Homemade Pallet Forks

[skidsteer.ca]

Originally Posted by Rio_Grande

Lastly If you are near southeastern Indiana I have a distributor that sells brand new 48" pallet forks (real ones like you use on a forklift) for 150.00 a set (that is 2)




Do you have contact info/email?
Ken

 

[Rio_Grande]

I have had several requests on this. I am not sure how manny sets he has or can get. I do know there is a limited quantity.

The company who has them is Stone's Farm Equiptment their contact info is 921 East Main Street

Greensburg, IN 47240

(812) 663-3787

They were great to deal with. I got my entire set of forks with backing plate and qa ready to go for around 500. I have heard the price went up to 550 with the newest shipment. He buys them several pallets at a time.

As for the forks. They were priced to me for 150 a pair. HE had 42" in stock and said he could get them in 46 or 48 I can't remember.
I hope this helps you guys out.

The cheapest ready to go pallet forks I could find with a QA were 650 but i needed 4000lb forks.

Jeff

 

[Mighty Dodge]

I bought these at a consignment sale for $85. The pins, hooks and re-enforcing straps were around $63 from JD. The channel was bought at an estate sale. I figure all together they cost around $160.

 

[jmc]

I live up by bloomington and I'd be interested in learning more of the $500 pallet fork attachment. Right now it's a toss up getting a FEL grapple or Pallet fork attachment. I'd still have to spend about $200 to get a quick attach bracket from koyker. I need to get one and take it to a weld shop to see if they can make em cheaper.. I'm sure they probably can.

You can post here or send me a private message.

Wedge

Hi Wedge,

I'm from Bloomington too. About 2 months ago I bought a pair of 42 inch forks from the metal salvage place on Rogers St. (BIM?) for $75. They are slightly weathered but appear to have never been used and all they need is some lube on the spring loaded lock pins. They had about 5 identical pairs left at that time. I was going to make a frame but Markham Welding sells frames separately (even though its not shown on their web site) for $200 each plus $105 shipping. Others here report that Markhams' products are top notch. She said they are 16 inches vertically between the mounting rails. The grooves on the forks measure 16 3/8" so the frame and forks are probably compatible. Anyway, its a long shot but if this solution interests you, shipping two frames probably wouldn't be much more that one frame...

John

 

[MrJimi]

Has anyone clicked on the sites at the top of this thread? I found this one
http://www.forkliftpartssupply.com/home.aspx?Page=FORKS&Type=FK&gclid=CNzjg7eY25ACFTgrOAodiUvBXw

Jim

 

[GinNB]

$182 for 42" didn't seem too bad until I read "sold per each", meaning $365/pair without frame. Then again, the QA pair with rear safety frame I got for my M9000 was about $1400.

Been thinking about a 3pt hitch forklift setup though, and I've got a spare frame sitting in my junkpile that I could add 3pt pins to. Mebbe I should call the local used forklift ripoff artists and see how cheap I can get some used forks?

 

[Rio_Grande]

Our local scrapyards want 150 for the good ones and 75 for broken ones. Too expensive and most were much heavier than I need.

 

[wedge40]

Hi Wedge,

I'm from Bloomington too. About 2 months ago I bought a pair of 42 inch forks from the metal salvage place on Rogers St. (BIM?) for $75. They are slightly weathered but appear to have never been used and all they need is some lube on the spring loaded lock pins. They had about 5 identical pairs left at that time. I was going to make a frame but Markham Welding sells frames separately (even though its not shown on their web site) for $200 each plus $105 shipping. Others here report that Markhams' products are top notch. She said they are 16 inches vertically between the mounting rails. The grooves on the forks measure 16 3/8" so the frame and forks are probably compatible. Anyway, its a long shot but if this solution interests you, shipping two frames probably wouldn't be much more that one frame...

John

Didn't know BIM was still in business. I usually go to JB salvage.. I haven't really looked for any of these, since I'm in the middle of getting a backhoe working on my tractor. I'd probably work with you and getting a QA from Markham, but if you look at the attached photo I happen to have a what appears to be a proprietary type attachment. I called Koyker in December an was quoted about $180 including shipping cost. I'd like order two of these. One to use on the Pallet frame or what ever, and another to have around in case I need more. I like to take one of QAs to a weld shop and see what they would charge to weld one up.

 

[wedge40]

Didn't know BIM was still in business. I usually go to JB salvage.. I haven't really looked for any of these, since I'm in the middle of getting a backhoe working on my tractor. I'd probably work with you and getting a QA from Markham, but if you look at the attached photo I happen to have a what appears to be a proprietary type attachment. I called Koyker in December an was quoted about $180 including shipping cost. I'd like order two of these. One to use on the Pallet frame or what ever, and another to have around in case I need more. I like to take one of QAs to a weld shop and see what they would charge to weld one up.

My bad.. I just read your message closer, any you're talking about the frame that the forks hook to not the QA frame.
That would make about $600 QA pallet fork. Not bad. Let me mull it over and keep me posted to what you decide.

I'm actually not in Bloomington proper, but I live out by Lake Lemon.

Wedge

 

[MrJimi]

I recently bought a set of real pallet forks to use on my boom pole to be able to lift higher and if they aren't too heavy they will work. They are 42" long and 4" wide and have the fork backing plate with them and are the ( lift a lever and flip down ) to adjust the width
wish me luck with them
Jim

 

[jmc]

Didn't know BIM was still in business. I usually go to JB salvage.. I haven't really looked for any of these, since I'm in the middle of getting a backhoe working on my tractor. I'd probably work with you and getting a QA from Markham, but if you look at the attached photo I happen to have a what appears to be a proprietary type attachment. I called Koyker in December an was quoted about $180 including shipping cost. I'd like order two of these. One to use on the Pallet frame or what ever, and another to have around in case I need more. I like to take one of QAs to a weld shop and see what they would charge to weld one up.

Wedge,

I'll end up with a skidsteer QA fork setup for $75+200+105=$380. That salvage yard had one pair left yesterday, FWIW. Have you considered buying an aftermarket SS adapter to fit on your loader? It might payoff with resale value and/or being able to use your implements on your next tractor.

John

 

[wedge40]

Wedge,

I'll end up with a skidsteer QA fork setup for $75+200+105=$380. That salvage yard had one pair left yesterday, FWIW. Have you considered buying an aftermarket SS adapter to fit on your loader? It might payoff with resale value and/or being able to use your implements on your next tractor.

John

That's pretty cheap for the skidsteer QA fork.
Yes I have thought of converting the loader to SS type. It's just that I'd have to then convert the loader bucket to SS. I guess I need to sit down and figure out how many other implements I might want to attach to the loader.
You're right about the resale value.

Right now I'm more interested in getting thing ready to clear some of my property and start working on barn/shed.

Wedge

 

[RedDirt]

I'm picking up the steel to make mine tomorrow. I'm using 2x4 3/16 wall and thats for a BX24 that will lift less than yours. The size of yours is too small in my opinion...why not go with the bigger stuff? Cost and weight isn't that much more to be safe. Weight of the 2x4x3/16 is 3 lbs more a foot than the 1.5x3x.120< note my spec sheet doesn't show .125 as being "standard". Or if you really want 1.5x3 the 3/16 wall only adds 1.5 lbs a foot....
20' stick of 2x4x3/16 is $105 locally.

I did the same and bought 2x4x3/16. 12' cost me $69. For some odd reason 1 1/2 x 3 x 3/16 was almost as much at $66. Anyway, I got the steel home and put it in the shop next to the bx23. The 2x4x3/16 sure seems way overkill and I'm rethinking going smaller. Don't we have a structural engineer on board that can do a quick calculation and let us know if a pair of 1 1/2 x 3 x 1/8" x 36" forks would lift 400 pounds? A lot will depend on the strength of the "L" joint. I'll reinforce mine with the detail I posted previously, an internal gusset.

 

[Skyco]

Where you place the L joint is dependent on how strong it needs to be...I stole an idea pictured here by alchemysa-http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/build-yourself/78852d1181640663-forks-my-fel-forks1-.jpg
from this thread-http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/102060-forks-my-fel.html
Just like alchemysa, my L joint is at the back of the bucket so all forces at the joint are up and inline no bending moment so it doesn't need to be real strong. If your L is at the edge of the bucket then yes it has to be very strong.
My thanks to alchemysa

Overkill using 2x4x3/16?....probably, but then I'm not surprised at the most inopportune moment

I also had another reason- a piece of 2x4 lumber will slip inside the metal fork to extend it for light duty use. I have plans to order a large 1000-1500 gallon poly water tank, doesn't weigh a whole lot, about 200 lbs but is very bulky and nowhere to grab it getting it off the truck, and I certainly can't lift that by myself, so my wooden extensions will be perfect