Raising lift height of BMG

[Koa Man]

I would like to buy a grapple truck, but since I'm just a poor boy and can't afford one, I was thinking of using my Gehl Advantage with the BMG to load brush and logs from the side as well as the back. I have removable stake sides on my dump trailer and by removing one side, I can load it up about half way using the BMG as is.

I would like to increase the lift height about 1.5 to 2 ft. That would make it possible to just about load the trailer completely full. The way I was thinking of raising the lift height was by cutting the rear square pipe, welding and boxing the extension. That would make it plenty strong. I know I would lose some lift capacity because I would have to tilt the BMG forward to grab something on the ground. How do I figure out how much lift capacity I will lose? Any engineers in the house?

 

[lumberjack]

That's not an easy question. I'm pondering it to figure out what information is needed to give you an answer.

 

[darkstar]

I have one Wesley , Dave made it for me.
We lost so much lift that its pratically just worthless.
We plan on cutting it down sooner or later.

 

[lumberjack]

Making it extendable would be more useful, IMO. I've considered doing that on my Thomas (extra hydro circuit).

First I'm going to try an adjustable heeling boom, so that I can lift the tips of the brush higher when loading.

 

[Koa Man]

Darkstar,
About how much additonal lift height can you get with it? I can live with being able to lift 350 lbs. of brush for 2 ft. of additional height. For log loading I could switch to my pallet forks or grapple bucket.

I am sure when Dave designed this very useful implement he put a lot of thought and experimentation into it to get just the right combination of height and lift capacity. Carl's idea of an extendable boom would probably be the way to go.

 

[DTW902]

Wesley just thinking out loud. However, with your dumping trailer you have hydraulics’ there on the trailer. What about building a couple of arms and frame work to the side of the trailer that would lower down so you could load the brush from the gehl, then the arms could hinge over the side and dump into the trailer. Picture a trash truck that raises dumpsters over the front of the truck.
Same principal just a simple version. Get the hinge point right and it would actually hold down your load as well. Anyway just another option....

 

[NeTree]

Koa, give me all the current dimensions and data, and your proposed changes, and I can work the figures up for you.

 

[Koa Man]

Dave,
I wanted to make it work on the Gehl so I can use it on a stake bed flatbed dump that I will buy in the near future and be also able to load other trucks with it.

NeTree,
I will post measurements in an hour or less. Thanks for the help.

 

[DTW902]

I see, you could also add some counter weight to the back of the gehl. Weight would depend on how much you extend out.

 

[NeTree]

Making it extendable would be more useful,

I like that idea.

 

[brendonv]

Something easy with a pin or 2, in the style of a receiver hitch on the back of your truck.

 

[Koa Man]

I already was planning to put a receiver hitch in the back of the Gehl to put barbell plates on when I needed weight.

Although extendable would be the ideal, I need something fast and easy.
The top tube is 22 inches. The upright tube is 22 1/4 inches measured from the top of the mounting plate. I was planning to cut that tube where the orange tape is, weld in the extension and box that area as well for maximum strength.
Even 1 foot would help, but 2 ft. would be great. I also put in 2 pictures of the Gehl universal adapter so darkstar can see what it looks like. I have 1 picture of my Gehl and spiderlift on the trailer.

 

[DTW902]

Ok I see what you are thinking now Wesley, extending the vertical part of the bmg. Kind of like the tracks on my 23GT 1 square tube inside the other. On my lift, they have a small hydro cylinder inside to extend out and retract.
I would have to measure the o.d of the vertical square tube tonight on my bmg when I get home. It would be easy enough to do just make it good and strong at the extension.
I am thinking the tube on the bmg is 2.5 inches od. If so you could get some 3-inch .25 wall tube for the extension, you could go 3.5 inch with .25 wall, the 2.5 tube .25 wall inside that. Then the bmg tube inside that. That would make it plenty strong. Then a pin like Brendon said then you could use it like normal or in the extended position.

 

[lumberjack]

All you'd be doing is moving the load center forward.

Give me the distance from the current location of the tires to the grapple, and the "extended" reach the same way.

Divide the smaller number by the bigger number and that should be reasonably close to the difference in capacity (percentage).

 

[lumberjack]

Looks like 61%. Distance to the wheels is close enough to a constant that it isn't important.

Extend your lift arm 20" and that would approximate the difference in capacity, I believe.

This is assuming you roll the hanger forward to the point where the tip of it is even with the top of the mounting plate.

As you roll back, assuming you're heeling the load, your capacity will increase because it will tip the load closer to the machine. Your machine will roll far enough back (with the arms lifted) to go "overcenter," which would suck with a load of brush coming back down on you.

 

[Thor's Hammer]

Wes, does your avant have extentable boom? it looks in your picture to be fixed. My Multione has nearly 3 ft of hydraulic extension on the loader arm.

Might be better selling your avant and buying one with a power boom?

 

[Koa Man]

My Gehl has the fixed boom. I can't afford a Multione right now. I need to make do with what I have until I get this business back up to speed. The last 3 working days have been real good. I netted $3464 (after all expenses) in 3 days.

Carl,
Thanks for the info. My main concern is lift height and not reach. With the raised rear post, I would have to tilt forward to the point where the grapple can reach the ground. Once I grab the load I would tilt it back and lift with the back post straight up and down. No way would you find me going over center with a load. Is the 61% you came up with a loss or 61% of present lift capacity?

With no counterweight the Gehl is rated for 700 lbs. The BMG weighs around 250??? That would make 61% of lift capacity around 275 lbs. If I put counterweights in the back, I have lifted a pallet that weighed 850 lbs. with my pallet forks.

 

[NeTree]

Off the top of my head, you'll lose about half your present capacity, all things else being the same.

I'm really diggin' the idea of adding an extendable vertical boom. If you do the fab yourself, you could do it under 500 bucks, and have about 20" of travel.

 

[lumberjack]

61% retained strength. That's the difference in the length of the hypotenuse the arms make. The added length in the hypotenuse is what makes your reach further out (which reduces capacity).

The grapple weighs 200lbs, although your adapter sets the grapple farther forward than normal, which will also reduce capacity.

You can curl the grapple back as far as you can at ground level, you won't be able to flop it over. As you get higher, the "curl" increases to the point the weight is sitting on the pins.

Are you planning on loading the brush over the side or from the back? I load my stuff from the back.

 

[Koa Man]

Carl,
I plan on loading from the side and back. I want to get a 14-16 ft. flatbed dump with removable sides. Loading only from the back will mean someone will have to push the load forward.

I would like to cut off the Gehl mounting plate and weld on the universal plate that the Dingo and most others use.

Once again, thanks for the lift capacity info. Algebra and geometry were not my favorite subjects. I like simple math like 23 coco trims X $60 = $1380.

Most likely I will just extend the upright tube. Someone told me that might put a lot of stress on the mounting. Do you think I will need to reinforce that area?

 

[NeTree]

Yes.

 

[lumberjack]

I drive my mini up on the trailer. It's alot easier for a mini skid than a mini loader though.

 

[sawinredneck]

I drive my mini up on the trailer. It's alot easier for a mini skid than a mini loader though.

That is what I do as well. Drive the machine on, position the material as far foreward as I can, back off and grab the next load. The BMG is VERY adept at this, and little hand work is involved.

 

[Koa Man]

My dump trailer bed is pretty high. I have the bed over wheels, not between the wheels. It has a 6 ft. wide bed and the overall width is only 6'4". The ones that side between the wheels are much lower, but the overall width is 8.5 ft., making it difficult to get it in tight places or parked on narrow streets. Believe me, you would not want to be driving the mini on it to load. I have 10 ft. long ramps and still the angle is pretty steep.

 

[tntree]

Happy New year guys, its so cool to here your positive comments and Mod Ideas for the BMG.

I have had a few guys request this same need. my concerns with the extension is the stress on the mount plate and tilt cylinder mts when the load is extended out. That said the reciever, a pin adjustable vertical tube would be the way to go (the tube is 1/4" wall 3X3). (FYI BMG grapple ~100#s, Hanger Plate Assembly ~ 100#s 200#s total)
So a 2.5X2.5 may slide inside (inner tube weld bead may complicate this). A 2' ext of 2.5 - .25 wall may be a problem(Carl?) strenght wise depending on loads and counterweighting.

I kinda like Daves Idea of Hydraulic Trailer sides along the lines of a trash compacter. I imagine both sidewalls folding 180degrees to the outside and 90 degrees to the inside. the sides (after loading) would actually crush, squeeze and hold the brush on.
Weight of this idea probably renders it impractical

KOA, your BMG is one of my 1st ones PM me if you start cutting it apart, and I will get you some upgrades