FEL Carry-All

[RedDirt]

I've seen many posts for 3pt carry-alls but I don't recall any for the FEL. Maybe I just missed them. Here's mine.

I'm doing an landscape irrigation project and need the FEL and BH AND a lot of parts, tools, etc. I got tired of loading everything into the bucket, go to the diggin's, unload, work, reload, move...you get the picture.

The design is simple. Just a decked pallet with a pair of skids spaced apart for the bucket to slide in. Skids are 4x6, w/all-thread through skid, spacer and pallet, attached to a flat 2x4 on top of the pallet. I put shoes on the end of the skids to keep the loader from splitting the skids.

This was a fun build because I hardly used a plan or a tape measure. I'm normally a heavy user of both so this was rather refreshing. I just grabbed a spare pallet and some scrap lumber and started building from a napkin sketch.

To load:
Bucket level an inch off ground
Bump skid plate. (unlike common bucket fork complaints, you can see the carry-all move)
Raise bucket until carry-all starts to lift (note the pallet cantilevers the skids)
Drop bucket a tad and drive forward until carry-all moves forward...raise bucket.

I purposely left the sides short of the front. This provides a work bench at any convenient height. Now when I'm doing the plumbing end of the job I get to stand upright like a human instead of groveling around cutting and gluing manifolds on the ground!

Project start to finish, including scrounging lumber/plywood racks, a little over three hours.

[IXLR8]

Interesting... I could have used this last weekend. I have an idea what I will be doing this weekend. Thanks for the photo's.. they answered some questions I had after reading your post. I see you have hooks on your bucket, do you see any need to run cable/chain from the front of your Carry-All to the hooks to make it more secure/stable and take some load off the cantilever?

[mikim]

cool thing about that is - as you're working a project with it - if you need the bucket - you simply lay down the pallet and pick it up after....quick & easy....down and dirty .... great job. If you secured it a bit more, put higher sides on it (removable) with a hand rail....you could use it as a manlift.

[vic4news]

Nice work. I like how you designed it to slid on and off the bucket instead of
having to bolt it on.

Vic

[SkunkWerX]

Nice design RedDirt!

Gives me some ideas for transporting firewood.
No forks needed!


It's been said before, but the simple designs are among the most intriguing and ingenius.

[PILOON]

Neet!
I also did a similar concept but used scrap metal (old bed springs) to haul firewood that I'd cut on site and haul to the wood pile.
Similarily mine slips into the bucket with a wire rod floor (lets the bark fall out of the gaps).
Hooks or flanges slip under the bucket lip and 2 short chain lengths hook onto the bucket corner hooks.
This allows me to cart 4 times more wood in the bucket from the cut site to the stack and without all the dirty chips and sawdust etc.

[RedDirt]

Originally Posted by IXLR8

\ I see you have hooks on your bucket, do you see any need to run cable/chain from the front of your Carry-All to the hooks to make it more secure/stable and take some load off the cantilever?

I figured I could use the bucket hooks if/when needed, like heavy loads, or if I wanted to dump something like firewood, etc. For it's current use the loads are light. As mikim and vic4news observed the big plus with out any required hook-ups it's simple to pick up, move, and drop off. No getting on/off a couple times to make up connections.

Although I built it for ease of transport, it will invariably get other uses. Even though the load is trying to split the pallet/skids apart, the way it is through bolted I think chaining to the hooks wouldn't be needed until the load exceeded a couple hundred pounds...and maybe not even then. I'll try to do a load test tonight and report back.

[IXLR8]

Originally Posted by RedDirt

I'll try to do a load test tonight and report back.

Just don't test to failure.

[RedDirt]

Originally Posted by IXLR8

Just don't test to failure.

Testing would be easier if I had some redi-mix sacks around; that's how I tested my HF shop hoist. Alas... all used up.

I loaded up 25 gal of fuel and my 40# chop saw as far out on the edge as I could get them, then me at 160# bounced up and down on the edge. Passed with flying colors. If gas/diesel weighs in the neighborhood of water, 8.3#/gal, I figure this should be close to 380# - 400# static not including the carryall itself. With the bx rated at 463# lift I think I'd fail to lift before the carry-all failed. I'm sure I'll find out someday which goes first. My bet is on the pressure relief valve.

[Shmudda]

Nice build......

It's really nice to see what everyone builds as necessity is the mother of invention!

Again, good work!

Craig