Tools – Handy Garage Crane – My Little Mule

“My Little Mule”

While working in my shop, there are times, many times, that I need a helping hand! My husband is usually at work, so I’m stuck because I can’t move something because of size or the mass or bulk size of something.

I worked in the medical field as a physical therapist assistant and still licensed, but in hospitals and homes, a Hoyer lift, or Patient lift are a much needed tool in transporting patients from beds to chairs, I used a Hoyer lift to put a patient in a large whirlpool, a patient that weighed in excess of 300lbs! Most Hoyer lifts will lift up to 400-450lbs.

In this photo, this is a manual Hoyer lift or Patient lift that I purchased off of Craigslist for 75 bucks. There are hydraulic and manual types. I prefer the manual type, but I do have both. I just haven’t modified the hydraulic one yet.

I bought the used Hoyer lift to modify intentionally. I knew the original boom would not be long enough to reach, extend where I needed to put something, or to just hold something small or large while I work~ a helping hand!  The pic below shows my modified version lifting two tires/wheels up to a storage shelf to get the tires off of the floor.

I dubbed my new tool, My Little Mule, cause it’s just that! It’s a workhorse, it is a NECESSITY in my shop and I use it often. Above all, it saves my back!

In this photo, I needed to remove a heavy bench seat from a ’72 Chevy Impala. It’s heavy and awkward! If you look closely by blowing up the pic, you’ll see that the boom is extendable. I fabricated the boom out of square tubing, one large and one smaller to slide making it extendable. Keeping in mind, the further out the boom, the less weight can be lifted, but common sense tells me this! I don’t have to be a physicist with a slide rule to know this, just a common sense thing!

below: this 3rd row Tahoe seat is going into my 59 Chevy Apache. This is the day that I brought it home from a salvage yard. As one can tell, the seat is large, bulky, and heavy! No one is around to help me, a typical day. My Little Mule saves the day once again! I strategically place some tie down straps, roll the Little Mule into place and the Mule lifts it effortlessly, then I just roll it cautiously into my shop. I’m happy!

Sometimes I think I push my Little Mules capabilities, but here in the photo below, I needed to remove the large hood from this ’72 Impala. The picture doesn’t really show it, but the hood is LARGE! I just lift the hood with My Little Mule and roll it out of the way, then lower it down on to a resting place.

I’ll get better photos of this later, but you get the just of what’s going on here. I made a boom that allowed to help me. Here the Little Mule with the long boom is holding up a steering column while I see if will fit. The column is bulky and awkward to hold up by one person.

Someone thought I was lifting a real engine here! ha ha! No, this is a replica engine weighing in at 35lbs. I’m taking advantage of my Little Mule to test fit the replica engine into the deep engine compartment of my 59 Apache.  With this much extension, the tubing does flex, but supports adequately.

The Little Mule with the extendable boom is once again holding up a steering column while I work. This is a better photo demonstrating the boom.

Here, My Little Mule is supporting a 350 transmission through the cab of my 59 Apache. I am figuring out where to install the transmission support, plus the tranny is connected to my mock-up engine (not shown here). This is really taxing my Little Mule, but I had no other way of supporting the transmission! However, there is a rolling cart, shop cart beneath the transmission in case a weld was to break~ Always be careful eh!  ; )

Posted today at 6:00 pm, 8-8-13. I’ve just been working on the rear end of my 59 Chevy truck. My Little Mule helps me get the job done! Why should I strain my back when I don’t have to!

As one can see, My Little Mule is  a necessity~ I’ll post more photos later on, So stay tuned! Dne’