Tractor bucket pallet forks?

[ishiboo]

I have a skid loader with a 2400lb operating capacity, 7500lb machine. I have been thinking about buying a dedicated set of quick attach pallet forks, but there are some of the forks on our local Craigslist right now which attach to the bucket. Any experience with these? Seems like they'd work well, but they put the load out about 2' farther than a dedicated set would.

 

[jhelrey]

Just buy a dedicated set. You will not regret it. Cheap and all over CL

 

[steviec]

ishiboo,

You might take a look over at the tractorbynet.com forum. There are a lot threads there about guys building there own as well as buying them.

Good luck!

 

[ishiboo]

ishiboo,

You might take a look over at the tractorbynet.com forum. There are a lot threads there about guys building there own as well as buying them.

Good luck!

I just posted there, I'd just like to pick them up ASAP and I know there are a lot of tractor guys here too Thanks.

 

[ishiboo]

Just buy a dedicated set. You will not regret it. Cheap and all over CL

I missed a nice 48"/4000lb set about 2 weeks ago. The only thing around here is one cheap set for $475.

 

[Aberdale]

I've had both. My experience with the ones that attach to the bucket is they will end up bending the bucket if you put much load on them. I no longer own the bucket mount forks. I would get a dedicated set. That's why they design skid steers with a quick attach!

Dale

 

[fefarms]

If you are going to handle pallets a lot, definitely get the dedicated forks. With those bolt-on forks, the bucket blocks your vision of the pallet plus the forks are out front so far that it gets hard to control the side-to-side position. Then there's the issue of reduced machine capacity with the load out so far in front. That 2400 pound capacity is probably more like 1500 pounds, maybe worse, with the load shifted forward. If you overload the setup the back wheels are going to come off the ground, even if the hydraulics can handle it.

I imagine the bolt-on's would be OK for such things as unloading a single pallet from the occasional delivery truck; where the truck driver can help guide you as you engage the pallet with the forks, and the weight isn't that bad.

I own a used forklift with sideshift and mast tilt. It's hard enough to get good at seriously moving pallets with such a purpose-built machine, never mind a jury-rigged setup like bolt-on forks.

 

[ishiboo]

Okay, dedicated forks it is

I moved about 250 rolls of R19 insulation off a semi with the bucket, could have really used the visibility of not having the bucket. Most of my stuff will be right on the ground/near but with all the advantages, buying the dedicated set is not that much more $$.

Thanks all!

 

[Old Patriot]

Just buy a dedicated set. You will not regret it. Cheap and all over CL

I agree. Buy a dedicated set. Bought mine from ebay and shipping wasn't too bad. But happy I did.

 

[Jbullfrog]

The bucket forks are handy if you don't have a quick-tatch. You see them alot on back-hoes. There is no good reason to use them on a skid-loader, as you can swap the bucket and forks quicker than mounting the bolt-ons.

 

[crewchief888]

even if you can find a set wth a damaged (attachment) frame, bobcat dealers sell a universal mounting frame that fits on *most* skid steers. and can be welded to nearly anything.

northern tool, and a couple other places sell off brand pallet forks, not sure on the cost of them.

 

[csp]

I have the forks that attach to the bucket but my bucket isn't a quick-tach and they aren't used that often.

 

[PurdueSD]

You guys with quick attach forks care to post a picture of your setup?

Ive got a set of used forks hiding under my stairs I've been meaning to adapt to my New Holland TC-30. I could use some ideas!

 

[6768rogues]

I have dedicated forks and they are handy for all types of uses. For example, I put the forks close together, angle them down, drive them in the ground near a tree and tilt back to pop a tree out of the ground. Also handy for packing down a dumpster.

 

[trbomax]

I have the quick attach setup on my NH tc35da. I bought the forks when I bought the tractor. the skidsteer quick attach is the only way to do it though.Its burid in the snow right now,but it has a nice back frame and all that. I fabed up a set of extensions to make the 4' forks 8',thats the 2nd best thing about it!

 

[trbomax]

Here's a not so good pic from a couple years ago,all I could find!

edit) that boom setup is 16' long and Ive set alot of trusses with it!I can get 29' high at the end. There is a 10' spreader out there and I pick the trusses with the J-hooks from my recovery trailer.

 

[trbomax]

Here you go!

 

[Ign]

I have the forks that attach to the bucket but my bucket isn't a quick-tach and they aren't used that often.

x2

Love mine, came w the tractor. Whatever the local ag supply sells, rated at 1000#/pr but that's all my tractor can lift at bucket centerline anyhow.

I drilled a hole near the end of one fork and slip a homebrew hook thru there for lifting all sorts of bulky things

The visibility issue does ****. Can see a lot better if I stand but need to keep one knee on the seat or been meaning to disable the seat's weight sensor.

 

[Red05GT]

I have had a set of clip on forks for the 580 case backhoe for twenty years which hang
in three brackets welded to the top front edge of the bucket. They will pickup what
ever the hydraulics can handle, but visibility of getting the forks in the pallet slots is
horrible and pretty much takes a spotter to accomplish. Have a Kubota tractor with a
loader and a set of skid steer quik attach forks and they work great. Problem with the
bucket lip mounted forks is if you over load the forks it will bend the edge of your bucket
and ruin the bucket.

 

[jwith68]

Another vote here for the dedicated forks. F-I-L had a set of 42" forks off an old Yale, and we fabbed up a quick attach frame to work with my Bush Hog 2426 loader. Work great, no visibility issues, and keeps the load center where it should be.

 

[santagary]

Okay, dedicated forks it is

I moved about 250 rolls of R19 insulation off a semi with the bucket, could have really used the visibility of not having the bucket. Most of my stuff will be right on the ground/near but with all the advantages, buying the dedicated set is not that much more $$.

Thanks all!

We have dedicated buckets, hay spears and pallet spears for our Kubotas...same quick attach as the skid steer. So handy. some of our round hay bales top 1800#.