Clamp on or stand alone pallet forks ?

[Jmsmithy]

Hi folks

I have a maple farm in upstate NY. Takes a lot of wood (10-20 cords) to boil sap and produce our syrup. I make up 4'x4' pallet boxes and load them with wood so I can pick up approx 1/2 cord at a time w/ my DK40SE HST and drop it next to my evaporator.

My question - do I want clamp on forks to my bucket or a separate set of quick attach pallet forks?

Pros and cons of each ?? :confused3:

Thx for the help !

 

[ksbrdmkr]

I use set of quick attach pallet forks more than the bucket. I think changing from bucket to forks is quicker with the quick attach on the loader than changing out the individual forks on a bucket, no tools needed and stronger.

 

[k0ua]

Get a good set of SSQA pallet forks, Much better. You can see so much better, they place the load much closer to your pins so you can pick up much more, and they don't stick out so dang far that you bang in to everything.. There is no comparison, I have owned both.

 

[northcreek2624]

Hi folks

I have a maple farm in upstate NY. Takes a lot of wood (10-20 cords) to boil sap and produce our syrup. I make up 4'x4' pallet boxes and load them with wood so I can pick up approx 1/2 cord at a time w/ my DK40SE HST and drop it next to my evaporator.

My question - do I want clamp on forks to my bucket or a separate set of quick attach pallet forks?

Pros and cons of each ?? :confused3:

Thx for the help !

I fabricated a mount for forks on my bucket with the intent of moving pallets of firewood with my DK40. I soon found out that the forks end up being too far ahead and the leverage thing comes into play and lifting capacity is diminished significantly. I subsequently changed my procedure for moving wood without fork assist.
I would recommend the quick attach route for max lifting ability....Mike.

 

[motownbrowne]

Smithy, I am in the same position, looking for a better way to move wood to the evaporator. I settled on ssqa forks because of the improved visibility and greater capacity versus clamp on forks. Are you on mapletrader.com? What kind of rig do you run?

 

[Jmsmithy]

Smithy, I am in the same position, looking for a better way to move wood to the evaporator. I settled on ssqa forks because of the improved visibility and greater capacity versus clamp on forks. Are you on mapletrader.com? What kind of rig do you run?

Yes sir, same handle....new Leader 2x6 patriot w/ ao, deep flue, hood etc etc...need tractor to move all the wood. Built 16x20 Sugarhouse (should be finished in next two weeks) w/ 12x20 attached woodshed and 8' doors so I can pick up pallet w/ forks, place it down next to evaporator door...beats carrying arm loads every 10-15 mins 12 hours per day!!

 

[motownbrowne]

...beats carrying arm loads every 10-15 mins 12 hours per day!!

No kidding, I cooked 29 gallons in one day last year on my 2x10, burned a cord in about 16 hours, it gets to be a lot of work. I pump my sap into my head tank with a bicycle powered pump, so it becomes a constant battle to keep the arch full of wood, the tank full of sap, the buckets from running over, and the syrup from burning. Of course I wouldn't trade that particular set of problems for anything. Dschulz aka Danny on the trader wore a pedometer one day and told me he walked eleven miles in a day cooking sap. Of course he's running a 4x14 intensofire. All I know is that my new tractor will change everything this year. I hope yours is a big help too.

 

[Jmsmithy]

It's our first year going commercial and my Kioti is what's allowed me to even consider it! Now I've got to buy a QA pallet fork set :cool2:

 

[Jmsmithy]

What about 48" as opposed to 42"???

Does the shorter fork give you better "lift"? Would I need the 48" for what I'm doing??

 

[k0ua]

What about 48" as opposed to 42"???

Does the shorter fork give you better "lift"? Would I need the 48" for what I'm doing??

Either will work, pro and con to both.. the 48 you can see over your hood a bit better. con is they stick out further, and you are more liable to run into somthing with them. the 42 is short, easier to manuever, but depending on how your tractor is built, you may not be able to see the tips as well because they are shorter. I have 42, and am satisfied with the length. Lots of guys have the 48 and are satisfied with the length. It is a personal thing!