Forks pallet forks for 3pt hitch???

[bassfishrman]

I do not have a FEL but need to transport materials with my tractor. Does anyone make forks that attach to the 3pt hitch?

 

[GRUMPA]

I think your looking for something like this

 

[Golfgar4]

Or here is another option. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

What I found was that the ones made by other people are REALLY expensive. So I made my own. Actually I designed them and my neighbor welded them up for me. I was able to scrounge an old set of fork lift forks and I used an "A" frame from a Howse Sub-Soiler/Middle Buster unit.

For about $500 to $600 you can buy a good set of adjustable forks already made to work on your 3pt hitch.

For about $165 you can buy a Howse combo unit. For another $100 or so, you can usually find an old set of fork lift forks. For a 6 pack and a few $$'s for some steel, you can get someone to weld a simple frame to mount the forks onto the Howse "A" frame. My unit mounts onto the "A" frame with 1 top link pin that cost me another $4.50. Total invested would probably be under $300 (in my case I got the forks for free, so my actual cost was about $200). The best part is that I have 4 tools instead of one since there was no modification to the Howse unit, it still functions as 1) a trailer hitch, 2) a sub-soiler, 3) a middle buster . . . and by flipping it backwards and mounting the black fork frame to it with the top link pin to hold it in place, it becomes 4) a set of pallet forks.

BTW, The nice thing about 3pt pallet forks is that your lift capacity on a 3pt hitch is higer than on a FEL so you can lift and transport more weight. Of course you can't lift it very high. But I've been able to unload pallets of mulch from a trailer by driving up the trailer ramps and lifting them off. I did find that a pallet of concrete blocks is too heavy to lift, but I can lift several layers of block and tansport them.

Here is a link to my modular set up: Home Made Pallet Forks

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Here is a picture of the Howse A frame mounted on the tractor. This is actually mounted backwards. When used as intended with the sub-soiler or middle buster blades installed, the part that is facing the tractor is actually facing away from the tractor. The reason it is reveresed is that I needed a flat surface to attach the fork frame onto.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Here is a picture with the fork frame that I designed added to the Howse A frame.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Here is a photo that shows the pallet forks added to the unit.

Because this this modular, it is also nice for storage as the forks and frame pieces tuck away against a wall taking up very little space. Also each component can be lifted up and carried so you can have your lovely wife carry it over and attach it to the back of your tractor while you give her directions on what to do.

 

[wvhillbilly]

King Kutter makes a pallet lifter. A LOT cheaper, but the drawback is that the forks are welded solid... No width adjustment.
Dave

 

[beenthere]

I adapted my pallet forks designed for the FEL to fit on the 3pt. Works great as long as the tractor and the pallet are on level surfaces.
I learned the shortcoming was in the lack of TNT (top and tilt). However, my planned use is for firewood pallets, and the cost of a gravel or concrete pad conveniently covers the cost of getting the TNT on the upgraded tractor (if and when that happens).

Even when the pallet and the tractor seem to be on the same 'plane' surface, the need to adjust the top link or the side lift arm seem the norm, rather than the exception, in order to make a clean, quick engagement of the pallet.

Certainly can lift more with the 3pt than the FEL, so a distinct advantage there.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

beenthere . . . your points are very good regarding the need to adjust the top link to use the pallet forks on the 3pt. I did a couple projects with the pallet forks last year before I had a TNT installed and I've now moved mulch and concrete bocks after the TNT was installed. There is no arguement that it is MUCH easier to use the 3pt forks with the TNT than it is to constantly have to adjust the top link manually.

The photos I posted above are PRE-TNT installation and I was setting it up to move some 400# concrete planters off of a trailer, down the ramps, through 5" of snow and onto a covered porch. It was a HUGE pain in the rear . . . but it was better than trying to lug them over there by hand /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif