Front Loader from a Ford Truck

[rScotty]

Nimble, I think the idea of making a loader out of whatever is just great! Go for it! Great project.... And when you get it done, do with it as you want. You're going to learn a ton no matter what the finished project looks like.

It doesn't hurt to listen to the "nay sayers", but don't let them stop you. If you want to protect yourself that's fine, but I'd say to just go ahead and do what you know you can do.

Advice is cheap, so here's some cheap advice from an old, old mechanic: Protecting yourself in some minimal way makes sense, but keep in mind that when troubles come your way - and they will - they tend to come from a direction you never anticipated anyway. It's way too easy to be so concerned with anticipating problems that you end up spending your life doing not much at all.
So pay attention to what you can do and let the rest work itself out.
good luck,
rScotty

And lastly, here's something I found written on the inside of an outhouse door at the top of a 14,000 foot mountain peak many years ago,
"If you are working for someone... and you think you are smarter than they are..... You're wrong."

 

[MossRoad]

IMO, if you continue with the build, build it do what you want/need it to do. Use, break, fix, re-design, repeat. Then if you have close friends or family that have similar needs you could rent it to them, or what I would do is offer to perform the work because your limited budget is going to lead to compromises in safety, reliability, and intuitive operation that equipment manufacturers spend a lot of time and money developing.

Nimble, I think the idea of making a loader out of whatever is just great! Go for it! Great project.... And when you get it done, do with it as you want. You're going to learn a ton no matter what the finished project looks like.

It doesn't hurt to listen to the "nay sayers", but don't let them stop you. If you want to protect yourself that's fine, but I'd say to just go ahead and do what you know you can do.

Advice is cheap, so here's some cheap advice from an old, old mechanic: Protecting yourself in some minimal way makes sense, but keep in mind that when troubles come your way - and they will - they tend to come from a direction you never anticipated anyway. It's way too easy to be so concerned with anticipating problems that you end up spending your life doing not much at all.
So pay attention to what you can do and let the rest work itself out.
good luck,
rScotty

And lastly, here's something I found written on the inside of an outhouse door at the top of a 14,000 foot mountain peak many years ago,
"If you are working for someone... and you think you are smarter than they are..... You're wrong."

No one's suggesting he not build it. It would be fun and educational.

But let's face it, it's going to be a one of a kind machine that will not excel over something that someone can rent at a rental yard and be covered by insurance.

 

[Doofy]

I have a complete JD-1 Loader attachment from a 1953 John Deere 40 Crawler. I've often thought of mounting it on my '77 Intl. Traveler frame. Would be easy to do and would be helpful around the homestead. It would never leave the property.

 

[4570Man]

I’ve got the loader off a old case backhoe that could be someone else’s at a good price if they wanted to attempt such a project.

 

[tkevan]

People have mounted FELs on trucks before. There's a 90s Ram 250 with one used for snow removal.
https://www.farmshow.com/images/resize.php?h=635&img=/images/articles/30/4/13158_l.jpg

 

[Doofy]

People have mounted FELs on trucks before. There's a 90s Ram 250 with one used for snow removal.
https://www.farmshow.com/images/resize.php?h=635&img=/images/articles/30/4/13158_l.jpg

I never thought to leave the body on. More interesting now.

 

[rScotty]

No one's suggesting he not build it. It would be fun and educational.

But let's face it, it's going to be a one of a kind machine that will not excel over something that someone can rent at a rental yard and be covered by insurance.

In saying "let's face it", you are arguing that your own opinions are universal, correct, and absolute. That's your right, but I've got a different opinion. I don't want to be offensive, but I tend to disagree with absolutism in any form.

If excellence is the goal, I don't see any reason why a one of a kind machine cannot excel over a mass-produced version. I'll admit that the odds are against it, and that such machines may be less common today than in times past, but that doesn't mean it isn't possible.

As for the need for specialized insurance... I've heard it before, and it sounds like an urban rumor to me. I'll leave it up to you to deduce what group or groups would benefit from promoting such an idea.

The legal angle seems to be similar to the danger of being hit by a meteorite. The risk may be real, but it is also very small and quite rare. Call me a risk-taker if you wish; it may even be accurate. I simply believe that some risks are worth the reward.
rScotty

 

[Xfaxman]

In saying "let's face it", you are arguing that your own opinions are universal, correct, and absolute. That's your right, but I've got a different opinion. I don't want to be offensive, but I tend to disagree with absolutism in any form.

If excellence is the goal, I don't see any reason why a one of a kind machine cannot excel over a mass-produced version. I'll admit that the odds are against it, and that such machines may be less common today than in times past, but that doesn't mean it isn't possible.

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rScotty

You must be talking about my one of a kind machine that I put together 13 years ago. :thumbsup:

For those that have not seen it, here it is with the 42" wide bucket full of dirt:

And some weird color rock:

And the 4' wide box blade:

And the 54" wide brush forks:

Click the link below \/ for more info.

 

[MossRoad]

Would you ever rent it out?

That's how older skid steers used to be configured. No operator cage to keep them from putting their head, neck, limbs or trunk into the loader arms. I recall injuries, deaths, and lawsuits because of that.

 

[Xfaxman]

No I would never rent it out. I am the only one to have ever driven it.

I thought about adding a rollover bar like this one, to the loader uprights, but never got a roundtuit.