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Santa Cruz, CA

Next Sunday is our Weigh-off at our County Fair and we will be taking two pumpkins to it. We purchased the pumpkin lifting straps and have a rig lined up that can lift to 8'. The straps seem pretty long for our @500lb pumpkin. Should I shorten them by sewing the top loops and make them shorter? Is there a disadvantage in doing that? My hubbie thinks it is necessary. Is it? Is there another way to shorten the straps?

9/2/2006 6:31:06 PM

Mastic Beach, New York

are they 6ft straps? and do you have a pumpkin lifting tarp?

9/2/2006 7:28:09 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Creek, at weigh-off at Indy St. Fair, for the smaller punkins the long straps were wrapped around the lifting ring...at one point in the weigh-off, there was a delay, while they unwrapped the straps from the ring, to accomodate the larger 'kins. Equal wraps on each strap would be required, but would allow for diff. size fruit. Not sure if you have a ring...in your rig, but it worked well in Indy. Peace, Wayne
PS...c'mon...give us some info...how big are they?? LOL

9/2/2006 8:33:27 PM

Santa Cruz, CA

The straps are 6 feet and no, we don't have a lifting ring. We have put the strap loops through a big hook. The hook at this point is stuffed with the straps and we couldn't wrap any more bulk onto them. We do have a pumpkin lifting tarp.
Are there other ways beside winding to shorten. Sewing would work and if we ever grew a bigger pumpkin I could rip the stiches out. The only thing I've noticed is the thread is very heavy duty on the original loops and my mashine won't take thread that large.

9/2/2006 10:08:23 PM

Mastic Beach, New York

ok..use the straps normal,to lift the pumpkin off the ground.#2 with pumpkin off the ground slide the tarp under it.#lower pumpkin back down,now run the straps threw the handles of the tarp..only need 4 straps(one per corner)going threw 2 corner handles ,then hook both loops onto your hook and lift.
thats how i lift my pumpkins every year..very safe..i've heard of pumpkins falling threw the straps,but never threw the tarp..

i will post a pic in my diary to show you

9/2/2006 10:59:20 PM

Santa Cruz, CA

Wow...that sounds very doable. Great idea. I'd love to see some pics too. Thanks so much. I'm making a copy of your post so my hubby can read your suggestions. Thanks again!!

9/3/2006 1:01:43 AM

ENGLAND

Kristine. Do you have a spare car or truck wheel that has elongated slots around the rim ? If you do, or can get one from a junk yard, then you have a lifting ring !!! I remember seeing a picture 'somewhere' on this Website showing a wheel rim being used to great effect as a lifting ring.

Regards
Mike

9/3/2006 3:23:21 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Great idea Mike...lengths of chain bolted in lug bolt holes that would go to the lifting device? Peace, Wayne

9/3/2006 7:31:10 AM

Mastic Beach, New York

i put pic's in this morning

9/3/2006 10:47:37 AM

ENGLAND

Wayne. Thats the idea, then thread the straps down through the slots in the rim and if the straps are too long just pass more of each strap through each slot wrapping around the rim to take up the unwanted length. Just can't find that picture though ??

Regards
Mike

9/3/2006 3:12:19 PM

Santa Cruz, CA

Billy,
Thanks for the pictures. We just tried the set-up on the pumpkin we have at home and it looks like it will work great. Thanks for the idea.

9/3/2006 4:17:20 PM

Santa Cruz, CA

My next question is: will 1/2" chain to 1/4" bolt be strong enough after the lifting straps to hang the pumpkin from? We are going to rent an excavator and attach the chain over and through the buckets teeth. Does this sound like it will work?

9/3/2006 7:02:30 PM