Forks Pallet fork?

GSS · Aug 19, 2003

Anyone have an idea what a used Woods quick attach pallet fork might go for?

Also, what other uses besides lifting and moving pallets and other heavy items have you used or seen them used for? I've seen quite a few posts and pics of guys digging out stumps with them. Do they truly work better than a bucket with digging bar?

Just getting some info for a possible trade for my finish mower. Oh, and need to convince the wife too! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Thanks.

- Gerald

Spencer · Aug 19, 2003

Gerald, I paid $750 for my 48" long 3000 pound rated quick attach forks. I would have loved to find a used set but I came up empty.

In case you or anyone else missed my stump removal projects with my forks here are a couple of shameless plugs:

NH TC33D vs. Stump

Unbelievable?

AndyMA · Aug 19, 2003

The Woods Quick Atach forks I have cost $850 new. Unless they are bent up, they do not depreciate much. Maybe 20%

Andy

monkeybreath · Aug 20, 2003

For the Woods PF17 forks - a basic utility set I think, I paid $550 - but they have not yet arrived - an issue that is bothersome for me because I can't move things I need to move before I can start doing the next task with post hole digger. This was a price quoted for the forks, but bought them at same time I bought the tractor and other implements.

GSS · Aug 20, 2003

Turns out they are not Woods forks, but Construction Attachment pallet forks. Any idea on their quality, etc?

Thanks!

- Gerald

Spencer · Aug 20, 2003

Gerald, the forks I have are by Construction Attachments . I think they are great, I have put them through quite a lot and have not had any problems. I would highly recommend them. Mine are the model CAL-48.

I have attached a picture of my forks off the tractor.

monkeybreath · Aug 20, 2003

By the way, regarding choosing pallet forks, if a FEL can only handle a certain amount of weight, it would not seem to make any sense to get pallet forks which had a weight rating far above that limit ? It would seem it might be a waste of money to go too far above the FEL rating - but being new to this I may be missing something.

Spencer · Aug 20, 2003

Ron, you are correct if you are only going to lift pallets with the forks. My FEL only has a lift rating of 800-900 pounds and these forks weigh in at a little over 400 pounds (which cuts my lift capacity dramatically). There are times that I would prefer to have some lighter duty forks for when I only want to lift something heavy up in the air. The reason I got these heavy duty forks was because both my dealer and I knew that most of my work with these forks would be for chores other than lifting pallets (ripping out stumps,etc.)

If you go up and read the two threads I posted earlier about stumps you will see the kind of forces I have applied to these forks using leverage. I wouldn't want anything lighter duty for those kinds of chores. Also the lighter duty forks use tubing instead of forged forks. That makes the forks much thicker so it is not as easy to get under items to pick them up.

monkeybreath · Aug 20, 2003

At the time I ordered the pallet forks I only had in mind lifting and moving material - fence posts, rr ties, and so on - I never even thought they could be used for stumps. . . Also, I assume you subtract the bucket weight from the pallet fork weight to get what "lift" you have left with the FEL ? or, I guess, I don't know this either, does the FEL lift rating include the weight of the bucket or in addition to it ?

MLB · Aug 21, 2003

I've got a pair that came with my tractor and Woods implements I bought last year as a package deal. Never used them. WHat do you think they're worth?
1012 FEL

Spencer · Aug 21, 2003

( I assume you subtract the bucket weight from the pallet fork weight to get what "lift" you have left with the FEL ? or, I guess, I don't know this either, does the FEL lift rating include the weight of the bucket or in addition to it ? )

The FEL lift rating should include the weight of the bucket that comes standard with the FEL. Im addition to upgrading to the heavy duty bucket I also had to put a Kasco Uni-Hitch adapter on my FEL to get the quick attach function. Some FEL's come with the quick attach function as standard equipment so in those cases you could just subtract the bucket weight and then add in the pallet fork weight. In my case I would have to subtract the standard bucket weight, add in the weight of the heavy duty bucket, add in the weight of the Kasco Uni-Hitch, and then factor in the distance that I am moving my pivot point further out. I haven't done all that calculating, I'm just happy to have the quick attach feature. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Here's a picture of my Kasco Uni-Hitch

GSS · Aug 22, 2003

Those are the ones. He sent me a pic. We think they are the CAL-42's though from his measurements. He didn't buy them, but got them from the previous tractor owner.

He won the auction for my 72" finish mower and we agreed to include the forks in the deal. I agreed to knock off $400 from the mower price in exchange for the forks. Seems reasonable.

Thanks for the help guys.

- Gerald

monkeybreath · Aug 22, 2003

Spencer, you are really helping out with my learing curve. Another question or two ? The Woods PF17 forks info site states that for the PF 17 pallet forks the SAE load rating capacity is up to 1700 lbs, states that the skid steer size range is 1000 to 1700 lbs, and also states that the fork capacity- at 24" - is 1875 each. I am confused by these comments. What does it all mean to a guy who just wants to move some stuff around from time to time. By the way the fork dimensions are one and a half x 4 x 46" - solid material.

DavidJ · Aug 22, 2003

I'm not Spencer but here's my take.

 also states that the fork capacity- at 24" - is 1875 each 

This is what you're looking for, it means that you can place 1875 lbs 24" from the back of the fork.

Phred · Aug 22, 2003

Most quick attach setups will work with bobcat attachment.
I have the NH version on my 32LA. So I bought a bale spike and forks from the local bobcat dealer. Cheaper than NH.

The forks are AMH brand, for ~$600. Most tractors will have trouble breaking these. The heavist item I tried to lift was a ~4000 lb sissor lift. Since the FEL is rated to ~3800 lbs I could not complety pick it up, but by running the forks into the lifts fork slots I was able to pickup the back end and shove it around. The limitation was the light back end on my 70hp tractor, even with a ~1100 lbs of three point ballast, not the forks.
AMH is a quality product.

Fred

GeneD14 · Aug 22, 2003

I have used mine for all types of project: moving railroad ties, I-beams, digging out big rocks, putting up a tree house, moving around other implements, and of course skids.

Hoeman00 · Aug 23, 2003

Monkey,
SAE load rating capacity is up to 1700 lbs, states that the skid steer size range is 1000 to 1700 lbs.
SSL are SAE rated at 1/3 to 1/2 of the tipping point.
So a 1700# SSL could lift 4000# in the perfect situation.
On most machines the forks weigh less than the bucket so u actually gain in the net amount u can lift.
The forks are sized for the true capacity of the machines.