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Nottingham, UK

As I'll be moving my first pumpkin(s) this year I was wondering how important a lifting ring is?

Can I do without one?

9/21/2013 5:43:25 PM

Long Island,New York

we used to use tarps and manpower for fruit up to 1K. Then the men started disappearing and getting old. No amount of beer could roust them from thier hiding places....everyone had a bad back. Thus the lifting ring and tripod was invented. Suddenly everyone was back for beer and barbeque. A safe bet today is 100lbs per person on a tarp...500lber= 5 guys.....

9/21/2013 6:38:09 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

lifting ring is extreemly important especially the circumference.The new ring i welded up in 2012 to raise the 1811 was 30'' in cir.Anything smaller and we felt there was a chance compression from the straps would crack the pumpkin before making it to the scale.

9/21/2013 6:53:31 PM

Belmont, NH

A lifting ring is always nice to have but not a necessity. The next best thing to have are the lifting straps that would be used with the lifting ring. They do the same thing when coupled to a common point above the pumpkin. The lifting ring only spreads out the weight of the pumpkin and does not concentrate the lifting force on the top of the pumpkin. The higher the collection point of the straps the better. Six to eight straps are best, spread out evenly around the pumpkin. I used an aluminum car wheel for the lifting ring with the straps for years with the straps until a retiring grower gave me his lifting ring. Hope some of this helps. Now if I just had a forklift.

9/21/2013 7:51:10 PM

Muddy Waters

How big is the Kin?If you can roll unto a pallet.then use forks.Not the safest way.

9/21/2013 7:55:09 PM

Bethlehem CT

I don't use a ring, I hook the ropes to forklift forks.
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=120072
It works great for me.

9/22/2013 7:41:28 AM

Joliet, IL

We hand loaded with tarps and man power until the lifting was needed due to bigger pumpkins. If going with man power and lifting tarp, I suggest two 8' long 2" x 10" boards. Remove tailgate and set boards side by side. Your lifting crew can walk it up boards and rest a bit and get smaller strong guys on backside in the truck for the final up and on cushiins on pallets. Helped a buddy move a 900 plus pounder safely last year. Took 10 guys. Now I go with 2 retired iron worker riggers and a boom truck and flat bed semi and sit back and pray. Lifting rings are a must at some point with size.

9/22/2013 8:09:39 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

We use a pumpkin dolly...which is basically a heavy duty pallet with wheels on it. Works well once you have the pumpkin on it. Two people can move a thousand pound pumpkin

9/22/2013 8:21:08 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Peter, with the size of the pumpkins you have grown this year, I lifting ring is gonna make it alot easier and less stressfull.

Borrow one, make one or plan on making one for next year. I was lucky enough that another grower gave me one, and it is the one that we use for our weighoff.

Best of luck friend/Glenn

9/22/2013 9:11:44 PM

Torrance, Ca.

North Shore is so right! Had 9 guys move my 833 last year, not to bad until we got to the truck. Broke both pieces of plywood trying to get it up,,,,, and all the dings we scared into the pumpkin was a buzz kill:( The next pumpkin I had a lifting ring, one helper, a bobcat and it was a piece of cake!!!

Lifted that sucker up and right into the truck,,,,, didn't even break a sweat!

9/22/2013 9:49:11 PM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

A lifting ring is helpful during a weighoff when you are putting lots of pumpkins in, and out... it helps keep the straps straight. That's really it. If you look at the physics of the thing, there really is no "significant" stress put on the pumpkin when the straps initiate at a common point, vs. the ring. If the ring were really that important, we should have a five-foot wide ring.

Consider this, if your straps were a bit longer, one foot or 18 inches longer, the physics of the thing is such that you could have a ring and the straps are a bit shorter. It's the exact same thing! Because, 18 inches down from the "common point" the straps are already as wide as the ring would be...

In my case I have a clevis pin bought from the local ranch store. The most important part is the straps. Mine are nice thick seatbelt material, both in the straps and the loop at the bottom.

9/23/2013 4:41:43 PM

President - GPC

Steve Handy made a real nice lifting ring for the BiZ>...its worth gold

9/23/2013 5:42:03 PM

Nottingham, UK

Thanks for the advice everyone. Couldn't remember where I had posted, obviously in the wrong place. CHeers

Pete

9/28/2013 7:56:42 AM

Pemberton, BC

If your in a pinch....http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=76204

I have lifted as much as 1050 with this ring, you don't even need to know how to weld!

9/29/2013 11:20:54 PM

Belmont, NH

The above post is basically what I had. I tied straps to the seven spokes of the wheel and ran them up and over the top. To prevent chafing of the straps I bought one of those heavy steering wheel covers and installed it on the top edge of the rim. It was not easy to get on but I soaked it in hot water to get some stretch in it. I made a plate to bolt on the holes that the wheel mounts on the car with. Then put a high tensile strength eyehook in the middle. Nothing fancy but worked just fine. Largest I did with that setup was 1326.

9/30/2013 7:52:27 AM

Vernal, Utah

I make lifting rings in 3 sizes, smallest is 13", next is 27" for a very large pkn I make a 39" ring with either 6 or 12 adjustable straps. Tim Mathison lifted his 1894 pumpkin with my 39" ring with 12 straps.

10/24/2013 10:31:19 PM