Any Cat 0 3PH Pallet Forks Plans Available?

[HomesteadOC]

I have a 77 Satoh Beaver S370D with a Category 0 3 point hitch and I have a bunch of IBC totes floating around different areas of the homestead in places that I dont really like them. If I had a set of pallet forms for the ol beaver then my life would be easier. My welder is a millermatic 110v mig so I cant really go too think with the steel (3/16?1/4 tops), and my welding experience isnt that extensive either, but I want a welding project and I need some way to move IBC totes. How much weight could my cat 0 hitch ideally be able to lift? I have a front loader for ballast and also was bucket forks, but Ive read that the 3 point can lift more than the loader and stay driveable. I have some totes filled totally with rain water, some partially filled, and some empty. Ive seen a lot of videos on youtube for inspiration, but I want something that is size matched to my lifting capabilities. Meaning not weigh down the 3 point with a set of forks and brackets that can lift 2 tons and my 3 point can only lift 1000lbs. Im not sure how much my hitch can lift, but Im hopefully assuming it can handle 1000lbs. A gallon on water weighs around 8.6lbs so that means I can lift 178 gallons of water and stay under 1000lbs, probably closer to 160-170gal including the cage, pallet, and tank.

 

[TerryR]

TractorData.com says it will lift (at ends): 1,274 lbs

 

[HomesteadOC]

TractorData.com says it will lift (at ends): 1,274 lbs

Thats great news. Thanks for checking for me, I skimmed that page and I didnt see it apparently.

 

[Fallon]

My L3200 had a rated lift capacity of 1,200lbs & I probably exceeded that by several hundred lbs on many occasions. I topped out at 1/4 to 1/3 full on a standard (275 gal I think) IBC tote when I was doing some comparisons (my 3pt forklift mast couldn't lift more when factoring in its 600lbs & several inches worse leverage from the Quick Hitch & it got sold). I could do the math to convert that water (8lbs per gallon if i recall) to lbs, but I hate math.

So you don't have that much liquid capacity with that small machine, compared to IBC tote size. Those totes are great for storing & moving other stuff like firewood though. I use a few totes for firewood. Picked up 8 more with an inch or 2 of paint in the bottom for dirt cheap. Cut the tops off a couple & they are collecting scrap metal & crushed asluminum cans. They are really handy containers if you have pasllet forks.

 

[oldnslo]

Would using a twin spear round bale mover work? I believe you can find them pretty inexpensive and much less weight than forks. I believe that the difference between Cat 0 and Cat 1 is the pin size in the lifting links

If the link works it is an example of what I am referencing.

Titan Cat 1 3 Point Attachment w/2 43" Hay Bale Spears 3 lb Capacity Tractor | eBay

 

[K5lwq]

I changed my arms on the Beaver to Cat 1. I bought a set from tractor supply then heated and bent them for clearance. I had no issues doing that and made things a lot easier.

 

[Fallon]

Would using a twin spear round bale mover work? I believe you can find them pretty inexpensive and much less weight than forks. I believe that the difference between Cat 0 and Cat 1 is the pin size in the lifting links

If the link works it is an example of what I am referencing.

Titan Cat 1 3 Point Attachment w/2 43" Hay Bale Spears 3 lb Capacity Tractor | eBay

A carry all frame will be pretty much the same thing, only using angle or channel iron instead of spears. Something flat will carry weight a little bit better. Most of those carry all frame are rated to 1,500lbs or so. A little light for me, but plenty for a CAT 0 machine.

But most impliments are sized for CAT 1, so a CAT 0 hitch might not fit.

The Titan(palletforks.com) one has adjustable fork spacing, which can be very nice depending on how standard your pallets are.

Titan 3 point hitch Pallet Fork Attachment Category 1 tractor carryall 3PT-PF

King Kutter Carry All, Model CA | Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[HomesteadOC]

I changed my arms on the Beaver to Cat 1. I bought a set from tractor supply then heated and bent them for clearance. I had no issues doing that and made things a lot easier.

This sounds like a really great idea, or a really bad one if I dont remember my tractors capacity, lol. Cat 0 gets no love from the implement manufacturers so this is a good work around. My top link was missing when I bought the tractor so Im considering a hydraulic version to help with the fork articulation, and my lower links have a lot of play in them and can be widened quite a bit. Ill measure when I get home from work, I had a tape yesterday measuring the front loader bucket for possibly a fork attachment there as well, but I forgot about the rear. That 2 spine bale carrier looks pretty promising too, mostly the totes are empty and I want to convert one or 2 into carryalls or lighter things that can be moved around.

Heres a couple pictures, not the best, but its all I got til I get home to measure. Holes should be 7/8? What should the width of the lower arms be? How far could I comfortably spread these out? Also if anyone wants a reverser, Ill trade mine for a backhoe.


Not sure why theyre sideways, theyre rightside up on my phone and I tried rotating them sideways on my phone to be upright here, but theyre just sideways the other way instead...:confused3:

 

[HomesteadOC]

Those forks from the palletforks website are almost exactly what I want. The forks are adjustable and removeable and its an attachment that could just stay on the back after removing the forks. I just wish it had some square tubing for a hitch receiver. Also they are not in stock at the moment, so I put myself on the notification list. Maybe I could try my hand at some modification welding and just buy that one when it comes available? It seems that my lower arms will spread wide enough to hold the cat 1 implements, but the swivel eyes are not big enough. I either need to swap the pins or the eyes if they dont fit, and the arms spread wide enough.

 

[Fallon]

Why not, tractor impliments are great to learn to weld on. The failure mode for tractor impliments is pretty low risk compared to a road going vehicle. So if your weld is crap & fails you just get a divot in your driveway/yard. Much better than potentially going into oncoming traffic.