Front Axle - 6x6 Forwarder Ep.2

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:
/ @donndiy
My Patreon page:
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Welding equipment borrowed from Spetselektroodi AS, Estonia:
Fronius TransSteel 2700 welder
Optrel Crystal 2.0 Welding Helmet
Hypertherm Powermax 45 XP plasma cutter

[@DonnDIY]

My other videos: www.youtube.com/@DonnDIY/videos Support me on: www.patreon.com/DonnDIY Follow me on: facebook.com/D0nnDIY Follow me on: instagram.com/DonnDIY

[@Prorab261]

​@@DonnDIY живëшь наверно в Прибалтике, Эстония

[@jlucasound]

So Good to See You Again, Donn. You are in my top channels that, when I see a new video, my heart skips a beat and then the "Christmas Morning at 6 years old" feeling, sets in. 😀

[@bambusizdrowie3979]

So true !

[@jamesa7506]

The wheels came out awesome! 👍

[@jlucasound]

They are Gorgeous!

[@jlucasound]

That style Diff (5:09) is _Essential_ with CVs, for ground clearance. Front AND Rear. You are so good Donn.

[@davidspilman531]

Your running some nice beads on your shaft your really good At fabricating also but I’ve seen this yrs ago watching you I really enjoy your channel

[@ALWhiteAuthor]

When you pulled out the exact utility knife the package warned not to use, all I could see was the "Be ungovernable" meme. Quality content, as always, sir.

[@jeepanimal2943]

Looking forwarder to this build Donn. Waiting to see it move along. You always come up with some interesting solutions to obstacles..

[@jlucasound]

Don't you love it when you can go into your stash and find exactly what you need?! So Satisfying. 😌😊

[@AW-Services]

Donn, if you ever struggle to get new or replacement tyres to seat, add a 5 ton ratchet strap around the centre circumference of the tyre, which in turn pushed the bead up to the rim. Your welding, along with the powder coating, makes those wheels look like OEM brand new factory rims. Great job

[@aserta]

You don't even need it to be a 5T one. I've done it with a regular army type belt, and a piece of wood. You only need it to persuade the tire to "bow out" just enough that the air pressure does the rest of the work. In a pinch, you could probably do it with a piece of chain, some random wire, anything that can bend the tire.

[@victorriceroni8455]

In a time far far away, in a place long long ago, the lost tribes of Redneckistan would use starting fluid and an open flame to bead up the now extinct Ground Hawg tires. But alas, civilization encroached upon this once mighty culture, and now the Redneckistani youth sit in their primitive dwellings playing Fortnight, and has forsaken the Ancient and Wrathful Carburetor Gods.

[@pauljoseph8338]

Ratchet??? Naw, man…all u needs is some gasoline and a cigarette lighter (according to a thousand Indian videos I’ve seen).

[@728dogger]

So glad you're back great vid!

[@Evilslayer73]

Cant wait to see the next episode!! another excellent project series !!nice work young man! salutation from Montreal,Québec!

[@RCake]

Ahh, that's where this build is going. Very cool!

[@carloskawasaki656]

Thank you for sharing, always a pleasure when i see you drop a video, i learn a lot, i am very glad when i see your project 👍👍👍👍

[@DanKoning777]

Well done-and if the final start-to-finish series is anywhere near as good as the 4x4 timber trailer series, I look forward to watching that a couple of times as well.

[@bchdsailor]

You make it look so darn simple to do, and your builds always comes out as close to perfect as possible

[@BusstterNutt]

Thank you for all the hard work in making these excellent videos.

[@rolandbriscoe4977]

Dang those Wheels look nice, can't wait to see the build.

[@yodasbff3395]

Your workmanship is awesome, thanks for sharing the video. 👍

[@jlucasound]

That has to be the most sensible seat yet. Lightweight, strong, comfortable and has Lumbar support. This would also be awesome in a boat. I see people build projects and they put LAWN CHAIRS in them. Or seats with "backrests" that stop at your Coccyx! Ow!! Thank You Donn for your attention to detail in this possibly sensitive area. 🤔😌🙏🪑👀🙀😮‍💨

[@morgansword]

Be a lot of fun seeing your designs as they seem to always work

[@051biohaz]

I don’t really know what you are building, but I am very much looking forward to following along. Thanks for the upload..:)

[@rjung_ch]

Those rims came out really nice after paint. What tough tires to mount though. Liking this build and where it's going, thanks Donn 👍💪✌

[@Crewsy]

You’ve come a long way from the videos when so many people thought you’d burn down your barn because you were grinding next to your fire wood or had a long extension cord rolled up on a reel. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@joenorman7070]

Man, you have no need for a gym. What a workout.

[@aserta]

1:40 FYI for all: The sound you hear from a tire, when pressed against a rim, that almost sounds like a crackle, almost as if you've broken something, is the strands of high tensile wire that form up the lip of the tire, twisting inside their gap. Nothing problematic, in short.

[@jimsvideos7201]

Remarkable work as always Donn.

[@heyyoubuddy6749]

Hi buddy man I love your channel!! You build so many awesome machines!! I use my old Jeep cj5 as a forwarder. I’ve re-enforced the frame and put a hitch on the front bumper. I use the Jeep also to pull a log arch I built years ago. I love saw milling and building with my own milled lumber. Thanks for sharing all you do. God bless you and your family!

[@dozer1642]

Can’t wait to see it finished! ✌️🤘

[@smaggies]

Thank Donn Great amount of work and do enjoy your welding. :)

[@tochi3872]

I guessed it right in the last video! Haha! Hope the build goes well! And best of luck with it

[@monoshock57]

Nice power coating on those rims.

[@fred-san]

Nice to watch you. Hope you had good summer-automn. Nice winter anyway.🚙

[@kieranosullivan02]

Nice job already coming together

[@jondavidmcnabb]

I liked the mix music at the end!!!

[@vondrak65]

Donn is back.... Christmas will finally be here.

[@barthanes1]

Timber trailer improvements, can't wait.

[@VAGstore]

Отличная идея 6х6 Донн, ждем новых серий

[@Waterjoe13]

Genius at work👍

[@lightscrafts]

Looking forwad to the next video Donn! 👏

[@aserta]

The axles you've made this time are a stroke of genius. Why bother with custom made flanges when there's already something made. Noice!

[@dodgeme1986truck]

I would recommend liquid ballast in all tires on this machine as it will not only increase tractive force but will also increase stability.

[@Tom-Lahaye]

Seeing you fighting with that tyre and finally managing to get it on I thought; another 5 to go, sweat broke out.

[@Z-Bart]

Funny ending. Good editing. :)

[@RustyInventions-wz6ir]

Very nice work

[@Johannes58934]

I like the ending!

[@eduardoresiopescaenargentina]

good!!! construction is back!!!! gogogo

[@Crewsy]

@6:15 Such a rebel with the knife 🔪

[@mp4051]

Very cool Donn!

[@noahingram8052]

You can buy a valve stem installer tool to make that easier

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Donn, if it don't fit don't force it. "GET A BIGGER HAMMER" Thanks for sharing with us, and sharing the fab jobs you do so well. Stay safe and Happy Holidays to you and your families. Fred.

[@johnnymack8442]

Stiff tires are hard to mount. I especially hate low profile tires .

[@jacklobley9836]

I'd double check those bearings to see if grease can actually get into them

[@09FLTRMM77]

MM77 Approved 👍🏻 👍🏻

[@pedroarcr]

Now that there are easy to get 48 and 72V LFP batteries designed for golf carts you should make one of these builds electric. Your Argo could drive like a skid steer if you retrofitted it with one electric motor per side instead of a diff for example.

[@briankumpan9892]

The tire shops in Texas use liquid soap. It's a lot cheaper than greese and mix it with water, you can get a lot of use out od a small bottle of liquid soap

[@jameslyons1978]

We like it alot!

[@davidspilman531]

I’m in Southern Iowa

[@robertkeime4907]

Great video

[@tedbastwock3810]

Fantastic, cant wait to see all the build videos for this project. I have been missing you, glad you are back. Do you have a link for that seat? Or if not a link, maybe some keywords I can use to search for one similar? Thanks

[@vinceianni4026]

Hello Donn good job

[@akikemppinen7078]

Nice end music. :D

[@BarnStangz]

Sweet project! I can't wait to see more, where is Mr. Chop!? Still working?

[@dakotamax2]

Those welds look really good! Is this the first winter in the new house?

[@sallad20091]

Yes! Thank you!

[@GENERALCHAOS13]

Build your own Tire Rimming Station( manual Tire Changer )

[@rolfnilsen6385]

Not using hydraulics due to cost? I feel the pain re. backing into narrow places. I struggle with the same using a mechanically steered 15hp mid-frame steering tractor in front of the timber trailer. It is messy 🙂 I wonder hos long the forwarder will stay a forwarder before it becomes a combination forwarder/harverster.. And some new attachments like a bio-cutter and a flail mower is seen as neccesary.. :D

[@Junkboy888]

look great.

[@Ejrupolsen]

Get a diesel engine swivel Seat. A heated cabin and a transfer gearbox. 👌👍

[@larstell]

Buy a valve puller from Temu...

[@richardthyne3651]

The Norse Hair & Face, Is it Axe & Sheild Time

[@evan010101]

Great project! Consider making it electric. You can get an old Leaf for €1000 or so - lots of power and the transmission will be very simpl. Use a normal AC motor for the hydraulics.

[@DanKoning777]

I think I'd stay with the current setup considering the fact that Estonia [Donn's location], consistently experiences interruptions/power outages [like the one in the last video]. I also recall seeing them in past videos. After searching I guess they are nothing new and due: to demand, natural disasters, pricing, grid disruptions, and more-even solar power that causes supply fluctuations during sunny periods. Anyway, it's just an observation. Good day.

[@evan010101]

@ sure, but for exactly that reason it may be interesting to have a large, all-terrain powerbank to run whatever you want, regardless of power cuts, including your portable electric sawmill. I find everything is more pleasant and relaxed without engines and generators running, including sawmilling. But each to their own :)

[@mobile.cristhianguedes]

The ending 15:06 you lost the opportunity to put the music "We will, we will rock you" 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@richardcornelius1050]

They make an actual tool for installing that type of valve stem …. and an actual tire installation stand as well ….. However with your Fabrication Skills like your bead breaker tool you should only need to see a picture of to make your own ….

[@Cameron_D]

You need to build your self a rotating welding positioner

[@jlucasound]

So Push comes to shove. WHAT? NO, Sorry Donn! "Push" becomes "Pull". Forward, Backward, doesn't matter. There will be no Jack Knifing. 😌

[@NVMDSTEvil]

why not put an IFS/IRS differential or shortened solid axle on each side of the diff you already have then put a 90 degree gearbox on each end of the side differentials/axles that drive the tires? No chains then.

[@RameXRacing]

Looks Like Mr.Chop has been retired...

[@Gotblade]

We will we will rock you 🎶

[@alan-sk7ky]

8:43 Wot? no Artisan Makes hacksaw work out? 🙂

[@jantvrznik8249]

Please RAL color of the discs

[@glenking3337]

Why have you not made yourself a tire mounting machine yet?

[@job38four10]

Are you up-grading that 6-wheel drive ATV you rebuilt few years ago or am I on the wrong page......... If those tires went on that hard, imagine how they will be coming off, your right let the future owner worry about that. I'm guessing 15-psi in tires, what did I win........

[@quarlow1215]

Hi Donn, do you have a link for the seat you bought or the name of manufacturer. I want to build the ultimate shop rolling seat for zipping around under vehicles on the lift. I'm a heavy guy and the cheap ones you buy fail under my weight.

[@AntonioM.696.]

🤘🏼🤠

[@ОлександрВовк-х2е]

Вподобайка.

[@Noorikon]

👍👌👏

[@valdevieira8258]

👏👏👏👍

[@dred4069]

У тебе є токарний станок але обдирав вал шліфмашинкою ?

[@bestrem410]

tere õhtust, kas sa oled Eestist? või mis?

[@davosDR]

WARNING those seats are garbage no dampening just spring bought one for my tractor every time you hit a bump it bottoms out and jars the crap out of your back ended up putting a empty plastic bottle under it just to stop ending up a cripple

[@lapaz-u4q]

pour le montage des pneus toujour engager le pneu coté opposé a la valve

[@scottdavis9442]

What happened to mr chop

[@robertshemory3541]

👍😎❤️❤️✌️

[@Nauris_L]

Backing up is a pain, I'll just build a different machine. We all have excuses for getting a new tool. :P

[@alfonspleschberger3503]

mit deutschen untertitel wäre nett