Which Pallet Forks Do I Need?

[arrabil]

I get pallets delivered a few times a year. I'm sick of having to unload the item onto my truck instead of using the tractor.

I think I'd like to get some JDQA, light-duty, infinitely width adjustable ones.

I don't want FEL attached ones. I want to have the maximum lift capacity of my loader available. So I need forks rated to about 1000lbs that weigh as little as possible.

I think I'd really like some 48" ones because the two pallets I have, and would like to work with, are 48". But never having used forks... would 36" or 42" be good enough with my 48" pallets?

I don't care if they are fixed or floating. I have a grubber bucket to dig with. But what is floating for anyway?

I've seen the EverythingAttachments ones but they're 42" and too strong. I saw some even lighter duty ones but they are also 42".

Watchyall think? Thanks.

 

[kennyd]

42" forks are good, I think 36"er's are to short. The EA ones are the lightest I think you will find at 220lbs, the Frontier ones from JD are 350lbs or so.

The other possibility is to make your own if can...I did.

 

[arrabil]

I just found these:
Micro-Max Forks
Opinion? 900# capacity plus 130# fork weight makes them an exact fit for the loader specs which is something I like. But I'm stuck on 48". Is 42" okay because the crossbeam on a 48" pallet is still 6-10" from the edge of the pallet itself?

I can totally build my own but my welder has a back log as it is. I find that the right product is always within $100 of what I can build it for so I generally build the things I can't buy. I got a shoe rack, winch bumper, transmission mount, and dog food table ready to build as soon as the weather warms up another few degrees.

 

[kennyd]

I find the 42" a good fit for my machine-but yours is a bit bigger...You will still have to adapt the ones you linked to your JDQA.

 

[kennyd]

I just looked at the link again...35" width is pretty narrow I think. Mine are 48" wide.

 

[arrabil]

Yeah, I was wondering about that too. They just don't make the "perfect fit" that I can find....

 

[Villengineer]

42" forks are a good length to use with 48" pallets. They support well past the centerline of the pallet, but won't stick out the other end and damage things behind the pallet being picked. 35" wide might be OK depending on what the resultant max fork spread ends up. Remember that a pallet will have stringers that limit the actual pick width. ie a 48" pallet might have 2" stringers on each end thus making the max fork spread 44" or less.

 

[beenthere]

I get pallets delivered a few times a year. I'm sick of having to ...........................


I don't want FEL attached ones. ..............


Watchyall think? Thanks.

???
So you saying you don't want the bucket attached ones?

...........or don't want the loader attached ones?

 

[rdln]

Yeah he could have worded that better, I am sure he means that he does not want bucket clamp on forks.

I always eerrr on the heavier, whats the difference in fork weight between 1000# and 2000# caps?

They might sell more 2000# and be cheaper for the fact.

 

[arrabil]

Yep, didn't word that right. Don't want clamp-on forks.

I'd also rather not have 2000# forks because they will weigh 100# more than 1000# forks. That 100# is 10% of my loader lift ability gone to nothing.

I can't believe no one has found any forks like this.... I got a common setup. Maybe I do have to find some forks and build the frame.

 

[beenthere]

I am real happy with the Deere forks. Have you decided against those?

 

[arrabil]

The Frontier documentation says the AL1240F and AL1340F forks weigh almost 400#.

 

[123rday]

My dealer still has not told me the aftermarket forks he will be selling me when they get their next shipment in in a couple weeks. He did say they weight @ 220 and can handle @ 2000lbs. I was thinking they were the construction attachment forks even though they are painted JD green. Good news is, anything I buy within the "first year" I supposidly get the package price.

 

[mas1237]

Howse Equipment makes a mount with 42" pallet forks rated at 2000#. Model SXFLPF-R-NT. They have the advantage that you can also attach it to your 3-point hitch in addition to your loader.

Northern Tool has pictures @ Howse Pallet Forks for Front-End Loader, Model# SXFLPF-R-NT | Skid-Steers + Attachments | Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[jpm1]

My advice: go to skidsteerexpress.com. I bought a set of QA with a 2300 lb capacity for 485 delivered. Shipping is included and they are built really good. My forks are fully adjustable and 36" long. Personally I am not sorry for going with 36" forks. They do anything I need them to do. Very good company to do business with.Bought from them several times and their high on my buying list.

 

[Robert6401]

Howse Equipment makes a mount with 42" pallet forks rated at 2000#. Model SXFLPF-R-NT. They have the advantage that you can also attach it to your 3-point hitch in addition to your loader.

Northern Tool has pictures @ Howse Pallet Forks for Front-End Loader, Model# SXFLPF-R-NT | Skid-Steers + Attachments | Northern Tool + Equipment

I really like the fact that you can use these both on the QA FEL and on the 3-point hitch. But I am looking at the pictures and just can't see how my QA would secure the forks????