Loader Lightweight pallet forks for 200X & 200CX loader

[C-Range]

The second link you mention is the link to which I have been directing people. More recently, I have been linking directly to their website which costs less than the eBay ad. This link is on my "Pricing" page.

As for my frame and your locally found 48" forks, go for it, but realize that the load limit will actually decrease from the current max of 2300 Lb, both due to the added weight of the forks as well as the potential distance of the load away from the root of the fork tine. I can't offer an amount of load decrease, but I would personally start at around 25%.

Then you have those longer forks sticking out there and, let me tell you, the 36" ones out in front of my little 2305 already seem to be really long. I don't know what you have for a tractor but keep that in mind.

 

[kennyd]

Anyway it's nice of you to get the bars made. I can get used 48" forks at Menards surplus store for $99.00 and then order your kit w/ everything else and weld away.

I have 42" forks on my tractor, and I sure would NOT want anything longer!

 

[OrangeJbird]

Good points.

 

[C-Range]

Just a notice for those who ended up with the thicker fork rails, they seem to have received their resupply of 1/2" rails. I ordered some from them myself since my own supplier has been slow to deliver mine, to my dismay. Those wishing to pursue an exchange should get in touch with SkidSteerExpress/ATVExpress.

On a brighter note, when I do finally get my rails, they will have chain hook slots built into the ends. I think they ought to come in handy for supporting loads or to be used without the forks for strapping objects to the frame directly. You can see them on the CAD images on the Pricing page of my website.

I hope everyone who has bought/completed their forks are finding lots of uses for them.

 

[picker77]

I ordered a set of Chris' JDQA forks yesterday for my 3032E with 305 loader. I went for the S-3 kit (completely assembled but unpainted frame, less forks & rails). The S-3 option was great for me because all the critical welding has already been done, so I'm assured that the mount and frame will be perfectly square & true. I might have got there building the kit from scratch myself, but then again... I also ordered a set of forks and rails from SkidSteer Express yesterday ($219, free shipping), and they shipped them via Fedex (three packages) last night. Super fast service from both Chris and SkidSteer Express. If you can do or have done locally the final stitch welding of the fork rails to Chris' pre-built frame, you can save a nice chunk of cash with the S-3 kit, because of the free shipping for the forks & rails. Shipping cost for the frame from Chris was darned reasonable, too.

Should have everything in hand by the middle of next week, and when I have the final welding, cleanup, priming, and painting done the first job for these bad boys will be moving a 575 lb Buck fireplace stove insert from my garage out to the shop for storage. I'm pretty sure my sore old 68-year-old back is going to love these things.

I'll post some pics when everything is done.

 

[rbcsaver]

Yeah, and so did I. However, ATV sent me a 1.25" top frame and 1/2" bottom frame.
They don't line up, post welding. I am trying to resolve this with AtvExpress. Chris' work is excellent.
Make sure you receive a 1/2" top and bottom set of rails. NOT a 1.25 upper and 1/2" lower set, as I did.
Resolution pending with AtvExpress.
regards,
Steve

 

[picker77]

Sorry to hear that. I asked Chris about this because I'd heard about a glitch with ATVExpress sending out the wrong thickness rails, he said it was straightened out now--hope I don't end up with the same deal. I guess I'll know tomorrow morning when Fedex delivers my rails and forks. The frame is due the next day (Wed) from Chris. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

 

[C-Range]

This thing with Steve, and everyone else who got the thicker rails, really sucks. Because of this, once I am dependably getting rails made myself the only "kit" available is going to consist of all of the frame components and only require buying the forks themselves. It will end up costing a little more, but at least folks will know they are getting the right parts. So much for trying to help people save a few bucks...

Picker, you can tell if you are getting the wrong rail if you have a tracking number. When you track it, the weight for each fork is ~62 lbs and the rails should be ~37 lbs. If the odd weighted package is more like ~57 lbs, you got the thicker rail. However, I really don't think you are going to have that problem at this point.

 

[Mechanos]

This thing with Steve, and everyone else who got the thicker rails, really sucks. Because of this, once I am dependably getting rails made myself the only "kit" available is going to consist of all of the frame components and only require buying the forks themselves. It will end up costing a little more, but at least folks will know they are getting the right parts. So much for trying to help people save a few bucks...

Picker, you can tell if you are getting the wrong rail if you have a tracking number. When you track it, the weight for each fork is ~62 lbs and the rails should be ~37 lbs. If the odd weighted package is more like ~57 lbs, you got the thicker rail. However, I really don't think you are going to have that problem at this point.

Just thinking out loud here...... but if the sole purpose of have the thinner rails is weight savings, is 20lbs right up next to the loader arms really that significant to worry about?

 

[picker77]

Good news, Fedex just showed up with the ATV Express forks and rails, and they look great. Rails are 1/2" as advertised, nice and clean, and smoothly cut/beveled. The frame from Chris is due tomorrow afternoon, so in between half a dozen other things going on around here I can soon break out some 7018 rods and get started welding things up.

I have actually considered taking the rails to a local machine shop and having a couple of extra fork locking "notches" cut on each side of the top rail, to allow five different widths for the forks vice the current three. Haven't made up my mind yet on that, but of course if I'm going to do it I have to do it now. Any opinions on whether having five locking fork widths available vice three would be worth the machine shop expense?