Do they make an "all-terrain" forklift?

[bmwpower]

I need to move my Lista cabinets (still on pallets) from the attached garage, across my stone driveway, to my detached garage. I'm going to use a pallet jack to get them into place.

Stupid question I know, but do they make a forklift that can operate on a stone driveway? Before I call around trying to rent something that doesn't exist, I figured I'd ask some of you heavy machinery guys.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Yes, used mainly on construction sites, rent from outfits like US Rental or those renting heavy equipment. Stupid question, is the driveway up to the load of heavy equipment? These machines usually have tractor type tires.

 

[Brian]

A skid steer (Bobcat) with a fork attachment also makes a good all terrain forklift.

 

[bmwpower]

I should have been more specific....when I say stone, I mean crushed stone, ie gravel.

 

[bmwpower]

A skid steer (Bobcat) with a fork attachment also makes a good all terrain forklift.

Good call! And a Bobcat might be easier to get ahold of. Question is, will the places I call have the fork attachment? We'll see...

 

[Satatic]

Good call! And a Bobcat might be easier to get ahold of. Question is, will the places I call have the fork attachment? We'll see...

I think they would, lots of people use them that way.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Absolutely, gettin that should be no problemo!

 

[Gregdoo]

Most larger rental houses would have some sort of rough terrain forklift capability. The skid steer option with forks works too, but they can be a bit more "jerky" to operate than a lift with conventional steering. This probably won't matter if your cabinets are still attached to skids or pallets. But if they are not mounted, you might end up with them sliding on the forks and that would not do them any justice....especially at Lista prices! I'm envious and wish I had your "problem"!

 

[RedRacer74]

Hows this

This machine made putting the steel together so easy I couldn't believe it. I designed the building with one column as nobody wanted to work with the steel to do the type of building I wanted. The barn builder was great

www.dcustombarns.com


The machine was called a Sky Trak, independant suspension and all wheel drive. I can go anywhere.

 

[CraigFL]

I rented a pneumatic tire fork lift when I needed to unload the truck and move my roofing supplies around. I had no problem finding one...

 

[AdamMopar]

We take both our fork lifts off the pavement and into the gravel, even grass and dirt. The gravel we never have any problems, but if it rains and you get in the mud we usually get stuck, but that's half the fun. Adam

 

[bmwpower]

OK.... help me decide.

Ryder truck (16ft w/ lift gate)
$70/day
$30 insurance
59 cents/mile
Round trip to Ryder is about 40 miles (~$26)

Plus
$32/day for pallet jack from VHR

= $158 total

Bobcat with fork attachment from VHR
$155 - 1/2 day (4 hours)
$65 delivery

Plus
$32/day for pallet jack from VHR

= $252 total


When I put the cabinets in the attached garage originally, I used a truck with a liftgate and the pallet jack. I wondering if it's worth it for an extra $100 to get the Bobcat. I'm thinking it might be quicker with the truck since I can load up a bunch of cabinets then unload. Plus, the truck is for the whole day, whereas I kinda have to rush with the Bobcat otherwise it gets even more expensive.

Any thoughts?

 

[OldCarGuy]

I think I would use the truck with a liftgate and a pallet jack. It would be double handling the cabinets using a truck. On the other hand, you’ll have one less piece of equipment to chase around after and the cabinets will be kept out of any precipitation.

Do you have a neighbor with a small tractor with a Frontend loader? I just purchased one last summer and have found many uses for it since. Besides all the landscaping chores it accomplished, I must have dug a mile of trenches. I plan on making a set of forks for it to handle loading projects more efficient. Picture moving a rock to the end of driveway. That baby was so heavy it about made the front tires flat. To get an idea of its’ size, the bucket is just over five feet wide.

 

[bmwpower]

Man, do I wish I had that tractor when I built my house and garage! Someday, someday...

Unfortunately, I have a neighbor that has a similar tractor, but I don't trust him with my cabinets. I can just see one of my cabinets falling off onto the ground.

I've been pondering this all day and I think the truck is the way to go, too.

 

[krooser]

Craig is right...get a pneumatic-tired fork truck...NOT a cushion (solid) tire...no need for a SkyTrak, skid steer or such..

 

[Mattlt]

Even cheaper

Since you've already got a pallet jack, why not just roll it on a couple sheets of plywood? two or three of them should be all you need. Just keep moving them ahead of you.

Save the money you would have used to rent the forklift, and use it to buy beer instead.

 

[bmwpower]

Since you've already got a pallet jack, why not just roll it on a couple sheets of plywood? two or three of them should be all you need. Just keep moving them ahead of you.

Save the money you would have used to rent the forklift, and use it to buy beer instead.

I thought about that, too. I'm just worried that the driveway is too varied in height. The new garage has a minor slope up to it, too. Some of these cabinets weigh 500+ pounds.