Offroad forklift, kinda

TMGT · 2026-03-21T00:19:57-0400

Ok, so it's not really built as much as it is modified, but I needed a forklift that could work in the mud to help build my shop, so I decided to finally make a 3pt version.

I had a 3stage mast that was taken off an old Yale electric forklift that we had scrapped at work, it had been sitting around for a couple years and I finally got the motivation/need to get it functional.

I started by getting a piece of 4in sch 80 pipe to use as my lower mount. The original pivot where I wanted to weld my mount to was approx 4.315in, (4in pipe is 4.5in OD) so I had to machine the pipe in 2 places to get it to fit.

I don't have large live center, so I cut out 2 disc and center drilled them to cap the pipe.

The fit turned out really good, I wanted to use the original clamps from the pivot, but they disappeared when the forklift was dismantled.

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TMGT · 2026-03-21T00:29:20-0400

Next came the lower pin mounts, I cut out the 4 tabs for the clevis mounts and welded them on.

I determined that having the pins 8in from the bottom of the frame would allow me to set the frame on the ground for mounting/removal, getting the correct height was as simple as rotating the pipe until the pin holes were where I wanted them.

Once the lower pin locations was determined, I could make the mount for the top link. This was cut out of 1/2in also with 5/16in reinforcements.

Luckily I was able to attach it to the original cross bar for the tilt cylinders.

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jfsawatzky · 2026-03-21T19:32:51-0400

I’m interested in doing something similar. Will you be able to hydraulically tilt the forks? If so, how?

TMGT · 2026-03-21T19:39:02-0400

After everything was welded up I mounted it on the tractor so I could figure out the hyd lines. View attachment 5301374

I have to order some other fittings, but in the mean time I was able to hook up the hydraulics by cobbling together something using parts I had in stock, was even able to get the side shift working!

For the lift I ended up making a line that goes from the unused coupler on the remote to the tank return so it would work with the single acting cylinder.

It has a pretty decent lift height, with the 3pt lifted I can get over 16ft which will get me to the eave on the shop.View attachment 5301403 View attachment 5301404

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