Building A-Frame

[davbell22602]

I need to build a A-Frame to put my truck cab on the frame this spring/summer. I thought about heavy steel pipe like they used on the old metal swing sets and grade bolts so can come apart when not using it. But still figure out construct a safe joint when joining the pipe together.

I have no help for this and sunbelt rentals doesnt have a frame rentals. I have no trees either.

[averagef250]

3 wood 4x4's and some rope will be stable and lift a lot done right.

A cab is much easier to move from the bottom. The primary strength area is the rockers. I take pickup and SUV bodies on and off frames almost daily using a 2 post lift and 2x4's under the rockers. I have 8' forks for my tractor and forklift if I need to take a body off the frame and store it outside for a little while. I'll lift the body/cab off the frame on the lift, move the chassis out of the way and come in with forks and some more lumber to support everything well.

I guess I'm trying to say that lifting a body using rope, chain or straps from the top is difficult compared to supporting it from the bottom and you could really wreck a cab if you rig it wrong.

Before I had much of any tools for doing this stuff I pulled a few cabs off trucks by hand using wood sawhorses, some wood and I found a nasty old futon mattress to be about the best tool in the world for rolling a cab into it's back to detail and paint the underside.

Of coarse the easiest way is to get 3 friends and just do it, but that isn't always an option.

[Ranchero50]

Engine hoists work pretty well but you have to pick high the keep the center of gravity low enough that it won't turn turtle.

[davbell22602]

I thought building it out 4x4's and use a manual chain hoist and use 2,000lb looped strap. Then lift it from the top.

[Ranchero50]

You are overachieving, a stripped cab with only the glass is around 400lbs.

[davbell22602]

I dont think my engine hoist the clearance to lift it cause I have the bluebird race track hoist. I decided on 4x4's and (2) 2x8 across the top for the beam.

[basketcase0302]

Several guys here have done the hoist successfully. Here's when Randy pulled his cab a few months ago:

[davbell22602]

Several guys here have done the hoist successfully. Here's when Randy pulled his cab a few months ago:
[ Image ]

I never thought about doing like that. I was wanting to lift from behind it or above it. Where was it hooked on the inside?

[70_F100]

When I worked for both GMC and Navistar, we would put 2 4x4's in through the window openings (doors on the cab) and hook a chain hoist to them. GMC's were usually just 6500 series conventional cabs, and we did a lot of the larger conventional cabs and CO9670's at Navistar.

I've also done it the way Randy did.

Both ways work fine, because, as already stated, the cabs are not heavy on Bumps.