Will this be strong enough?

[trook]

I am considering building a forklift and forks from 2x2 square stock 3/16 thickness. The forks themselves will be 48" long.

This will go onto the front of my JD4320. I would like to have the capability of lifting approximately 2,000lbs with these forks.

Do you think 2x2 square stock will be strong enough?

 

[RPW]

No I don't believe so. And if it did I would think very marginally. And unless you have a HD bucket you will most likely bend your bucket with that much weight. I would suggest 3x6x1/4 and use a bale spear frame as your support.

 

[gpflepsen]

I don't think you'll be happy with this setup, they'll wind up bent.

 

[trook]

you will most likely bend your bucket with that much weight.

This is not something I will attach to the bucket. I plan on making a frame and then welding the forks to the frame. What size steel do you recommend?

 

[Diamondpilot]

I would use no less than 3"x2" 1/4" wall for forks of that size. You will bend 3/16" stuff.

Chris

 

[trook]

Does anyone know the dimensions of the steel used on the King Kutter Pallet Mover?

 

[deepNdirt]

Have you got your plans sketched out to look at? a (drawing)

2-k lbs is quite lot of weight on any steel that has been heated & weld with a simple buttweld even if the 1/4 doesn't bend it will break near the weld,the weakened /heated steel around the weld...
to bad your not closer to me here in Ga,, the local salvage yard has several forklifts you could score the forks from for only cost of steel, which is 5.00 per 100 now, I have tried to pick up just one of these forks and i bet it weighs over 400 lbs x 2 total 800 lbs.
and there over 1" solid x 4 or 5" wide x 4 ft long.
before you go thru the trouble building, look around in some scrap yards, you might find some there to buy for not much more then the cost of the 2x2

 

[jjmarotz]

I agree with all the above posts^^^

My forks are 2x3x 3/16" channel iron with reinforcements welded in and they still flex when I load too much on them. Granted I don't use them much and they have served me well over 2 yrs, but...... I still wish I had sprung the $$ for the heavier steel

 

[trook]

Thanks, guys. It looks like I should try to find some "real" forks and build my frame from there, or buy some 4x2 1/4" tubing!!

 

[BruceWard]

I recently built some forks from 2x2x1/4 for my B21. I expect them to handle anything the B21 can lift. If you look at Northerntool.com they have lots of forks with weight limits, dimensions and material thickness listed. From their product line my guess is that 2x2x1/4 would be rated for 1200 to 1400 pounds.

As for 2x4x1/4, I believe that using two 2x2x1/4 welded together would be stronger. Not sure how the price compares. Two 2x2x1/4 would have 8 inches of vertical 1/4 inch wall supporting the load, 2x4x1/4 would have 4 inches of vertical 1/4 inch wall supporting the load.