SSQA Pallet Fork Options?

[cold1313]

What do you guys recommend for pallet forks? My loader will lift over 2,000lbs, I am looking to be able to pick up a pallet of wood pellets out of the back of my truck.

When they load them for me, they have to set it on the truck bed and usually back up and pick up the rear to keep pushing the pallet forward to get it to the middle of the bed. So i was wondering what length forks to look at, so that I am able to do the reverse - pick up the pallet and pull it out. Or maybe I will have to sling it and pull it towards the tailgate.

Recommendations?

 

[goeduck]

How heavy is the pallet of pellets?

 

[cold1313]

2,000lbs

 

[goeduck]

Palletforks.com which is Titan makes the 42” ones that I have. They are a good value and you need SSQA but if you are near your load limit I would be worried that you could not get the pallet lifted given the center of load is a 1/2 pallet+ forward of your pins. Also, the forks themselves will weigh a few hundred pounds depending on the model decreasing your capacity.

 

[Redlands Okie]

If bet you can get enough lift to slide it out. Question would be what happens when it comes out. Make sure you have enough weight for counter balance on the rear. Also keep a eye on not bending your tailgate when the last of the pallet comes off. Might be best to just slide the tailgate off first when unloading if its not to hard to pull off. Then lower the pallet to move around. Just not to low. The tractor may not be able to pick it back up again but still be able to hold the pallet up and move it around. Just take it slow so as not to stress anything if your pushing the tractors limits.

 

[4570Man]

Unless you have a different tractor than the Kubota 3200 you aren't going to lift a ton.

 

[DieselBound]

Palletforks.com which is Titan makes the 42 ones that I have. They are a good value and you need SSQA but if you are near your load limit I would be worried that you could not get the pallet lifted given the center of load is a 1/2 pallet+ forward of your pins. Also, the forks themselves will weigh a few hundred pounds depending on the model decreasing your capacity.

Yup. That weight is shifted out and makes a HUGE difference. I can lift 2,000+ lbs fairly easily with my NX5510 on my grapple, but if I had 2,000 in a pallet I'd have to question whether it would do it. Also keep in mind that as you really start loading that front end that your steering is going to start to be difficult (and do NOT try any of this on soft ground! - I speak with authority!:laughing.

 

[4570Man]

Yup. That weight is shifted out and makes a HUGE difference. I can lift 2,000+ lbs fairly easily with my NX5510 on my grapple, but if I had 2,000 in a pallet I'd have to question whether it would do it. Also keep in mind that as you really start loading that front end that your steering is going to start to be difficult (and do NOT try any of this on soft ground! - I speak with authority!:laughing.

And unless the intended result is a catapult dragging a ton pallet off the truck with a L3200 is a terrible idea.

 

[cold1313]

It's a new truck so the tailgate is a PITA to remove. Backup cameras etc.

I'd be using an MX5800 w/ wheel weights and a cutter on the back for counter balance. Given the weight, I want to make sure the forks are quality.

 

[4570Man]

That's definitely more inline for the job. I'd recommend 4000 pound forks. I've got a set of 2000 pound forks, and while they'd probably do the job they're too light. I'd still be afraid your machine isn't big enough. Unloading 1200 pound pallets is all my L3240 ( 400 pounds weaker loader than yours) is good for.

 

[DieselBound]

LA1065 is spec'd at 1691lbs to full lift at 500mm. 2275lbs at the pins. Yeah, you're not going to go full lift, but you're also carrying weight out further than the pins, and further out than 500mm.

My Kioti's KL6010 is spec'd 2761lbs at the pins, and I'm not sure that it would be able to readily lift 2,000lbs on pallet forks (2,000lbs + forks is going to be at least 2,300 lbs [my forks are 320 lbs).

Anyone looking to do a lot of pallet work with lots of weight might consider a rear forklift (examples here TRANS-FORK looks like it's spec'd to match your needs).

 

[cold1313]

@ 40lbs a bag, it wouldn't take much to lower the weight enough to lift. Curious how much it will lift.

 

[goeduck]

I don’t use pellets but I assume they come in bags on a pallet. You would not be the first if you asked for a partial pallet. Maybe somewhere in the 1200 lb range.

 

[cold1313]

this is probably 2 -3 pallets a year btw.

I get a ton at a time and then hand carry the bags. I figured with this, I could pick the majority of the weight and set it down where I need it. Especially if I'm trying to unload 2 tons on a Saturday or something.

 

[cold1313]

What about the fork lengths?

 

[DieselBound]

What happens with the pallets after you have the pallets on the tractor, what kind of maneuvers do you have to do?

Maybe build ramps and use 3pt pallet forks with a hydraulic top link?

As far as trying to grab the pallet to pull it back toward the tailgate where you can then fork it, look into a set of pallet pullers (I bought something similar to this).

 

[cold1313]

For only doing 2 - 3 pallets a year, just picking off my truck, backing up and turning into the garage to set it down, it's not worth the investment.

 

[DieselBound]

For only doing 2 - 3 pallets a year, just picking off my truck, backing up and turning into the garage to set it down, it's not worth the investment.

Yeah, been in nearly this exact same situation (same outcome).

 

[cold1313]

If I had a pallet on the ground, how much weight does it look like this thing will lift?

 

[Fallon]

And unless the intended result is a catapult dragging a ton pallet off the truck with a L3200 is a terrible idea.

"1,200lbs" big square bales on my L3200 were sketchy as ****. Could only lift em on top of another bale if I got a light one. Had the rotary cutter on with 300lbs of crap on the back of the cutter & it was still sketchy. Probably 1,400lbs with the bales & forks. They were wider & skinnier than a pallet so better leverage too, a pallet will stick forward more further increasing bad leverage.

My Titan pallet forks have been good though. Rdn off with the L3200 & got a new pair for the L4060 (1,800lbs capacity on the loader).