Hoist options for pickup trucks

[SD198]

Hi all - I currently use a large metal hoist/ winch setup on my pickup truck that attaches to the towbar. It is great but it really is huge (takes up most of the room in the back even when fully collapsed ) and also very heavy. Is anyone able to recommend an alternative for use with a pickup truck that will take up less room in the back and may not be so heavy? I saw the Napier apex "click" device but it was not clear whether it would swivel to allow me to deposit the carcass in the back of the truck - plus I read some reviews on here about them snapping! I have the apex one-handed winch, but don't really like the fact that you can only winch up.

Many thanks

 

[Grand Slam]

Currently using the APEX Truck Click

Great bit of kit which as managed to lift everything I have put on it so far (Norfolk Red Hinds and some large fallow bucks in warwickshire).

I did however snap the bar that connects to the tow hitch when I accidentally dropped a fallow buck off the tailgate, causing the whole setup to pivot on one of the legs. Entirely my own fault and a quick chat with Napier and a replacement part was sent out.

The set up as a whole doesnt give you the option to rotate into the truck, however due to the hoist being the way it is you are able to move the deer quite easily into a tray etc, before releasing the ratchet, dropping the deer (Albeit suddenly on larger deer) into your tray of choice.

 

[Border]

@Tim.243

 

[homer]

Hi all - I currently use a large metal hoist/ winch setup on my pickup truck that attaches to the towbar. It is great but it really is huge (takes up most of the room in the back even when fully collapsed ) and also very heavy. Is anyone able to recommend an alternative for use with a pickup truck that will take up less room in the back and may not be so heavy? I saw the Napier apex "click" device but it was not clear whether it would swivel to allow me to deposit the carcass in the back of the truck - plus I read some reviews on here about them snapping! I have the apex one-handed winch, but don't really like the fact that you can only winch up.

Many thanks

Why not just put a winch in the back of the pickup and a bit of plywood as a ramp from tailgate to ground, then winch up ramp. No lifting required. Just gralloch on ground, you wont get arrested for it!!

 

[wytonpjs]

Hi all - I currently use a large metal hoist/ winch setup on my pickup truck that attaches to the towbar. It is great but it really is huge (takes up most of the room in the back even when fully collapsed ) and also very heavy. Is anyone able to recommend an alternative for use with a pickup truck that will take up less room in the back and may not be so heavy? I saw the Napier apex "click" device but it was not clear whether it would swivel to allow me to deposit the carcass in the back of the truck - plus I read some reviews on here about them snapping! I have the apex one-handed winch, but don't really like the fact that you can only winch up.

Many thanks

As my stalking truck is also my family car, I made the hoist separate into easily managed sections. See the pictures in my post here:

Post in thread 'Suspended gralloch set up for pick up trucks'

Feb 22, 2025

It is true that with the fallow bucks the head is on the floor. It’s good enough though for me, the duster doesn’t have endless space for big bits of kit.

Nor does the dS - all of the framework breaks down into 6 pieces and is stowed alongside the sled, the electric winch is at the head of the sled bolted to the plywood base and in front of that is my box of off-road recovery stuff. Had 4 fallow does and a calf in the sled 2 weeks ago (briefly) but frankly I won’t be doing that again I hope any time soon. Two large beasts in the sled makes it very comfortable and the winch...

• wytonpjs

• 

These pictures give you an idea of the evolution of the hoist into its current packable form. The base is alongside the off-road recovery kit box (capstan winch on top) with rope bag alongside. Behind that box on the plywood base is the winch to lift, lower and drag the sled up into the backs, the 2 upright sections are to the right of the sled and the feet and towbar section are on top of the dog cage. A couple of minutes to erect and I'm in business The move to aluminium box section for the upright was weight driven. I've had it flex a bit with large fallow so I now have a steel collar on the towbar connection point.

 

[SD198]

Thanks for the replies. I may need to take another look at the apex click (although they seem to be out of stock most places). Unfortunately I am not allowed to gralloch on the ground.

 

[Tim.243]

Why not just put a winch in the back of the pickup and a bit of plywood as a ramp from tailgate to ground, then winch up ramp. No lifting required. Just gralloch on ground, you wont get arrested for it!!

I do them on the floor very occasionally but just the greens, however following mainstream food production everything goes up in the air, also I find it does get the blood out via gravity and makes for a nice up right secondary check and trimming of "bits" lol
My friend makes a very neat job of a field gralloch but when he as a couple extra 2/3 they come to mine then go up on the winch chest split and a last check.
Personally as a fabricator all this kit coming out of plastic bags with little clips and pins is just toy town. But it has a market.

 

[Tim.243]

Thanks for the replies. I may need to take another look at the apex click (although they seem to be out of stock most places). Unfortunately I am not allowed to gralloch on the ground.

Up up and away!

 

[SD198]

Thanks for the home made suggestions - I will have a closer look (not sure my technical skills will be up to making my own TBH!)

 

[Tom8]

Hi all - I currently use a large metal hoist/ winch setup on my pickup truck that attaches to the towbar. It is great but it really is huge (takes up most of the room in the back even when fully collapsed ) and also very heavy. Is anyone able to recommend an alternative for use with a pickup truck that will take up less room in the back and may not be so heavy? I saw the Napier apex "click" device but it was not clear whether it would swivel to allow me to deposit the carcass in the back of the truck - plus I read some reviews on here about them snapping! I have the apex one-handed winch, but don't really like the fact that you can only winch up.

Many thanks

What deer are you mainly shooting?

 

[SD198]

Fallow and roe.

 

[Bigjohncat]

I got this off FB marketplace and fitted to my old series landrover. It's an old wheelchair hoist and folds down, swings in when not in use.

 

[Tim.243]

I got this off FB marketplace and fitted to my old series landrover. It's an old wheelchair hoist and folds down, swings in when not in use.View attachment 435985View attachment 435987

I lift my 13hp 200 amp welding set in my truck with mine! And Deer lol

 

[labrador77]

Have a Google for deertraycovers.com they manufacture a towball mounted hoist. I bought one at the game fair after dithering on one at the stalking show. I built my own contraption which worked OK but took up a lot of room in the truck. This one is much more user friendly and has so far happily dealt with multiple Fallow bucks.

 

[woodmaster]

I've been watching threads such as this with great interest. I have noticed over the last few years they come up increasing often. Perhaps more stalkers, age demographic is trending towards older stalkers or we are all getting weak and or more inclined to save our aging bodies.
There have been many ideas, designs and comments many of which I have given some thought.
I have begun to make some hoists using the ideas and comments as a basis for their design.
I made and fitted one to my own Navara pick up last year. Honestly I had some scepticism as to whether I'd use it or not. My main issue being I just can't be bothered to take too long to set it up.
So how long is too long? Well for me anything over 2 minutes. I'm still just strong enough to manhandle a fallow buck into the back, so unless it's convenient I'll just do the work. However a time will come when that's to much and my back will say NO to lifting such weight.
So I set to and made the first hoist and have used it this last year.
Being comfortable and prefer to grallock on the floor I initially used it to load larger animals into the truck, but have subsequently found performing suspended grallocks on muntjac preferable to kneeling down and bending over. So that's a new direction for me.
I also now prefer to use it for roe.
Fallow I still tend to take the green out at the shot site and then finish off on the hoist before lowering into the tray. All without straining anything or blowing a gasket.
I am a welder fabricator by trade mostly undertaking restoration of narrowboats, but my passion for hunting just merges with my skill set and I feel the call to make such things.
As you'll see the hoist simply slides into a socket which is bolted to the original tow bar (no modification made to retain design integrity). It takes just seconds to deploy.
I've also made a modification which now allows it to be used as a skinning rig. I've only used this on muntjac so far but will test on larger species this coming autumn and winter.
I'd be interested to hear the views of my fellow engineering counterparts or those looking for similar needs to be met. Constructive criticism is welcomed. Better still genuine suggestions for improvement.

 

[Tim.243]

I've been watching threads such as this with great interest. I have noticed over the last few years they come up increasing often. Perhaps more stalkers, age demographic is trending towards older stalkers or we are all getting weak and or more inclined to save our aging bodies.
There have been many ideas, designs and comments many of which I have given some thought.
I have begun to make some hoists using the ideas and comments as a basis for their design.
I made and fitted one to my own Navara pick up last year. Honestly I had some scepticism as to whether I'd use it or not. My main issue being I just can't be bothered to take too long to set it up.
So how long is too long? Well for me anything over 2 minutes. I'm still just strong enough to manhandle a fallow buck into the back, so unless it's convenient I'll just do the work. However a time will come when that's to much and my back will say NO to lifting such weight.
So I set to and made the first hoist and have used it this last year.
Being comfortable and prefer to grallock on the floor I initially used it to load larger animals into the truck, but have subsequently found performing suspended grallocks on muntjac preferable to kneeling down and bending over. So that's a new direction for me.
I also now prefer to use it for roe.
Fallow I still tend to take the green out at the shot site and then finish off on the hoist before lowering into the tray. All without straining anything or blowing a gasket.
I am a welder fabricator by trade mostly undertaking restoration of narrowboats, but my passion for hunting just merges with my skill set and I feel the call to make such things.
As you'll see the hoist simply slides into a socket which is bolted to the original tow bar (no modification made to retain design integrity). It takes just seconds to deploy.
I've also made a modification which now allows it to be used as a skinning rig. I've only used this on muntjac so far but will test on larger species this coming autumn and winter.
I'd be interested to hear the views of my fellow engineering counterparts or those looking for similar needs to be met. Constructive criticism is welcomed. Better still genuine suggestions for improvement.

Mine is side mounted lifting Reds and cost the price of a boat winch £20.00. My take is if I hurt myself bolixing a fallow in "just because I can"
the recovery time is longer and you lose out by hobbling around for the sake of a post and winch.
TBH the kit need to be capable what you are lifting + an over spec just like any lifting kit and the shiny powder coated kit is not.
As I have said a number of times the mainstream meat trade knock over an animal then it never touches the floor once it is hooked up.
If the general public saw what they eat being cleaned out on the floor (cows/pigs/sheep) in a field there would be uproar lol
Yes you get home kill but the % is very small and I watch the NZ home kill and it is very neat.
My hoist is in 3 parts with the mast 54" long as a D-max tub is 55" the base post goes over tow bar and the jib in the mast.
With a Red then I swing it onto the tailgate then cut the head off from underneath, last to come off are the lower legs as they make good handles to pull on.
This Fallow was 82.5kg dressed so 100kg+ live weight.

For Reds this season I will be making a extra section so I can add 2ft more but as it is then I can get it sorted in the current set up.

 

[woodmaster]

Thanks for your thoughts Tim and I quite agree. For guys like us with the right kit a simple house can be knocked up for very little money. I made one a few years back for a trailer. Cost about same as yours.
This one I decided to put some shiny paint on as I do wonder if there's a market out there for a few a year. Although not absolutely necessary it will prevent rust, help the kit last a while and just reflects the effort I've put into trying to iron out a few wrinkles folks have raised.
I also agree with presenting clean carcass as you say. Keep em out of the mud and blood just shows a little extra pride in the product.
I realise there are many who have shot and will shoot many more deer than me, who have their own methods and equipment. My comments are not a criticism of those and I'm always interested to see how you do things. Every day is a learning day.
Hope it's of interest to the OP with a few ideas.
I tried to post a short video but it's the wrong format. I'll have to learn how to do that.

 

[Tim.243]

Thanks for your thoughts Tim and I quite agree. For guys like us with the right kit a simple house can be knocked up for very little money. I made one a few years back for a trailer. Cost about same as yours.
This one I decided to put some shiny paint on as I do wonder if there's a market out there for a few a year. Although not absolutely necessary it will prevent rust, help the kit last a while and just reflects the effort I've put into trying to iron out a few wrinkles folks have raised.
I also agree with presenting clean carcass as you say. Keep em out of the mud and blood just shows a little extra pride in the product.
I realise there are many who have shot and will shoot many more deer than me, who have their own methods and equipment. My comments are not a criticism of those and I'm always interested to see how you do things. Every day is a learning day.
Hope it's of interest to the OP with a few ideas.
I tried to post a short video but it's the wrong format. I'll have to learn how to do that.

I built this one for Werner, so simple with his tow bar as it is thick gauge box with a plastic end cap.
Post is 54" as the tubs are the same length. My original idea was from my welding trailer as the Acyl bottles were so flipping heavy so I made a post pulley and boat winch that clipped on the trailer and up it went and sat in a well upright took about 4 mins from gauges off up and out to swap over.

 

[Jackal8]

Forgive the maybe stupid question- you hunt that far from where you sleep? It’s not easier to have a osb and a rope to get in the back of the pickup and then deal with the carcass where you have proper lighting, running water and so on?

 

[Grand Slam]

I've been watching threads such as this with great interest. I have noticed over the last few years they come up increasing often. Perhaps more stalkers, age demographic is trending towards older stalkers or we are all getting weak and or more inclined to save our aging bodies.
There have been many ideas, designs and comments many of which I have given some thought.
I have begun to make some hoists using the ideas and comments as a basis for their design.
I made and fitted one to my own Navara pick up last year. Honestly I had some scepticism as to whether I'd use it or not. My main issue being I just can't be bothered to take too long to set it up.
So how long is too long? Well for me anything over 2 minutes. I'm still just strong enough to manhandle a fallow buck into the back, so unless it's convenient I'll just do the work. However a time will come when that's to much and my back will say NO to lifting such weight.
So I set to and made the first hoist and have used it this last year.
Being comfortable and prefer to grallock on the floor I initially used it to load larger animals into the truck, but have subsequently found performing suspended grallocks on muntjac preferable to kneeling down and bending over. So that's a new direction for me.
I also now prefer to use it for roe.
Fallow I still tend to take the green out at the shot site and then finish off on the hoist before lowering into the tray. All without straining anything or blowing a gasket.
I am a welder fabricator by trade mostly undertaking restoration of narrowboats, but my passion for hunting just merges with my skill set and I feel the call to make such things.
As you'll see the hoist simply slides into a socket which is bolted to the original tow bar (no modification made to retain design integrity). It takes just seconds to deploy.
I've also made a modification which now allows it to be used as a skinning rig. I've only used this on muntjac so far but will test on larger species this coming autumn and winter.
I'd be interested to hear the views of my fellow engineering counterparts or those looking for similar needs to be met. Constructive criticism is welcomed. Better still genuine suggestions for improvement.

Liking the look of this. What sort of cost is involved in knocking up something like this? I have a Napier one at the moment but doesnt allow for the rotation of the carcass after gralloching, and with it being mounted directly onto the towbar I find that it limits the room for swinging the large fallow onto the tailgate.