Forks OK Just how useful and essential are Pallet Forks

[k0ua]

I guess it is kinda like blades in a leatherman tool. A grapple will do some things that forks or a bucket won't do or do very well, and Forks will do some things that buckets and grapples will not do. It all boils down to having the right (or easy to use) tool or not. Like Bird's example of the 55gal drum and the pallet.. neither grapple or bucket is going to do that very well, piece of cake for the forks. I have seen pictures of guys digging a trench with them like a poor mans backhoe, but I have never tried it. I have moved some big rocks with them and of course pallets.

James K0UA

 

[WM75Guy]

If you need a bale spear and forks Skid Steer Express can add a removable 3000# spear for $65 to the forks frame. Trying to stick forks in a tight round bale is difficult.

 

[J_J]

How about something like this.

I picked up my forks and carriage set from a used forklift place for about $150, and adapted to fit my Power-Trac.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

On our tractors around the farm, the forks are on them all the time and we put the bucket on to move dirt or litter, then we put the forks back on. The forks move round bales just fine. We use some 32' cotton wagons and load with a bobcat at the field and un load with a tractor and forks at the farm. Bobcat has forks also. Buckets are okay, but have heard of some deaths from picking up round bales with chain hooks welded to corners of bucket. Our buckets have chain hooks welded on them too, but we don't move hay with them. A spear works better if you are stacking round bales more than one layer. Our hay fields are close around here, so we just put one layer on the trailer and a few in the dump truck we pull the trailer with, and shuttle it back and forth.

 

[roman]

If you don't want them tell your dealer to cut it out or you will go elsewhere.

 

[c23380]

I bought a loader for the ck 30 and the first thing i done was build a set of quick attach forks. I use them much more than the bucket. I was thinking of installing a grapple on the forks instead of the bucket. I think it would be more usefull with forks than a bucket..........Just my opinion though.

 

[avc8130]

Life w/out pallet forks? No thanks.

ac

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Like with any implement or attachment, it's hard to beat the right tool for the job at hand. Like many of us, in a few years you may very well have 10-20 or more :shocked: implements and attachments to accomplish all of your tasks in the best manor possible with the conditions that you have. :cool2: :laughing:

 

[Runner]

I wouldn't buy a tractor without pallet forks. I use mine all the time moving everything from road kill to furniture.

 

[milkman636]

I have pallet forks for both of my tractors and use them often. Not as often as the buckets, but they are handy for moving almost anything that is not dirt, rock, or snow.

The Deere set for my 500 series loader uses the same frame for the bale spear and forks.

I know that I am close to committting TBN blasphemy here, but I personally think they are more useful to me than a grapple would be.