Vigo327
Platinum Member
Remember the weight capacity is how much they can hold.. of something ideally, properly loaded with the weight distributed as it would be on a pallet. That doesn't account for all the 'off-label' uses forks get put through, like picking things up farther out at the tips, or with more of the weight on one fork than the other, or PRYING under rocks/dirt
etc etc. I think that's why buying forks rated MUCH higher than your lift capacity is necessary, not overkill. Also keep in mind most loaders have greater bucket curl force than lift capacity and you can use bucket curl to overwork the forks too.
I dont think most small tractors could bend most 'real forks' other than with misuse, but buying forks of higher capacity is buying you 'fudge factor' of not damaging them with occasional misuse.
In terms of using pallet forks on a 3pt, without a power top link it might be difficult to use them for anything other than pallets due to how tedious it would be to change angle for the initial 'stab'. One thing you might consider if you have a manual top link is moving the tractor end down to a lower hole so that while the pallet forks are level on the ground, they tilt up as you raise the 3 pt. That will help your carried load not want to 'migrate' away from the tractor as you hit bumps etc while underway.
etc etc. I think that's why buying forks rated MUCH higher than your lift capacity is necessary, not overkill. Also keep in mind most loaders have greater bucket curl force than lift capacity and you can use bucket curl to overwork the forks too.I dont think most small tractors could bend most 'real forks' other than with misuse, but buying forks of higher capacity is buying you 'fudge factor' of not damaging them with occasional misuse.
In terms of using pallet forks on a 3pt, without a power top link it might be difficult to use them for anything other than pallets due to how tedious it would be to change angle for the initial 'stab'. One thing you might consider if you have a manual top link is moving the tractor end down to a lower hole so that while the pallet forks are level on the ground, they tilt up as you raise the 3 pt. That will help your carried load not want to 'migrate' away from the tractor as you hit bumps etc while underway.
