Buying Advice Homeowner Forklift

[WI-citizen]

I'm very nervous that will be the style of machine I end of purchasing without the convenience of going indoors. I'll have to park it outside with a lovely tarp and bungy cords around the mast when not in use. lol

 

[bdhsfz6]

I looked at forklifts for quite a few years and eventually decided they are a one trick pony that cost a lot and take up too much storage space.

Instead, I bought a set of forks for the FEL on my Kubota. I can unload a 2K# pallet, which suits my needs. I carry the pallet over rough ground and set it on the concrete floor of the barn. From there, I use a powered pallet jack to place the pallet where I want. Total investment $2.2K

TORY CARRIER 3300 lbs. 24-Volt/20Ah Lithium Battery Electric Pallet Jack Walkie Truck w/ 48 in. x 27 in. Fork Size 3 in. Fork Lowered A-1034 - The Home Depot

Effortlessly reach the high attic area in your home with the selection of this APOLLOLIFT 2-Lithium Battery Electric Pallet Jack Walkie Truck w Fork Size Fork Lowered.

www.homedepot.com

I was a bit skeptical about the relatively cheap price but I bought it from Home Depot so I could return it if it didn't work out. Well the thing is great! It moves a 3K# pallet around with ease over some less than smooth concrete. It stores under a pallet as do the FEL forks, so both take up minimal storage space. There is also one less engine to maintain and the equipment is new, not potentially someone else's headache.

The only thing it won't do is stack pallets. To do that, I use the FEL forks and have to keep the stacks where they can be reached with the tractor. Some stacks, that aren't too heavy, can be moved with the pallet jack to a spot where I can reach them with the tractor forks.

My needs are a bit different than yours though, so this idea may not work for you.

 

[WI-citizen]

I've looked at these also, but it won't lift high enough to stack indoors. I'm still stuck between the forklift vs skidsteer with a seven foot garage door.

 

[paulsharvey]

I've looked at these also, but it won't lift high enough to stack indoors. I'm still stuck between the forklift vs skidsteer with a seven foot garage door.

Not that specific model, but there are kinda half way between machines; that can lift like 48", if that will stack what you need. I do think they are more money than you want to spend.

This one only does 2200# though, and I can't imagine trying to use it on anything other than concrete or maybe asphalt.

This one from Northern Tool seems like it would fit the bill, bit for the price, I'd get a Nissian/Toyota propane lift.

I found this on Ebay, used too.

 

[WI-citizen]

Not that specific model, but there are kinda half way between machines; that can lift like 48", if that will stack what you need. I do think they are more money than you want to spend.

This one only does 2200# though, and I can't imagine trying to use it on anything other than concrete or maybe asphalt.

This one from Northern Tool seems like it would fit the bill, bit for the price, I'd get a Nissian/Toyota propane lift.

I found this on Ebay, used too.View attachment 2105535View attachment 2105536View attachment 2105537View attachment 2105538

I haven't looked into the standup options yet. I do prefer LP instead of electric though.

 

[flyerdan]

I just went out and measured my mast, it is 85.5" from the ground to the top, just a shade over 7'. It won't fit inside my shop, but it did fit inside a neighbor's garage when we moved a piece of equipment in. He now has a Clark with a three stage mast that is lower than the rops so it will easily fit inside. Mine lives under a lean to roof that I added to the side of the shop for covered storage, if you get a fork that is a bit too tall I'm sure you'll do something similar vs. tarping all the time.

 

[RayIN]

I'm very nervous that will be the style of machine I end of purchasing without the convenience of going indoors. I'll have to park it outside with a lovely tarp and bungy cords around the mast when not in use. lol

Check out the specs for a Massey Ferguson 2500 forklift: Massey Ferguson 2500 Forklift: In-Depth Technical Specifications
Its height is 96"/7'. By tilting the mast back/forward as far as it will go it should go under a 7' header. Is your concrete floor poured to withstand the weight?

Then there is the auction websites if you're into auctions: Pardon Our Interruption

 

[WI-citizen]

If it tilts that far that would be great!

The 1994 DEERE 482C will probably go over $10k.

 

[RayIN]

If it tilts that far that would be great!

The 1994 DEERE 482C will probably go over $10k.

That's the thing with auctions. You must determine your limit before you arrive, and not get caught up in the bidding. I've seen old welders sell for more than a new one at farm auctions.

 

[WI-citizen]

That's the thing with auctions. You must determine your limit before you arrive, and not get caught up in the bidding. I've seen old welders sell for more than a new one at farm auctions.

I've been on both ends of that.

I'll probably avoid auctions for something this high of hours though.

 

[paulsharvey]

Check out the specs for a Massey Ferguson 2500 forklift: Massey Ferguson 2500 Forklift: In-Depth Technical Specifications
Its height is 96"/7'. By tilting the mast back/forward as far as it will go it should go under a 7' header. Is your concrete floor poured to withstand the weight?

Then there is the auction websites if you're into auctions: Pardon Our Interruption

Tilting it will probably buy you a few months until you forget, and rip the door header down...

 

[zzvyb6]

Can you rent one for a month to see if it does the job ? Around here you can rent by the day.

 

[4570Man]

Can you rent one for a month to see if it does the job ? Around here you can rent by the day.

It would take almost the entire purchase budget the op has to rent one for a month.

 

[WI-citizen]

Can you rent one for a month to see if it does the job ? Around here you can rent by the day.

Usually need it now when it's needed. I have no calendar or renting would be an option.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Attachments

• 
  Westendorf 3PH fork lift.jpg

  6 MB · Views: 319

This is a low-cost used three-point hitch forklift that I picked up. It was a long drive and the guy said if I'd make the drive I could have it for $350 and I also paid $150 for a very heavy hydraulic top link bar. The seller had used it in a seed business for unloading semis and putting the pallets in a barn.

Our tractor in the picture is a 265 Massey Ferguson with weighted wheels on the rear.

At the time we purchased it, I think the manufacturer is located in Iowa I think was still in business and the unit around about $2,000. I best I remember.

 

[WI-citizen]

Attachments

• 
  Westendorf 3PH fork lift.jpg

  6 MB · Views: 319

This is a low-cost used three-point hitch forklift that I picked up. It was a long drive and the guy said if I'd make the drive I could have it for $350 and I also paid $150 for a very heavy hydraulic top link bar. The seller had used it in a seed business for unloading semis and putting the pallets in a barn.

Our tractor in the picture is a 265 Massey Ferguson with weighted wheels on the rear.

At the time we purchased it, I think the manufacturer is located in Iowa I think was still in business and the unit around about $2,000. I best I remember.

I've looked at these but I would need a much larger tractor than a JD 1025R. Also, it wouldn't fit through a seven foot door. If I already owned a big enough tractor I would have owned this attachment a long time ago.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

I've looked at these but I would need a much larger tractor than a JD 1025R. Also, it wouldn't fit through a seven foot door. If I already owned a big enough tractor I would have owned this attachment a long time ago.

These kind of solutions are inherently dangerous without question. That photo was to show Max height but I would not want to move anything other than on concrete. Just enough to get clear of the truck bed then let it go back down to the foot or so off the ground.

 

[mikester]

Have a lot of hours on a forklift, but not quite as many as you, although my weeks were usually 50-60 hours long. I also never had much use for the side shifter, because once you "learn" how to do it without side shift, using a side shifter is just another lever that you don't need. If you never learned to do without side shift, it makes it impossible to work without one.
Another "old school versus new era" ways of doing things.
David from jax

I have 18 feet clearance under my eaves and have 16 foot high pallet racks I use for storing implements etc. Side shift is a must have in my books as well as an auto tranny when sticking 2,000lbs pallets of stuff on a rack shelf 16 feet off the ground.

I could make do without side shift and use a manual tranny but why would I want to when I can get these features on a machine for about the same price?

I have powered fork spreaders on my TLB and those are a handy feature handy too. Side shift is a must-have in my books for working indoors in tight areas with a forklift and using pallet racks for optimizing storage space. Not an important feature on my TLB.

 

[Sid Post]

Right, 5000 pound lift capacity. It may be more than you need but a pallet of cement or block is more than 3k pounds. Anyway it's worked good for me. It's a name I can always get parts for ( we did brakes and axle seals last year). It fits in the container or barn. There are as others have mentioned lots of options out there.

A pallet of sacked concrete is ~#3300 pounds where I live. All I know is a 3400lb rated lift forklift wouldn't lift it off the bed of a pickup so, I had to hand unload a big portion of it.

The other thing I learned is that rated lift capacity ASSUMES optimal lift conditions. It is also generally specified at modest lift heights as well as being close to the mast. READ THE LIFT SPECIFICATIONS CLOSELY!

You not only want an over-rate lift capacity for general stability reasons but, to also lift heavy loads high or out on the ends of the fork tines.

 

[Sid Post]

Something like this rough terrain Massey Ferguson?

https://www.equipmenttrader.com/listing/1968-MASSEY-FERGUSON-MF-2500-5028026011#sid=943437

About 40 years ago I had a rough terrain forklift with a Dodge slant-6 engine. It was a good machine for outdoor work.

Machines like those are a godsend on a farm!