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Omaha, Ne.

I just feed the straps trough loosely. or should each strap have to be sewed to the lifting ring? Dot sure if it will slip.
Thanks

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=189483

9/9/2012 8:37:33 PM

Western PA

Darren, I would definitely secure those straps. What it looks like from the pic is you have two really long straps ran through the ring to make a total of four straps to go around the fruit. The easiest way to make it secure would be to tie a good not with the straps at the ring so they cannot slip back and forth through the ring. Assuming the ring is rated for enough weight and you don't have a super wide fruit you should be able to lift a 1000lber no problem. Each strap should be secured at the ring and be atleast 5feeta long. Make sure you get a 3/4 soft rope to run through the straps, the hard nylon ones tear the bottom of the fruit up. Never ran the electric winch over here, I would prob. Run some testing with it before I lifted my pumpkin.
Goo luck

9/10/2012 8:42:44 AM

Western PA

Good luck.

9/10/2012 8:44:01 AM

Massachusetts

darren, that winch might not lift it, harbor freight ,1 ton chain fall, $40.00..... that rating on the electric winch is not for vertical lifting... like pumpkin picker said, testing... hate to see you late for the weigh-off...scott. good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

9/10/2012 9:02:09 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

If you have a 2000lb winch you can lift 2/3 of the capacity. Which I would never try...I would think 50% is a good cut off

9/10/2012 1:46:16 PM

Omaha, Ne.

Thanks for the replies. Didn't know about the 3/4 rope goood to know. This will be a good year for playing a round and making mistakes. I'll just be moving the kin's to the front yard for Halloween.

I'm to cheap (and dumb) to use tried and true methods. Ha. And I though 2000lbs was lifting not just pulling. oops. Oh well, it will help me drag it up my hill. I heard that winch don't have a locking mechanism, I'll have to keep the feet clear. Next year I'll have to get the biggest hoist I can find. (dream big)

9/10/2012 5:49:57 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

I wrote to Darren before about not using a winch to lift with. If it says winch only there usually used for pulling only. I know someone who tried using a winch like your using Darren to lift an engine and almost got killed when the winch cut lose and the engine went smashing onto the garage floor. Being very safe and thinking about what might happen can be costly. Like Marley said, go to Harbor Freight and buy a $40.00 1 ton chain falls. At least when you stop pulling the chain, it locks and stays put.

9/10/2012 10:42:35 PM

Omaha, Ne.

Good to know. I'll only be lifting a few inches to get a tarp under it, to drag it.

9/11/2012 8:20:21 AM