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Middlesex County MA

Hello all,

First time grower and I now have an 800lb problem in the garden. I am looking to borrow, purchase, barter, do about anything for help with my getting my first big pumpkin on a pallet. Any help is greatly appreciated.


Thank You

10/4/2022 8:35:13 AM

Mead, WA

Maybe try tie down strap as bottom ring rope and several evenly spaced twine hook under knots on twine to ratchet double hook tightner attached to tripod

10/4/2022 6:54:31 PM

Syracuse, NY

Here's a shameless 'plug' for my 'Pumpkin Spider' - to at least give you a standard setup to look at (see all of the pics, like 7)

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=322546

and although the piping insulation will be optional, know that everything you see could be bought at a Home Depot in the cordage and hardware aisle, minus the actual lifting 'basket'; Start with a ring that has a capacity of like 1500 to 2000 pounds and with just 4 pieces of rope to go through that at 500 pounds tensile strength AT THEIR MIDPOINTS = the 8 ropes for the most safety and quite 'simply', probably a stainless steel hose clamp tightened very well around those where they have gone through the ring will keep them stationary; Hang this creation up from a tractor's 3-point hitch or a tree branch will work too and...
Being sure to make them all the same length (I dunno, 4 feet? each) then loop each end at EXactly the same length for the main strap or rope to run through all eight with either smaller hose clamps or SEVERAL very-tightly-pulled zip ties on each rope-end.
Run the main rope or strap through all 8 and allow a good length for that from whence others chime in here and learn to make a slip knot or like when you tie your shoes and can still undo the knot by pulling on one certain piece of the rope...Maybe print out a few of the pics and say to
'The Guy' "Make me one of these!"

>>>Just don't say it to a Genie. Lol---eric g

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=322546

10/5/2022 4:17:58 AM

Syracuse, NY

Else, you can look at this procedure from long ago and
there are 17 pictures about it and just keep hitting the picture that says 'Next' on it - Just another weigh---eric g

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/displayphoto.asp?pid=874&gid=1

10/5/2022 4:26:12 AM

Gourd Zone, WA

Elaine, Elaine. I can barely understand what you are talking about even though I know you are talking about my setup.

Is the question here just sliding it over, onto a pallet? Hopefully someone near this grower has reached out to them. I dont understand if it needs to be lifted or slid sideways. Either way, 800 lbs is significantly heavy so I think this grower is correct to ask for help.

10/5/2022 5:18:12 AM

Middlesex County MA

Thanks for the ideas, much appreciated.
BlossomDown - For clarification just looking to get it on a pallet, the Bobcat and forks will do the rest.

10/5/2022 8:31:14 AM

if you have forks no ring needed just straps and rope


http://www.bigpumpkins.com/displayphoto.asp?pid=6439&gid=-25615

10/5/2022 9:32:50 AM

Gourd Zone, WA

They can be slid sideways with varying degrees of damage to the underside depending what under them. Chopped straw is a good cushion and slippery. I'd just dig one edge of the pallet down 6" so its level with the bottom of the pumpkin then use a Come-Along to slide it right on over. Use a full size cargo strap to distribute the sideways pull force evenly around the pumpkin. Obviously you dont want to scratch the bottom of the pumpkin too much but at this point they can probably endure some scratching and still make it to Halloween.

10/5/2022 1:14:30 PM