Loading shanty in the truck

[mmeyer]

Hey Everyone, I just got a new Clam Voyager the day after Thanksgiving. I have had a similar house in the past am I was and am still wondering if anyone has ever tried to use some type of pulley system or block and tackle to help pull it up in the truck box? I use ramps to slide it up on but I was thinking of putting some kind of pulley system in the box that I could hook up to the front of the sled and using it to assist me in loading the house by myself.

Anyone ever use something like that?

Thanks

[Hardyboy]

I havent used it but my thought was a pulley attached to the front of the box and a rope with a hook you could hook to the front of the sled maybe on a eye hook attached to the sled. Then you could stand behind the sled and pull while you push.

[Esox_Magnum]

I use an Eskimo 3 man and even fully loaded it's not bad for my 145 pound 45 year old broken body to get in the back of my truck....I just lift the back up o the tailgate, grab the front and lift and slide it in...

[aanderud]

Personally, I like the ramp idea. I mean, I could see this really helping folks, especially with the heavier insulated houses. I haven't thought of any pulley system, but I'm sure it could be done. The hassle might just be more work than it's worth though. Maybe easier to find a way to make your ramps slicker? Some kind of coating maybe?

[mmeyer]

I use an Eskimo 3 man and even fully loaded it's not bad for my 145 pound 45 year old broken body to get in the back of my truck....I just lift the back up o the tailgate, grab the front and lift and slide it in...

[Fishin4fun_MN]

I just lift the back up on the tailgate, grab the front and lift and slide it in...

I do this with my otter as well. It is somewhere around 125# but not bad once it is resting on the tailgate...slides easily at that point.

[Esox_Magnum]

Wish mine was only125, with a full 20# cylender in it I'm guessing closer to 160 for mine, I know that the clam in question is a tank to though.... To do a pully system you would need a 3-4 loop pully and a winch of some sort and some kind of ramp...

[Fishin4fun_MN]

My otter is 75# empty...and it will be almost 200# if my son (50#) rides on it to our fishing spot plus the auger (25+#). so I know what it is like. I lift it by myself right now. wish he was bigger to help.

[Esox_Magnum]

Think mine was listed at 90 empty, cant remember I have had it so long....I do take the auger and flashers out thats it, drags easy as long as the snows not deep so don't mind pulling the weight, plus I use a harness to pull with...

[kerryd15]

Mount a double pully in the front of the box and a pully with a hook. you could hook it to your rope. I use a single 2X12 as a ramp. I stand by the tailgate and pull it up the ramp as far as i can. Then go around back lift and push. This is a voyager and I do not unload it to put in the pickup.

[Brad B]

check out this video. there is a neat system in the back of this one guys truck. the section on loading and unloading starts at 15:16.

[aanderud]

Well there ya go -- ramps that have been modified to be slicker via rollers. I like it.

[Fishin4fun_MN]

While I love the Idea, i just do not have room in my truck box for rollers and a winch, which I already have.

[Eric Wettschreck]

I'm not going to dis the block and tackle thing, but I'm all about getting it done.

Pick up the front end of the shanty and rest it on the tailgate. Then pick up the rear end, slide it in, and drive away is my style.

[pike79]

I'm not going to dis the block and tackle thing, but I'm all about getting it done.

Pick up the front end of the shanty and rest it on the tailgate. Then pick up the rear end, slide it in, and drive away is my style.

My thoughts exactly!

[Hardyboy]

I'm not going to dis the block and tackle thing, but I'm all about getting it done.

Pick up the front end of the shanty and rest it on the tailgate. Then pick up the rear end, slide it in, and drive away is my style.

Thats exactly how i do it! but im always up for tinkering with a project lol

[aanderud]

I'm not going to dis the block and tackle thing, but I'm all about getting it done.

Pick up the front end of the shanty and rest it on the tailgate. Then pick up the rear end, slide it in, and drive away is my style.

I agree. This is what I do and I don't plan to switch any time soon, but I can tell you that there are a pile of people out there that can't "get it done" as easily. My dad had a hard time with this exact same thing after chemo-therapy basically wasted him twice a week. He had enough energy to get out fishing, drill his holes, etc...and he 'got it done'. But, lifting the house into the pickup was the hardest thing of the whole entire outing. I could see the lifting aspect dissuading older gent, or even ladies from using some of the nicer houses (especially the nice insulated shacks).

To me, the rollers on the ramps was a great option. I'm thinking the block and tackle is NOT the way to go just due to the pita factor -- pulling and pushing doesn't seem trivial, nor does keeping the rope lined up on the pulleys, etc. The rollers would be a much simpler solution, I think.

[mmeyer]

To me, the rollers on the ramps was a great option. I'm thinking the block and tackle is NOT the way to go just due to the pita factor -- pulling and pushing doesn't seem trivial, nor does keeping the rope lined up on the pulleys, etc. The rollers would be a much simpler solution, I think.

I was thinking along those lines as well. The PITA factor is the main thing to consider. I'm all for making things easier and more convenient but adding hassle is not what I want. The video was great but I think that looked like a pain the way it had to be set up and taken down too. I'll probably stick with the old way until something or someone comes up with a nice simple way to save my back.

Thanks everyone, and keep the comments coming if you have them!

[DTro]

couldn't you mount a small boat winch to the inside of the bed near the tailgate and then run that to a pulley or eyebolt in front and then back to the sled.

[aanderud]

The PITA factor is the main thing to consider. I'm all for making things easier and more convenient but adding hassle is not what I want. The video was great but I think that looked like a pain the way it had to be set up and taken down too. I'll probably stick with the old way until something or someone comes up with a nice simple way to save my back.

True, it sort of looked like a hassle to set up and tear down the rollers thing -- but a very controlled pace, whatever the user wants to do. What, 1-2 minutes on each end? When fishing for hours, that extra 4 minutes is pretty trivial. And the PITA factor there is all contained before and after (i.e. not DURING) the actual movement of the 150+ pound unit. That's why it's something that I found more acceptable than the PITA of the block and tackle, which would be biting you while you're actually moving said heavy object.

Darren's idea of a winch would work fine too, assuming there's room for a winch beside the sled with the tailgate shut. The winch would probably allow you to just use the $10 ramp brackets with 2x10 wooden ramps, no rollers needed.

I'll also be sticking with the tried and true method of just lifting the sucker in for now, but as of now the ramp with the rollers looks like my favorite option for when I'm 70 and still want to get out in my insulated otter lodge. I might even pair the rollers with a winch. LOL.

[Bob/Mn]

I have a otter cabin which weights 100 Lbs unloaded. I use two 2x2 for a ramp. I attached two L brackets to the 2x2 for stops at the tail gate.

I set the tub half way up on the 2x2s and slide the tub into the truck. The 2x2s are stored under the tub when not in use.

[PerchJerker]

When I use my Otter Lodge I bring my atv ramps along.

I keep my Lodge fully loaded ---- multiple flashers and cameras, extra battery for lights and fans, propane tank, seats, cooler, bait, everything ---- the only thing I take out is the auger.

It's very easy to slide the house out of the truck box on the atv ramps. And when I load the house into the truck, I walk up the ramps into the box (just like walking up a flight of stairs) and use the rope to pull the house up the ramp into the box. I find that to be much easier than trying to push it up the ramps, and there is minimal lifting / bending / lower back involved.

Works for me, the biggest PITA in the whole thing is having to bring the atv ramps along. Good luck.

[randerson]

I have a customer that took one of those cheap 12 volt winches and mounted it to the front of his bed with a couple pulleys and ramps and he pulls his in and out of his bed just remember to have a safety on the ramps so when your pulling out they don't fall down.

[ozzie]

I use the put the front beveled edge on the tailgate and push from the back but that is a hard job and at times I can struggle with doing this. I have not built but my idea is to put up "ramps but build them in a square where once you grab the back or bottom of the ramps and lift the house will get level and then just push in...I know there are some issues with this system but I am working out the bugs.....