Using a tractor as a Fork lift

[arcteryx]

I am not sure where this goes, so please move as necessary.

Would a tractor make a good fork lift? Does a PTO have more lift capacity than putting some tongs on a FEL? I am actively looking for a tractor, but need a forklift too, something that can lift 1500-2500 pounds.

Thanks.

 

[moored4]

You can use either end of a tractor for fork lift type attachments. FEL and the 3PH. The 3ph will be able to lift heaver loads but the FEL will lift them higher!

 

[arcteryx]

Thanks. How high can a 3PH lift roughly? I am looking for tractors in the 18-30 hp range. I would need probably 2 feet.

 

[LD1]

Thanks. How high can a 3PH lift roughly? I am looking for tractors in the 18-30 hp range. I would need probably 2 feet.

2 ft is probabally doable But you need to be at least 30HP or bigger to lift 1500-2500lbs on the back. And at that, it must be a HEAVY 30HP.

30HP tractors come in a wide variety from small 1500lb tractors up to 3500lb tractors. And you need to be in the larger 3500lb tractor range to be able to lift 2500lbs. And even then, you will need weight out front.

18-25HP tractor, forget it. Maybe 500lbs MAX with pallet forks on the bucket and probabally not more than 1000lbs out back. SCUT's are just too small for what you want.

What are you lifting anyway?????

 

[CurlyDave]

I have a 43 HP TLB and with a fork attachment on the FEL (not clamp-on or chain-on forks, a drop the bucket and put the forks on attachment) I can lift ~2500 lbs.

This does not make my machine into fork lift by a long shot.

By exercising a lot of care, most of the time I can get the forks properly into a pallet, and I can usually place the pallet where I want it. A lot of times the forks scrape the ground or the pallet. This is because the forks can be tipped up or down to a much greater extent than a real fork lift can.

For general fork lift work, nothing beats a real fork lift. For occasional fork lift work, a tractor makes a handy and low cost substitute if you already have the tractor, but it is not ever going to be a real fork lift.

 

[arcteryx]

thanks for the replies. I have a small dismantling business I do on the side, so once in a while I need to move/ship an engine/tranny or axles. The 2500 pounds is the upper limit, but most of the time it would be under 1500.

 

[Zebrafive]

Have you considered getting a forklift mast and adding 3pt hitch brackets then using it's lift cylinder (plugged into your hydraulics)?

 

[arcteryx]

Can you give me a link of a manufacturer or a pic of one?

 

[BruceWard]

I believe the suggestion was to get a scrap forklift mast, weld up a 3 point mount for it then attach it to your tractors hydraulics.

 

[bcp]

Can you give me a link of a manufacturer or a pic of one?

Scroll down to see some:

Forklifts :: Edwards Equipment Company

Bruce