Lifting attachments with forklift - anyone install lifting points?

[ConawayFarms]

I ended up welding a couple of brackets onto the top bar so I can just slide my forks in and lift straight up-way easier now.

 

[Gordon Gould]

I use a pair of lifting straps instead of chains. It's easy to make a loop around a bar on the implement and run the loop on the other end over the fork or grapple tine.

gg

 

[bdhsfz6]

I mostly keep my implements on pallets with caster wheels. Makes it easy to move them around in the barn by hand, with the forks or a pallet jack.

For some frequently loaded implements, I keep a few of these around and cut to length. I either bolt or weld to points on the attachments:

https://www.northerntool.com/products/l-b-white-fork-pocket-forklift-extension-journeyman-360-model-500-133611-6438708?srsltid=AfmBOopuCRQfYBeaW0rCX0Jm2ie0cQt00WvLj8lQ8YbdTaeCJJTmty4Kl_4

In a pinch, I can usually find appropriate lifting points on the implements and just use a chain thrown over the forks.

 

[chim]

There are two different methods that work well. For attachments that are QA, the QA mounts are used. Others are done with the debris forks I built from bale spears. Simple matter of either running the forks under the item and scooping it up, or poking a tine or two through an open space in a frame and picking it.

The picture is the inside front of my shed and was snapped while doing the Spring Shuffle. There's a 2x2x1/4 frame that holds one implement high enough to park another one or two below. The snow plow just replaced the RFM. First the RFM was removed by sliding the forks under it and carrying it out. The 2x2 tube allows the forks to slip in under the mower.

This is how it will be until early next Winter. The FEL is only attached to the tractor when being used and gets parked approx where it is in the pic when not in use. In this picture the plow was just placed and the forks were dropped to come in for the bucket. When the snow plow is attached, the loose bucket is all the way in against the wall and that leaves enough space to park the snow plow under the 2x2 frame against the bucket. And of course, the RFM sits on top where the snow plow is now.

For other and odd things, I have a bunch of chains and a selection of slings and straps. Sometimes a sling is used instead of a chain to grab the item if scratches are a concern. A chain is normally run the the sling eyes to catch it in the lifting slots on the loader. It's handy and provides almost infinite adjustment

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Long Answer... if I have the forks on I just try to skewer something that will allow me to pick up attachment, if I have the bucket on its chains, if I have the grapple on I try to hook it with and many grapple tines as possible or chains. Short answer... no I do not have a good system.

Ideally I would have a set of pallet racks with 3 point implements on the bottom and loader implements on the second row. It's on the todo list.

 

[CalG]

The Tuf-Line 7 foot rear scrape blade I have has a lifting eye right at the balance point. I like to put on a couple of tag lines to keep it from swinging round under the lifted bucket.

Amazing hole useful a hole can be...;-)

 

[bdhsfz6]

Loading a heavy implement on a trailer or moving it around in the barn with the tractor is fine, but I'm not comfortable lifting them up high onto storage racks.

I minimize this work by keeping attachments on pallets with casters that can be moved by hand or with a pallet jack.

For high rack storage, I use a 4 post lift that can be lowered to attach implements directly to the FEL or 3pt hitch:

 

[RjCorazza]

Lots of good ideas and methods. For many years I had been storing my implements in a cargo container and shuffling them around seasonally - It was a royal pain. I put pallet racks in my pole barn last year, and store implements on pallets and fork them onto the rack. Two homemade pallets on casters are used for my snow blower and flail mower, and wheeled around as necessary.

 

[ruffdog]

I find it a pain to move my 3 point attachments for storage or loading them on a trailer etc. They normally don't have natural balanced lifting points.

Anyone come up with optional brackets fitted to the attachments that my forks could slide into. I'm sure I could fabricate something...but looking for any ideas already out there.

Something like this?

Fork mount tool carrier

3 point hitch tool carrier to move around 3 point hitch attachments category 1 to 3
Adjustable top link hook for different size of attachments
Capacity: 8000 lbs

WIFO Farm Equipment | Forks - tools carrier

 

[Sportsman762]

The challenge with a 3 point adapter on the front is that

• you have to have quick hitch compatible implements
• You have to line up perfectly with the implement
• The hook must be in the right spot
• you should get off the tractor to make sure its hooked right.

With a pallet you have more tolerance in alignment, but you must have pallet forks with you, and you might have to change to pallet forks from whatever is already on the loader.