I'm looking at getting one...Just the best option for lifting 350+lb object into the back of my truck or trailer.

Any recommendations on brands?

 

For that weight, any of the brands should be fine.... Northern Tool will have a few, or Harbor Freight if you want to go cheap.

If you plan on more than 400# and/or fully-extended lifting, you'll need to mount the crane base directly to the frame... a thrust bearing is de rigueur for swinging on & off the bed.

I've had a 1K# crane on the '98 for almost a quarter of a million miles.

 

Thanks XLR8R,

I'm looking at the Spitzlift. It has a hitch mount so I don't have to drill on my bed and also puts it far enough back that it might be long enough to load on trailer behind the truck.

 

I built a hitch mount one that extends out the side of the hitch. It slips into the hitch tube. The only problem is that it can twist the suspension which makes swinging it a bit difficult. I added some adjustable legs and just use a couple of the 4 x 4 wood blocks that I always have in the bed to keep them from sinking in the ground. Works great. Mine comes completely apart so it either stows in the bed or up against the wall in the shop.

Lifts 500 pounds easy.

 

pitz lifts are nice, compact. I had one on the work truck at my old job. theyre fine for lifting upto like 500lbs but they are freakin expensive...

chris
semper fi

 

For a hitch mounted lift, they're on the low end for a manual.

I'd love to have a west mule bumper lift. Those are awesome! But 3500 in coin is a bit much for me. I can handle the 850 for the spitzlift

 

I had one in a Nissan didn't take long to twist the frame on that little truck. It was a Harbor Freight winch crane I think I paid $89.00 for. I got my moneys worth out of it but like I said it messed up the frame on the truck, but I was lifting about 1500 lbs with it. If I was going to put one on another truck I think I would build some outriggers for it.

 

Here are some pics of the Harbor Frieght crane without the winch.
I installed a 1/4" steel plate accross the bed to ditribute the weight - I use this for picking up 55 gal. barrels of oil and etc. for biodiesel, works just fine without distorting the bed.
Crane1.jpg?t=1211807982
Crane2.jpg?t=1211808022
Crane3.jpg?t=1211808054

 

I have had a few , I think the most important thing is to have at least one outrigger , that when put out , lifts the truck a little to that is has a preload on it .
The one I liked the best was custom made by the phone company , this was on a utility bed , on a 3/4 ton .