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Location

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Date Posted

Eugene,OR

I need to get a new rope for my lifting ring. Anyone have advice on the best kind & thickness to get?

9/13/2023 10:38:26 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Knowing you, a thick one!

9/13/2023 11:24:06 PM

Wisconsin

I use 3/4" Dock rope

9/14/2023 7:59:14 AM

Boscawen, NH

Russ, a lot of growers & clubs will buy a nylon rope because they are readily available and reasonably priced. The problem with nylon is that it stretches a great deal under load. Reason for seeing so many lifting crews have to re-cinch their rope once under load. Polyester and polypropylene have far less stretch and almost the same tensile strength and is the better option. Here is a link with great prices on pre-spliced (loop end) ropes- https://www.rope.com/products/5-8-pre-spliced-dock-line

9/14/2023 8:35:23 AM

Eugene,OR

Thanks Steve. Now that’s what I call a great answer!

9/14/2023 10:02:20 AM

Torrance, Ca.

Theses are the type of answers I miss on bp. 10 years ago most questions were answered by knowledgeable growers that knew exactly what they were talking about.

Thanks Steve and Mike. I'll be writing this down in my pumpkin book.

Good luck Russ!

9/14/2023 10:25:41 AM

Marion,IN

So.Cal.Grower, I agree 100%.

9/14/2023 12:19:10 PM

Jericho Vermont

I prefer the seatbelt type strap to a rope which can slip or roll.

9/14/2023 6:27:21 PM

Western PA

we had a rope fail at a weigh off last year. It was a cheaper rope with a core in it. Dont use that kind. Steve is right on.I just ordered a new rope from bulkropes.com. Check out the double braided 3/4 inch double braided polyester rope. 19,000 lb breaking strength. If you wait a few days, ill give you a review. email me.

9/14/2023 6:57:29 PM

Syracuse, NY

Careful, VTJohn, lol! eg

9/14/2023 7:34:12 PM

Torrance, Ca.

John's a stud and I also love those straps! Only thing I use to connect to my lifting ring to hold my fruit when moving. I still have one of Lee's we use to this day.

Speaking of Lee, is he still around? That was a good man.

9/15/2023 10:30:34 AM

Syracuse, NY

Lol, So.Cal.G;
I hope this is not considered 'chatting' and if it is, the question has already been answered and I didn't want to start a new, UNanswered thread about it. I considered last night about what ELSE would be considered when it came to the main single strap around the bottom of the pumpkin;
I figured that each upper strap must be capable of at least
1/Xth (X=number of upper straps) of the proposed/possible weight of the pumpkin.

Therefore, an 1800-pound fruit supported by 6 straps would require each strap to have a breaking strength of at the very least 301 pounds. WHAT would the main, lowest strap have to be rated at??? With potentially zero friction around the fruit from each upper strap, I figured that it would be under the stress of the entire fruit's weight, !rather than! my PREVIOUS belief that it might be some subdivided (301# also?) amount of the total.

This is something ELSE to at least consider when making your own evaluation of lifter construction or repair. It doesn't matter if I am right or wrong;
Without this post and the resulting gears grinding, I'd have not thought about it - my lifter will be good enough for at least THIS year, lol! eg

9/15/2023 3:23:55 PM

Mead, WA

Is padding used between rope and pumpkin like fun noodles to keep rope from biting into gourd?

9/15/2023 11:50:11 PM

Syracuse, NY

Elaine, yes they can be, as we have seen before but the thickness of them
can be more of a problem, in my opinion.
Here is my Gerry Pumpkin Spider depiction, that would be really cool to
see more of in use and at weighoffs to do just what you asked about:
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=322546

9/16/2023 12:53:11 AM

Eugene,OR

I think using noodles on the straps that run between the lifting ring & the rope that cinches everything together at the base of the pumpkin is not a bad idea. Noodles on the bottom rope would not work.

9/16/2023 11:44:38 AM

Grittyville, WA

I believe the lower strap is holding the entire weight of the pumpkin ÷ 2 ? But if the pumpkin starts to fall out (if too loose) then the stress on the lower rope could increase, to basically the full weight of the pumpkin? Its like holding a kid in one arm and a bag of groceries in the other arm, either is easy as long as your arm is underneath them but once they start to slide through its twice as hard to hold them. For the lower rope or strap, definitely dont want anything that stretches. Cargo straps generally do not stretch.

No bungees, for sure.

9/16/2023 12:46:07 PM

Syracuse, NY

Vineman - I feel that noodles are too fat;
Please see my link to my diary if u have not already;
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=322546

Literally, $20 worth of piping insulation at the hardware, a bamboo stake from there also and 20 minutes' work as depicted = Boiiinnggg!!!

LK - Butt, why /2? Imagine that 1 circumference inch from slipping through, how much strain is on the bottom strap, then?
You've got it though, and that also applies to multiple bottles of soda under one arm, waiting in line. Yes, the further under the fruit, the lesser the tension on the bottom strap, butt possibly UP TO the weigh of the pumpkin, depending on the cinching quality, hence the need for a strong-as-is-practical bottom strap. eg

9/16/2023 5:19:50 PM

Syracuse, NY

Vineman - not pushy, just, whatever works for anyone, butt
piping insulation is (((*cool-looking*))), lol! eg

9/16/2023 5:22:07 PM

Grittyville, WA

Ive worked sling crew at enough of these weigh offs to know that the further under the pumpkin the better, you are right about that!!! Never had a rope break, but with these bigger pumpkins who knows.

9/16/2023 11:00:05 PM

Syracuse, NY

We're all on it here, buddies! ha ha eg

9/17/2023 12:52:26 AM

Colorado

I got some 3/4 inch dock rope after mobey mike recommended it last year.Its a perfect rope!

9/18/2023 1:28:49 AM

Peosta, Iowa

i got a 7/8 20-foot tow strap off amazon. will tow 18,000 lbs. so should handle any pumpkin. i split one loop to make it 22 ft. works great and keeps it shape at the weigh offs when you're pulling off and on the pumpkins.

9/24/2023 9:54:33 AM

i use either 5/8 tree climbing rope or a big dock rope that's 20 feet then along comes barlow jacobus wisc state record used my 20 foot plus marty shickners rope to get job done. id like to hear what travis uses this year was 260 inch circ weeks ago

9/24/2023 12:52:44 PM

Western NY

He's going to have to use an anchor chain lol

9/24/2023 2:50:28 PM