Author Topic: Lift gates  (Read 6130 times)

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Offline Perry

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Lift gates
« on: November 07, 2016, 06:38:23 pm »
My buddy Kevin who owns Nova Nectar Apiaries (100 hives), has a flat deck truck that he runs with a lift gate on the back. He does move hives from time to time (not a lot) and was always telling me I should get one.
Well I found one on kijiji off of a wrecked 2007 GMC and it was for sale for $250. I went and picked it up for $225.
I believe it is a Waltco, almost identical to this one:
http://www.liftgateme.com/Waltco/PDF/Waltco%20Lift%20Gate_Medium%20Duty%20Rail_ptn_series_om.pdf
It needs a bit of minor work (2 pieces of minor channel iron needs replacing) and the cover for the guts where the motor/pump/tank is housed is rusted with a few holes, but these are only minor cosmetic repairs more than anything.
I will have to remove my tailgate and rear bumper, but the one thing I overlooked was the trailer hitch receiver. I am hopeful the gate will clear the receiver or I may have to remove it, or adjust the mounts of the lift gate and move it back enough to clear the hitch.
Thinking about it, since I bought the truck in 2002 and had the receiver hitch installed to pull the trailer across Canada, I have only ever used it once since, and that was just last week to move a friends utility trailer.
I could probably recoup what I spent on the gate by selling off the receiver (with adjustable hitch) and brake controller.
Does anyone else have or use a lift gate? I have to admit they are nice when lifting heavy stuff, and my back is not getting any stronger.
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Offline CBT

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Re: Lift gates
« Reply #1 on: November 07, 2016, 08:05:55 pm »
I would love to have one on my service truck.  :\'(  Great find.

Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Lift gates
« Reply #2 on: November 08, 2016, 02:54:23 pm »
I used them often in the past, though not for bee hives, and I can tell you that you will not regret that buy one bit...   A two wheeler to roll the hive to the gate, lift up slide in and gone....
   I have been keeping my eyes open for one I could put on the little ranger, but they dont make too many that fit the smaller trucks...   I am also considering just building one. They are not that complicated...
   I wish you were closer, it would cost you a few beers to get that fixed and bolted on.. Modifications to keep hitch usable etc might cost another beer or two!
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Offline Perry

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Re: Lift gates
« Reply #3 on: November 08, 2016, 04:37:51 pm »
I used them often in the past, though not for bee hives, and I can tell you that you will not regret that buy one bit...   A two wheeler to roll the hive to the gate, lift up slide in and gone....
   I have been keeping my eyes open for one I could put on the little ranger, but they dont make too many that fit the smaller trucks...   I am also considering just building one. They are not that complicated...
   I wish you were closer, it would cost you a few beers to get that fixed and bolted on.. Modifications to keep hitch usable etc might cost another beer or two!

I wish you were closer too and the beer would be a cost too easy to pay. :laugh:
When I actually looked at the guts of the lift, it really isn't as complicated as I had thought. They are actually fairly simple and I am unsure why they are so expensive to buy (new). I have no doubt you would have the ability and the equipment to make one from scratch.
This is my buddies lift-gate that he just welded to his flat deck truck. The platform is all but shot and he is going to weld a new deck on it, but it is almost exactly like the one I bought (mine is in way better shape.);D With 2 of us standing on it and a couple of hives it doesn't even sweat going up. You want to be careful coming down though, if there is a lot of weight on the gate it is fast! :o :D
I really don't know how the receiver will be able to stay but I guess I'll find out. Being able to use the lift outweighs the loss of the hitch as far as I'm concerned though.
 



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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Lift gates
« Reply #4 on: November 10, 2016, 10:33:17 am »
In the bottom picture I see your buddies receiver peeking out..  Is yours mounted differently?
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Offline Perry

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Re: Lift gates
« Reply #5 on: November 11, 2016, 08:27:41 pm »
In the bottom picture I see your buddies receiver peeking out..  Is yours mounted differently?

His flat deck extends out further than my stock truck box.
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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Lift gates
« Reply #6 on: November 12, 2016, 04:30:23 pm »
So you would just need a longer hitch?
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Offline Perry

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Re: Lift gates
« Reply #7 on: November 17, 2016, 07:52:17 pm »
Longer truck bed. :laugh:
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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Lift gates
« Reply #8 on: November 19, 2016, 01:02:52 am »
The receiver is usually mounted to the frame, so a longer bed would put it further under...  ??  Might be missing something....
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Offline iddee

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Re: Lift gates
« Reply #9 on: November 19, 2016, 05:29:17 am »
If it were further under, the gate wouldn't hit it when the gate was raised or lowered.
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Offline Perry

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Re: Lift gates
« Reply #10 on: November 19, 2016, 06:31:42 am »
If it were further under, the gate wouldn't hit it when the gate was raised or lowered.

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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Lift gates
« Reply #11 on: November 19, 2016, 05:56:30 pm »
Ahh, so yours sticks out TOO FAR...    Always wished I had that trouble.    :yes:
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