Having had 2 back injuries, broken rib injuries and one damaged
knee, I'm not really into heavy lifting.  My solution has been to
put my hives on concrete blocks about 16" off the ground.  I put
them in rows and with enough room to drive behind them.  I have a
flatbed trailer that is !8" high.  when I need to move hives,  I
back up to them and lift them aboard with a hand truck.  If I am
removing supers it is a simple mater to drive behind and standing
on the trailer, remove supers, stack them on a hand truck, then
place the stack where it needs to be on the trailer.  The trailer
I use is fairly light duty but can accommodate about 20 hives and
works well for a small operation.
 
I have often thought abut having a "Tommy Gate" lift installed on
my pickup.  these lifts can lift as much as 1500 lbs. from ground
level to bed level.  These can be removed an installed on a
different vehicle when you trade.  I was wondering if anyone had
tried this option.
 
Frank & Phronsie Humphrey
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