Re: count down
- Subject: Re: count down
- From: S*@aol.com
- Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2010 14:38:16 EDT
debbie,
i never used a lifting ring til last year and we will load a 1000 pounder
by hand in a 3 weeks. this is what has helped us over the years.
1. if you have any kind of slope or hill in the yard that you can back the
truck up to, use the slope so you do not have to lift so high.
2. we take two 2"x10" planks of wood about 8 or 10' long and place them
side by side on the tail gait to the ground. this will be the resting
platform.
3. make sure all trip[ hazards are out of the way. all vines, cords,
anything that could blow out a knee or ankle.
4. get 2 people on tarp duty. take 2 or 3, 4 how many it takes on one side
and begin to lift, roll and balance the pumpkin on the opposite side of
lifting. the 2 people on tarp dut position the tarp under the pumkin with one
end folded like a curtain. slowly ease the pumpkin back down. now do the
same thing with rolling it, then have the 2 people on tarp duty on fold and
stretch out the tarp. ease back down gently. have everone grap handles of
the tarp and start centering it to the middle by sliding and puilling.
5. take a breath.
6. make sure pallet in back of truck has slots pointed the right way for
forklift or skidsteer forks. put styrofome on the pallet and cushions on top
of that. i use old thick couch cushions.
7. now the fun part. slowly lift and walk it to the trcuk. easy. set it
down when needed. get it to the planks of wood leading up the tail gate.
situate the 2 or 3 strongest shortest pople in the truck. the others lift and
slowly let it rest on the planks and keep working it up to the tailgate. then
this is the big lift time up and ontop of the cushions. the most dangerous
time to blow a knee or ankle so do it in unison with one person giving
orders.
8. take another breat. laugh pop a cold beer and strap it down...not to
tightly.
9. attach some bags or milk containers of water to the vines you left on on
both sides of the stem if everything is rot free and they are still
capable of sucking in water.
10. the next morning enjoy the ride when people see you driving down the
street to your weigh off. you will understand when it happens. lol
and i should have said, number one thing you always say first, "nobody
touch the stem!" and someone still will and it will snap off and you will be
pissed, then laugh it off after you settle down. save the stem and put it on
the pumpkin at the weigh off. it still counts. lol. been there done that.
unloading is easier with the planks of wood used again to slide it slowly
down with your lifting crew.
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