Want to drill hole in pallet fork for trailer ball.

[drizler]

Something like this? View attachment 429307

This makes more sense than anything really. Build up that mount you can slide on and drill a small hole you can drill a small hole to keep in place with a small pin. That way you aren't compromising the tip of your forks strength with that big wonking hole. It will be a whole lot easier to do and so much less of a PITA:thumbdown: to take on and off when you need to change it around.:thumbsup:

 

[pat32rf]

Can also splurge for a ball with a 5/8" mounting bolt. Its not like you are hauling something down the highway....

 

[brokenknee]

30 hp tractor, loader is rated at about 1,300 lbs. trailers will almost always be empty. I am starting to think about the tip of the forks as I do use them to move heavy rocks and such on the property. The attachment shown was a bout 75$. They also sold a quick attach with a receiver hitch for I think about 175$

 

[farmer2009]

Have you got a 1/2" drill bit? Or 9/16"? Drill that size hole then find a corresponding bolt. One that's not fully threaded. You want threads long enough for a nut then fork then another nut. Unthreaded shank needs to be 1 1/2 to 2" long. Then cut off head and grind off corners. Now you can move hitch pin trailers and ball trailers without getting off tractor. What we used to do at a former employer. Like someone else said ain't like it's going to be on the road.

 

[bdog]

I torched a hole in the end of my forks and added a ball to move trailers with. It works and I used it hundreds of times but I eventually bent the fork. Not a lot, but if you lower them down on concrete the side with the trailer ball hits the ground about an inch before the other side does. This doesn't seem like much but it makes it a pain when trying to stab pallets because often you lean over and watch one fork and then you realize the other one was higher or lower than it.

I built a a little u shaped piece out of 4" channel iron to move my trailers with now. It slips over both forks and has a cross piece in the middle where the ball is mounted. It works so much better as the load is distributed between both forks and is centered.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I torched a hole in the end of my forks and added a ball to move trailers with. It works and I used it hundreds of times but I eventually bent the fork. Not a lot, but if you lower them down on concrete the side with the trailer ball hits the ground about an inch before the other side does. This doesn't seem like much but it makes it a pain when trying to stab pallets because often you lean over and watch one fork and then you realize the other one was higher or lower than it.

I built a a little u shaped piece out of 4" channel iron to move my trailers with now. It slips over both forks and has a cross piece in the middle where the ball is mounted. It works so much better as the load is distributed between both forks and is centered.

When you burn em it messes with the metal temper. It also takes out more metal than a drilled hole. ... A double whammy.

 

[bdog]

When you burn em it messes with the metal temper. It also takes out more metal than a drilled hole. ... A double whammy.

While I agree with you 100% that isn't where mine bent. The hole is about an inch or two from the tip of the fork. It bent clear back where the 90 degree bend at the back of the fork is about 3-4' away from where I cut. I move heavy trailers with it though across rough ground. Some tongue weights probably approaching 1500+ lbs with some bouncing action as this is not on smooth concrete.

 

[WM75Guy]

I bought one of these for my TC40DA so it would be closer to the pin. Be careful getting the weight that for out in front as leverage comes into play. Without ballast weight on the back end of the tractor my 3 horse GN will lift the rear tires if I try to turn it while moving it. You can also torque the FEL with the load off center.

Skidsteer Trailer Receiver Hitch Bobcat Case Skid Steer (REC-MP)

 

[docone]

A bolt on clamp over both forks is far superior to drilling a hole, and they are readily avaliable in the marketplace, or just build one. JMHO

 

[dfkrug]

You can also torque the FEL with the load off center.

You bet you can.

It is different with a "real" forklift where you can move the tines all the way to the
center, and you have gobs of lift force available.

Here is the trailer-tender I made. I also use it to mount my tire changer. The first
version I made, I bent lifting a heavy trailer full of gravel, so I strengthened it. It goes
on and off faster than a ball screwed to one tine.