Forks Should I invest in a set of Pallet Forks?

[koamfps]

If you got the cash and room to buy and store. I would in a flat second

 

[ljohnson778]

Get the forks if you can afford to drop the coin. When I was between tractors for a while, I was beside myself without my forks. You would be surprised how many opportunities come up to use them. Heck, I recently used them when I changed all four wheels and tires on the 4 wheeler. Made the job a piece of cake.

 

[SSdoxie]

I never thought I would have much use for pallet forks either. Have bale spear for the round hay bales, a carry-all to haul small squares from storage to barn, and a bucket with a grapple on it. One day early this year I got a barrel of anti-freeze from my dealer and as they were loading it in my truck with a forklift I mentioned "how I was going to unload it?". Dealer put a set of pallet forks in back of my truck with the barrel and told me to use them then bring them back on my next trip in a month or so if I wanted. Needless to say, I now own a set of pallet forks.
They work great for getting plywood up on the roof, hauling firewood out with load on the front (and back with the carry-all), and make a great scaffolding to pick apples from with an empty pallet on them. Much better than standing in the bucket, they give you more room to move plus room for the apple basket.

 

[SDiver40]

I'm loving mine. Makes moving stuff a breeze

 

[avc8130]

I'd rather have pallet forks than a bucket.

 

[Beltzington]

I'd rather have pallet forks than a bucket.

Agreed - Very seldom do I use my bucket. Sell your grapple and buy some forks spend your savings on beer. I have moved some huge brush piles and logs with my forks.

 

[JerryK]

If you have ever done any construction or millwright type work, you will know how handy a forklift truck can be for manhandling stuff. And, the ability to buy stuff on a pallet... and being able to unload the pallets out of the back of your truck... It's about as 'no brainer' of a usefull tractor attachment that you can get ....

 

[Turbys_1700]

Probably the most useful attachment to your tractor other than the FEL...
I bought a set of clamp on forks for my Stoll FC 350 and they have been really handy...
I did not see the need for a complete set of pallet forks due to my pin on bucket and the lower lift capacity of my loader...
Get the forks...
You will really like them...

 

[Missouri Pioneer]

My most useful (front) attachment is my grapple. I also use my bucket to move gravel from the creek.

Having said that, this spring I need to buy some forks for the sole purpose of lifting a big deer stand onto a platform atop some 10' tall poles. Since it only weighs about 1,000 pounds, I'm going to buy the cheaper "clamp on to the bucket" type forks.

 

[93Mustang]

I have both and they each have a place. I started with a set of pallet forks for brush work but purchased a grapple and never looked back. Night and day for ease of use when picking up brush and logs. By far my most used implement. This being said, i use the pallet forks for all kinds of odd jobs from a platform to install lightbulbs in the lampposts along my driveway to changing the oil on my portable generator (lift and tilt forward is super handy). If you can swing both, you won't be sorry.

 

[dstig1]

I have forks and a grapple. I got the forks first at the recommendation of the dealer as "they are great for handling brush". Well, they are so-so (at best) for handling brush, but not great. Getting the grapple was the best thing I ever did - for my needs around the property. Now for around the house, you can grab a lot of things with the grapple, but there are plenty of things you cannot or will not want to do that to. Heck I pick up my forks with the grapple to move them around... I wouldn't do that to a drum/sack of something or washer/dryer...

Assuming you have the SSQA, then you can just watch CL for someone selling forks, but will need to move fast on those. I think I paid $600 new for mine, and they are rated 2x or more of what the loader can handle while still only weighing 370-400lbs.

 

[JoeBuyer]

A set of forks is fine for picking up a pile of brush, but a grapple is the way to go for grubbing out brush, roots and all. Apples and oranges here. Buy both.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

I agree forks are handy WHEN needed.

Piling burn piles and when building/roofing our low end chain on forks pay for themselves over and over. Not ideal but about only option with a non removable bucket. Getting that pallet of concrete blocks off the truck/trailer with the FEL makes the back feel smart.

 

[sparc]

How did you convert them to your 3pt? And you can still use them on your FEL?

I recently got a set with SSQA on my FEL and have thought about how handy they would be to put on my 3pt from time-to-time for other tasks.

I would like to know the answer to that question also.

I have a set of forks I picked up for a good price that I use on my SS.

I'd like to either modify them so I can hook them up to my quick hitch on the tractor.
or have some type of adapter to get from 3 point to SSQA if there is a such a thing.

I like to be able to use them on the tractor so that I don't have to drop the bucket off
the Bobcat to move one pallet then drop the forks and hook up the bucket again.
Wit the QA it does nto take that long but just the same if I could adapt them for a reasonable
price I'd do it.

 

[Baby Grand]

I would like to know the answer to that question also.

I have a set of forks I picked up for a good price that I use on my SS.

I'd like to either modify them so I can hook them up to my quick hitch on the tractor.
or have some type of adapter to get from 3 point to SSQA if there is a such a thing.


I like to be able to use them on the tractor so that I don't have to drop the bucket off
the Bobcat to move one pallet then drop the forks and hook up the bucket again.
Wit the QA it does nto take that long but just the same if I could adapt them for a reasonable
price I'd do it.

I have the same ambition, sparc.
Never did get them fit to my FEL, so they only work on the 3PH. For now, that is.
My plan is to cut the brackets off of the bucket and make a sort-of-Deere style QA hook & pin-on mechanism.
Not wanting to highjack this thread any more, I'll start a new one and add a link to it ... here:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=266276&p=3107569#post3107569

 

[JoeBuyer]

I bought the attachment at the very bottom of page 15 of the first link so I could use SSQA devices on 3pt. You need a hydraulic top link to angle the attachment to hook up to the bucket/forks/ whatever.

http://www.preseeder.com/PDF/AttachProductList2010.pdf
http://www.everythingattachments.co...iversal-Quick-Attach-Adapter-p/ati-qa-3pt.htm

 

[xring100]

Yes buy Pallet forks they are a very valuable tool. If you have them you will invent ways to put them to good use. 48" is a good length

For your MX5100 here is an idea what you can expect for lifting capacity
LOADER OPERATIONAL SPECIFICATIONS LA844
(U) Lift Capacity (Bucket pivot pin, max height)
Standard 2443 lbs. (1108 kg)
(V) Lift Capacity (500 mm forward, max height
Standard 1852 lbs. (840 kg)
(X) Lift Capacity (500 mm forward 19.7" , 1500 mm height 59")
Standard 2478 lbs. (1124 kg)


You should be able to lift around a 2000 lb pallet depending on size of pallet out of a semi truck This is a pretty respectable amount, remember you also have to factor in the weight of the forks. To full height you could probably lift a 1200 - 1400 lb pallet.

Some ideas

I also use them like a divot puller to pop small stumps out of the ground after push them over with the bucket

 

[Mighty Dodge]

Should you get pallet forks?.. uh yeah!.. handier than a pocket on a shirt! Lots of uses.

James K0UA

Absolutely! Mine stay on 90%of the time. Just just used them yesterday to lift some large logs up to the splitter. The other day I set them close together and dug up a bunch of azaleas....the list goes on.

 

[Mighty Dodge]

Should you get pallet forks?.. uh yeah!.. handier than a pocket on a shirt! Lots of uses.

James K0UA

Absolutely! Mine stay on 90%of the time. Just just used them yesterday to lift some large logs up to the splitter. The other day I set them close together and dug up a bunch of azaleas....the list goes on.

 

[yelbike]

Absolutely! Mine stay on 90%of the time. Just just used them yesterday to lift some large logs up to the splitter. The other day I set them close together and dug up a bunch of azaleas....the list goes on.

Mine would be on more than my bucket if I didn't half to share them between both tractors.