Pallet forks for your tractor

[Jstpssng]

Huh. I've had Titan pallet forks on my JD 3320 tractor for several years, and they've done real well for me. Then again, I just use them here around the house and horse barn. I don't run a warehouse.

Last fall I also purchased a hay spear frame & spears from Titan to handle large square bales (800+ lbs) and am equally happy with the frame/spears and their service - especially with the help they provided over the phone to make sure that I got the spears that I needed.

I'd buy again from them without hesitation.

My backing plate is tearing away where the brackets for the forks are welded, but I moved a lot of wood with them in the 2 years since I bought them. I will probably mount the forks in my bucket and trash the rest.

 

[fried1765]

My backing plate is tearing away where the brackets for the forks are welded, but I moved a lot of wood with them in the 2 years since I bought them. I will probably mount the forks in my bucket and trash the rest.

I can't see that problem EVER occurring with my EA forks!
But then.....my EA forks did cost a good bit more than Titan forks would have.

 

[Peter 315]

You get what you pay for.........

 

[two_bit_score]

Buy once, cry once? Is that the old saying?

 

[sodamo]

Buy once, cry once? Is that the old saying?

Buy once, cry once, smile forever. The value of mine have long outlasted the cost.

 

[two_bit_score]

Buy once, cry once, smile forever. The value of mine have long outlasted the cost.

.

 

[Jstpssng]

I can't see that problem EVER occurring with my EA forks!
But then.....my EA forks did cost a good bit more than Titan forks would have.

You get what you pay for.........

Buy once, cry once? Is that the old saying?

Exactly right. However, once the plate started bending and I knew that it was toast anyways there may have been a bit of excessive abuse involved... they really weren't designed to be digging out logs which were frozen in the ice.

 

[dnw64]

My B3030 came with clamp-on-the-bucket forks. They are very handy. Several hundred percent better than none at all.

But you lose a LOT of lifting capacity because the COG moves so far out front. I didn't have SSQA, so I bought an adapter and a set of SSQA forks and what a difference!

I guess it boils down to your needs, desires and circumstances.

 

[gsganzer]

In my opinion it is silly to not have a pair of pallet forks if you own a tractor. SO many uses, pay for themselves in no time.

I agree. I probably use my forks as much as I do the bucket. I bought one of the Titan pallet fork/bale spear SSQA combo's. My forks are the 42" model. It was money very well spent.

 

[shaeff]

Sawyer Rob's setup is pretty slick, and it's what made me hold off on a potential grapple purchase. I realized most of the stuff I'm doing I need pinpoint precision for. The forks/grapple combo does that very well.

A friend of mine (R.I.P.) gave me a set of forklift forks from his job a few years ago. Heavy duty, I need to modify them and make them quick attach, and also make my loader QA. I plan to build a grapple for this setup and use it like crazy.

I also need to build more roll-back into my setup, it has hardly any in stock form. ('64 MF35 Utility)

 

[Sawyer Rob]

You get what you pay for.........

IF that was always true, you all would be buying ALO forks and grapple! They cost more, so they HAVE to be better!! lol

SR

 

[StAngerSandman]

Just got these toys yesterday, and thought the price was right. Paint job sucks, but I expected that going in based on earlier reviews. I'll let it flake off for a while, and repaint at some point if I ever care enough.

I got the grapple and 48" pallet forks for $1500. May not be EA quality, but I bet they do everything I need from them. I was able to get both of these, plus 40 feet of pallet racking for considerably less than the EA grapple I originally considered.



Kind of been a big couple weeks. Got the grapple, the pallet forks, pallet racking all yesterday, and a couple weeks ago I ran into that HD25 post hole digger in the background for $1K, barely used. Already dug a handful of posts with it, works great until it hits the limestone rock bed under everything around here...

 

[buck12]

Just got these toys yesterday, and thought the price was right. Paint job sucks, but I expected that going in based on earlier reviews. I'll let it flake off for a while, and repaint at some point if I ever care enough.

I got the grapple and 48" pallet forks for $1500. May not be EA quality, but I bet they do everything I need from them. I was able to get both of these, plus 40 feet of pallet racking for considerably less than the EA grapple I originally considered.

View attachment 651347

Kind of been a big couple weeks. Got the grapple, the pallet forks, pallet racking all yesterday, and a couple weeks ago I ran into that HD25 post hole digger in the background for $1K, barely used. Already dug a handful of posts with it, works great until it hits the limestone rock bed under everything around here...

I bought the same setup (well I got the 60” grapple and orange) a few moths ago from MTL. I have been pleased for the money. I have had a Wild Kat grapple on my Mahindra for years with zero problems and it has been used hard. I just didn’t see paying twice as much for a grapple. I figure if something bends or breaks I will just have it welded back.

 

[1930]

I don't know what the OP finally decided but I'm another who will advise against the bolt on units, especially for a smaller tractor. Aside from the fact they are a royal PITA they also will bring your load out farther from the pins. I have a set of el cheapo Titans which need a new backing plate; and am looking to upgrade to a better quality SSQA set.

I have not done anything yet, I could have REALLY used them this weekend, I spent hours moving something that would have taken only minutes cause I had to work with what I had. Right now Ive got more money coming than going and so Im hoping a set of forks will fall out of the sky.

 

[two_bit_score]

I have not done anything yet, I could have REALLY used them this weekend, I spent hours moving something that would have taken only minutes cause I had to work with what I had. Right now Ive got more money coming than going and so Im hoping a set of forks will fall out of the sky.

It’s right behind my million dollars.

 

[Pontific8]

I am also very happy with my SSQA pallet forks!! Do yourself a big favor and get the Wrought Iron forks from Titan MFG (palletforks.com) for $484. delivered. I bought the 36" fork length AND bought a THIRD fork (special order $100. +/-) for picking up brush & I use for an adjustable height "work table" or lifting base, with a piece of plywood on the forks. Another tip: Weld on a simple angle iron frame for safety back support & storage of chains &/or cam straps. I am planning on further modifying my SSQA pallet forks implement by adding a single mechanically-operated grapple for securing brush in transit, as I don't have an extra hydraulic hookup. FRLDREC Frame with Receiver and Optional Spears and Pallet Forks

 

[fried1765]

IF that was always true, you all would be buying ALO forks and grapple! They cost more, so they HAVE to be better!! lol

SR

Post #63 might have been better phrased to say:..... Frequently you get what you pay for!

 

[PILOON]

Some thoughts------

Considering the lifting capacity of most CUTS are 'real' forks really needed?
Well made clamp on forks probably come close to the maximum capacity of many CUTS anyway.
Also never to forget the bucket ratings are at a specified distance from the tractor and that loaded forks are far more forward of you loaded bucket.

All to say that a 1000 capacity bucket/tractor probably should not lift more than 500 lbs on the center of 36 inch forks.

(I was a fork lift sales rep 'back then')

 

[fried1765]

My L48 TLB has "real" (EA) forks as it has 3,000 lbs lift capacity at the pins.
I have clamp on forks for my little Ford 1920, because it can only lift 800 lbs. at the pins.

 

[dnw64]

Some thoughts------

Considering the lifting capacity of most CUTS are 'real' forks really needed?
Well made clamp on forks probably come close to the maximum capacity of many CUTS anyway.
Also never to forget the bucket ratings are at a specified distance from the tractor and that loaded forks are far more forward of you loaded bucket.

All to say that a 1000 capacity bucket/tractor probably should not lift more than 500 lbs on the center of 36 inch forks.

(I was a fork lift sales rep 'back then')

You seem to be contradicting yourself.

IMO, in the CUT/SCUT range of tractors (which I understood was the subject) the less the lifting capacity of your machine the more important direct/SSQA type forks are.

OK, if you have a true AG tractor with umpteen trillion pounds lifting capacity at the pins (or anywhere), clamp-on forks will simply not have enough strength to maximize your lifting ability. However, most CUT/SCUTs will not have the ability to break a properly installed set of clamp-on forks.

Exercise*

Fact: you have 1000# capacity at the pins.

Assumption: you have 800# capacity at the front of the bucket, which is 21" from the pins.

Therefore, at a COG 24" in front of the bucket (standard pallet is 42" wide and 48" deep) you have a 500# capacity.

Or in another scenario, you have an SSQA set of pallet forks, the back of which are a generous 8" from the pins and a capacity of 950# at the back and 800# 24" out.

So the SSQA forks give you an additional 60% lifting capacity over the clamp-on forks.

*Entirely theoretical, but based on real world observations and estimated approximation. YMMV