Boom Pole

[Jaden]

Anyone have any experience with using a 3 Point Boom Pole? How much can you lift? Any problems, cautions?
I would be using it on a Super M. I welcome your input.

 

[MichaelNEIowa]

I have a King Kutter category 1 boom pole that I use with my Ford 860. If I remember correctly, it is rated for 500lbs. It didn"t cost very much ($75?) and was well worth it.

It has been a handy item, especially in tight areas where I couldn"t get my loader tractor. I use a log chain to lift things and the biggest issue is that whatever is suspended from the chain tends to swing around, especially if you have to drive far with the item attached. A helper with a second line attached to the item you"re lifting to prevent swinging certainly helps.

 

[Doug in Illinois]

I agree, I have owned two. The first one was bought at a farm auction back in Nebraska, I abused it a LOT. It finally said, enough, as I was towing a nose heavy car with it from the front. Had done it several times before with different cars, but old age and rust got the best of it. The one I have now was bought new for around the 65 or 75 dollar price when I bought a front end loader for my Ford 5000 diesel. He had one mounted on his loader tractor and used it to put the loader on my trailer. I bought one from him, if you don't demand unreasonable lifts from it, should work fine for a long time. As always, no loads where anyone could get hurt or killed if it breaks. DOUG

 

[Ultradog MN]

I was going to buld one but then saw a sale ad at Fleet Farm whith a 500 lb. King Kutter brand for like $70.
Could hardly buy the steel for that.
Had it on a Ford N at first and it would set a Chevy 350 into your pickup with ease. Much more than that and it would lift the front tires off the ground.
I have a loader now so use it less but I wouldn't get rid of it for less than the price of a new one.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I have one older than sin, now it mounts on loader. I think that the biggest don't do is a sideways pull without a common sence factor. Another thing that comes to mind, and probably not a big factor with a M, is light in the front end, and a backward flip, again if common sence is not used.

 

[kyplowboy]

I have two and use them alot. One is an old one that my grandfather had. I would "rate" it at about 500lbs. It has lifted more over the years but I would try to limit it to that now. We used to use it alot when killing hogs. I have one that I picked up at auction a few years ago for $50. I had to modify it to fit a cat 2 hitch. It has an extention with it that makes it 10' to 16' long. They guy who had it built it to use with a JD 4955 and set trusses for his shop with it. There is nothing I can pick up with it on my Ford 6700 that would phase it at all. Any thing you are useing on a M is going to be more like my small one. (I use it most of the time on a ford 960) They are very handy. The only word of advice I would give is go very easy till you find out what your tractor will do with it. When you have something 6' to 8' back from the 3pt the front gets pretty light fast. If you are going to be pick'n up much with is I would put some extra iron on the fornt.

Good luck!!

Dave

 

[John S-B]

I have used one with an H and an M. Very useful, but you really need at least one if not two sets of front wheel weights. It will easily lift the front off the ground if you lift something heavy. I have used it to lift an eight foot Ford disc out of the back of a pickup truck. I've easily lifted 5' long and 30" thick logs. My boom pole was from Farm and Fleet and was rated for 1500#. Of course if you lift closer to the base you have more capacity with less height. You have to be careful of moving because the load will want to swing. One of my most used implements.

 

[wwhhaattyy]

mine is made from 3" pipe I have lifted over 1400 pounds. the front of the tractor came off the ground at that weight. pole can take more. its 9' reach as well

 

[RayP(MI)]

I have one I use on a Farmall 200 2pt/3pt conversion. Works great - can lift enough to make the front end light on the wheels, and I have about 300# of weight on the front end. Like anything of this nature, caution and careful operation are of extreme importance!

 

[Dave H (MI)]

Mine has a hook at the end and one halfway down the boom. The closer you hook to the tractor the more weight you can lift.

 

[john in la]

Like anything with a laced boom.....
Side lift is a BIG no no. This includes swings to the side when moving.

This does not become a problem for most people because a tractor front end will get light before you side stress the boom.

 

[Jaden]

Thanks for all the great responses. Looks like I need to get one.
John