Pallet forks for your tractor

[1930]

I bought QA when I bought my RK24 and am very glad that I did, I use them so much that I cannot imagine not having them. I had thought about buying a grapple but did not want to spend the money which was significant and the sales rep at RK told me to get the forks and forgo the grapple, his opinion was that unless you are going to do a lot of specialized work that would call for a grapple it was just to cost inefficient.
As it turns out he was dead on for me the amount of tree and brush work that I do does not call for the grapple and I can do just fine with my forks, plus I use the forks for so many other things that to be without them is unthinkable to me and yes they are on my tractor as a default until I need the bucket.

I bought the MTL grapple, I HAD alot of brush and wood to move, I couldnt possibly be any happier with the set-up. Property work is nearly done but Im sure I will find more uses as time goes on. Bucket is almost useless in my soft sand. Tractor not heavy enough

 

[1930]

Looks like this......View attachment 649457

Thats what I have

 

[Peter 315]

Thats what I have

That's QA or SKID STEER QUICK ATTACH or SSQA

 

[1930]

Try to remember that. Thanks

 

[Ohio RK24]

I believe it stands for Skid Steer Quick Attach. With this type of quick attach plate you can use a wide variety of attachments that are offered by skid steer manufacturers. One note to this is that if you have a subcompact/compact tractor you need to be mindful of the the weight that comes with skid steer attachments, they may well give you more work capacity than your tractor can handle due to over loading.

 

[3Ts]

I've got a grapple, bucket, and (real) pallet forks. My forks are on the tractor more than the others combined. The forks are just that useful!

 

[dodge man]

I got my pallet forks with my latest tractor when I bought it. That are the JD quick attach style and I think they are made by Frontier. There are a lot of different brands and I agree with all the comments, they are a must have.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I doubt you'll find even a crappy pallet fork attachment for a couple hundred bucks. The local Mac's here sells a cheap Chinesium set for, I think around $300. They are noted as being weak and folding up at close to their "rated" weight.

I originally bought a set of clamp on forks that go on the bucket edge. Everyone told me not to. Everyone. Here on TBN, my dealer, everyone. They were right. The clamp ons are garbage, and you will hate them. I (think?) I paid $200 for them, and I learned to hate them. I finally had enough this past winter and ordered a proper SSQA pallet frame and fork set. Night and day difference. I gave my bolt on forks to my neighbor and told him not to hate me for that. He has less options as his old JD is a pin on bucket with light weight JD grapple.

Buy the full SSQA pallet fork attachment. You'll be glad you did. They cost more than a couple hundred bucks though, but they're handy to have around, and "worth it" in my opinion.

 

[dieselcrawler]

Another vote for real forks...

I salvaged an old set off a fork truck from work and built my own frame to match the John Deere quick attach system on my tractor, they have only been off the tractor 2 times in the past 2 months when I needed the bucket to load manure. Otherwise, forks are good for feeding cows round bales, moving logs, I've got stuff on pallets, IBC totes for firewood, truck parts (axles, frames, beds), forks are so much more useful.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I was considering getting a grapple when I was advised here on TBN to try pallet forks first. I never needed the grapple after buying the forks.

And, if you put a matching single grapple (thumb) in-between those forks, you will have something that will do more than any grapple will, plus you will still have the pallet forks.

SR

 

[two_bit_score]

And, if you put a matching single grapple (thumb) in-between those forks, you will have something that will do more than any grapple will, plus you will still have the pallet forks.

SR

I think you posted a pic in another thread that showed how useful that was. Pretty nice setup. You should post it here.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I think you posted a pic in another thread that showed how useful that was. Pretty nice setup. You should post it here.

Over the years, I've tried to show the many things a pallet fork grapple combo will do, many of which a dedicated grapple won't do, but I think this is the one you are referring to.

I needed to pick up two cherry logs from a pile, and I was pointing out how you can choose one log, hold it and then pick through a pile to get the "next log you want", out of that pile,

That's VERY handy, and I use that trick quite often.

SR

 

[two_bit_score]

^^^^^That's it!

Looks like a very useful set up! Is that thumb easily removable?

 

[Michael In Tennessee]

Storage: Remember the forks come off the frame, so they store compactly if necessary. Buy proper forks and frame rates for what you can pick up.

 

[Xfaxman]

Another vote for real forks...

I salvaged an old set off a fork truck from work and built my own frame to match the John Deere quick attach system on my tractor, they have only been off the tractor 2 times in the past 2 months when I needed the bucket to load manure. Otherwise, forks are good for feeding cows round bales, moving logs, I've got stuff on pallets, IBC totes for firewood, truck parts (axles, frames, beds), forks are so much more useful.

Good job on building in extra rollback, shown by the red lines I added :thumbsup:.

 

[buck12]

I have owned a tractor since 2008 and didn’t buy pallet forks until this past fall. The forks are definitely handy. I should have bought them sooner. My grapple lives on my tractor and I switch out to the bucket or forks as needed. Although the grapple is on the tractor 95% of the time, forks are like any other implements it’s nice to have the right tool for the job at hand.

 

[shooterdon]

Over the years, I've tried to show the many things a pallet fork grapple combo will do, many of which a dedicated grapple won't do, but I think this is the one you are referring to.

I needed to pick up two cherry logs from a pile, and I was pointing out how you can choose one log, hold it and then pick through a pile to get the "next log you want", out of that pile,

That's VERY handy, and I use that trick quite often.

SR

I like that set up a lot and it is a good option for most people to consider.

I store and move wood in modified IBC totes that are 70" tall or I would have gone that way. A grapple is still invaluable if moving a lot of brush, which I do as well. For me, having both made sense and I have $1500 into both attachments. Got them both at MTL. They are not HD units like the more expensive offerings but serviceable.

In the OP's case, he already has the grapple so adding the forks makes sense.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

^^^^^That's it!

Looks like a very useful set up! Is that thumb easily removable?

Yes BUT, it's very heavy!! I'm sure a lighter version could be bought, for a smaller tractor.

It slides off sideways, but I never take it off, because it's never in the way.

The forks/grapple combo, works REALLY GOOD for moving brush, I do quite a bit of that too...

SR

 

[two_bit_score]

Yes BUT, it's very heavy!! I'm sure a lighter version could be bought, for a smaller tractor.

It slides off sideways, but I never take it off, because it's never in the way.

The forks/grapple combo, works REALLY GOOD for moving brush, I do quite a bit of that too...

SR

Was it bought or built by you? It looks like a thumb for an excavator.




Thanks!

.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

The loader/forks/grapple all came from ALO, and that grapple is a perfect match to those forks and is super strong!!

I can stab those forks deep into the ground, grapple a boulder and pull it right out of the ground,

Try that with a dedicated grapple...

SR