ruralruss
Silver Member
Has anybody tried the Northern Tool 1200 lbs clamp on forks? If so what do you think of them? Are they worth the $299 price?
Loader Clamp on Forks
- Thread starter ruralruss
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brin
Super Member
I bought some on ebay for $149.00 ...I looked at the ones at Northern but did not want to spend that after seeing mine of ebay....they are great...Check ebay, they should still be there, as I recall there were several mfgs. offering clamp on forks on ebay..
gwdixon
Elite Member
If you have the tools to make forks it can be cheaper and rewarding.
Two of the photos show attachment clamps welded to old forklift forks.
View attachment 283787View attachment 283788View attachment 283789View attachment 283790View attachment 283792View attachment 283791
Two of the photos show attachment clamps welded to old forklift forks.
View attachment 283787View attachment 283788View attachment 283789View attachment 283790View attachment 283792View attachment 283791
Hillman314
New member
I bought a $179.99 set from Yankeewarehouse.com that are listed with a rating of 2500lb. (I have lifted 4-5: 16' foot (12" diameter) pine logs with them and can lift the front end of my JD 5075E up with no problem. Their vertical brackets that fit 2" "x 4" anti-rollback boards are nice. They look identical to Northern Tools They work well. I first used them to load 16' pine logs on/off a wagon. In the woods, where I'd hit stumps/rocks etc, the quick connect screw is a plus and a minus. That is, if you hit something that puts sideway laterall forces on them, the fork(s) will go un-parrallel (which means I have to get off, realign and re-tighten, but this is better than busting something). I did buy a $79 fork stabilizer bar from IAM/USA Forks that cross-connects the forks that keeps them more parrallel (then I started using a winch in the woods, so now I only use the forks to stack the logs at the header pile and they stay true.) Between using the stabilizer bar and the fork's screw/bolt making indentations in the bucket the forks are pretty locked on against sideways movement. Which means now if I hit something big & sideways with the fork's bolt in the bucket indentations I'll end up bending the bolt and have to get a big "helper" to undo the bolt so that I can bang the bolt (without damaging the threads) back to semi-straight. - it's best not to do that and know what's under the object your lifting. 
Dr Dave
Platinum Member
I would buy a set of real forks, the type that are quick atach skid loader mount, or build your own. Adding forks to the bucket, limits lift capacity, by moving load out front. Also they do not stay in place, clamps work loose, forks turn sideways and end up falling off. I borowed my neighbors, I am glad I did not buy any. I bent one twice had to use a press to straighten and broke a clamp bolt. It had been bent and straightened before, he also has a set for a Bobcat, but not the universal mount. I am now building my own set with a skid steer quikatach and also Westendorf loader quickatach mounts. I will start a thread when I can figure out how to post pics.
Dave
I am now building my own set with a skid steer quikatach and also Westendorf loader quickatach mounts. I will start a thread when I can figure out how to post pics.Dave
Luremaker
Veteran Member
Nice looking forks. What material did you use for your forks? I have a 10 foot length of 2" x 3" x 1/4" wall tubing and was thinking using it for a pair of bucket forks. Anyone know the strength of my tubing?
Diamondpilot
Super Star Member
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I made mine out of some 3/16" wall 2x3" box tubing. I have about $50 in them. They clamp on and work great.
Chris
Chris
mguitas
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SeymourBota
Platinum Member
I have them and they work great!! Mine were actually made by Paynesforks- not sure who they source them from now.
Occasionally, they offer them for $279- that's when I bought mine.
Occasionally, they offer them for $279- that's when I bought mine.
JJZ 109
Veteran Member
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- Kubota BX2380/LA344 loader/60" MMM, Bobcat S185 skid steer, JD X394 4 wheel steer mower
I would buy a set of real forks, the type that are quick atach skid loader mount, or build your own. Adding forks to the bucket, limits lift capacity, by moving load out front. Also they do not stay in place, clamps work loose, forks turn sideways and end up falling off. I borowed my neighbors, I am glad I did not buy any. I bent one twice had to use a press to straighten and broke a clamp bolt. It had been bent and straightened before, he also has a set for a Bobcat, but not the universal mount.
Dave
Of course it all depends on what you'll be using them for and your budget, but overall I agree with the above statement. I started out with Payne's. Hated them and wound up spending the extra $$ on a SSQA and dedicated forks. Happy I did so and will never look back.
I have a set and really liked them but they are pretty light duty even @ $350 is what I paid for mine. I even got the spreader bar that strengthens them but ended up bending my bucket lip quite a few times.
I went hog wild and put a SSQA setup on and now I can pick up more than my loader is capable of with my pallet forks and no bending anything and its every bit as quick as the clamp on's. That and I dont have to handle anything just drive up and lift and visaversa.
So its all about how hard and how often you plan on using them. As always to remind you of this point-we find uses we never thought of when we dive into these purchases hind sight is always 20/20. hth
I went hog wild and put a SSQA setup on and now I can pick up more than my loader is capable of with my pallet forks and no bending anything and its every bit as quick as the clamp on's. That and I dont have to handle anything just drive up and lift and visaversa.
So its all about how hard and how often you plan on using them. As always to remind you of this point-we find uses we never thought of when we dive into these purchases hind sight is always 20/20. hth
gwdixon
Elite Member
The grey forks are for a BX2200 and work great for brush. They are made from channel iron. Can't remember the exact measurements.
The reddish ones are made from discarded fork lift forks. The clamps were welded on. You'd have to guess the material size from the photos. Made them some time ago and at my age my name eludes me at times.
Notice that the reddish forks are being held up by a set of M7040 Kubota SSQA forks. They are by far the preferred method of using forks if you have a QA.
Bucket bending has often been mentioned when using clamp-on forks. Never have had that happen but the forks have only been used on HD buckets. The BX2200 is an exception. But only light stuff, prunings, and brush are handled by those forks.
Your square tubing should work fine. You'll never know until you try.
Thanks everybody for the feedback. I have had my B3200 now for over 3 years and I know what it can and can not do with it. I also know about finding more uses for them than you know. I got some off ebay, light duty with a stabilizer bar for $189 and free shipping. I got them because we are building a retaining wall of over 60 railroad ties. If that is the only thing I use them for it is worth it because the first row about killed me. I know I will use from time to time, but honestly not often.
