Pallet forks - operational issue

[ratpie]

back in the early 80's i was a licensing instructor, i taught about 600 Marines a year, how to operate forklifts and terex loaders. put up a few stacks of pallets and just practice. over & over & over. make it a habit. over & over. after a few hours it will become second nature, after a few days it will become muscle memory. for safety's sake, spacial awareness is more important than knowing where the forks are going. it's the same concept as, you cannot see your tires when you are driving your truck, but you can run over a soda can. learn to be a vehicle operator and not just a driver.

p.s. that camera mod IS friggin kewl though. :thumbsup:

 

[watkincm]

Some great suggestions here, guys - thanks.
The camera approach sounds like the most effective although I may end up combining a couple of the other suggestions along with that.
How do the camera and monitor get power - or are they battery powered?

 

[PILOON]

Some great suggestions here, guys - thanks.
The camera approach sounds like the most effective although I may end up combining a couple of the other suggestions along with that.
How do the camera and monitor get power - or are they battery powered?

Generally they want 12 VDC from the tractor but they draw minuscule amperage.
Since I did not trust the built in power switch I left it in the 'ON' position and added a simple toggle switch.
My installation has seen 2 winters and operates just as well as the day I installed it. While the specs were not clear mine has not failed even to -30 deg colds.
When blowing snow I did find it kinda odd that the camera reflected yellow snow from reflections from my beacon strobe light.

 

[tractchores]

What cameras are you guys using ? Any names or links? I think I could use one for a bunch of jobs, but just want something cheap and easy VS doing a ton of research and setup work (so probably temporary only)

 

[s219]

What cameras are you guys using ? Any names or links? I think I could use one for a bunch of jobs, but just want something cheap and easy VS doing a ton of research and setup work (so probably temporary only)

They are generally all the same Chinese crap, so it doesn't matter much. Just don't overpay. Some of the name brands offer camera/screen combinations for over $100 that are identical to the $12 cameras and $25 screens you can buy piecemeal off Amazon.

 

[PILOON]

They are generally all the same Chinese crap, so it doesn't matter much. Just don't overpay. Some of the name brands offer camera/screen combinations for over $100 that are identical to the $12 cameras and $25 screens you can buy piecemeal off Amazon.

$50.00 (tops) will get the job done.
That is what I paid 2 yrs ago and still works fine, but did buy on offshore web site and waited 4-5 weeks.
My take is that they are all about the same quality with just vendors markups making the difference.
Select a vendor that has a high satisfaction rating.

 

[s219]

$50.00 (tops) will get the job done.
That is what I paid 2 yrs ago and still works fine, but did buy on offshore web site and waited 4-5 weeks.
My take is that they are all about the same quality with just vendors markups making the difference.
Select a vendor that has a high satisfaction rating.

Yeah, at the time I remember thinking for $12 it didn't matter how good the cameras were -- and the two I installed on my tractor are still doing well a couple years later. Same with the $25 screen, which has even gotten rained on a few times. If any of them crap out I'd order the same cheapo stuff again. For a tractor, they are fine. I am sure I have more invested in the wiring and install work.

 

[captjack]

Im with Ratpie - practice ! You will get it. I have a 5000 Series deere and use my forks more than the bucket. Another fix is to just build some boxes for the firewood and use 4x4 or 6x6 under them so the fork issue is no longer a big deal.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Put the back of the forks in the ground, then raise tips a few inches, then go in.

 

[Doofy]

I vote for cameras fore and aft. Very reasonably priced these days.

 

[tassmannn]

Im with Ratpie - practice ! You will get it. I have a 5000 Series deere and use my forks more than the bucket. Another fix is to just build some boxes for the firewood and use 4x4 or 6x6 under them so the fork issue is no longer a big deal.

A little off topic Captjack, but I have a similar tractor, and was wondering if you know of where to find a grading blade for the loader?

 

[DieselBound]

Put the back of the forks in the ground, then raise tips a few inches, then go in.

Yes, or... drop the tips down (with heels up) and go forward until you're at the target, drop the heels down and then slide in. One wants to have the heels slightly higher going in so that the tips are angled down a bit more to keep from snagging on the undersides of a pallet (my wood crates have metal channels in the center and I'd tend to hit those unless I pointed the tips down). This works on loose surfaces that you are OK with gouging up a bit.

I don't know about other folks, but I have next to no areas that are nice and flat. I'm forking stuff that if it is on a flat spot the tractor isn't! Fortunately the worst for me is I gouge some sod. As I'm starting to accept that I'll be gouging ground I've actually gotten better and am gouging less

I'm still waiting to do front camera V2. Need a better mount on the new camera (hint: get one that doesn't have a fixed base on it, that way you can create your own base- fixed bases are flimsy and easily trashed, after which case there's no easy way to remount).

 

[Turbys_1700]

I just ordered a back up camera for my truck off E-bay. If I am happy with the performance of it I may just go ahead and order a couple more for the Buick and Workmaster. For $20 I don't see much of a downside other than the ship time from Hong Kong.

 

[DieselBound]

I'm laughing because while they might not cost much there's still work to installing them. I just installed most of the wiring for a backup camera in my car (was installing a new stereo so I decided I'd do a rearview camera); and because I wanted to turn it on other than just when backing I decided to wire it up to a spare dash switch: need yet to pull the rear bumper to pass the wiring out. Seems I always have a stream of stuff being delivered, all of which is cool until I realize that it all means work :laughing: