Fast-Running Forklift Made From Pickup Parts

Fast-Running Forklift Made From Pickup Parts MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT Forklifts 25-4-27 Clair Wilson, Winchester, Ill., does a lot of building in his shop and often carries supplies or equipment to scattered farms he owns in the area. He decided he needed a high-speed forklift to make the work easier. "I use it both inside and outside my shop. It can go down the road at speeds up to 25 mph, which is much faster than a conventional forklift can go," says Wilson. He started with a 1974 Chevrolet 3/4-ton pickup frame. The 6-cyl. engine and 3-speed automatic transmission came from a Buick. The front steering axle is from a 1972 Chevrolet 3/4-ton pickup, and the rear positraction drive axle is from a 1968 3/4-ton Chevrolet pickup. There's a 2 to 1 gear reduction between the transmission and the rear end. The mast is off a 3-stage Clark forklift and is raised and lowered by a hydraulic pump that runs off the fan belt. He fashioned a mounting bracket for the mast from a steel plate. The seat and steering wheel are from a Ford Escort, and there are fuel tanks on both sides that double as steps. The engine cover, made from 1/8-in. steel, tilts back for easy access to the engine. About 500 lbs. of weights - cut from heavy steel - hold down the rear end. "I got the engine free and paid about $50 for the mast and $65 for the hydraulic cylinders that raise and lower the mast. I paid $360 for the hydraulic pump. My total cost was less than $1,000," says Wilson. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Clair Clair Wilson used a 1974 Chevrolet 3/4-ton pickup frame to build this forklift., 132 Hillview Dr., Winchester, Ill. 62694 (ph 217 742-3918).

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