Dumper Conversion to Crane/forklift

[dieselsamurai]

Watching with interest, i might try and do something similar with mine! its a tad bigger though so might try and rig something off the skip to save removing it

I did think of jib in the skip but mines too small the load would be too far from front wheels

 

[dieselsamurai]

Years ago, maybe the 60s & 70s Barfords of Belton had a rough terrain forklift based on a Barford Bison dumper skid unit.

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I like the side tilting action but I must resist the extra complication !!!

 

[Shedendman]

Next job was to form a bracket to connect to ram and i wanted minimal tilt forward but almost 45 back as with the forklift on i want to tilt it right back to make it lower for transport or access. British army had a thing called an "Eager Beaver" 4x4x4 forklift based on a bedford RL i believe

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I have a load of 12" x 10" 1/2" plate so in the spirit of not costing anything im using these for most of it

View attachment 317539 Trusty ancient magdrill proved very usefull just wish it had more stroke

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was a pain controlling warp due to heat but pretty much spot on after

Made another hole for ram that would give me more travel but less leverage.

Me use to driver the ole beaver

 

[Mikes]

One of the dumper manufacturers made a model on which the skip was on a quickly detachable subframe and a second subframe had a conventional back acter on it which then turned it into a medium sized digger. Always referred to as the 'Dinkum Digger' but don't know if this was a manufacturer's name or just a slang name for it. Years back did some work on a very worn-out one. Remember it had a twin cylinder engine. Didn't take long to swap the subframes over from memory.
Rather like the idea of mounting a medium sized Hiab type crane on a good sizes dumper as could make a very useful tool.

 

[dieselsamurai]

Some bracing for the back and bolted to the cross beam for welding



Couldnt get the mag drill close enough to drill holes for the Jib base plate so plan 'b' this old pillar drill comes in very handy



Jib is made out of the rest of the RSJ i had spare , I V notched it rather than just cutting as thought it would be easier to keep square . After welding only twisted a few mm I can live with that.



Welding the jib to base plate and keeping everything square required some 'bodging' and adjustment but worked out in the end



It is short but just the right length for the job I need it for and if needed can be extended

 

[dieselsamurai]

Thought i would make the bag lifting frame next so found a bit or rusty box and angle cut to length and sandblasted



rough mockup



Ends were tricky hooks would have been ideal but im hoping a bit of angle cut of should keep straps in place



box welded together



Just some 5mm triangles to keep it square , shouldnt be too much side load but belt and braces suits me



finally a length of 5mm plate to stiffen up the welded on arms and some thick angle (just in case)



Job done ! off to paint

 

[Justme]

I think I would have done a C or U shape on the end to hold strap on but open side not up but pointing to the middle.
The flat on the end will allow the strap to come off when not under tension.

On the one I made I just used a straight pole pointing up but sized so a bag loop only just fitted over it so less likely to come off unintended.

 

[Matchless]

I have a Thwaites dumper with twin cylinder Petter / Lister, big bucket, old, manual start, new (BMW) steering box fitted, needs a new home, not allowed to post in te for sale section as it is a vehicle, you lot talked me out of converting it into a generator........... I once fitted an engine crane in place of a bucket on a single cylinder dumper, used to move damaged cars around when I was a salvage dealer and kept cars on a farm.

 

[Justme]

I have a Thwaites dumper with twin cylinder Petter / Lister, big bucket, old, manual start, new (BMW) steering box fitted, needs a new home, not allowed to post in te for sale section as it is a vehicle, you lot talked me out of converting it into a generator........... I once fitted an engine crane in place of a bucket on a single cylinder dumper, used to move damaged cars around when I was a salvage dealer and kept cars on a farm.

Would love it but haulage would cost to much.

 

[dieselsamurai]

I think I would have done a C or U shape on the end to hold strap on but open side not up but pointing to the middle.
The flat on the end will allow the strap to come off when not under tension.

On the one I made I just used a straight pole pointing up but sized so a bag loop only just fitted over it so less likely to come off unintended.

I looked at various ones avalible and came up with a combination that i think will do the job. I can always have a flap on top of each one if its really annoying



Yellow ones are similar to my design cant see the one with hooks working at all

 

[dieselsamurai]

Welded some some supports to the side plates these will triangulate the jib as too much side loading could be bad



should give it enough support



Cut and possitioned top supports



All welded ready to test !

 

[dieselsamurai]

Well all bolted on and ready to go



Lifts a bag up with ease rear end doesnt even go that light



Does exactly what I wanted it to do , I dont need it to lift that high just enough to move and load onto a pallet if needed



Forklift next !

 

[Mikes]

Was this your inspiration?

 

[dieselsamurai]

Was this your inspiration?
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Well it could have other uses I havn't thought about !

 

[dieselsamurai]

So next part of conversion is to a forklift and one of the reason is because my nieghbour gave me this for free



Looks like it was converted for some reason to make legs wider which makes it useless to pick up pallets so I dont feel to bad about cutting it up

 

[dieselsamurai]

So had to break out the cut50 as so much easier and quieter than a grinder. Normally lives in the welding table but easy to get out and so light



first test was was a 1/2" plate welded across the back , scruffy but cut it like a champ



Both rear wheels off as actually could be usefull someday ..... well thats what i keep telling myself with 90% of the stuff I have.



Forks off , these will be the trickiest bit as I need to make them adjustable and hang down lower than the main frame



Just a case now of freeing up the main frame from the 2 botched on legs



Some tyding up needed !

 

[jordhandson]

Looking good dieselsamurai:thumbup:
I can see your well on your way just thought I would show you our Dumper/Forklift. It started life as a the twin Petters engined Thwaites Orion, that’s the base or chassis, Thwaites then added the Skip (numerous types ie swivel or high lift) or the Digger/Backactor part then called it the Tusker.



This one I converted came with some sort of skip lift. Many used in civil engineering in and around the London area but more importantly it came with the hydraulics and electric start. Having had a couple of the tusker diggers I new how versatile they were so I kept my eye out for a tractor rear 3 point forklift, they make strong money but now and again they come really cheap this one did at 60 quid. Its a Cameron Gardener its got a SWL of 1,1/2 ton lift but it will lift plenty more I just have to ballast the rear end more.



I made the bracket to hold the forklift the same as the Back actor or digger frame so it can be slid off at any time.



I have also made up some fork extensions a bracket for towing trailer about and a skip to use when clearing out the chickens. Its the best bit of kit on the plot great turning circle very compact ie it fits under the lifting ramp at night. And will run all day on 5 litres of fuel. One you get your done you wonder how you ever managed with out it. For the rear end ballast I made up a steel box that hold approx 500 pounds of cast iron scale weights, if I need more I just load concrete blocks on top of the steel box most I have lifted is approx 2 ton. Just to move from one place to another.

 

[jordhandson]

One of the dumper manufacturers made a model on which the skip was on a quickly detachable subframe and a second subframe had a conventional back acter on it which then turned it into a medium sized digger. Always referred to as the 'Dinkum Digger' but don't know if this was a manufacturer's name or just a slang name for it. Years back did some work on a very worn-out one. Remember it had a twin cylinder engine. Didn't take long to swap the subframes over from memory.
Rather like the idea of mounting a medium sized Hiab type crane on a good sizes dumper as could make a very useful tool.

Hi Mike youl be talking about the Thwiates Tusker

 

[Mikes]

Hi Mike youl be talking about the Thwiates Tusker

That's it, just like the one in your photo. Had forgotten the legs that you had to pull up by hand.Good basis for a forklift attachment as has a reasonable hydraulic system.

 

[jordhandson]

There is a cheap at the moment one coming off tomorrow if anyone fancied a project

Thwaites Dumper digger (spares or repair) | eBay

I have owned this machine for 25 years plus and was used on our self build.

www.ebay.co.uk