Hi all,
I've made a lifting-frame with a small hand-winch on, to help me put our caravan up. Our Ansfold roof is heavier than the Portafold, because of its double-skinned construction. When we first had our van, I could just-about manage to put it up without assistance. I'm only just tall enough though at 5' 8", & nowadays even with my wife's help & standing on steps, it's becoming harder. As we want to be able to carry on Ansfolding into old age, & neither of us enjoy back-pain, NOW seemed as good a time as any to do this.
The frame is made from car exhaust-tube stock, sold in several different diameters by motor factors. The winch came from a boat-chandler, it has 5cwt 'pull' & is sold for hauling small boats out of water onto trailers. It cost £14.94 + VAT. The cable is sash-window cord, 1/4" hemp, from a local ironmongers. The hook is 1" x 1/4" flat strip, bent cold in the vice round a socket. All the rest of the sheet-steel is old Dexion from factory skips. I did "cheat" by turning the top pulley from solid in my own lathe, but this could doubtless be a suitable wheel rescued from an old trolley or child's toy & divested of its tyre.
My lifting-frame locates on the top of the bottle-box which is also made from Dexion shelving. At the moment I can only lift the front (the second end, for me). When the time comes that I need help to lift both ends, I'll make extensions for the legs so the frame stands on the ground.
It isn't quite finished yet. The pictures show it being tested on the van in my garage, propped outside & dismantled to fit in the Minor's boot.
Steve Lord
(Hint hint!)
