Forks Pallet fork attachment

[tarious]

Greetings!

This past winter I posted a link asking for some ideas on buying or making pallet forks. I got some great ideas and clearly making pallet forks seemed to be the most cost effective approach. However, I don’t own a welder and if I borrowed one from someone else I wouldn’t trust my welds anyway.

So, I checked with two local welding/manufacturing places and discussed having them copy some of the design suggestions I got from all of you. However, while they thought your designs were great, they refused to manufacture any pallet forks system unless I could provide them with the special steel for the forks (I forget what they called it, spring steel maybe?). After a few months of searching for cheap forks I couldn’t find a thing.

So, I broke down and wrote a 1050.00 (includes tax, also movable fork model) check to Mr. John Deere Dealerman. I took a few pictures for those of you haven’t seen a set before. If any of you want to see another angle or want some precise measurements to make something similar, let me know.

I have used the forks to move some shingles around and I will post those pictures under the John Deere link, if anyone is interested.

Thanks again for all the support and advice…
Front

Side View

 

[IslandTractor]

Here is another less expensive set of QA pallet forks made by Millonzi in Ohio. Found them indirectly via Ebay. Cost without the QA adapter was about $565 direct plus shipping. They weigh 350 pounds (back plate plus two arms) and are designed for fork lifts via a Universal QA adapter. They are very solidly built though I have not yet had a chance to use them beyond attaching them and moving into storage. Honestly they may be a bit too heavy duty for my CK20 but they sure are strong. The closest alternative I found were much lighter duty clamp on forks made of box steel (not sure that is the correct term but those forks are hollow and rated for 800lbs). These are solid steel and I could barely lift each fork arm when installing them on the QA frame. The forks are ITA style and have a class 2 hook on them. I'll use them for a while before deciding whether to keep them or sell locally. I figure it won't be hard to sell given the universal QA mount.

 

[Boondox]

My L4630 has the skidsteer style QA bucket. I went to a tractor graveyard and picked up a skidsteer pallet fork for $400. Works like a charm!

Pete

 

[Reg]

Let me know if you decide to not keep the pallet forks.
I looked them up and they're skid steer ready, I could use them and I'm in Mass.

tnx

 

[mikim]

rootgrapple.com has a set for $470 .... used to be $350 ... steel keeps going up. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif.... they are good people to work with as well.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I believe this is the same people that Markham referred me to, they are in the same town. Markham doesn't make them anymore.

 

[Reg]

Thanks for the pointer to rockgrapple,
Lotsa neat stuff there to lust after (-:
and their prices seem good.