Uploaded November 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
NEW SERIES! Building a 6x6 mini-forwarder out of my homemade 4x4 timber trailer with hydraulic crane. In this video I'm mounting tires on the steel rims I widened in the last episode, repurposing BMW E39 rear axle wheel flanges by boring out the ID and welding them on a surface hardened shafts. I received the parts I ordered prior to filming the first episode in this series - sprockets, chains, bearing blocks, shafts, seat etc. I'm using the same BMW E39 differential as I did on my homemade 4x4 UTV build and homemade 4x4 timber trailer build. This ensures proper gearing although I have to play around with the front axle gearing due to larger 31" tires on the front next to the 28" tires on the trailer. But everything will work out.
Why build a forwarder? As a small forest owner I spend a lot of time maintaining the forest by hand (bush cutter, chainsaw etc). Using this forwarder also as a harvester in the future will reduce the work load tremendously. Not to mention maneuvering between the trees will get much easier with a purpose built vehicle. I still use my homemade 4x4 UTV but a combination of UTV and the timber trailer is a bit bulky and awkward in the tight corners and while reversing into tight spots. So there you go - a mini forwarder build.
My other videos:
youtube.com/@DonnDIY/videos
My Patreon page:
patreon.com/DonnDIY
Welding equipment borrowed from Spetselektroodi AS, Estonia:
Fronius TransSteel 2700 welder
Optrel Crystal 2.0 Welding Helmet
Hypertherm Powermax 45 XP plasma cutter
NEW SERIES! Building a 6x6 mini-forwarder out of my homemade 4x4 timber trailer with hydraulic crane. In this video I'm mounting tires on the steel rims I widened in the last episode, repurposing BMW E39 rear axle wheel flanges by boring out the ID and welding them on a surface hardened shafts. I received the parts I ordered prior to filming the first episode in this series - sprockets, chains, bearing blocks, shafts, seat etc. I'm using the same BMW E39 differential as I did on my homemade 4x4 UTV build and homemade 4x4 timber trailer build. This ensures proper gearing although I have to play around with the front axle gearing due to larger 31" tires on the front next to the 28" tires on the trailer. But everything will work out.
Why build a forwarder? As a small forest owner I spend a lot of time maintaining the forest by hand (bush cutter, chainsaw etc). Using this forwarder also as a harvester in the future will reduce the work load tremendously. Not to mention maneuvering between the trees will get much easier with a purpose built vehicle. I still use my homemade 4x4 UTV but a combination of UTV and the timber trailer is a bit bulky and awkward in the tight corners and while reversing into tight spots. So there you go - a mini forwarder build.
My other videos:
youtube.com/@DonnDIY/videos
My Patreon page:
patreon.com/DonnDIY
Welding equipment borrowed from Spetselektroodi AS, Estonia:
Fronius TransSteel 2700 welder
Optrel Crystal 2.0 Welding Helmet
Hypertherm Powermax 45 XP plasma cutter
