"Clare Snyder" wrote in message
news:8lh3pip4ohmkcluc1qsrbek28p5r6gfkvn@4ax.com...

My buddy's front end loader on the 165 massey made short work of
swapping the box on the Ranger

-----------------------------------

It's nice to have a neighbor with a front end loader he likes to play with,
instead of paying for and maintaining one yourself.

"Bob La Londe" wrote in message news:umshi4$1r6nr$1@dont-email.me...

A couple times we tracked people lost in the desert. Often with boots
on the ground, and that old Jeep putting along behind unmanned. Once in
a while one of us would go turn in a direction change or take a rest
when in the Jeep the trail was clear, but it would roll over just about
anything putting along at 2MPH.
Bob La Londe

------------------------

If you want to see what Jeeps are NOT good for, drive one on the Autobahn.
They didn't handle tight back road corners fit for BMWs very well either.
The wreckage was hauled back and left in its assigned space in the motor
pool as a reminder. The one I drove towed a water tank trailer to keep up
with the leaks because we couldn't order replacement parts, everything went
to Nam. There weren't aftermarket auto parts stores in Germany because the
vehicle inspection demanded that everything be factory stock, down to the
OEM brand of spark plugs, and of course all hardware was metric.

On the plus side, as the supply of working vehicles dwindled it became
easier to take my own car and stay overnight at quaint village inns instead
of Army posts.

On 12/31/2023 5:22 PM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
> "Bob La Londe"  wrote in message news:umshi4$1r6nr$1@dont-email.me...
>
> A couple times we tracked people lost in the desert.  Often with boots
> on the ground, and that old Jeep putting along behind unmanned.  Once in
> a while one of us would go turn in a direction change or take a rest
> when in the Jeep the trail was clear, but it would roll over just about
> anything putting along at 2MPH.
> Bob La Londe
>
> ------------------------
>
> If you want to see what Jeeps are NOT good for, drive one on the
> Autobahn. They didn't handle tight back road corners fit for BMWs very
> well either. The wreckage was hauled back and left in its assigned space
> in the motor pool as a reminder. The one I drove towed a water tank
> trailer to keep up with the leaks because we couldn't order replacement
> parts, everything went to Nam. There weren't aftermarket auto parts
> stores in Germany because the vehicle inspection demanded that
> everything be factory stock, down to the OEM brand of spark plugs, and
> of course all hardware was metric.
>
> On the plus side, as the supply of working vehicles dwindled it became
> easier to take my own car and stay overnight at quaint village inns
> instead of Army posts.
>

I think my dad's Jeep has the original motor. With your foot planted
firmly on the floor it doesn't do much more than 50-55 mph anyway.
--
Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff

--
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software.
www.avg.com

On 12/31/2023 5:15 PM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
> "Snag"  wrote in message news:umscup$1qkjr$1@dont-email.me...
>
>   The A frame is actually 2 2x8 A frames with a double 8 foot 2x8
> crossbeam . I might have to move one of the 2x4 angle braces a little
> for clearance . Actually that brace can go away since I'm not on a slope
> this time .
> Snag
>
> -----------------------------
> Like a big sawhorse or gantry hoist? That should be excellent for
> lifting the bed. You could attach swivel caster tongue jacks to the legs
> to raise it to roll around and then lower it to rest solidly.
>

Yup , just like a giant sawhorse . But as far as rolling it around ,
it would take a pretty big wheel to roll around on the ground here .
--
Snag
Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum

On 12/31/2023 1:54 PM, Clare Snyder wrote:
> On Sun, 31 Dec 2023 12:10:20 -0700, Bob La Londe <none@none.com99>
> wrote:
>
>> On 12/31/2023 8:58 AM, Snag wrote:
>>> On 12/31/2023 7:35 AM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
>>>> "Snag"  wrote in message news:umqou0$1kcbj$1@dont-email.me...
>>>>
>>>>    I seriously considered pulling the bed , but I don't really have the
>>>> lifting equipment for that . After checking what that bed weighs - less
>>>> than I thought - I may revisit that idea . It would definitely make part
>>>> of the exhaust work easier . Still plan to do the gear swap inside
>>>> though .
>>>> Snag
>>>> -------------------------------
>>>> A neighbor fastened a plank between two forest trees to lift heavy
>>>> equipment on and off trucks with a chainfall. 1 ton has proven to be a
>>>> handy size, 2 tons is much slower and a lot of awkward weight to hang
>>>> up with one hand while on a ladder. I store them in unbreakable rubber
>>>> farm buckets that are easy to carry and they keep the hand chain out
>>>> of the dirt/mud in use. Both are imports similar to the ones HF sells
>>>> and have given no trouble. I've loaded the 1 ton to its rating and the
>>>> 2 ton to at least 2800 Lbs, likely much more.
>>>>
>>>> I move the bed off the truck but except for not being street legal the
>>>> bed-less truck could be driven to a more convenient place to work on
>>>> it. On mine removing three screws disconnects the gas filler from the
>>>> bed and the locking cap can stay on to keep water out and gas in.
>>>> There is one lighting connector behind the bumper that's accessible
>>>> with the bed slightly lifted. If the bed was left hanging outdoors I'd
>>>> put sawhorses under the front to keep it raised enough to not fill
>>>> with rain water. A board on the frame between the bed and cab will
>>>> protect the paint from scratches.
>>>>
>>>> My shop crane is a commercial one that was easy to modify into a
>>>> towable off-pavement trailer. The mast end caster is a trailer tongue
>>>> jack with added wheels and a tow bar for manhandling on an extended
>>>> axle. I don't know how well the HF shop crane would do for this.
>>>> https://ibid.illinois.gov/item.php?id=169461
>>>> I paid $100 for it at a local auction. The boom extension was bent and
>>>> wouldn't retract so I turned it over, chained it to the legs and
>>>> straightened it. It's hoisted some V8s and engine-powered welders for
>>>> neighbors.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>   I have the A frame that I used to pull the motor and a pair of cable
>>> hoists ... I was thinking about this early this morning while the dog
>>> was trying to get me out of bed ... I can use one hoist on each side and
>>> 4 of my ratchet straps (one on each corner) to pick the bed up high
>>> enough to drive out from under it . I was surprised to find the bed
>>> weight is around 500 pounds or a bit more , I thought it was more like
>>> 1000 pounds . I'll have to figure out where the wiring plug is but I
>>> think it's at the rear of the bed . I still think I'm going to pull the
>>> axle and work on it inside the shop . And having the bed off will make
>>> it a lot less work to do the remaining welding on the exhaust system
>>> without removing it from the truck . Six of one and half a dozen of the
>>> other , either way I think this is going to have the truck down for a
>>> month or more . What the hell , I did without a truck for five years ...
>>
>>
>> I've lifted an almost 3000lb boat off a trailer with an engine hoist
>> (cherry picker) and set it on cross beams setting on saw horses. I'm
>> sure you can manage a pickup bed if you decided that's the easiest way
>> to do what you need to do.
>>
>> Never mind those pesky wires. That's what side cutters are for.
>>
>>
>> --
>> Bob La Londe
>> CNC Molds N Stuff
> My buddy's front end loader on the 165 massey made short work of
> swapping the box on the Ranger
>

Three neighbors have front loaders , but I got nowhere level to set
it down . And then I'd have to have one of them lift it to put it back .
I can lower it close to the ground and leave it hanging on the A frame .
--
Snag
Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum

"Bob La Londe" wrote in message news:umt1ce$1t1tn$1@dont-email.me...

I think my dad's Jeep has the original motor. With your foot planted
firmly on the floor it doesn't do much more than 50-55 mph anyway.
Bob La Londe

------------------------------

For a while we had a C10 Carryall (Chevy Suburban) that would cruise
comfortably at 100 MPH. Cars still passed it. While flying above a
little-used section of Autobahn cut off by the Iron Curtain I watched cars
passing us pretty quickly below.

A nearby museum has a WW2 tank that can keep up with a Jeep. They have
driven it in MA traffic and tell me it's the only vehicle that gets respect
there.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M18_Hellcat

"Snag" wrote in message news:umteo7$22bu0$1@dont-email.me...

Three neighbors have front loaders , but I got nowhere level to set
it down . And then I'd have to have one of them lift it to put it back .
I can lower it close to the ground and leave it hanging on the A frame .
Snag

-----------------------------

I lean a board or plywood against the cab for protection when moving the bed
into place to reinstall it. It's useful during removal if you don't know
where the bed's center of gravity is.

The lower edge of my Ranger's bed doesn't seem solid enough to rest it on
but it's fine up on end or upside down on timbers. Upright on three jack
stands works.

On 1/1/2024 7:37 AM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
> "Snag"  wrote in message news:umteo7$22bu0$1@dont-email.me...
>
>   Three neighbors have front loaders , but I got nowhere level to set
> it down . And then I'd have to have one of them lift it to put it back .
> I can lower it close to the ground and leave it hanging on the A frame .
> Snag
>
> -----------------------------
>
> I lean a board or plywood against the cab for protection when moving the
> bed into place to reinstall it. It's useful during removal if you don't
> know where the bed's center of gravity is.
>
> The lower edge of my Ranger's bed doesn't seem solid enough to rest it
> on but it's fine up on end or upside down on timbers. Upright on three
> jack stands works.
>

I can get some concrete blocks from a neighbor if I need to ground
the bed for some reason - the jack stands will be used to support the
axle while I'm working on it . I think the CG is going to be just a
couple of inches to the rear of center with the tailgate on . The plan
is for one ratchet strap from each corner to a cable hoist in the center
on each side . That way I can adjust a little bit front/rear to balance
it .
--
Snag
Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum

On 12/30/2023 2:34 PM, Snag wrote:
>
>   I'm finally getting around to changing out the gears in my truck axle
> . The "metalworking" part is that I have to make a device to hold the
> drive line yoke while I torque the nut . The rest is just spinnin'
> wrenches and measuring things . Fortunately (or maybe a missed
> opportunity) I have all the tools needed to do the job . Might have to
> fabricate a mount for the dial indicator to check lash but that's about
> it . The plan is to pull the axle and work on it in the shop . A little
> more work in some ways , a lot easier in others . One thing that will be
> easier is getting the last bit of welding done on my exhaust system .
> And welding in a pair of cutouts while it's out from under the truck .
>   I'm debating putting a limited slip diff in while I'm in there ,,, an
> additional 200 bucks or so , and where I live it's not a bad idea . It
> will also give be braggin' rights with the neighbors ... I'm awaiting a
> response from a vendor right now about the unit I want to purchase .
>   Any shortcuts or helpful techniques welcome .

I made an offer on a posi unit this morning ...
--
Snag
Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum

On Sun, 31 Dec 2023 22:23:32 -0600, Snag <Snag_one@msn.com> wrote:

>On 12/31/2023 1:54 PM, Clare Snyder wrote:
>> On Sun, 31 Dec 2023 12:10:20 -0700, Bob La Londe <none@none.com99>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> On 12/31/2023 8:58 AM, Snag wrote:
>>>> On 12/31/2023 7:35 AM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
>>>>> "Snag"  wrote in message news:umqou0$1kcbj$1@dont-email.me...
>>>>>
>>>>>    I seriously considered pulling the bed , but I don't really have the
>>>>> lifting equipment for that . After checking what that bed weighs - less
>>>>> than I thought - I may revisit that idea . It would definitely make part
>>>>> of the exhaust work easier . Still plan to do the gear swap inside
>>>>> though .
>>>>> Snag
>>>>> -------------------------------
>>>>> A neighbor fastened a plank between two forest trees to lift heavy
>>>>> equipment on and off trucks with a chainfall. 1 ton has proven to be a
>>>>> handy size, 2 tons is much slower and a lot of awkward weight to hang
>>>>> up with one hand while on a ladder. I store them in unbreakable rubber
>>>>> farm buckets that are easy to carry and they keep the hand chain out
>>>>> of the dirt/mud in use. Both are imports similar to the ones HF sells
>>>>> and have given no trouble. I've loaded the 1 ton to its rating and the
>>>>> 2 ton to at least 2800 Lbs, likely much more.
>>>>>
>>>>> I move the bed off the truck but except for not being street legal the
>>>>> bed-less truck could be driven to a more convenient place to work on
>>>>> it. On mine removing three screws disconnects the gas filler from the
>>>>> bed and the locking cap can stay on to keep water out and gas in.
>>>>> There is one lighting connector behind the bumper that's accessible
>>>>> with the bed slightly lifted. If the bed was left hanging outdoors I'd
>>>>> put sawhorses under the front to keep it raised enough to not fill
>>>>> with rain water. A board on the frame between the bed and cab will
>>>>> protect the paint from scratches.
>>>>>
>>>>> My shop crane is a commercial one that was easy to modify into a
>>>>> towable off-pavement trailer. The mast end caster is a trailer tongue
>>>>> jack with added wheels and a tow bar for manhandling on an extended
>>>>> axle. I don't know how well the HF shop crane would do for this.
>>>>> https://ibid.illinois.gov/item.php?id=169461
>>>>> I paid $100 for it at a local auction. The boom extension was bent and
>>>>> wouldn't retract so I turned it over, chained it to the legs and
>>>>> straightened it. It's hoisted some V8s and engine-powered welders for
>>>>> neighbors.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>   I have the A frame that I used to pull the motor and a pair of cable
>>>> hoists ... I was thinking about this early this morning while the dog
>>>> was trying to get me out of bed ... I can use one hoist on each side and
>>>> 4 of my ratchet straps (one on each corner) to pick the bed up high
>>>> enough to drive out from under it . I was surprised to find the bed
>>>> weight is around 500 pounds or a bit more , I thought it was more like
>>>> 1000 pounds . I'll have to figure out where the wiring plug is but I
>>>> think it's at the rear of the bed . I still think I'm going to pull the
>>>> axle and work on it inside the shop . And having the bed off will make
>>>> it a lot less work to do the remaining welding on the exhaust system
>>>> without removing it from the truck . Six of one and half a dozen of the
>>>> other , either way I think this is going to have the truck down for a
>>>> month or more . What the hell , I did without a truck for five years ...
>>>
>>>
>>> I've lifted an almost 3000lb boat off a trailer with an engine hoist
>>> (cherry picker) and set it on cross beams setting on saw horses. I'm
>>> sure you can manage a pickup bed if you decided that's the easiest way
>>> to do what you need to do.
>>>
>>> Never mind those pesky wires. That's what side cutters are for.
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Bob La Londe
>>> CNC Molds N Stuff
>> My buddy's front end loader on the 165 massey made short work of
>> swapping the box on the Ranger
>>
>
> Three neighbors have front loaders , but I got nowhere level to set
>it down . And then I'd have to have one of them lift it to put it back .
>I can lower it close to the ground and leave it hanging on the A frame .
2 guys can lift one end. Lift it a foot to get a plank under it at
the front - then the back (between box and frame) then lift the plank
high enough to get a saw horse under each end and repeat at the other
end and drive the truck out from under it. That's how I did the '57
Fargo back in the '70s

On 1/1/2024 9:52 PM, Clare Snyder wrote:
> On Sun, 31 Dec 2023 22:23:32 -0600, Snag <Snag_one@msn.com> wrote:
>
>> On 12/31/2023 1:54 PM, Clare Snyder wrote:
>>> On Sun, 31 Dec 2023 12:10:20 -0700, Bob La Londe <none@none.com99>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 12/31/2023 8:58 AM, Snag wrote:
>>>>> On 12/31/2023 7:35 AM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
>>>>>> "Snag"  wrote in message news:umqou0$1kcbj$1@dont-email.me...
>>>>>>
>>>>>>    I seriously considered pulling the bed , but I don't really have the
>>>>>> lifting equipment for that . After checking what that bed weighs - less
>>>>>> than I thought - I may revisit that idea . It would definitely make part
>>>>>> of the exhaust work easier . Still plan to do the gear swap inside
>>>>>> though .
>>>>>> Snag
>>>>>> -------------------------------
>>>>>> A neighbor fastened a plank between two forest trees to lift heavy
>>>>>> equipment on and off trucks with a chainfall. 1 ton has proven to be a
>>>>>> handy size, 2 tons is much slower and a lot of awkward weight to hang
>>>>>> up with one hand while on a ladder. I store them in unbreakable rubber
>>>>>> farm buckets that are easy to carry and they keep the hand chain out
>>>>>> of the dirt/mud in use. Both are imports similar to the ones HF sells
>>>>>> and have given no trouble. I've loaded the 1 ton to its rating and the
>>>>>> 2 ton to at least 2800 Lbs, likely much more.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I move the bed off the truck but except for not being street legal the
>>>>>> bed-less truck could be driven to a more convenient place to work on
>>>>>> it. On mine removing three screws disconnects the gas filler from the
>>>>>> bed and the locking cap can stay on to keep water out and gas in.
>>>>>> There is one lighting connector behind the bumper that's accessible
>>>>>> with the bed slightly lifted. If the bed was left hanging outdoors I'd
>>>>>> put sawhorses under the front to keep it raised enough to not fill
>>>>>> with rain water. A board on the frame between the bed and cab will
>>>>>> protect the paint from scratches.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> My shop crane is a commercial one that was easy to modify into a
>>>>>> towable off-pavement trailer. The mast end caster is a trailer tongue
>>>>>> jack with added wheels and a tow bar for manhandling on an extended
>>>>>> axle. I don't know how well the HF shop crane would do for this.
>>>>>> https://ibid.illinois.gov/item.php?id=169461
>>>>>> I paid $100 for it at a local auction. The boom extension was bent and
>>>>>> wouldn't retract so I turned it over, chained it to the legs and
>>>>>> straightened it. It's hoisted some V8s and engine-powered welders for
>>>>>> neighbors.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>   I have the A frame that I used to pull the motor and a pair of cable
>>>>> hoists ... I was thinking about this early this morning while the dog
>>>>> was trying to get me out of bed ... I can use one hoist on each side and
>>>>> 4 of my ratchet straps (one on each corner) to pick the bed up high
>>>>> enough to drive out from under it . I was surprised to find the bed
>>>>> weight is around 500 pounds or a bit more , I thought it was more like
>>>>> 1000 pounds . I'll have to figure out where the wiring plug is but I
>>>>> think it's at the rear of the bed . I still think I'm going to pull the
>>>>> axle and work on it inside the shop . And having the bed off will make
>>>>> it a lot less work to do the remaining welding on the exhaust system
>>>>> without removing it from the truck . Six of one and half a dozen of the
>>>>> other , either way I think this is going to have the truck down for a
>>>>> month or more . What the hell , I did without a truck for five years ...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I've lifted an almost 3000lb boat off a trailer with an engine hoist
>>>> (cherry picker) and set it on cross beams setting on saw horses. I'm
>>>> sure you can manage a pickup bed if you decided that's the easiest way
>>>> to do what you need to do.
>>>>
>>>> Never mind those pesky wires. That's what side cutters are for.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Bob La Londe
>>>> CNC Molds N Stuff
>>> My buddy's front end loader on the 165 massey made short work of
>>> swapping the box on the Ranger
>>>
>>
>> Three neighbors have front loaders , but I got nowhere level to set
>> it down . And then I'd have to have one of them lift it to put it back .
>> I can lower it close to the ground and leave it hanging on the A frame .
> 2 guys can lift one end. Lift it a foot to get a plank under it at
> the front - then the back (between box and frame) then lift the plank
> high enough to get a saw horse under each end and repeat at the other
> end and drive the truck out from under it. That's how I did the '57
> Fargo back in the '70s
>

After chatting with a neighbor that's done this before I'll be using
his chain falls and a 4x4 caught under to top ledge of the bed . Once I
find the balance point I'll clamp the timber so it can't shift
unexpectedly . This has advantages over the way I was going to do it
with straps and cable hoists . I can lift it more if needed plus I can
lower it all the way to the ground if I want/need to . Additional plus
is I won't be dealing with 2 lifting devices , running around the truck
to raise/lower evenly .
--
Snag
Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum

"Snag" wrote in message news:un03l1$2huim$1@dont-email.me...

After chatting with a neighbor that's done this before I'll be using
his chain falls and a 4x4 caught under to top ledge of the bed . Once I
find the balance point I'll clamp the timber so it can't shift
unexpectedly . This has advantages over the way I was going to do it
with straps and cable hoists . I can lift it more if needed plus I can
lower it all the way to the ground if I want/need to . Additional plus
is I won't be dealing with 2 lifting devices , running around the truck
to raise/lower evenly .
Snag
----------------------------

I thought you had a good solution with what you have, you're lucky your
neighbor has that equipment. Here it's me who owns and uses the lifting gear
and stack of 6x6 cribbing (construction & demolition scrap).

The top ledge is high enough above the cg that the bed won't tip much if it
is slightly off center, and I haven't needed to clamp the plank and scratch
the paint. The wood won't move from hand pressure.

The centered chainfall allows you to correct misalignment at all corners
while lowering the bed into place with the other hand and you won't need
stepladders to reach the cable hoist lever. Being slightly off balance is
actually an advantage, you can deal with aligning one corner at a time.

https://www.mazzellacompanies.com/learning-center/measuring-sling-angles/
"With a 30° angle, you have to multiply the 1,000 lbs. by two, meaning each
sling leg is under 2,000 lbs. of tension during the lift."
The sheet metal stake pockets on my Ranger began to shift when the
front<->back test load approached 750 Lbs.

Having the bed exactly balanced and centered while lifting and lowering is
virtually impossible and not necessary, you won't know until you remove the
last bolt and then it's too late to change. You need only to be able to
shift the partly suspended bed into place with one hand and start the first
and second bolts with the other, on whichever corner/end of the unbalanced
bed lands first. The continuous motion of a chainfall is better for this
than the ratchet steps of a cable puller. Adjust the chainfall so the bed to
frame friction is low enough to let you move the bed by hand and high enough
that the contact point stays where you put it. I do the same to center and
level 1 ton logs on my sawmill.

"Snag" wrote in message news:un03l1$2huim$1@dont-email.me...

After chatting with a neighbor that's done this before I'll be using
his chain falls and a 4x4 caught under to top ledge of the bed . Once I
find the balance point I'll clamp the timber so it can't shift
unexpectedly . This has advantages over the way I was going to do it
with straps and cable hoists . I can lift it more if needed plus I can
lower it all the way to the ground if I want/need to . Additional plus
is I won't be dealing with 2 lifting devices , running around the truck
to raise/lower evenly .
Snag
-----------------------

If you read the tag on a screw eye you'll see a load rating much lower than
the size of the metal suggests; it's the pull-out strength of the threads in
pine. A through bolt eye and a shackle large enough for the chainfall hook
(why I used an electric drop eye) should be fine.