My Hive lifter
For some years I have been thinking on getting a lifting device to help moving hives. This is often done early spring, or late in autumn when I don't have any hired help. It means I have friends and family to rely on. And they are not always that happy about late nights moving bees..... In the winter of -99 I finally got around to it, and started with a new flat deck on the pickup. |
| Lifter in transport position. There are supporting legs that are folded out during use and reach 60 cm from vehicle. 3 hydraulic cylinders are fitted to the unit. One in each of the foldable legs, so the vehicle can be levelled and kept in the same position during operation. |
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The third hydraulic cylinder is inside the vertical post and lifts the boom to working position. An electric winch at the end of the boom does the lifting. It reach 5 meters and swings 180 degrees around the vehicle. It will hold 75 kg. It was made to be light when used on a small vehicle, and I needed long reach, so it was made so close to the limit I dared. |
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Moving hives in the spring to new locations. |
| The hive lifter is easily mounted on to the vehicle when it's needed. A fork lifter is used to handle the 165 kg heavy hive lifter in the shed. |  |
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The "body" with the hydraulic equipment fits under the deck and only the vertical column is outside of vehicle when mounted. |
| The lifting forks have two "knives" that is manoeuvred with the level and fits into the cutout on the side of boxes. They can also be used to separate boxes. |  |
The original Billet Easyloader that has been the model for my work can be seen at www.om.com.au/beeload/
