Bucket attached pallet forks

[beowulf]

I have a Woods PF17 quick attach pallet fork attachment. Very useful. However, from time to time when I have the bucket on I just need to move something that is a bit too inconvenient for the due to length or whatever, e.g., a couple of RR ties or a log, some light brush/bushes. I can always switch out the bucket for the pallet forks, but I think I would like to be able to just attach a couple of those bucket clamp-on forks for those quick tasks rather than take off the bucket, then attach the pallet fork attachment, do the job with the forks and then take it off and replace the bucket.

I am looking for an easier way to do this and thus I am thinking that it would be really nice to have a set of the clamp on bucket pallet forks at the ready. The least expensive set is available (1500 lb capacity) for about $100 including shipping, others a bit more. I am still poking around. So, anyway, I am inclined to buy a set. Any recommendations, experiences with these, suggestions on which type, caveats?

This would be for only occasional use and I would be careful not to become too adventurous - and I will sort of know when I should use the full pallet fork attachment.

 

[johncanfield]

I bought clamp-on forks for my now sold Kubota that didn't have a loader quick attach. They were okay but I needed the chain around the bucket to lift anything heavy. Too much hassle.

 

[Tompet]

I had clamp on with one tractor...didn't like them. I modified them with a small plate so clamps wouldn't dent bucket, and the handles so they could clamp towards outside of bucket. Anyway, they would shift or move position, kind of awkward, had less carrying capacity and weren't much faster to the experience of now switching out bucket with Q/A.

I now have the Kubota proprietary Q/A bracket, which allowed a matching set of forks (Kubota added regular SS universal q/a brackets to more models since). A second tractor has universal SS bracket and bucket with another set of forks. These are really fast to switch out from bucket compared to Kubota proprietary q/a system.

So if you have SS universal type quick attach, my advice is stick with it. But hey, if you can get a set delivered for around $100. (never saw a set that cheap) it might be worth it to satisfy your curiosity...as your results may vary!

 

[fried1765]

I have a Woods PF17 quick attach pallet fork attachment. Very useful. However, from time to time when I have the bucket on I just need to move something that is a bit too inconvenient for the due to length or whatever, e.g., a couple of RR ties or a log, some light brush/bushes. I can always switch out the bucket for the pallet forks, but I think I would like to be able to just attach a couple of those bucket clamp-on forks for those quick tasks rather than take off the bucket, then attach the pallet fork attachment, do the job with the forks and then take it off and replace the bucket.

I am looking for an easier way to do this and thus I am thinking that it would be really nice to have a set of the clamp on bucket pallet forks at the ready. The least expensive set is available (1500 lb capacity) for about $100 including shipping, others a bit more. I am still poking around. So, anyway, I am inclined to buy a set. Any recommendations, experiences with these, suggestions on which type, caveats?

This would be for only occasional use and I would be careful not to become too adventurous - and I will sort of know when I should use the full pallet fork attachment.

You would love what I have, but I do not have a picture.
I will try to describe it.
I found a pair of used forks from an old fork lift.
A local farm welding shop fabricated the rig.
Each fork has a 4" long piece of steel pipe welded across the top ("L"shaped forks)
Then the forks are slid on a piece of round solid stock (2"?), and end caps welded on the round stock.
Now you have the round stock with the two forks free to slide on it.
Lastly the shop fabricated (flame or plasma cut) two large open hooks from 3/4" steel, and welded them to the top of my bucket.
All I do is drive up to the forks with the bar across them, curl my bucket, so the big hooks will be under the solid bar, and lift.
The back bottom of the forks rest against the bucket edge.
I never have to get out of the seat to do anything with this.
When I want the forks off, I just set the bucket down, roll the bucket forward, to disengage the big hooks, and back away.
My loader is good for 2000 lbs. but because the forks are on the front of the bucket I can only pick up 1000 lbs that way.
Works for me!
Wish I could send you a picture, but I am FAR away from the tractor.

 

[Peter 315]

I think Fried1765 means something that looks like thisDrive-in Bucket Forks 48"x48" - Gentec Equipment

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I have a set of clamp on forks for my bucket. They're "ok" for light duty stuff. The biggest drawback is they will rotate right to left if you put any side pressure on them. That can be either from moving the loader sideways at all, or picking up an irregular shaped object that causes the forks to flex, or tips to spread out, as you lift the object up.

Another clamp on tool I like are the R2 Edge Tamers. You can then add the Edge Extenders to those, and carry things like fence posts, logs, pipes, lumber, etc. Very handy to have as well. And it's nice to be able to scrape the driveway, or lawn without picking up gravel or tearing up the grass.

R2 Manufacturing - Home Of The Edge Tamer

I still use my clamp forks occasionally, but I think I'll also get a set of quick attach forks as well.

 

[beowulf]

So if you have SS universal type quick attach, my advice is stick with it. But hey, if you can get a set delivered for around $100. (never saw a set that cheap) it might be worth it to satisfy your curiosity...as your results may vary!

This is what I found re the cheapest cost for clamp ons (tho shipping has gone from $15 to $30 in the interim if I recall my search from yesterday correctly:

15lbs Capacity Clamp on Pallet Forks HD Loaders Bucket Skidsteer Tractor Chain | eBay

But, a link sent by Slowpoke Slim shows a pair of edge extenders that would also work out. I have to find out what weight they can handle though and compare costs. Or, it may be that I may decide to stay with my quick attach forks. ... decisions, decisions. . . Thanks for responding.

 

[CincyFlyer]

I have a Woods PF17 quick attach pallet fork attachment. Very useful. However, from time to time when I have the bucket on I just need to move something that is a bit too inconvenient for the due to length or whatever, e.g., a couple of RR ties or a log, some light brush/bushes. I can always switch out the bucket for the pallet forks, but I think I would like to be able to just attach a couple of those bucket clamp-on forks for those quick tasks rather than take off the bucket, then attach the pallet fork attachment, do the job with the forks and then take it off and replace the bucket.

I am looking for an easier way to do this and thus I am thinking that it would be really nice to have a set of the clamp on bucket pallet forks at the ready. The least expensive set is available (1500 lb capacity) for about $100 including shipping, others a bit more. I am still poking around. So, anyway, I am inclined to buy a set. Any recommendations, experiences with these, suggestions on which type, caveats?

This would be for only occasional use and I would be careful not to become too adventurous - and I will sort of know when I should use the full pallet fork attachment.

I switch implements sometimes a dozen times in a day. It takes less time to swap my bucket for the quick-attach pallet forks than to get the clamp-on forks attached and secured.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I believe the weight on the R2's is only 300 lbs.

 

[beowulf]

I have a set of clamp on forks for my bucket. They're "ok" for light duty stuff. The biggest drawback is they will rotate right to left if you put any side pressure on them. That can be either from moving the loader sideways at all, or picking up an irregular shaped object that causes the forks to flex, or tips to spread out, as you lift the object up.

Another clamp on tool I like are the R2 Edge Tamers. You can then add the Edge Extenders to those, and carry things like fence posts, logs, pipes, lumber, etc. Very handy to have as well. And it's nice to be able to scrape the driveway, or lawn without picking up gravel or tearing up the grass.

R2 Manufacturing - Home Of The Edge Tamer

I still use my clamp forks occasionally, but I think I'll also get a set of quick attach forks as well.

Thanks for the info. I see that some of the clamp on forks come with a stabilizing bar of sorts so that might prevent the left to right turning - though would likely also mean more work to put the clamp on forks on (and coming closer to the time it would take to use the quick attach pallet fork attachment) and because the length of the stabilizing bar is not great you could not space the forks that wide so hauling things like RR ties or long posts would require some balancing.

I like the edge tamer idea - looked at your link. Wonder how much weight they could handle. . . e.g., a couple of RR ties? I also see that I could put a piece of plywood or trimmed cattle panel on those and haul a bit more brush when that need arose. Cost for these would be $45 x 2 for the two required edge trimmers plus $15 x 2 for the necessary edge extenders plus shipping so approaches cost for the clamp ons including a stabilizing bar.