quick attach frame to hold forks. what size material should I use?

[sniper695]

I just pick up a set of forks off craiglist, I want to make a frame for them that will work with my tractors quick attach system on the FEL. my question is what size and thickness of metal do I need, I was planning on making a rectangular frame witha lip on the top and bottom to hold the forks. what size tubing or c channel should I use? for the frame, how wide should the "lip material be? I plan on making it as thick as possible but still fit in the fork lift notch. would 2-3 inches be enough? I am going to weld it to the frame the whole distance. something like this picture

 

[M5farms]

when I built mine I used 3X3 tubing 3/8??? I think. I welded a 1/2" square rod on the outside edge on the top and used 3/8" channel on the bottom. I have had no issues and have extreme pressure and loads on it

 

[sniper695]

I hadn't thought of using channel that way, would it work for top and bottom to use channel and have the forks groove run into the channel? or would channel not be strong enough?

 

[M5farms]

if its thick enough it will be fine. I will take a pic of an actual forklift frame in a few minutes and post it.

 

[M5farms]

 

[M5farms]

Here is mine.
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[sniper695]

thank you, that is almost exactly what I am thinking of building, looks pretty easy. is there anyway to figure out if channel on the top would work? seems like that would make it very simple, channel top and bottom, tube or more channel for the sides.

 

[M5farms]

look at your channel and measure the height of the lip. then measure the depth of the "hook" on the forks. you want the fork to rest in the channel. You may have to cut the height down and might have to add some flat bar inside the lip to achieve the correct thickness

 

[sniper695]

thats what I was thinking, I have not bought the metal yet, I was going to call the metal place and see what they have. I f I go with the channel I will either trim the front down or add metal in the valley to support the lip.

 

[ishiboo]

If you have to buy the metal anyway, I would use >=3/8 flat bar over the tube for the lips. You can easily notch it out just as the professionals do it. Sufficient channel otherwise for the load is going to be very thin at the top.