Clamp on or stand alone pallet forks ?

[Jmsmithy]

Hi folks

I have a maple farm in upstate NY. Takes a lot of wood (10-20 cords) to boil sap and produce our syrup. I make up 4'x4' pallet boxes and load them with wood so I can pick up approx 1/2 cord at a time w/ my DK40SE HST and drop it next to my evaporator.

My question - do I want clamp on forks to my bucket or a separate set of quick attach pallet forks?

Pros and cons of each ?? :confused3:

Thx for the help !

 

[ksbrdmkr]

I use set of quick attach pallet forks more than the bucket. I think changing from bucket to forks is quicker with the quick attach on the loader than changing out the individual forks on a bucket, no tools needed and stronger.

 

[k0ua]

Get a good set of SSQA pallet forks, Much better. You can see so much better, they place the load much closer to your pins so you can pick up much more, and they don't stick out so dang far that you bang in to everything.. There is no comparison, I have owned both.

 

[northcreek2624]

Hi folks

I have a maple farm in upstate NY. Takes a lot of wood (10-20 cords) to boil sap and produce our syrup. I make up 4'x4' pallet boxes and load them with wood so I can pick up approx 1/2 cord at a time w/ my DK40SE HST and drop it next to my evaporator.

My question - do I want clamp on forks to my bucket or a separate set of quick attach pallet forks?

Pros and cons of each ?? :confused3:

Thx for the help !

I fabricated a mount for forks on my bucket with the intent of moving pallets of firewood with my DK40. I soon found out that the forks end up being too far ahead and the leverage thing comes into play and lifting capacity is diminished significantly. I subsequently changed my procedure for moving wood without fork assist.
I would recommend the quick attach route for max lifting ability....Mike.

 

[motownbrowne]

Smithy, I am in the same position, looking for a better way to move wood to the evaporator. I settled on ssqa forks because of the improved visibility and greater capacity versus clamp on forks. Are you on mapletrader.com? What kind of rig do you run?

 

[Jmsmithy]

Smithy, I am in the same position, looking for a better way to move wood to the evaporator. I settled on ssqa forks because of the improved visibility and greater capacity versus clamp on forks. Are you on mapletrader.com? What kind of rig do you run?

Yes sir, same handle....new Leader 2x6 patriot w/ ao, deep flue, hood etc etc...need tractor to move all the wood. Built 16x20 Sugarhouse (should be finished in next two weeks) w/ 12x20 attached woodshed and 8' doors so I can pick up pallet w/ forks, place it down next to evaporator door...beats carrying arm loads every 10-15 mins 12 hours per day!!

 

[motownbrowne]

...beats carrying arm loads every 10-15 mins 12 hours per day!!

No kidding, I cooked 29 gallons in one day last year on my 2x10, burned a cord in about 16 hours, it gets to be a lot of work. I pump my sap into my head tank with a bicycle powered pump, so it becomes a constant battle to keep the arch full of wood, the tank full of sap, the buckets from running over, and the syrup from burning. Of course I wouldn't trade that particular set of problems for anything. Dschulz aka Danny on the trader wore a pedometer one day and told me he walked eleven miles in a day cooking sap. Of course he's running a 4x14 intensofire. All I know is that my new tractor will change everything this year. I hope yours is a big help too.

 

[Jmsmithy]

It's our first year going commercial and my Kioti is what's allowed me to even consider it! Now I've got to buy a QA pallet fork set :cool2:

 

[Jmsmithy]

What about 48" as opposed to 42"???

Does the shorter fork give you better "lift"? Would I need the 48" for what I'm doing??

 

[k0ua]

What about 48" as opposed to 42"???

Does the shorter fork give you better "lift"? Would I need the 48" for what I'm doing??

Either will work, pro and con to both.. the 48 you can see over your hood a bit better. con is they stick out further, and you are more liable to run into somthing with them. the 42 is short, easier to manuever, but depending on how your tractor is built, you may not be able to see the tips as well because they are shorter. I have 42, and am satisfied with the length. Lots of guys have the 48 and are satisfied with the length. It is a personal thing!

 

[motownbrowne]

The shorter forks are lighter, and have less weight further out, which will increase your capacity. They are cheaper too. The kioti loaders are known for high capacity, though so I'm sure you'd be fine either way, especially because firewood is relatively light. I have heard some folks say they like the extra six inches, but you should be able to pick pallets up either way. Of course pallets do vary a little in size. Maybe you should measure some you have on hand. I'm picking up a 42" set when my tractor comes home on Saturday.

 

[hslogger]

tis a no brainer here. QA forks win hands down. Decide on the length and you won't regret it. When you get to wanting to change your width for different applications, you will be real happy. You will have better vision, better capacity and you will have two units that you can switch back and forth to with two levers,pretty durn tootin quick and with little effort. I have Land Pride 2100lb capacity and they are first class.

 

[dragoneggs]

This is a great thread topic... been wrestling with this myself. I have a little BX so I am sure a QA fork would give me much more capacity so that is a big plus... But. I am doing lots of landscape work and am moving landscape blocks at the same time as needing to move dirt to back fill block walls. I know I won't be able to move many blocks if they I am using clamp on forks but I would be switching back and forth quite often. As it is I am moving blocks from pallets into my FEL bucket at about 6 at a time (about 88lb each). Not sure if I would be able to move many more on a pallet if I don't remove the bucket. On the other hand, I would be trying to QA the forks and bucket on relatively uneven ground often. Wondering if the QA and forks are worth it for me. The clamp on forks would also be great for the brush I am moving to burn piles. Don't really need dedicated forks for that. If I had a bigger tractor I think the QA would be a no brainer but for my needs... I don't know.

 

[two_bit_score]

I use set of quick attach pallet forks more than the bucket. I think changing from bucket to forks is quicker with the quick attach on the loader than changing out the individual forks on a bucket, no tools needed and stronger.

+ one more!

Especially : and stronger!

 

[dragoneggs]

I use set of quick attach pallet forks more than the bucket. I think changing from bucket to forks is quicker with the quick attach on the loader than changing out the individual forks on a bucket, no tools needed and stronger.

Even working in the dirt (uneven ground)??? This is my big question.

 

[k0ua]

Even working in the dirt (uneven ground)??? This is my big question.

They don't have to be on perfectly even ground to hook up. Approach the low side to make contact first.. Get the low side hooked and start to lift when it is level start to push and slide up and get the other side hooked up.. It is pretty easy. Does level ground make it a little easier?, Yes but it is not required. As you do the hookups several times you get a feel for it.

 

[Fallon]

This is a great thread topic... been wrestling with this myself. I have a little BX so I am sure a QA fork would give me much more capacity so that is a big plus... But. I am doing lots of landscape work and am moving landscape blocks at the same time as needing to move dirt to back fill block walls. I know I won't be able to move many blocks if they I am using clamp on forks but I would be switching back and forth quite often. As it is I am moving blocks from pallets into my FEL bucket at about 6 at a time (about 88lb each). Not sure if I would be able to move many more on a pallet if I don't remove the bucket. On the other hand, I would be trying to QA the forks and bucket on relatively uneven ground often. Wondering if the QA and forks are worth it for me. The clamp on forks would also be great for the brush I am moving to burn piles. Don't really need dedicated forks for that. If I had a bigger tractor I think the QA would be a no brainer but for my needs... I don't know.

My L3200 (1200 lbs at the pins on the loader i think) tops out at a pallet of 2" thick paving bricks stacked 4 high. Surprisingly little capacity. Or the other way to look at it is those bricks get surprisingly heavy quick.

I love my QA forks, so easy to swap. You know the old addage "when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail". Well anything heavy, bulky or awkward on my property ends up on a pallet.

 

[dragoneggs]

They don't have to be on perfectly even ground to hook up. Approach the low side to make contact first.. Get the low side hooked and start to lift when it is level start to push and slide up and get the other side hooked up.. It is pretty easy. Does level ground make it a little easier?, Yes but it is not required. As you do the hookups several times you get a feel for it.

Thanks k0ua... I haven't had a chance to test this out and not sure how I would get a chance prior to taking the plunge. Very much appreciate your post! I am leaning toward the QA. Just wondering if it really is worth it to me. But then again... I like tools like toys! Did I just answer my own question???

 

[k0ua]

Thanks k0ua... I haven't had a chance to test this out and not sure how I would get a chance prior to taking the plunge. Very much appreciate your post! I am leaning toward the QA. Just wondering if it really is worth it to me. But then again... I like tools like toys! Did I just answer my own question???

It all gets so much easier the more times you do it.. Hydrostat helps on difficult hookups, as you can creep so much easier. Just take your time and don't get frustrated, and it will come easy after a while.

 

[IslandTractor]

Another vote for SSQA full frame mounted forks on a CK or DK size tractor. Be careful with a CK though and don't make the mistake I did which was to order a full sized skid steer version. Too heavy to be useful. They make smaller frame mounted forks that would be better IMO for anything less than a DK in loader size. The one tractor I might use clamp on forks for would be a SCUT like a BX especially if it was for occasional use. But for regular use and on a bigger tractor, frame style all the way. I have full 48' tines but honestly don't think I would miss the extra six inches if I had the 42s.