Pallet jack, do I need one?

[Blt2Lst]

Have a chance to get a 5000lb pallet jack for free, do I need it, not really, do I want it, of course I do.

It might be useful at some point and for the price I cant go wrong, it does take up a fair amount of floor space but can easily be moved when needed. probably will not use it to move pallets but might be useful just for lifting if needed and moving heavy objects.

Just curious if others have one and what others have used it for other than it's intended use of moving pallets.

 

[inane2]

Go for it!

I was cruising CL one night and found one about 20 mins from the house for $50. Came from a local newspaper print shop. Cleaned it up and put a seal kit in it. It's a BT Lifter L2000. Funny thing is a few weeks later, I noticed someone had wrote "junk" on it under one of the forks. I imagine the guy I bought it from got it for free.

Got to be one of the handiest things in the shop. I find myself putting stuff on pallets now to make it easier to move. Aside from that though, I've moved a refrigerator, outside AC unit, couch, arcade game ..... this list goes on.

Sounds like the price is right and plenty of parts for them on eBay.

 

[lis2323]

Pallet jacks are invaluable if you have the room for one or at least have a spot to park it with the forks tucked out of the way under something.

I have a couple conventional ones.

Here’s one being used to reposition my 2200 pound welding table.



Moving a portable welder used for backup power in my garage



And my high lift jack for positioning projects to a comfortable working height. It has a 33” lift.






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[eschoendorff]

This is Garage Journal, so, yeah. You need at least 2.

 

[Ign]

I've moved 17x80 lathes with enough cribbing under the bed.....

 

[stioc]

Free is always good. There's one near me for $50 that needs wheels (the rubber around them is broken off on all of them) but those will run me at least $100 so I've been ignoring it. Do I need one? not really...like you I'd like to have it though lol

 

[APEowner]

I think it depends on how much storage space you have and how likely you are to use it. They're great for moving pallets and pallet like things but otherwise they're not all that useful. They're also heavy and clunky so it's not practical to store one in a shed in the back yard and then drag it out when you have a use for it.

 

[ransil]

I got one, great to have around.
Leads to buying a fork lift , those are handy too.

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[txvwnut]

This is the Garage Journal, do you need it is not a valid question. Should you get it yes and then tell everybody how cheap you got it for.

 

[sberry]

I rig all kinds of stuff with one.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Free is always good. There's one near me for $50 that needs wheels (the rubber around them is broken off on all of them) but those will run me at least $100 so I've been ignoring it. Do I need one? not really...like you I'd like to have it though lol

4 wheels cost about $160 plus shipping. The urethane falls apart as it ages.

 

[Lucid Moments]

Go for it. I will be hunting one as soon as my shop gets done.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I have a forklift and a pallet jack. I could not do the work I do without them. I used my PJ to move my lathe after restoration into a room the forklift could not access. I would not do without either.

 

[matt_i]

I have a forklift and a pallet jack. I could not do the work I do without them. I used my PJ to move my lathe after restoration into a room the forklift could not access. I would not do without either.

Agree and would add that a pallet jack is a hand-guided precision tool that moves almost as gently as you. Sit behind the mast of the forklift with fading depth perception and you can break a lot of expensive stuff that would never happen with the pallet jack.

When having to pack machinery tightly into a space with minimal clearance I always use the pallet jack because of above issues. The fork tips sticking thru can cause irreparable damage in seconds. The pallet jack can steer tighter than the smallest forklift so its also more maneuverable.

I have a good portion of my cabinets and metal shelves built on wooden pallet-style bases specifically for being able to roll them out and around while fully loaded, can clean behind, etc. Also smaller tools like a Diacro bender which would take up a huge chunk of shop space due to the long rotating handle rolls out easily into the clear for a single job, then rolls right back into its corner. Same for sheetmetal punch, corner notcher, finger brake.

Having the pallet jack is a mobile base for anything but you don't have to buy any casters nor invent a way to set the thing back on solid contact with the concrete.

 

[rick carpenter]

I 'drove' a couple of pallet jacks frequently at the printshop, and now drive another in the warehouse. (But not any of the high lift units like in lis2323's pics. Jealous!)

You'll need to be careful moving heavy stuff other than on pallets. Check to see if the bracing or crossmembers are capable of holding the entire weight of the machine or are they just to keep the legs straight. Like with a car, you might encounter things with specific lift points.

 

[lis2323]

Agree and would add that a pallet jack is a hand-guided precision tool that moves almost as gently as you. Sit behind the mast of the forklift with fading depth perception and you can break a lot of expensive stuff that would never happen with the pallet jack.

When having to pack machinery tightly into a space with minimal clearance I always use the pallet jack because of above issues. The fork tips sticking thru can cause irreparable damage in seconds. The pallet jack can steer tighter than the smallest forklift so its also more maneuverable.

I have a good portion of my cabinets and metal shelves built on wooden pallet-style bases specifically for being able to roll them out and around while fully loaded, can clean behind, etc. Also smaller tools like a Diacro bender which would take up a huge chunk of shop space due to the long rotating handle rolls out easily into the clear for a single job, then rolls right back into its corner. Same for sheetmetal punch, corner notcher, finger brake.

Having the pallet jack is a mobile base for anything but you don't have to buy any casters nor invent a way to set the thing back on solid contact with the concrete.

Absolutely. Every shop item I build I make provisions so that it can be easily moved with a pallet jack or forklift.





With a pallet jack and forklift there’s not much I can’t do alone.





I’m retired but have to admit I’m a bit spoiled when it comes to material handling.


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[OccupantRJ]

As has been said, The older I get, the less expensive my material handling equipment was. I added cross members and a shelf under the heavy azz Di-acro brake when I refurbished it to make it easy to pull away from the wall for use.

 

[PoorOwner]

I don’t have one. Just get by with mover and car dollies and an engine hoist.

I ordered some stuff they come on 1/4 plywood pallet even the supports are stacked plywood. The truck drivers pallet jack don’t fit into them!
Had to use the pallet jack to prop it up and knock one of the supports out.

Get a forklift with adjustable forks if you have space.

 

[protegeV]

do I need it

yes.

 

[lis2323]

I’m like Occupant RJ. I like to try my best to make heavier items conducive to pallet jack use.

More pics for inspiration if any of you are still thinking about it.












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[OccupantRJ]

When you have a forklift or pallet jack, EVERYTHING looks like a load!

 

[stioc]

4 wheels cost about $160 plus shipping. The urethane falls apart as it ages.

Thanks. Yeah, for about 160+50 I can buy a new one from Harbor Freight.

I have an engine hoist and a mid-rise lift in the garage and I've been able to do most of the moving around with those but at times I wish I had a pallet jack, a fork lift and a hydraulic lift table to get things off the back of the truck (when I can't back it up to the mid-rise lift).

Ideally though, a manual/compact forklift (and an engine hoist) would handle 99% of everything I'd ever want to move in my small 2-car garage.

 

[RPH]

One of the best tool purchases I ever did. Makes life so much easier.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Thanks. Yeah, for about 160+50 I can buy a new one from Harbor Freight.

I have an engine hoist and a mid-rise lift in the garage and I've been able to do most of the moving around with those but at times I wish I had a pallet jack, a fork lift and a hydraulic lift table to get things off the back of the truck (when I can't back it up to the mid-rise lift).

Ideally though, a manual/compact forklift (and an engine hoist) would handle 99% of everything I'd ever want to move in my small 2-car garage.

For lifts such as pictured, open bottom pallets can be built or obtained to work with those.

 

[stioc]

For lifts such as pictured, open bottom pallets can be built or obtained to work with those.

I think it should work as is with the standard pallets too? the forks are adjustable in width but about half the length of the pallet jacks though.

https://www.globalindustrial.com/p/...best-value-manual-li-stacker-880-lb-cap-59-li

 

[lis2323]

I think it should work as is with the standard pallets too? the forks are adjustable in width but about half the length of the pallet jacks though.



https://www.globalindustrial.com/p/...best-value-manual-li-stacker-880-lb-cap-59-li

It would work with a standard pallet but if it has bottom boards you would have to SLIDE the pallet onto the forks by hand.

In this configuration the pallet would act as a platform but you would not be able to transfer the palletized load intact and remove the jack


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[stioc]

Ahh I see what you guys mean now; if there are bottom boards on the pallet this type would bust the bottom boards off as you start to lift. Hmm, I didn't think about that!

 

[whateg01]

I have a couple of engine hoists, one on oem steel wheels and the other outfitted to pull behind the riding mower so I can unload stuff from the trailer more easily. I bought a pallet jack for $25 that didn't work (because it was dry) when I brought home my 10ee. Used it to move the lathe around then and have used it more and more since. Stuff that I could have and in the past would have moved with the engine hoist is moved so much more easily with the pallet jack. No swinging loads, and much more steerable. If you have the room to store it, I see absolutely no reason not to have both!

Dave

 

[RAYJAY]

I got one, great to have around.
Leads to buying a fork lift , those are handy too.

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or a tractor with forks .......

 

[930dreamer]

A tenant left one for me, I should use it with the amount of pallets I have.

 

[strength_and_power]

I use a pallet jack daily delivering safes. I borrow if from work whenever I need to move gym equipment. I will definitely have one when I get my own shop.
I use a Bishamon pallet jack. They are the Cadillac of pallet jacks, light years better than any other brand I’ve used.


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