Homemade forwarder

[Mr. Ed]

2 hours ago, josharb87 said:

Seen quite a few, normally with a Volvo BM (Swedish brand in Sweden I guess) 

 

 

why? Better maneuverability than a tractor and trailer would be my guess 

aha I see they steer with a hydraulic ram at the hinge like an articulated tractor. Attractive also because it’s made from bits and pieces lying around I guess. 

[woody paul]

1 hour ago, Will C said:

That brings back memories, had many hours ploughing with a triple d, hell of a machine. 
 

I remember the local drainage contractors used to use tractors with no front axle with a swan neck driven trailer to move the stone when I was a kid in the fens both in the 80s

Here's a ford one

[aspenarb]

A stretched dumper makes a fair mini forwarder, weight over driven wheels and very compact.

 

Bob

[GarethM]

Wasn't that Volvo fitted with a Duncan Cab, I'm sure I have recollections they made cabs for Ford, Leyland etc and sold it to Volvo as well.

[doobin]

On 12/01/2024 at 13:26, Mr. Ed said:

Anyone seen anything like this? Take a 2wd tractor, remove the front axle, do something clever with the transmission so’s you can steer it, and join it to a trailer. 
 

seen in a Swedish small ad. Maybe it’s a thing there. 
 

I'd imagine you just brake a wheel to steer.

[dumper]

I would think they just take the power steering pies to the coupling and fit a bigger ram 

[Will C]

20 hours ago, woody paul said:

Here's a ford one

That’s the badger! I remember as a kid being fascinated by it and couldn’t quite get my head round it till I watched it working 

[the village idiot]

21 hours ago, woody paul said:

Here's a ford one

 

Similar principle to our Frankenstein Forwarder.

 

It's an articulated dumper with the skip removed and replaced with bolsters, and the hydraulics repurposed to power the crane.

 

The articulation makes it surprisingly nimble in the woods.

 

It's the first time I've bought something totally ridiculous and not have to give myself a stern talking to afterwards. It's pretty awesome.

 

[the village idiot]

Had the beastie out today. The ground was finally hard enough to extract our stakes and binders. You can see the articulation point on the second picture.

 

Very pleased to get that job done.