IH Scout Dandy Forklift

2011 - Volume #35, Issue #4, Page #16

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"It works just like a commercial forklift and has most of the same features," says Charles Kribbs, Centralia, Mo., about the self-propelled forklift he built out of an old 4-WD International Scout II by reversing it and mounting a forklift mast on back.
  The forklift is equipped with a 3-stage mast off a junked forklift and rides on 15-in., wide floatation tires.
  He started with a 1978 4-WD International Scout II equipped with a 184 hp engine, stripping it down to the frame and automatic transmission. He removed the vehicle's cab and turned the vehicle around so the rear wheels face forward. He also turned the ring and pinion gear upside down to reverse the gears. As a result, all reverse gears now go fast and all forward speeds go slow. He turned the steering wheel and seat around and repositioned the clutch and brakes.
  He added a rack and pinion steering sector off a Chevy Citation car and used 1 1/2-in. dia. steel pipe to build a rollbar. A pair of exhaust pipes made from 2-in. dia. steel pipe set up high in back. "I didn't want the exhaust pipes under the engine because they would have dragged over low spots," says Kribbs.
  The forklift can reach up to 15 ft. and has a lift capacity of 3,000 lbs. He fashioned a mounting bracket for the mast from a steel plate. The mast is raised and lowered by a hydraulic pump that runs off the fan belt, and can be shifted up to 6 in. from side to side by extending or retracting a hydraulic cylinder.
  "It turned out well," says Kribbs. "I added an AM and FM radio as well as a CB radio. My friend Joe Baskett custom made the electrical wiring harness.
  "I came up with the idea because I had a lot of heavy things to move around in my welding shop and on my property. I spent about $850 to build it, whereas a new commercial forklift of comparable capacity sells for $8,000 or more.
  "We use it to move and lift boat dock frames onto a trailer for off-site delivery to area ponds and lakes. We also use it to move small sheds, hot tubs, etc., for friends, and to lift a small swim/fishing dock and ramp during installation."
  The forklift has another job û lifting and moving large wire baskets of firewood. "I got some reject baskets from a local manufacturer where I used to work and repaired them," says Kribbs. "I fill the basket with wood and cover it with a plastic tarp and store the basket outside our house. When I need to use the wood I use the forklift to move the wood-filled basket into the basement, where I set the basket on a home-built frame equipped with large caster wheels. From there I can easily push the full basket to wherever I want it. Once the basket is empty I push the basket outside, again using the roller frame.
  "I have 8 of these baskets. It keeps the wood dry and eliminates the need to haul wood by hand into the house."
  He also made a platform for the forks that's used to move miscellaneous items, including flower pots. "We set heavy pots of flowers on our second story deck in the spring and then move them to the basement in the fall, so they don't freeze and crack during the winter. My wife also uses the platform to move things around our yard such as potting soil, etc.
  "I've even used the forklift to lift her up about 15 ft. in the air so she can take photos of her wildflower field," he notes.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Charles Kribbs, 18230 N. Hwy. 124, Centralia, Mo. 65240 (ph 573 682-3980 or 573 819-9027; cbkribbs@centurytel.net).

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IH Scout Dandy Forklift MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT Forklifts It works just like a commercial forklift and has most of the same features says Charles Kribbs Centralia Mo about the self-propelled forklift he built out of an old 4-WD International Scout II by reversing it and mounting a forklift mast on back The forklift is equipped with a 3-stage mast off a junked forklift and rides on 15-in wide floatation tires He started with a 1978 4-WD International Scout II equipped with a 184 hp engine stripping it down to the frame and automatic transmission He removed the vehicle s cab and turned the vehicle around so the rear wheels face forward He also turned the ring and pinion gear upside down to reverse the gears As a result all reverse gears now go fast and all forward speeds go slow He turned the steering wheel and seat around and repositioned the clutch and brakes He added a rack and pinion steering sector off a Chevy Citation car and used 1 1/2-in dia steel pipe to build a rollbar A pair of exhaust pipes made from 2-in dia steel pipe set up high in back I didn t want the exhaust pipes under the engine because they would have dragged over low spots says Kribbs The forklift can reach up to 15 ft and has a lift capacity of 3 000 lbs He fashioned a mounting bracket for the mast from a steel plate The mast is raised and lowered by a hydraulic pump that runs off the fan belt and can be shifted up to 6 in from side to side by extending or retracting a hydraulic cylinder It turned out well says Kribbs I added an AM and FM radio as well as a CB radio My friend Joe Baskett custom made the electrical wiring harness I came up with the idea because I had a lot of heavy things to move around in my welding shop and on my property I spent about $850 to build it whereas a new commercial forklift of comparable capacity sells for $8 000 or more We use it to move and lift boat dock frames onto a trailer for off-site delivery to area ponds and lakes We also use it to move small sheds hot tubs etc for friends and to lift a small swim/fishing dock and ramp during installation The forklift has another job û lifting and moving large wire baskets of firewood I got some reject baskets from a local manufacturer where I used to work and repaired them says Kribbs I fill the basket with wood and cover it with a plastic tarp and store the basket outside our house When I need to use the wood I use the forklift to move the wood-filled basket into the basement where I set the basket on a home-built frame equipped with large caster wheels From there I can easily push the full basket to wherever I want it Once the basket is empty I push the basket outside again using the roller frame I have 8 of these baskets It keeps the wood dry and eliminates the need to haul wood by hand into the house He also made a platform for the forks that s used to move miscellaneous items including flower pots We set heavy pots of flowers on our second story deck in the spring and then move them to the basement in the fall so they don t freeze and crack during the winter My wife also uses the platform to move things around our yard such as potting soil etc I ve even used the forklift to lift her up about 15 ft in the air so she can take photos of her wildflower field he notes Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Charles Kribbs 18230 N Hwy 124 Centralia Mo 65240 ph 573 682-3980 or 573 819-9027; cbkribbs@centurytel net

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