Over the bucket forks

[bdog]

I am looking at putting some forks on my backhoe. It is a full size backhoe and does not have a skid steer style quick attach bucket.

I was looking at something like these. I have never used any like this before. They say they are super easy to hook up the forks just sit on the ground and you drive under them with the bucket tilted forward and then curl back to hook them. Do the reverse to unhook. You never have to leave the seat.

They do stick out in front of the bucket so I would lose some lifting capacity vs forks that replace the bucket but my loader is rated to lift 7,419 lb at full height so moving forward some isn't going to hurt me too much I don't think.

Anyone have experience with them?

 

[mshumack]

We had two sets at the municipality I worked at, one for Cat950 and the another on a Cat416. They do a good job, are easy to attach/remove, and we never had a failure or problem with them. As long as you know, and don't exceed, the capacity of the forks/FEL you should not have any problems.
The weak link would be the welds for the brackets to bucket. IMO, have a certified welder install the brackets.

 

[boggen]

my first gut reaction when looking at picture is..... the cutting edge of bucket going to get bent up in no time. or rather one good "smack" and time to deal with messed up cutting edge on bucket.

ratchet / bolt on forks. they slip right over bottom edge of bucket. little more work taking them on/off but.... *shrugs* normally just a handful of bolts overall.
--there some that slide into bucket, and then bolt in at the sides of the bucket as well.

with extra brackets, plus each fork (looking at picture)... while you might not have quick attach. if you have concrete / pavement were you can set both bucket and forks down. you might consider just taking off bucket and swapping to forks. and more to the point if you could make a couple dollys for both bucket and forks. so if need to you can push/pull them some what to align things up to make it easier to deal with. dolly = some caster wheels and some 2x4's slapped together.

 

[mshumack]

I never saw any bucket edge damage in the 10+ years I worked with them. We moved a lot of pallets of sod and concrete barricades and such. You shouldn't be ramming anything. I would not trust the clamp on forks as much as this type.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

I have never seen clamp on forks for a backhoe. I have seen alot of contractor using the ones like the picture.

 

[fried1765]

bdog:
I have had a set of the forks that hook on, as you describe, for 25 years.
I have a 1970 Ford 3400, and my normal loader capacity is 2000 lbs.
I can only lift 1000 lbs with the forks way out there, but I LOVE THEM.
I have a factory set of forks to install instead of the bucket (2000 lbs. lift) but I have NEVER used them!
WAY too much trouble/effort to change from bucket to forks, to bucket to forks etc.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND the type forks you are considering.
They make life EASY !!!

 

[caver]

I've been kicking the idea around of getting some for my Case 580K. I have QA forks for my Kioti DK40 but the hoe can lift twice as much. Seems like used ones go for close to new and you still have to buy the weld-on hooks or have some fabricated. I've had some logs that my Kioti could barely get on the saw mill and I will be building a cabin soon. Big heavy supplies would have to be unloaded up at the highway if it's on a tractor trailer.

Here's some links from what I've found.

Bucket Forks, Backhoe Forks, Over the Bucket Forks | All-Pro Forks
Over The Bucket Pallet Forks | Titan Attachments™
Over-The-Bucket Forks | Forks | Star Industries
Haugen Attachments
Premium Steel Bucket Forks - Arrow Material Handling Products
http://www.rocklandmfg.com/index.php?page=loader-bucket-forks

 

[Henro]

I have clamp on forks for my bucket.

The problem is you have difficulty seeing the fork tips because the bucket blocks your view. What you are considering would have the same issue.

Still they do work...

 

[stuckmotor]

It doesn't appear that you'll have down pressure with the tips of the forks, but you have a backhoe for that kind of thing.

 

[RjCorazza]

I have the same sticker as your avatar on my old caving helmet! I forget where I got it, but I always thought it was someone's home brew design.
I quit caving years ago, but still have all of my stuff. We did mostly small private caves in the NE United States. How about you?