Forklift Thread - what lift(s) do you have?

[bigcreek]

I didnt see a forklift thread, new or old. Ive always liked forklifts. Ive owned a dozen or so at different times. Some people like cars or trucks or tractors, I like forklifts. I thought it would be interesting to see what forklifts everyone owns or uses. From old to new, junky to wow. I currently own two lift trucks. One Case diesel rough terrain rated for 6000#. The only thing I dislike about this lift is there isnt room to put on tire chains. There is only about an inch of clearance on the inside at two locations between the sidewall of the tires and two points on the truck frame. Id really hate to see a chain get caught. Very disappointing because without 4wd chains can really come in handy sometimes in winter around my place. Other than that I love this machine. The Allis Chalmers is a 1980 rated for 6000# as well, gasoline powered. I love this little lift. Great machine, ex military. Ive owned several Hysters, Yale, a couple AC's, and a Case. I liked them all. If I wanted to spend the money Id get a new case 4WD 8000# lift but I dont want to spend that much money so Ill keep what I have.

 

[The Cobbler]

here's one I bought for a volunteer group late 2021. a 2009 Cat with mid 4k hrs . side shift forks and 14' or so lift

 

[txvwnut]

Here’s a shot of mine actually doing something productive, it’s a 69 or 70 Allis-Chalmers.

 

[bigcreek]

here's one I bought for a volunteer group late 2021. a 2009 Cat with mid 4k hrs . side shift forks and 14' or so lift

My case has side shift but not the Allis Chalmers. Side shift is so dang handy, especially when coupled with fork positioners.

 

[bigcreek]

Here’s a shot of mine actually doing something productive, it’s a 69 or 70 Allis-Chalmers.

Wow that Allis Chalmers body style goes right along with that old VW bus in the background. Nice mill. Is that AC a 4000# unit?

 

[gregs]

+1 for an Allis Chalmers of the same style. We have a 1972 6000# with a 6 cylinder gas engine. Typical retired military. Its old and ugly but runs almost every day. Had to unload some equipment for the neighboring business because there fancy new forklift was down and waiting to be repaired.

 

[bigcreek]

AC must have sold the government a pile of their forklifts back in the day because Ive seen a ton of AC units over the years with military tags on them. They made great equipment, too bad they still arent around.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

A good topic for a thread bigcreek. I've had an older 5000 lb Toyota triple mast with sideshift for a few years now and it has helped me take on some pretty big projects that wouldn't have been possible whithout it. There is a thread on forklift attachments in the fabrication section that has a lot of lifts as well as attachments here. https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/shop-made-forklift-attachments-thread.436205/

Here are a few pics of my lift and some of the attachments I made for it. It's done everything I've asked of it including moving and placing 40' high cube containers....one end at a time anyway. It also has the free lift feature that allows it to pass through and lift in low ceiling sturctures. Wouldn't be without it. Ed.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Love the idea of having one but I have no need of one. IF I got one like the ones pictured above there's no way I could leave it alone. I'd sand it, primer and even if only a (good-as-I-could-do-it) rattle can paint job.

Yeah, I know. It's a heavy WORK tool but it's just who I am. I don't like dirty, chipped up, nasty looking tools.

 

[kyrbz]

The building I currently live/work out of can't accommodate a forklift. Kinda ***** not having one when when you're in the design/fabrication business. I always told my wife the next place we live I'm going to have a forklift. We recently purchased a new property that was formally a run down plumbing supply business. When we initially looked at the property, they hadn't completely moved out and there was a Toyota forklift in the warehouse. My offer on the property included the forklift staying. I don't know what I would do without it renovating the new property. Additionally I can't wait till I'm done renovating and am actually using the forklift in my new shop. Down the road I also need to give it a little TLC. It's had the side shift swiped off of it. Leaks ATF fluid. The hydraulic hoses could stand being replaced and I'd like to put different tires on it.

 

[ycgoat]

I have a tractor with forks

 

[BillK]

I didnt see a forklift thread, new or old.

Big Joe has been one of the best investments I have made over the years

 

[bigcreek]

A good topic for a thread bigcreek. I've had an older 5000 lb Toyota triple mast with sideshift for a few years now and it has helped me take on some pretty big projects that wouldn't have been possible whithout it. There is a thread on forklift attachments in the fabrication section that has a lot of lifts as well as attachments here. https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/shop-made-forklift-attachments-thread.436205/

Here are a few pics of my lift and some of the attachments I made for it. It's done everything I've asked of it including moving and placing 40' high cube containers....one end at a time anyway. It also has the free lift feature that allows it to pass through and lift in low ceiling sturctures. Wouldn't be without it. Ed.

Great pictures Oregon Rock Crusher. Love how you put that container out like that.

 

[bigcreek]

Big Joe has been one of the best investments I have made over the years

So that Big Joe.. is that meant to ride on or walk behind? Im guessing walk behind as thats a pretty small platform to put your feet and I dont see scuff marks on it. What will that thing lift? And is it the battery behind that cushion door I assume? Man that thing would be great for the small footprint. I just remembered I actually did use a walk behind lift at a facility a year ago to load a 4' shear I bought at auction. It did a great job

 

[BillK]

So that Big Joe.. is that meant to ride on or walk behind? Im guessing walk behind as thats a pretty small platform to put your feet and I dont see scuff marks on it. What will that thing lift? And is it the battery behind that cushion door I assume? Man that thing would be great for the small footprint. I just remembered I actually did use a walk behind lift at a facility a year ago to load a 4' shear I bought at auction. It did a great job

Walk behind and you have to push it. The lift is hydraulic with a 12 volt battery. Battery and pump is behind the door. Its not cushioned, just sheet metal.
I am not sure what the actual capacity is but I have lifted complete Big Block Chevy marine engines with all of the exhaust manifold etc and its no problem. I imagine they are every bit of 1000 lbs.

 

[mike93lx]

The only thing I dislike about this lift is there isnt room to put on tire chains. There is only about an inch of clearance on the inside at two locations between the sidewall of the tires and two points on the truck frame. Id really hate to see a chain get caught.

Would some spacers take care of that? How much clearance would you need?

 

[Plastikosmd]

Clark Ranger (fwd/rwd or 4wd) articulated 6k lift



Clark gcx17e solid tire
Have to take it slow on the crushed asphalt but handy for tighter spots

 

[txvwnut]

Wow that Allis Chalmers body style goes right along with that old VW bus in the background. Nice mill. Is that AC a 4000# unit?

It's actually a single cab, but yeah Allis has got some curves. The lift is an FC30 with 3 stage mast and side shift.

 

[Yale]

Here's my old one that I recently parted with:



It's an early 50's Yale KG51-AT 4000# unit with a Chrysler Industrial 30 (230 ci flathead 6) and runs on gas.

Here's my 'new' one as I found it. It's up and running after a lot of work:



I don't know what year it is - probably 50's? Transitier with a propane Waukesha flathead 4. It's a 2000# unit. I have a thread on here about bringing it back to life but the internet is not letting me access it at the moment for some reason.

 

[Yale]

Deleted double post

 

[Steve from Socal]

I have four two Hysters an H200 and H70, A Mits/Cat FG 25 and a lil Clark Clipper. Here is an old pic of the Hysters, they look terrible but, both have new engines, hoses, clutches tires etc. Both have side shift.

Steve

 

[NUTTSGT]

I have a tractor with forks

That's as close as I can get as well. They were well worth the $300 they cost.

 

[Yale]

Another double post?

It wasn't like this a week ago.

 

[dr_clyde]

Currently have a 2013 Mitsubishi.



Has 5’ forks, sideshift and has about a 6500lb capacity.

Love this thing, don’t know how people work in shops without forklifts.

 

[ATC]

I have a skid steer with forks.

The only forklift that would be worth while at my place is a rough terrain model, or a 4WD telehandler. Gravel and dirt.

I've driven forklifts every day for work for the past 17 years though. Yale, CAT, Toyota, Crown....

 

[quickfarms]

Cat RC 60

 

[bigcreek]

Would some spacers take care of that? How much clearance would you need?

Yes spacers would take care of that. I would want probably 3 inches so a 2" spacer would suffice. I was actually talking about that exact thing with someone just a couple days ago..

 

[bigcreek]

Clark Ranger (fwd/rwd or 4wd) articulated 6k lift



Clark gcx17e solid tire
Have to take it slow on the crushed asphalt but handy for tighter spots

Man that Clark 4WD unit is freakin awesome! What decade is that from?

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

My current shop Fork.. not sure what model year it is, but it runs better than it looks..

Use the above for moving stuff around outside.. also have forks on a compact utility.. cant have enough forks..

 

[bigcreek]

Here's my old one that I recently parted with:



It's an early 50's Yale KG51-AT 4000# unit with a Chrysler Industrial 30 (230 ci flathead 6) and runs on gas.

Here's my 'new' one as I found it. It's up and running after a lot of work:



I don't know what year it is - probably 50's? Transitier with a propane Waukesha flathead 4. It's a 2000# unit. I have a thread on here about bringing it back to life but the internet is not letting me access it at the moment for some reason.

That Pettibone is wild..

 

[bigcreek]

I have four two Hysters an H200 and H70, A Mits/Cat FG 25 and a lil Clark Clipper. Here is an old pic of the Hysters, they look terrible but, both have new engines, hoses, clutches tires etc. Both have side shift.

Steve

That big Hyster is a beast. Is it rated for 12000# or more? That little Hyster looks similar to my old Pioneer 60 which I just recently sold but its a little different.

 

[bigcreek]

Currently have a 2013 Mitsubishi.



Has 5’ forks, sideshift and has about a 6500lb capacity.

Love this thing, don’t know how people work in shops without forklifts.

Dang good looking unit. And I second what you said. Ive had people tell me they dont have any use for a forklift. But if you do shop work or live out in the country or do whatever they just have no idea how handy one actually is until they try one out for awhile then they would be hooked.

 

[bigcreek]

Cat RC 60

Awesome looking lift. Is that 4wd?

 

[bigcreek]

There are some dang good looking lift machines you guys have posted up, Keep them coming I am enjoying seeing these.

 

[bigcreek]

My current shop Fork.. not sure what model year it is, but it runs better than it looks..

Nissan are great lifts for sure. I knew a guy who loved Nissans so much he literally tattooed the word "NISSAN" up the length of his arm. Interesting guy.

 

[txvwnut]

When people see my forklift and ask why I have one I tell them so I can lift forks. It’s main duty is to move my trailer in and out since it’s easier than using my truck to since I only have a little over 8 feet of room to work with.

 

[Steve from Socal]

The big one is 20K, it has picked up a few machines that weigh in the 25K range. The 'small Hyster' is a 7K machine that has done over 10K. The really big loads were machine moves in my shop where the loads are a few inches off the ground. I have lifted some loads at max height and max weight, the difference in how the forklift reacts is profound.

I have done quite a bit of rigging and machine moves, the older forklifts have a lot more reserve lift and counterbalance. That said, I bought a lathe from a shop that had a forklift that could lift it but not counterbalance it without help.

 

[Walkers]

I have had a late 60s Towmotor, and a mid 70s Cat (Towmotor with Cat badging) with roughly 3-5K capacity. I currently have a Nissan 70. The problem I have now is that I get stuck if I drive over my shadow. This is mostly due to the weight, as it is about 12K IIRC, and my last ones were around 6k. This is used primarily outdoors in dirt. I can’t use it at all if it rains. Ihave considered making some adapters for a second set of drive wheels thinking it would keep me from getting stuck. Do the dual fronts help in that aspect?

 

[bigcreek]

I have had a late 60s Towmotor, and a mid 70s Cat (Towmotor with Cat badging) with roughly 3-5K capacity. I currently have a Nissan 70. The problem I have now is that I get stuck if I drive over my shadow. This is mostly due to the weight, as it is about 12K IIRC, and my last ones were around 6k. This is used primarily outdoors in dirt. I can’t use it at all if it rains. Ihave considered making some adapters for a second set of drive wheels thinking it would keep me from getting stuck. Do the dual fronts help in that aspect?

This dual pneumatic AC actually does really well in the mud and snow. It is absolutely worthless on ice. Unless it has chains then it will go anywhere. The only thing I have to worry about with it is if the mud gets too deep to where it sinks to the frame. As long as the ground isnt too soft that it sinks to the frame then it is good to go. Yes the duals help a ton especially with chains on. However on dry ground if I drive over hard ground that is too uneven the forklift is so rigid it will get stuck because the drive wheels may get lifted off the ground just enough not to get traction. Ive read that duals give a lift ~20% more stability as well which is nice at my place since alot of my place is hilly.

 

[bigcreek]

The big one is 20K, it has picked up a few machines that weigh in the 25K range. The 'small Hyster' is a 7K machine that has done over 10K. The really big loads were machine moves in my shop where the loads are a few inches off the ground. I have lifted some loads at max height and max weight, the difference in how the forklift reacts is profound.

I have done quite a bit of rigging and machine moves, the older forklifts have a lot more reserve lift and counterbalance. That said, I bought a lathe from a shop that had a forklift that could lift it but not counterbalance it without help.

Ya those back tires certainly dont look squished in the slightest. Thats a nice lathe.