Forks Quick decision needed: top and tilt vs. forks

   / Quick decision needed: top and tilt vs. forks #1  

blurrybill

Gold Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2001
Messages
480
Location
Iowa
Tractor
JD4310 eHydro with bells and whistles
Please comment very soon, guys. Most of the bells and whistles are coming with the new tractor in 2 weeks. Now, with the "extra" JD money, should I get the forks (already signed on for 4in1 and HD bucket with toothbar) or get top and tilt (have ordered the 4th and 5th diverter valve for the 4310)? Other options are top and tilt with a cheap rear blade, since I don't have one. Won't have constant use for a rotary cutter, but I guess that is an option, as well. May need the forks to move pallets of fieldstone, piles of brush, etc.

Any and all comments are appreciated.

Bill (JD 4310, 430 loader, ballast box, HD boxblade, 60 mmm, 660 tiller, 60 HD bucket with toothbar, 4in1 bucket)
 
   / Quick decision needed: top and tilt vs. forks #2  
I personally would go for the top and tilt. It will be much easier to add forks later and the top and tilt will come in handy on all of your 3 pt implements. Depending on the weight of the pallets you need to move you might be able to get by with a carry all on the 3pt. Ocassionally you can come across a used set of forks fairly cheap, but I have not seen a top and tilt that was cheap yet. Just my thoughts.
 
   / Quick decision needed: top and tilt vs. forks #3  
I'm in need (or have a desire!) to have both of these items. My thinking is that I could put a set of forks to better use than a hydraulic top link. The top link is merely a convenience...a big one if you ask me but there's nothing you can't do without it. Without forks, you can't lift much that won't go in the bucket. Forks are my first choice!
 
   / Quick decision needed: top and tilt vs. forks #4  
<font color=blue>I personally would go for the top and tilt.

Forks are my first choice!</font color=blue>

Big help we are, huh Bill! Let's hope for a tie breaker!/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif
 
   / Quick decision needed: top and tilt vs. forks #5  
Get the tilt now because you WANT it.

Get the forks later because you'll NEED them
 
   / Quick decision needed: top and tilt vs. forks #6  
<font color=blue>"Big help we are, huh Bill! Let's hope for a tie breaker."</font color=blue>

O.K. I'll go for it. I'd flip a coin! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Talk about being in the middle of the road! Actually, I'd vote for the top and tilt. It offers a wider versatility than the forks, and there would be some tractor down time later on if you wanted to add it. I always try to look at this kind of decision as to which one is the most convenient for me now. The cost of something, although important, is less important than how much will I be put out by my decision. To me, that would mean do the top and tilt now, and the forks later.

Although I want them too! /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif
 
   / Quick decision needed: top and tilt vs. forks #7  
Depends on which implements you plan to buy. I got TnT when I bought my tractor, but haven't really used it much yet. I have big plans for this fall though. All I'm getting done now is mowing and TnT isn't much help there.

On the other hand, I use my forks pretty often. It's amazing how many things I think of to use them for. I guess if you're getting the 4n1 bucket though, some of those uses wouldn't apply (you could use your 4n1 for lots of things I use my forks for, such as moving brush).

So if you're getting a box blade or rear blade or something similar now, I'd get the TnT. If not, get the forks. As long as you're getting the hydraulics installed now, adding the cylinders later isn't a big deal.

As an aside, when I was pricing my TC 40D vs a JD 4410, the JD dealer was by far the most expensive on the TnT setup compared to the other dealers. His forks were only slightly more expensive (but slightly smaller too). You might could get the TnT cylinders somewhere else cheaper, but since JD has their own forks, you probably can't get them cheaper somewhere else.

Just my .03 worth.

--Brad
 
   / Quick decision needed: top and tilt vs. forks #8  
Go with the hydralic top link,you can always use it with a 3 point hitch fork lift in the future which is much more stable than bucket forks,I have a small photo of one @ my site www.tractorloft.com
 
   / Quick decision needed: top and tilt vs. forks #9  
<font color=blue>Get the tilt now because you WANT it.

Get the forks later because you'll NEED them</font color=blue>

Hmm...a little self inflicted psychological warfare. A really cheap trick to play on yourself. I like it!!!/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif
 
   / Quick decision needed: top and tilt vs. forks #10  
<font color=blue>Get the tilt now because you WANT it.
Get the forks later because you'll NEED them.</font color=blue>

I use that logic as often as possible. It's easier to get something I want but maybe not need up front. Then if it something I really need, it is easier to talk my wife into it later. I got every option I wanted w/ my tractor, but not too many implements, because I knew it would be easier to convince her I needed an implement later. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

--Brad
 
 
 
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