Back hoe dolly

[LS Tractor Owner]

As anybody made a BH dolly for the ones that have the subframes that come off with the BH? The Kioti and LS are almost identical. Just looking for ease of mounting it back onto the tractor, lining it up.

This is a pic of the kind I am talking about.

 

[ruffdog]

This might give you some ideas:

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/ls-tractor-owning-operating/388486-xj2025-backhoe-dolly.html

 

[Aquamoose]

I have. Basically had to find the center and fabricated a small dolly with steel wheels attached to it so I can mount it on before setting it down. It’s important to keep those wheels outside the center of balance or it’ll tip. Fortunately, I found the spot under the pivot pin and the bottom was flat. The other end was light.

The outriggers went into side “cups” made of steel tubes to narrow the profile as it was rolled underneath my pallet rack. Flush. This eliminates any straps to hold the outriggers up as they all sag. The boom was locked in place and the bucket was kept from dropping by locking the cylinder in the extended position.

I found that steel wheels on smooth surfaces are best. Neoprene rimmed wheels didn’t work as it was difficult to move.

BH76 storage - rolling into storage. - YouTube

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

I guess I will adapt Aquamoose plans to fit mine. Basically what I was thinking of. Just have to make it to fit mine.

The first idea was to fold up the subframe like the xj2025, but my backhoe is much heavier, and would have to to take out 4 recessed bolts, then 2 more easier access, then loosen 2 more.... way more trouble and time to do each time.

 

[Aavantaggio]

I guess I will adapt Aquamoose plans to fit mine. Basically what I was thinking of. Just have to make it to fit mine.

The first idea was to fold up the subframe like the xj2025, but my backhoe is much heavier, and would have to to take out 4 recessed bolts, then 2 more easier access, then loosen 2 more.... way more trouble and time to do each time.

Keep me updated! I have the same BH and will be looking to make a dolly soon too. Looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

I got the casters yesterday, took some preliminary measurements. I have not decided wether to make it one piece, or go two piece. I bought 2 sets of casters, each having a pair of swivel, pair of stationary wheels, so I am leaning more towards the two piece.

I have a couple of projects ahead of the dolly build, so might be a couple weeks before I get to it....

 

[Aavantaggio]

I hadn't thought about a two piece dolly until I saw Aquamoose's build. It'll take a little more time when lowering the BH onto the dolly, but probably some tabs can allow you to connect it to the end of the frame while it is still in the air. As far as stability goes, don't think a one piece would be more stable unless it was wider, one-piece or two. I definitely like the idea of a smaller footprint when the dolly is not in use.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Yes, storage of the dollies when not in use is a big deal for me. I want to keep the footprint as small as possible, but I still want it to be stable when moving. The movement part is not like across the garage, it is just little movements to line it up to the tractor. I am tired of jumping on and off the tractor a bunch of times to move the tractor a half inch! I can get it really close the first time, but I think the dolly would make the final adjustments much easier.

 

[Aquamoose]

The dolly is actually installed while the backhoe still on the tractor. Since then, I’ve installed a small plate underneath the pivot to give clearance for the boom to move down to assist in the removal. The main dolly’s arms has dowels that drops in existing holes in the BH. It was secured with snap pins for security.

No tools were used at all to mount or dismount the BH except to take out the lower 3PH pins on the tractor during the conversion but none for the dolly setup. When I built it, I just figured out ways to “bolt” casters to the frame and better if I don’t have to use tools so my advice is to try to go with that approach. Start with a wood block to find your center of gravity then go from there.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

The CG was my concern, I use the boom / bucket to “ pivot “ the BH to line up the front undercarriage. I usually have set the BH down on 2x12 blocks, but leave the stabilizers down, and the bucket on the floor. It is REALLY eating up a lot of space! My ultimate goal is to get the BH “ folded up “ like you have done with yours for more room.

I like the PVC tubes to lock the cylinders.... I am fortunate enough that the LS BH has built in stabilizer locks and a boom lock.