Pallet Jack or Custom Steel BH dolly?

[Arcane]

My first prototype dolly for my subframe backhoe (Deere 46), a 1200 lbs. rated oak dolly, failed. It was bound to happen: a $40 experiment to save several hundreds. The bh is long, with the cg halfway between the back of the bucket and the front of the frame (about 5'), and the dolly needs to be no more than than 3" tall, and probably will require some blocks to set the bh right.

The second try will either be a 72" long pallet jack (from NT if I can't find one used):
Northern Industrial Tools Extra Length Pallet Truck — 72in.L fork |Platform Trucks | Northern Tool + Equipment]Northern Tool + Equipment | Error

or a 1/4" plate steel dolly like PineRidge's here: http://www.pineridge7.com/MJE/tc-40...ne use a pallet jack for something like this?

 

[rdln]

wow, pineridge did some really nice CAD work there

I say build it it and the BH will come off

 

[gordon21]

I see extra long wood pallets all the time laying behind buildings next to dumpsters. They are usually 8-10' long. What about taking an existing free pallett and adding 6-8 casters for under $100? You could always customize it with some additional wood brackets, etc

 

[Arcane]

PineRidge's drawings sure are purty, but I don't know anyone who could modify and build from them for my bh, and I sure can't: never did take metalshop in hs.

I had the pallet and wheels idea and it won't work because the top of the contraption can't be more than 3" tall or 28' wide in order for the bh frame and it to clear the rear axle.

I'm looking for a long fork pallet jack, preferably used, and will report on the results.

 

[kwolfe]

Place a couple of 10' 2x10s on the floor and drive up on them. This would give you 2" of extra clearance for a total of 5". You should be able to use the pallet with caster idea then. It would be inexpensive.

 

[gordon21]

Kwolfe has the right idea but is coming up short by half an inch. One 2x10 would give you only 1.5" and two would give you an extra full 3" of height. Add $40 for the lumber (four 2"x10") and you are still under $140.

 

[Arcane]

Obvious, simple, and I even have some leftover 3x12 floor joist dimension lumber! That must be why I didn't think of it! Thanks friends, I'll try it.

 

[gordon21]

You can attach the top of the caster plate to the bottom of the palletts TOP layer of wood. Cut out all the wood directly below it and you can then use a 4" caster which will roll around a lot easier than 2" or 3" ones will. You will then have hidden recessed casters and a total dolly height of about 5.5-6". One advantage of the wide pallet is stability. It can have the support wheels farther apart than a fixed dimemsion pallet jack would. Your casters could be set out near all four corners of the double size pallett.

 

[kwolfe]

Obvious, simple, and I even have some leftover 3x12 floor joist dimension lumber! That must be why I didn't think of it! Thanks friends, I'll try it.

The wife always says that I am simple. I guess this time it was a good thing.

 

[shaley]

I built a dolley for my Woods BH (1600 lb). I used 2 pieces of 2x2x1/4" angle and a 2x2x3/16" sq tube across the front. Sounds flimsy doesn't it. It's lasted for 5 years and I've even towed it to the street with my truck with the BH on it. The secret? Don't put any forces on the frame members. All the frame does is hold the 3 casters in position and the load is place directly over the casters.
Here is a CAD print w/dimensions and a couple of pics. I'll be glad to make any mods to the design you would like. The back of the bucket wedges in the vee of the frame and I just lower in on with the stabilizers and unhook the pump and roll it away. My subframe comes off for winter outside storage so I don't trip over the darn thing.
The first pic is just the subframe and a glimpse of the dolly wheels for info. See the PDF for full plans.