What else do you do with forks besides lift pallets?

Xfaxman · Dec 4, 2015

And for something completely different, a box blade on the forks.

Pictures from 10 years ago. A 4' cat0 box blade bolted through existing holes in the forks.

Spreading a pile of loose dirt/grass.

Turned it around with the rippers down, loader in float.

sixdogs · Apr 3, 2016

I'm the OP on this and here's how it turned out. I finally got a set of forks. They are rated at 3500 lbs and while a bit much for the JD 790, will fit fine on my 90 HP Deere 5520. This thread convinced me of all the uses and , frankly I should have bought them last year. I dawdled around looking at light duty forks that would work on the smaller Deere 790 but be lacking when it came time to pick up the ton pallets of fertilizer and jostle them around. Those sold in the $425 range and looked light.

The forks I got came from an Amish shop in Ohio that builds really nice stuff. I bought my loader to skid steer adaptor from them for $750 and it's built like a tank. They make three sets of forks; light, medium and super. The light ones were too light and the big one too big but the mediums were just right. Cost was $685 and they are rugged with beautiful welds. Anyway, here they are.

EDIT--It's somewhat ironic but the first task I have for these forks is to lift some pallets.

GoldenCityMuse · Apr 3, 2016

I have that same model Blazer! mine has 250k+ mi on it, & is pretty worn out.

flyerdan said:
This might be of limited use to the lighter rigs, but I made my extended forks for things like this, where you need the reach. A board across the front where the doors are open and one across the back with some padding lifted the body off without a bit of damage, as if it really mattered.
Thought of this when reading the pickup canopy thread, as I used this technique to load one of the older wooden framed ones that was too heavy to manhandle around.

Xfaxman · Apr 3, 2016

sixdogs said:
I'm the OP on this and here's how it turned out. I finally got a set of forks. They are rated at 3500 lbs and while a bit much for the JD 790, will fit fine on my 90 HP Deere 5520. This thread convinced me of all the uses and , frankly I should have bought them last year.

Gooder-un :thumbsup:

Now we need to know "What else do you do with forks besides lift pallets?"

sixdogs · Apr 3, 2016

Xfaxman said:
Gooder-un :thumbsup:

Now we need to know "What else do you do with forks besides lift pallets?"

Moving some rocks for the wife. Big uns that she seems to think can be placed within 1/4" of her command at 1000 lbs and up. Then moved a few more times back and forth like furniture. A tractor bucket wouldn't do that, and neither will the forks but that's first on the list. But before that, some pallets of fertilizer are on the way and then there are some trees that need to be cut down and moved. Forks really are the easy way. Then I have to plant some ball and burlapped trees and the forks are just the ticket for easy entry into the hole in the ground.

After that, it's open season so I'll be looking for ideas since I now have the solution.

Btown · Apr 3, 2016

sixdogs said:
. The forks I got came from an Amish shop in Ohio that builds really nice stuff.

Last time I looked Amish do not have electricity, but the Mennonite's do. The Mennonite's maker some great stuff.

xring100 · Apr 3, 2016

Worked great for lifting a 8x14' cargo bed from an M923 5 Ton 6x6. I'm working with a buddy to shorten it. For his M931 tractor

sixdogs · Apr 3, 2016

Btown said:
Last time I looked Amish do not have electricity, but the Mennonite's do. The Mennonite's maker some great stuff.

Yeah, well look harder. These are old order Amish but hire others to do the welding. I was surprised too but they can do whatever the local Bishop says they can do. An old order Amish guy I know has a cell phone while my Mennonite neighbor does not have a television. It all what the Bishop says.

The old order guy that loaded my forks used a gas powered skid steer but was carrying a two way radio and wearing a western cowboy hat. I felt like I was in the Amish twilight zone.

Creamer · Apr 3, 2016

Btown said:
Last time I looked Amish do not have electricity, but the Mennonite's do. The Mennonite's maker some great stuff.

Local Amish shop I use has a 200 Hp engine in the back powering the hydraulic system to run their mills, their air compressor, and a generator to provide electricity for their welders and even high bay flourescent lights they installed a few years ago. they used to have a diesel engine but a few years back they changed to a natural gas powered unit.

sixdogs · Apr 3, 2016

Creamer said:
Local Amish shop I use has a 200 Hp engine in the back powering the hydraulic system to run their mills, their air compressor, and a generator to provide electricity for their welders and even high bay flourescent lights they installed a few years ago. they used to have a diesel engine but a few years back they changed to a natural gas powered unit.

I know of an Amish woodworking shop that powers big saws and planers and such with belts that run through holes in the floor to a bigger set of belt gearing in the basement that is powered by a generator. All that yet 12 volt lights upstairs.

4570Man · Apr 3, 2016

I have pulled and set several engines with a forklift. Mine has side to side hydraulic forks and it works great. Forks make a good adjustable height welding table too.

sixdogs · Apr 4, 2016

Temp welding table is a great idea for a difficult operation plus I have a weld blanket to toss over the front of the forks to protect the tractor and loader. This list keeps growing.

chuck172 · Apr 4, 2016

tempforce said:
View attachment 448798 View attachment 448799 View attachment 448800 View attachment 448801 View attachment 448802

I know I'm replying to an old thread, but I've never seen a rake like that. What kind is it? (fifth pic)

Btown · Apr 4, 2016

sixdogs said:
Yeah, well look harder. These are old order Amish but hire others to do the welding. I was surprised too but they can do whatever the local Bishop says they can do. An old order Amish guy I know has a cell phone while my Mennonite neighbor does not have a television. It all what the Bishop says. The old order guy that loaded my forks used a gas powered skid steer but was carrying a two way radio and wearing a western cowboy hat. I felt like I was in the Amish twilight zone.

Times are a changing and the Amish are too I guess.

sixdogs · May 7, 2016

To wrap up this thread, I bought a set of 3500 lb rated forks rather than the lighter set. Seems it's always better to buy overbuilt rather than underbuilt.

The forks are great and so far I moved some huge rocks around, moved some equipment and put a 1000 lb axle in the back of a Ford van. That was an iffy one and I didn't ask how he was going to get it out. Lastly, I used it to lift a pallet and nearly ripped it to shreds because I had the forks pointed a little low. I guess that's a learned trait. Forks are a must have.
Anyway, I don't know how I got along without forks in the past.

Xfaxman · May 7, 2016

:thumbsup:

Brand?

Where purchased from?

Pictures?

sixdogs · May 7, 2016

Xfaxman said:
:thumbsup:

Brand?

Where purchased from?

Pictures?

I bought it from Mast Farm Service in Millersburg, OH. it's a mostly Amish welding business (go figure) that does some of the finest welding and fabrication I have ever seen and they are a pleasure to do business with. I have one of their Deere to QSSA adapters. Their work looks flawless and prices honest.