the gate, lift up slide in and gone....
I have been keeping my eyes open for one I could put on the little ranger, but they dont make too many that fit the smaller trucks... I am also considering just building one. They are not that complicated...
I wish you were closer, it would cost you a few beers to get that fixed and bolted on.. Modifications to keep hitch usable etc might cost another beer or two!
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I used them often in the past, though not for bee hives, and I can tell you that you will not regret that buy one bit... A two wheeler to roll the hive to the gate, lift up slide in and gone....
I have been keeping my eyes open for one I could put on the little ranger, but they dont make too many that fit the smaller trucks... I am also considering just building one. They are not that complicated...
I wish you were closer, it would cost you a few beers to get that fixed and bolted on.. Modifications to keep hitch usable etc might cost another beer or two!
I wish you were closer too and the beer would be a cost too easy to pay. :laugh:
When I actually looked at the guts of the lift, it really isn't as complicated as I had thought. They are actually fairly simple and I am unsure why they are so expensive to buy (new). I have no doubt you would have the ability and the equipment to make one from scratch.
This is my buddies lift-gate that he just welded to his flat deck truck. The platform is all but shot and he is going to weld a new deck on it, but it is almost exactly like the one I bought (mine is in way better shape.);D With 2 of us standing on it and a couple of hives it doesn't even sweat going up. You want to be careful coming down though, if there is a lot of weight on the gate it is fast! :o :D
I really don't know how the receiver will be able to stay but I guess I'll find out. Being able to use the lift outweighs the loss of the hitch as far as I'm concerned though.
(https://s16.postimg.cc/f04abvjdd/20161107_153013.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/f04abvjdd/)
(https://s22.postimg.cc/fwia1e0jh/20161107_154150.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/fwia1e0jh/)
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In the bottom picture I see your buddies receiver peeking out.. Is yours mounted differently?
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In the bottom picture I see your buddies receiver peeking out.. Is yours mounted differently?
His flat deck extends out further than my stock truck box.
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So you would just need a longer hitch?
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Longer truck bed. :laugh:
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The receiver is usually mounted to the frame, so a longer bed would put it further under... ?? Might be missing something....
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If it were further under, the gate wouldn't hit it when the gate was raised or lowered.
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If it were further under, the gate wouldn't hit it when the gate was raised or lowered.
:yes: :yes: :yes: :yes:
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Ahh, so yours sticks out TOO FAR... Always wished I had that trouble. :yes: