DIY SSQA forks?

[paulsharvey]

I have been in the market for SSQA forks for a while, just not much less (generally more) used, then available from importers new. So, I have bolt on bucket forks (maybe $90?), and I though, Vevor sells SSQA blank plates for cheap ($121), why not cut the bolt on part off, and weld the bolt on forks to the SSQA plate? Just placed the order for the plate.

So, with that, im not going to be able to shift the forks side to side; they will be fixed in position. Should I just set them permanently at 48" OC?

 

[TMGT]

Depends on what you're picking up, standard pallet openings are a lot narrower than 48 on a 4way.

Also you would have to add something to make the mount wider as 48 is wider than the ssqa plate.

What thickness plate did you get? Depending on how much weight you're picking up you might want to add some reinforcements.

Sent from my SM-S921U using TractorByNet mobile app

 

[404nouser]

I would think closer to 36" OC.
But you can take a tape measure and measure the pallets you are aiming for.
IBC totes have outer base dimensions of 40x48.

 

[airbiscuit]

My pallet forks are 25 1/2" on center. You must be very good welder!

 

[paulsharvey]

Depends on what you're picking up, standard pallet openings are a lot narrower than 48 on a 4way.

Also you would have to add something to make the mount wider as 48 is wider than the ssqa plate.

What thickness plate did you get? Depending on how much weight you're picking up you might want to add some reinforcements.

Sent from my SM-S921U using TractorByNet mobile app

I got the 3/8" ssqa plate.

As mentioned, actually, I must have had a brain fart, as yes, 48" is too wide, it would have to be no more than 42" Outside to Outside

Honestly, I lift very few pallets, its mostly a general use, lifting logs, scrap metal, unloading bulky items, ect, but i do need to take some measurements, ive got 3 or 4 plastic pallets, all identical, that are handy for putting generator, welder, air compressor, ect on

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Unless you are an experienced welder with the RIGHT rods and equipment, I wouldn't want to be anywhere near anything you are lifting with that setup!!

SR

 

[paulsharvey]

Unless you are an experienced welder with the RIGHT rods and equipment, I wouldn't want to be anywhere near anything you are lifting with that setup!!

SR

Yeah yeah, I expected some of that. Its a zero risk thing. Let's say a weld breaks, what, I drop some wood or scrap metal, and reweld it. It's not a crane, im not dropping a wall on a crew.

I kinda see it as, I have the forks, and the ssqa plate was $121. Even if it doesnt work, just reattach the clamps to the forks, and use the plate for something else.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

You expected it, because it's true!

SR

 

[airbiscuit]

I lucked out. When I bought my Titan forks (before Covid, and Tariffs), they were $251 with free shipping

 

[4570Man]

Unless you are an experienced welder with the RIGHT rods and equipment, I wouldn't want to be anywhere near anything you are lifting with that setup!!

SR

I welded this set a couple years ago and I’ve lifted 1 ton loads with those forks. If you weld all the way up the back of the fork like I did it should be a non issue. Thats more load than the bolt of forks that are probably just tubes are going to withstand.

 

[EscapedSuburbia]

I see used SSQA forks on Facebook Marketplace all the time. A bit more expensive than the adapter you bought but close enough that I wouldn't cobble my own together. Fixed fork width would be very limiting.

 

[paulsharvey]

I see used SSQA forks on Facebook Marketplace all the time. A bit more expensive than the adapter you bought but close enough that I wouldn't cobble my own together. Fixed fork width would be very limiting.

See, I would think that, but in my area, its rare to see them under $750-1000, used and very used. When import ones are $650-800...

 

[paulsharvey]

View attachment 5173182

I lucked out. When I bought my Titan forks (before Covid, and Tariffs), they were $251 with free shipping

This is basically what im building, its just I already had the forks.

 

[jwmorris]

I kind of did that but I used their hay spikes (because I most often move hay). They will withstand higher loads than the tractor I use them on can pick up. I bought the 1/2" blank.

I did add hooks so I could strap "forked" loads.

Makes it easy to get a fridge up on the porch though. Or set something in the back of a truck (past the tailgate) without having to slide it, like has to be done with a regular fork lift.

To set my spacing I went around and measured pallets I had and picked a spacing that would enter all of them.

They were "abused" before I got a grapple and seem to be stronger than that little L3240 can ruin.

 

[chim]

Another vote for bale spears.

Pallets or loads that require specific fork spacing have not been a requirement for me in the 35 years since we built here. The two sets of forks I built were mostly for brush and picking up and carrying assorted "stuff".

I'm a hobbyist and have used a Millermatic 175 (some deride them as "glue guns") for most everything I made until just a couple years ago when the Everlast 200STi came along. 90%+ of the welding done with the MM175 was with flux core because of welding outdoors. There's always some wind here.

The L3200 had a pin-on bucket, so those forks mounted to the bucket. The chains on the front were only for getting the forks mounted. With the forks on the ground, the bucket was put into the dump position, chains were dropped into the slots. Then the bucket was curled and the bucket edge went into the "receiver" on the forks. Actual fastening of the forks was an unseen binder on the back side.

The L4240 forks are made from 5 bale spears. These have been abused. While working on a tree trunk I did have one rear wheel lift off the ground and the forks are still OK.

In the one picture below there's a 10' piece of 3" EMT on one tine so it could reach over the creek to catch a piece of a tree trunk. The EMT was slipped on and two chains were run to the slotted angle on the fork frame. When the trunk let loose the EMT was shock-loaded enough to shove it back onto a gusset that curled it open like an old Spam can. That helped allow enough of a change in the setup to bend the tine down quite a bit. If you look closely you can see the tips of the four unused tines are maybe 10" higher than the one inside the conduit. When the load was removed the tine went right back where it belonged.

 

[paulsharvey]

I like the bale spear idea, and once the plate comes in, I am thinking of having multiple "pockets", two or maybe four for the forks, and then some for bale spears.

maybe 2" hitch too, but i also dont want a bunch of extra protrusions that get snagged on stuff either.

 

[nyone]

Clamp on forks are essentially just C channel. Why jut just buy another piece of channel and weld them on the SSQA? This way you can still have the clamp on forks of you need them.

 

[paulsharvey]

Clamp on forks are essentially just C channel. Why jut just buy another piece of channel and weld them on the SSQA? This way you can still have the clamp on forks of you need them.

My clamp ons are fully boxed, and rated for 2000 lbs.

Also, buying 2"x3"×3/16" tube, isnt cheap. Looks like $108 for 96". Basically, I can't buy the steel for the forks (or the ssqa plate), for the price I can buy the finished item for.

 

[paulsharvey]

Clamp on forks are essentially just C channel. Why jut just buy another piece of channel and weld them on the SSQA? This way you can still have the clamp on forks of you need them.

My clamp ons are fully boxed, and rated for 2000 lbs.

Also, buying 2"x3"×3/16" tube, isnt cheap. Looks like $108 for 96". Basically, I can't buy the steel for the forks (or the ssqa plate), for the price I can buy the finished item for.

 

[airbiscuit]

Please post pics of the build