Spare Tire Crane?

[rogerwwebb@...]

I looked into cranes and concluded they were too expensive for the number of
times I expect to use it.

The tire(s) are very heavy and awkward. I estimate over 100 lbs. You need a
lift or rope & pulley system to get it up. You can roll if off as
mentioned, but it will bounce. If you are strong enough you can pick it up and
toss
if off so it lands on its side, no bounce.

Due to the weight, I though just lowering it with a rope was a good way to
get hurt, so I have devised a method of lowering a tire with a
rope/pulley/belay (sp) system.
1. use a sling around the tire (a bicycle coated wire rope works) with
eyes (loops) and either end.
2. fix one end of the rope to the roof (I use one of the tire tie down
brackets)
3. run the rope through the sling eyes back to you
4. use a piece of carpet or similar to protect the body of the coach
where the rope is going to go over the side
5. use a figure eight brake (a rock climbing tool you can buy for
$15-20) with the rope fixed around your hips.
The sling eyes act as a pulley and this set-up cuts the weight of the tire
you must hold by 50%. I practiced this and sat down on the roof while
lowering in over my ladder. I needed my feet to push it over the edge to get
it
started.

You may be thinking this is a lot of work and it is. But my original
thought of just throwing if off was met with a vision of causing some serious
damage to something or someone. I've probably got $50 into the whole thing, a
lot
cheaper than a crane. But a crane would be real nice. Look up davit cranes
used on boats and you'll get an idea of what is available.

Roger Webb
91WL
Cedar Rapids, IA





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