Hi,

A couple of weeks ago I started working on an idea which I have had for a while of a model truck with a lifting arm like what is used to lift large commercial bins. So far I have the truck built and the arm working but not 100% as well as what I would like, the problem I have is with getting the arm to move as far as what I would like and with locking the bin once it is loaded on.

Here are some images :) Any advice or ideas would be great.

The truck in it's "driving state"

Bin lifting

The first problem, the bin goes almost 90 degrees when being loaded / unloaded before it starts to touch the ground and go flat, this means things fall out :(

The second problem, when uploaded it goes too far back from the back of the truck, the ones I have seen in real life stay much closer to the back of the truck when being unloaded.

How I am using gears to do this.

Rear gear - top view.

Rear gear - bottom view.

Good work so far!

Maybe this site by Jennifer Clark will give you some ideas and answers.

Good luck!

Edited November 2, 200915 yr by JunkstyleGio

I think you need to shorten the lifting arm and pivot it in front of the axle rather than behind it.

Thanks to both of you for the ideas and advice , I had a bit of a look before and I reduced the length of the arm and moved the pivot point in front of the rear wheels which seems to have made some improvement, I will post some more images of it how it is now later when I have the camera out again.

Paul

I also think you should take a look at the Jennifeer's site. There are very good expanations of tghat mechanism.

You are on the right path!

The recommended website is very good, as you can see from the pictures and I confirm from watching the hook loader when it delivered our skips at work, the skip has to slide backwards about half way along the bed of the truck before it starts tilting, this will allow the wheels on the skip to hit the floor before it becomes vertical

Hope this helps

Paul

Thanks for the feedback, I think the changes I made last night have been a big improvement :)

I had a look at that site and I am amazed at what some people are building now compared to what I used to be able to make. I now have some good ideas of things to try in the future.

Paul

Thanks for the feedback, I think the changes I made last night have been a big improvement :)

I had a look at that site and I am amazed at what some people are building now compared to what I used to be able to make. I now have some good ideas of things to try in the future.

Paul

Here are some photos of the truck after the ideas suggested on here and my own research, it seems to work much now as it does not tip up as far as before and when it is fully unloaded it does not go back as far asbefore which is much more "life like" so I will be working on the general body more and taking photos before I take it to pieces and make a start on my next idea.

Looking good! Hadn't realised the way you created the 'ring' at the back of the container for the hook of the arm. Nice!