Anyone build a FEL Dolly?

[nfowler]

I have a B3030 with a LA403 FEL. Time to think about snow and mounting the front blower! I'd like to build a dolly for the FEL using wood. Has anyone built one? Schematic or pictures appreciated. How does the dolly work with the removal and installation of the FEL? Thanks for any pointers. N. Fowler

 

[psvines]

I just built one last week for my BX2660 FEL (LA243). Basically a giant rectangle with 2x6s front and back ("50), with 2x4s on the sides (57"). Two carriage bolts at each corner, with swiveling casters at each corner. The casters are 2.5", rated at 175lbs. each.

The first attempt was too short, front to rear. When angling the FEL to disconnect, the toothbar hit the floor and wouldn't lift the arms enough. I extended the 2x4s and now the toothbar rests on the 2x6 and it works the same as if there was no dolly.

I got the model from searching the forum for "dolly", and found a couple of pictures.

 

[nfowler]

Well, I guess I'll have to answer this now that I've built one!

According to Kubota documentation, the LA 403 Front End Loader (FEL) weighs 800 pounds; the 60 bucket weighs 216 lbs empty for a combined weight of just over 1000 pounds. This dolly is designed and built to carry a 1320 pound load. All dimensions below are in inches.

Materials List:

2 - 2 by 6 by 52 top rails (finished dimensions: 1.5 by 5.5 by 52)
3 - 5/4 by 6 by 43.5 bottom cross members (finished dimensions: 1 by 5.5 by 43.5)
1 - 5/4 by 2 by 43.5 top bumper (finished dimensions: 1 by 2 by 43.5)
6 - 3 inch hard rubber castor wheels rated for 220 pounds SWL each
24 - 5/16 by 3 (#16) carriage bolts with lock washers and nuts
2 - 5/16 by 4 (#16) carriage bolts with lock washers and nuts
4 - 5/16 flat washers

The dolly is basically a 43.5 by 52 rectangle. All joints are square and flush. The 2 by 6 by 52 top rails are the surface the FEL rests on. The 5/4 by 6 by 43.5 bottom cross members are placed one at each end, and one 24 (outside edge to edge dimension) from the front end of the dolly to help support the bucket. The caster wheels are mounted to the outer bottom ends of the cross members with four bolts each and are bolted through the cross members and the top rails. This yields a top rail height of about 6 off the floor.

The 5/4 by 2 by 43.5 bumper crosses over on top of the top rails at the back end of the dolly to prevent the FEL stand arms from moving aft on the dolly while rolling the bucket up/down while connecting/disconnecting the FEL. It is held in place with the two 5/16 by 4 carriage bolts that go through the bumper, the rails, and the rear cross member to hold on the two rear caster wheels (along with the another six 5/16 by 3 bolts).

In addition, the last 2 of the 5/16 by 3 carriage bolts, together with two flat washers and a nut each, are placed up through the rails at the back end to bolt the FEL stands feet to the rail to keep the FEL from moving once it is disconnected. The bolts are placed on 38 centers, off set 1 inch to the right of the center line of the rails (to match the stands offset), and 3+3/8 from the back end of the dolly (1+3/8 from the forward edge of the bumper).

YMMV, N. Fowler

 

[Rusty]

The dolly is basically a 43.5 by 52 rectangle. All joints are square and flush.

nfowler - Nice looking dolly! I have been thinking about doing something similar for my B7500 and LA302, except using only 2x4s. My FEL is smaller than yours, but looks very similar. One concern that I have is that my FEL support legs actually contact the front wheels of the CUT when the bucket is lowered to the ground for FEL removal. Do your support legs get close to your tires, and if so, does the end of the dolly get in the way of the tires, or does setting the bucket and legs down on a higher level than the CUT prevent any interference? Thanks in advance for any insight!

 

[nfowler]

Rusty,

The FEL support legs on mine land on a level floor about 2-4 inches ahead of the front tires. They are a bit further out when they land on the dolly, which is 6 inches off the floor. I did check this issue before I went ahead with the dolly, and it seems to work. You have to curl the bucket a bit more to release the FEL onto the dolly than you do when it's on the floor. I wouldn't underestimate how much the FEL & bucket weigh. I thought the specs on mine were way too heavy, but now that I've pushed it around a bit, it has a lot of mass, much more than the 63" front snowblower.

Good luck!

Nort Fowler

 

[Rusty]

I wouldn't underestimate how much the FEL & bucket weigh. I thought the specs on mine were way too heavy, but now that I've pushed it around a bit, it has a lot of mass ...

Nort - Thanks for the feedback. My LA302 lists at 475# + 120# for the bucket = 595# total. I'm not sure if I will put together a mock up, or just build the dolly. The effort will probably be about the same. Thanks, again!

 

[wrooster]

Well, I guess I'll have to answer this now that I've built one!

I find your ideas interesting and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

Wrooster
(the above is so I can find this thread in another couple of months, it will make a good winter project...)

 

[crazyal]

I made a dolly for a 55 gallon drum of diesel that I wanted to be movable. I picked up the casters (cast iron/ rubber) at Harbor Freight on sale for $4 each for 4". Over all they work great but I don't think I would want to put more than 1000 lbs on a set of 4.

 

[bigdad]

I just welded dollies on the bottom of of the swivel legs. (I take the legs completely off when the FEL is on the tractor anyway) I have a strap of metal 3 " wide that spans the width of the bucket with a dolly welded on each end. I just C-Clamp it to the lip of the bucket. That way I don't have a big dolly to stash when the FEL is in use.

 

[hammick]

Nice work!