forklift forks on hoist?

[isaac338]

Here's my latest zany idea!

I'm getting sick of moving machines precariously down trailer ramps on rollers, and lifting them precariously with a shop crane. I'm thinking if I could get some forklift forks (or some solid stock) and weld up a bracket to slip them over the hoist arms, I could use the hoist to lift palletized stuff off the truck/trailer, then drive out from under them.

Stationary forklift of sorts.

Anyone done anything like this?

 

[rslaback]

I'm having trouble picturing this. Would you be bridging between both sides or trying to use a single side? If you bridged between the sides and made a moving gantry and grabbing from the top I could see it working. Grabbing it with forks I'm not following.

 

[isaac338]

I'm having trouble picturing this. Would you be bridging between both sides or trying to use a single side? If you bridged between the sides and made a moving gantry and grabbing from the top I could see it working. Grabbing it with forks I'm not following.

Picture each fork held by two hoist arms, the only movement is up and down. Line the forks up, back the truck up so they slide into the pallet, use the hoist to lift it up, then drive out from under it.

See ****** drawing of top view attached - the forks would have a bracket which wraps around the rearmost arm to prevent tipping.

 

[bgarrett]

I want some forks for my backhoe

 

[HoosierMark]

It seems to me that it might be easier to raise the arms of the lift just above the load and then attach lifting straps to the arms and thru the pallet. Now raise the lift enough and pull out from under it. Then lower the lift down. One of the things about a forklift is the ability to manuver it around to place th forks in the pallet. The straps would give you a little room for error on lining it up. Perhaps you could build a simple platform to lay on the arms with hooks for straps on each corner and straps to hold the platform to the arms.

 

[isaac338]

It seems to me that it might be easier to raise the arms of the lift just above the load and then attach lifting straps to the arms and thru the pallet. Now raise the lift enough and pull out from under it. Then lower the lift down. One of the things about a forklift is the ability to manuver it around to place th forks in the pallet. The straps would give you a little room for error on lining it up. Perhaps you could build a simple platform to lay on the arms with hooks for straps on each corner and straps to hold the platform to the arms.

That's definitely the way to go - unfortunately I'm stuck with a MaxJax and I'll be lucky if it'll go high enough to lift **** out of the truck with my zany fork idea!

 

[rslaback]

I have some forklift experience. Getting forks at the right angle, width and height to slide into a pallet with a mast in front of you is often a pain. Doing it blind while backing a truck while having to use a hoist control for vertical movement, having no angle adjustment and having no counterweight to keep the load from tipping seems problematic enough to me that I would go with a gantry style lift.

 

[isaac338]

I have some forklift experience. Getting forks at the right angle, width and height to slide into a pallet with a mast in front of you is often a pain. Doing it blind while backing a truck while having to use a hoist control for vertical movement, having no angle adjustment and having no counterweight to keep the load from tipping seems problematic enough to me that I would go with a gantry style lift.

Sounds fair - I've never used a forklift, can ya tell?

Probably cheaper to just get a big I-beam and build a gantry, anyways.

 

[HoosierMark]

Can you build a short gantry crane to sit above the arms when they are spread wide which would give you the extra height and ability to slide?

 

[isaac338]

Can you build a short gantry crane to sit above the arms when they are spread wide which would give you the extra height and ability to slide?

Ceiling height is limited, it'd work for smaller machines but I think the real solution is to build an outdoor gantry that's high enough to lift a Bridgeport. Good idea, though, I hadn't thought of that.

 

[A_Pmech]

Besides the issue of actually hooking the pallet, the unbalanced moments will place a massive pull-out force on the lift anchors. I wouldn't be inclined to attempt it.

The type of machines you're talking about are light. I'd be looking at a used walkie stacker or cheap truckloader if I was you.

Edit: For that matter, there's really no reason to be lifting the machine at all. Rent a drop-deck trailer at your local Sunbelt rental and roll it off on pipe. The deck drops to within 6" of the ground and has it's own built-in dovetail. Moving a machine with one is easy-peasy with a pallet jack or pipe rollers.

 

[isaac338]

Edit: For that matter, there's really no reason to be lifting the machine at all. Rent a drop-deck trailer at your local Sunbelt rental and roll it off on pipe. The deck drops to within 6" of the ground and has it's own built-in dovetail. Moving a machine with one is easy-peasy with a pallet jack or pipe rollers.

That'd be nice.. none of those around here that I've been able to find.

I think the ticket is the gantry and the trailer I already have, a pallet jack would make it a simple affair.

 

[sberry]

If a guy doesn't have a folding HF cherry picker he probably needs one.

 

[NHBandit]

If a guy doesn't have a folding HF cherry picker he probably needs one.

This is what I was thinking as well. I waited to get one until they went on sale last Christmas and bought one for $99. I use it all the time and I do have a lift as well. What I have been thinking about though is a table sort of gizmo that would attach to my lift arms and make it easy to load & unload motorcycles into my truck.

 

[venturesomerite]

The way I am understanding it, you are looking to build something like this (see link) except mounted to a piece of steel between two arms of a car lift? Is that correct?

http://heavycherry.com/machineinfo/palfinger/-crane_forks_adjustable_in_1_hand-2005-truck_over_7_5t-truck_mounted_crane.html


My main concern would be that it needs to be ver well centered and adjustable so that you do not twist the lift, or have too much weight one one side, possibly pulling the anchors out. Lifts are meant to be used with weight evenly dispersed, with vertical load, not lateral.

 

[justanengineer]

^^^This. We use a lot of crane forks daily in various facilities, buy dont build.

 

[Playwme]

What sort of tray on your truck/trailer? I've got a flat tray with dropsides on mine and have had reasonable success backing the truck between the lift, sliding heavy steel bar through the pallet, then lifting the hoist up underneath the bars. Keeps the load centred in the lift and you don't need to actually lift very high. Obviously you need to position your pallet right when loading but its nice and quick and I've never felt unsafe doing it.

 

[-Brent-]

Are you looking for something like this? My old job had something similar.

 

[rsanter]

I think you may want to think about making a steel platform that will bolt to the lift arms. think something like the deck or a lift gate. then you back up to it, slide the cargo off the truck and onto the platform. then you can just lower it to the ground.
there are several benefits, stuff can be on rollers. on a pallet, not on anything....
you can get a pallet jack and roll it in and out of the back of the truck

bob

 

[Knuckles]

I bought a good running Towmotor (60's era forklift, 4000lb cap, only around 7' long) for $800, and drove 250 miles one way to get it, knowing I'd never find a better deal..... A month later, one came up on Kijiji, 10 miles away, for $650 Wait long enough, and search hard enough, and you'll find something. This was one of the best tools/investments I've ever made!

 

[wnstwolf]

Never thought I would need folks for anything till I bought a set for my kubota. Amazing what you find uses to lift with them. A whole new wold of storage 8' up.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

If I had space to use one, I'd buy a forklift in a minute. They aren't that terribly expensive on the used market for the lower capacity types we'd use in our garages, and ever so useful. My back yard is starting to look like an equipment yard as it is so I have to stay good.