Offroad forklift, kinda

[TMGT]

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]

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]

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

 

[TMGT]

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 5301403View attachment 5301404



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[TMGT]

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

Yes, I have a hydraulic top link for the tilt.

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[TMGT]

Apparently some of the pictures didn't attach on the previous post.

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[ptsg]

Great work! That will be super handy.

 

[TMGT]

Great work! That will be super handy.

Thanks, it won't lift nearly as much as my real forklift, but it can definitely go more places and has much higher lift (the Nissan is only a 2 stage mast)!

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[ptsg]

Thanks, it won't lift nearly as much as my real forklift, but it can definitely go more places and has much higher lift (the Nissan is only a 2 stage mast)!View attachment 5302004

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To be fair, it doesn't really need to lift as much and the 3 pt safety relief valve would probably open and let the arms drop even if you tried to lift too much weight with it.

I could definitely use a setup like that to fix some damaged tiles on the edge of a roof after some recent storms, since I can drive my 70's electric forklift there.

 

[groundcover]

Well done ! Should have made a couple, I could use one of those !

 

[pmsmechanic]

I've often thought of attaching a fork lift to my tractor in the same way. My only addition would be to attach a set of tires for stability and weight bearing onto the fork lift frame. The tires would run just behind and outside of the rear tires. Being close coupled they could skid around corners with little effort and not be too much or an obstruction to maneuverability.

I like your idea and admire your fabrication skills.

 

[BackRoad]

Brilliant idea for reuse and great fabrication Mr. TMGT.

I'm the opposite end of the scale from the Safety Police...and am interested only in understanding the physics, so this question is NOT suggesting to an adult to be careful:

.

My understanding is the 3PH arms use hydraulic lift to apply upward force, but depend on the weight of the implement for downward force...

Is there risk if the tractor is not on near level ground side to side, that at full extension, at some angle of lean, the 3PH design would not prevent it from continuing to tip sideways if the extended load causes a lifting force on one side of the 3PH, since there's no downward hydraulic force to leverage the 4000 pound mass of the tractor to counter-act it?

Just wondering in theory, if that is how the dynamic forces would be applied...

 

[tacticalturnip]

That is quite the impressive fabrication, I could find many uses for something like that. Very cool!

 

[TMGT]

Brilliant idea for reuse and great fabrication Mr. TMGT.

I'm the opposite end of the scale from the Safety Police...and am interested only in understanding the physics, so this question is NOT suggesting to an adult to be careful:

.

My understanding is the 3PH arms use hydraulic lift to apply upward force, but depend on the weight of the implement for downward force...

Is there risk if the tractor is not on near level ground side to side, that at full extension, at some angle of lean, the 3PH design would not prevent it from continuing to tip sideways if the extended load causes a lifting force on one side of the 3PH, since there's no downward hydraulic force to leverage the 4000 pound mass of the tractor to counter-act it?

Just wondering in theory, if that is how the dynamic forces would be applied...

The arms are still linked side to side, so any upward force would be applied to both lower arms.
Yes, the 3pt arms definitely have a little more play side to side than when the mast is rigid mountef to a forklift, but the track width of the tractor is much wider than the forklift which helps a lot with overall stability.

The tractor weighs 6000lbs, the forklift mast is over 1000lbs so plenty of down force on the 3pt.

That said, you do have to use your brain when operating it, any weight 16ft in the air on uneven and/or soft ground is asking for trouble if not careful.

I am planning on adding a hyd. side link for the 3pt to help with leveling on uneven ground. Luckily the original forklift tilt cylinders appear to be the perfect size for what I need.

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