Pallet forks - operational issue

4570Man · Nov 17, 2017

You could buy a skid steer and then you can see the forks. I stand up on my tractor and I can see the forks on it.

Yooper75 · Nov 17, 2017

I have the same problem when I have the forks on my 2305 but the easy solution is to just slide them in so you can see the forks from the operators seat.

PILOON · Nov 17, 2017

sixdogs said:
This is pretty smart and sounds like the only answer. Can you tell more about this? Is it just temporarily sticking a camera up front and running wires to a monitor on the dash? How effective is this and does it eliminate fork disasters or just prevent some of them? Where did you get the camera and monitor?

EDIT---PILOON--Cancel above request. I just did a search on remote cameras and the posts were so overwhelming and convincing that I just ordered the $50 camera and monitor from Amazon. This will solve any loader problems. Thanks for the tip.

LOL, welcome!

DieselBound · Nov 17, 2017

sixdogs said:
This is pretty smart and sounds like the only answer. Can you tell more about this? Is it just temporarily sticking a camera up front and running wires to a monitor on the dash? How effective is this and does it eliminate fork disasters or just prevent some of them? Where did you get the camera and monitor?

EDIT---PILOON--Cancel above request. I just did a search on remote cameras and the posts were so overwhelming and convincing that I just ordered the $50 camera and monitor from Amazon. This will solve any loader problems. Thanks for the tip.

Watch out for knocking the camera around on the front: probably best to keep it only for pallet work- I was having fun watching myself blitz brush/debris and, um, the camera itself

I've got a new camera, one that has a detachable mount; I'll look to fabricate a mount that will either handle shock or will be easy to replicate. The original camera had a mixed mount that broke. I had it attached to a super magnet: these are great, as you can move it around yet it doesn't like to move very easily.

One operational note regarding cameras is that it's still tough to get a full view of what's going on, unless, that is, you're willing to mount the camera on the pallet forks (otherwise if it's on the tractor you're likely going to have obstruction by the pallet forks frame, if not some part of the loader.

On my B7800 I'd just stand up to see. Not sure if I can do that in my NX's cab.

sixdogs · Nov 17, 2017

I only pick up a few pallets a year that I'm worried about. Running a fork through bags of fertilizer or trying to pick up a big rock or tree is what will work for me.

s219 · Nov 17, 2017

I welded up a camera frame/housing that magnets to the back of my bucket. Makes it real easy to aim my clamp-on forks.

sixdogs · Nov 17, 2017

s219 said:
I welded up a camera frame/housing that magnets to the back of my bucket. Makes it real easy to aim my clamp-on forks.

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That is brilliant.

Cameras are a wonderful thing in the right situation. They can take some unbearable task and make it bearable and even pleasant.

s219 · Nov 17, 2017

sixdogs said:
That is brilliant.

Cameras are a wonderful thing in the right situation. They can take some unbearable task and make it bearable and even pleasant.

Yeah, and it's amazing you can get this stuff so cheap now. I think I spent about $25 for the screen and $10-12 for each camera (also have one on the ROPS aiming rearward). Even if I break something it will be cheap enough to replace.

shui5612 · Nov 18, 2017

I have cameras set up and they help assuming you place them well...

I'm surprised no ones mentioned this so far but how about fork extensions or simply longer forks?

I couldn't see my 42inch forks when they were down but I got a set of 6footers and see the tips fine now...

Then again not every tractor can handle that..

Even if the forks are longer you don't have to lift at the tip.. just align and drive in...

Hope this helps