Forks Pallet forks - opinions on size

[dustinfox]

My first impulse is that I should get 48" pallet forks since that is the standard size of a pallet. But would a 42" set work just as well? Maybe I could save some money? I'll probably be using it to lift hay as well as other misc things into a loft. Also, miscellaneous lifting jobs around the property. Anyone have experienc in this? Do you wish you had got a different size?

Thanks.

 

[Birdhunter1]

My forks are 36" long on a 50 hp 2wd tractor, I've yet to find I needed forks longer to get anything done. A stack of plywood 48" wide still isn't a problem, you have 3/4 of the width of the sheet on your forks.

As for lifting hay it isn't advised on a pallet fork system, there is nothing to keep the bale rolling back when you lift it up, a spear is what is needed for this. A spear can be easily adapted to fit onto a pallet fork frame and along with the forks can be used safely to lift haybales into a loft.

 

[TripleR]

I bought a set of 48" to use on our M8540 and L5030, if it was just for the 5030, I would have gotten the 42".

 

[dustinfox]

My forks are 36" long on a 50 hp 2wd tractor, I've yet to find I needed forks longer to get anything done. A stack of plywood 48" wide still isn't a problem, you have 3/4 of the width of the sheet on your forks.

As for lifting hay it isn't advised on a pallet fork system, there is nothing to keep the bale rolling back when you lift it up, a spear is what is needed for this. A spear can be easily adapted to fit onto a pallet fork frame and along with the forks can be used safely to lift haybales into a loft.

Thanks Birdhunter. The forks I am looking at are from Titan above and will come with hay spears.

 

[dustinfox]

I bought a set of 48" to use on our M8540 and L5030, if it was just for the 5030, I would have gotten the 42".

I have a Kioti CK35... Not sure if that make a difference.

 

[JoelT]

I'd say get the 48" for the extra reach if nothing else. I unload plywood off of my flatbed and I can't always get fully under the load but with 4' forks I don't have any problems.

 

[IslandTractor]

I'd get the shorter and lighter forks. A CK35 has lift capacity of about 1150lbs at pivot pins. The forks set will weigh at least 200-300lbs with frame. That leaves you only about 800lbs lift capacity to full height at the pivot pins. Your load on forks will be at least two feet forward of the pivot pins so figure max actual lifted load of about 500-600lbs if you mount a full size set of forks and frame. No reason to have heavier duty or larger forks than you can really use as it will just decrease your net lift capacity. As others have noted, if you can get 3/4 of a pallet on your forks it is reasonably stable and you'll be able to lift more than if you have heavier longer forks. I owned a CK20 with lift capacity of 1070lbs. I bought a full size set of forks and found it useless because I just couldn't lift big loads that would have required the 48 inch or even 42 inch reach. Sold it to a guy with a skidsteer.

Full size forks and frame make sense if your loader capacity is in the 1600lb plus range but for smaller loaders it is actually worse to have full size forks. Rule of thumb (which I just made up): Don't buy forks rated for more than twice your max lift capacity. Waste of money and worse performance than lighter duty versions.

 

[magicheater]

I'd get the shorter and lighter forks. A CK35 has lift capacity of about 1150lbs at pivot pins. The forks set will weigh at least 200-300lbs with frame. That leaves you only about 800lbs lift capacity to full height at the pivot pins. Your load on forks will be at least two feet forward of the pivot pins so figure max actual lifted load of about 500-600lbs if you mount a full size set of forks and frame. No reason to have heavier duty or larger forks than you can really use as it will just decrease your net lift capacity. As others have noted, if you can get 3/4 of a pallet on your forks it is reasonably stable and you'll be able to lift more than if you have heavier longer forks. I owned a CK20 with lift capacity of 1070lbs. I bought a full size set of forks and found it useless because I just couldn't lift big loads that would have required the 48 inch or even 42 inch reach. Sold it to a guy with a skidsteer.

Full size forks and frame make sense if your loader capacity is in the 1600lb plus range but for smaller loaders it is actually worse to have full size forks. Rule of thumb (which I just made up): Don't buy forks rated for more than twice your max lift capacity. Waste of money and worse performance than lighter duty versions.

I would have to agree, The forks I use weigh 110#. The loader is an LA402. The pallet full of pavers (5 rows of 20) in the photos weighed 850#. I weighed a brick to calculate, 8.5# a piece. I put them out to the end of the forks as a test. It did begin to stall as I got more than 5' off the ground but for what I was doing it was fine. That just told me I was near the limit of my loader. I don't dig with my forks as they are designed to lift. I have PLENTY of other stuff that does that.

 

[IslandTractor]

I would have to agree, The forks I use weigh 110#. The loader is an LA402. The pallet full of pavers (5 rows of 20) in the photos weighed 850#. I weighed a brick to calculate, 8.5# a piece. I put them out to the end of the forks as a test. It did begin to stall as I got more than 5' off the ground but for what I was doing it was fine. That just told me I was near the limit of my loader. I don't dig with my forks as they are designed to lift. I have PLENTY of other stuff that does that.

Those are IMHO very appropriately sized and built forks for something like a Kioti CK35 or smaller tractor like anything in the Kubota B series etc. Much superior to bucket clamp ons too.

Folks need to be realistic about what you are going to be able to lift and size the implement accordingly regardless of any latent skidsteer envy. Even the 50hp CUTs do not really lift as much as a typical skidsteer for which the heavier duty 48 inch forks are designed.

 

[WM75Guy]

I have the Landpride 48" on my TC40DA. One nice thing about the longer reach is I load 2 pallets on my 20' trailer and push them up over the axles so the load is balanced. After unloading the first I can reach in and lift up the end of the second pallet and drag it back till I can get the forks in alll the way. I have a line marked on the trailer floor where to stop the pallet so I can reach it. If I need to I can put the pallet jack on the trailer to get them to the back, if I have more than 2 pallets.