What is the best way to add pallet forks to my L3710? No quick attach.

[Gasifier]

From reading your posts it doesn't seem that money is much of a limiting factor so why not get them all?

In my case money is always limiting, so I went with simple rear pallet forks I bought years ago from Agri-Supply for about $150 and a set of front clamp-ons w/stabilizer bar I just got from Palletforks.com for about $240.

And I can swap them between my tractors with ease.

Oh contrare! :laughing: Is that how you spell that? :laughing: Money is always a limiting factor. With four kids, a house, two dogs, money is always a limiting factor! I did not think the clamp on palletsforks were very good. You are saying otherwise. Do they loosen up? You apparently trust them with no problem if you are lifting a ton out of the back of your truck. I have thought about rear pallet forks but I would not be able to get into as many places and work with other things as well without the reach of the arms out in front. I guess there are advantages for both. I could go with the 3 point and figure out how to go with a cylinder for top link. I am up in the air between chains for the tires I would like or pallet forks I would like. Front or rear. Right now my budget is about $500 max.

 

[Notforhire]

Oh contrare! :laughing: Is that how you spell that? :laughing: Money is always a limiting factor. With four kids, a house, two dogs, money is always a limiting factor! I did not think the clamp on palletsforks were very good. You are saying otherwise. Do they loosen up? You apparently trust them with no problem if you are lifting a ton out of the back of your truck. I have thought about rear pallet forks but I would not be able to get into as many places and work with other things as well without the reach of the arms out in front. I guess there are advantages for both. I could go with the 3 point and figure out how to go with a cylinder for top link. I am up in the air between chains for the tires I would like or pallet forks I would like. Front or rear. Right now my budget is about $500 max.

Are the chains for this winter's snow, or mud? Do you have about another month of bad weather?
I bought some forks from Wildkat attachments in Denton NC. They were good quality. They are built on site. Cost was around $550. Most of the used ones I see on C-list cost about that. Used 3PH forks should be less. I would not be supprised if Wildkat would build you a set of 3ph forks, if you want to go that way.
A toplink is about $250-$300 w/ hoses. BTY the forks will work with a standard top link. You can generaly change the amount of pitch, by first choosing which hole you put the tractor end of the top link in.
If you wanted to, you could set up a pair of forks that would fit on a SSQA and a 3PH,
but if you ever want to be as cheap as me, you are going to have to learn to weld.

Bill

 

[JJZ 109]

I am up in the air between chains for the tires I would like or pallet forks I would like. Front or rear. Right now my budget is about $500 max.

I don't see doing a SSQA and forks for $500. Unless you are lucky enough to stumble upon a used setup at quite a bargain. I sold an old set of QA forks alone to someone up your way (Heuvelton, Lisbon, maybe?) for $350.

 

[Notforhire]

I don't see doing a SSQA and forks for $500. Unless you are lucky enough to stumble upon a used setup at quite a bargain. I sold an old set of QA forks alone to someone up your way (Heuvelton, Lisbon, maybe?) for $350.

I agree. The SSQA conversion itself will most likely go over $500, then another $150 min. to convert the bucket.
$350 is a good price around here for SS forks. I think the only way that you will come in at $500 or less is to find 3PH forks, or pin on forks for your loader.

Bill

 

[JJZ 109]

$350 is a good price around here for SS forks. I think the only way that you will come in at $500 or less is to find 3PH forks, or pin on forks for your loader.

Bill

They were an old set of Wifo forks, made in Canada. Kind of beat up and heavy as all get out. Sold them and bought a new set of 48" Bradco for around $650.

 

[Notforhire]

They were an old set of Wifo forks, made in Canada. Kind of beat up and heavy as all get out. Sold them and bought a new set of 48" Bradco for around $650.

I know just what your talking about. I had a set, that I made up from a dead forklift that could lift about 15,000 lbs. I used up most of the lift cap. of my little tractor just picking up the forks. I sold them to a fellow who had a BIG Bobcat skidsteer. They were perfect for him.
I bet the ones that I have now, that are rated at 3700 lbs weigh less than 1/2 what the others did.

Bill

 

[JJZ 109]

I know just what your talking about. I had a set, that I made up from a dead forklift that could lift about 15,000 lbs. I used up most of the lift cap. of my little tractor just picking up the forks. I sold them to a fellow who had a BIG Bobcat skidsteer. They were perfect for him.
I bet the ones that I have now, that are rated at 3700 lbs weigh less than 1/2 what the others did.

Bill

Yup, those old Wifos were a little much for a Kubota B3030/LA403 loader when you consider how heavy the forks were and then add the weight of the universal SSQA I had pinned to the loader arms. The Bradco forks that I bought were lighter but still had way more capacity than the tractor would ever handle.
As it turned out I got rid of the tractor and went to a Bobcat skid steer, so the Bradco forks are perfect for that machine. No problem lifting a one ton pallet of wood pellets off the trailer and moving it around.