Clamp on or stand alone pallet forks ?

[lostcreekranch]

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.

+ another one for SSQA pallet forks. My suggestion is to go with the 48".

As far as hookup we drop all our SSQA attachments on level as possible with a PT 4x4 under the rear of attachment. This little lift improves your view when hooking up a lot. Also the bottom of bucket, grapple is not sitting directly on the ground.

Good luck with your selection.

 

[SSdoxie]

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.

I think in your particular case, a set of 3 point pallet forks on the rear would be greater benefit. Wouldn't have the frequent changes and the 3pt has more lift capacity than the FEL.

 

[Turbys_1700]

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.

I am in the minority here...
I could not justify the additional cost of the QA forks...
I purchased a set of clamp on forks for $169 delivered...
I have used them a lot for loading brush, logs, pallets, etc...
I know that QA forks are better but is it worth the extra coin over the clamp on???
I use my bucket on my FEL all the time...
To me it was better to go with the clamp on's...
YMMV...

 

[newbury]

Depends on the size of your wallet, the strength of your back and the frequency of usage. I bought my clamp on forks for about $200. I don't have a QA. That alone would have cost about $800 and I don't have other front end attachments nor see the need for them at this time.

They are quick and easy to put on.and take off using only my hands for tools.

I don't need them constantly, I need the FEL more.

So add in another $600 or so for the pallet forks and it would have been very expensive for an occasional attachment.

 

[dragoneggs]

I am in the minority here...
I could not justify the additional cost of the QA forks...
I purchased a set of clamp on forks for $169 delivered...
I have used them a lot for loading brush, logs, pallets, etc...
I know that QA forks are better but is it worth the extra coin over the clamp on???
I use my bucket on my FEL all the time...
To me it was better to go with the clamp on's...
YMMV...

This is definitely a hard decision. As I only have a bucket at the moment, it seems that some clamp ons or hook on forks would be good but I worry about expansion. I also have dreams of a grapple. With only forks, it is hard to justify the QA now but will I have buyer's regret later when eyeing a grapple?

 

[newbury]

This is definitely a hard decision. As I only have a bucket at the moment, it seems that some clamp ons or hook on forks would be good but I worry about expansion. I also have dreams of a grapple. With only forks, it is hard to justify the QA now but will I have buyer's regret later when eyeing a grapple?

You'll only be out a couple of hundred and could probably sell them for that used.

 

[Fallon]

QA forks weight a similar amount to your bucket & are tight up against the loader arms. Clamp on forks add a bit more weight & even worse, push the load out further away decreasing lift capacity noticeably more than just their extra weight due to the extra leverage hanging out so far.

They should be reasonably easy to resell. It's not like the really wear out or are complex things that could have much in the way of hidden problems.

 

[Turbys_1700]

This is the set I purchased a few years ago for $169...
Very strong and well made...
I really like the receivers at the back of the forks for adding a 2x4...
Works very well for brush and logs...
The pros and cons are well presented in this thread...
I like mine a lot...
A very good low cost alternative...

 

[phiferpharm]

Other than bending my bucket, sliding out of alignment (even with the supposed stabilizer between the two forks), not being able to see the ends of the fork, and having to constantly re-tighten the screws attaching the forks to the bucket, the attachable forks I have are great ---- NOT!!!!!!

 

[DK35vince]

Your DK 40 came with the skid steer style QA on the loader.
Its a great feature, so use it.
The QA stand alone forks is the MUCH better way to go than the bucket bolt ons.