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.

 

[oldballs]

My experience with the BX several years ago.....I bought a nice pin on pallet fork attachment.....about 740 dollars. They worked great, but were difficult to mount after taking the bucket off. I was satisfied that using them as a homeowner on an occasional basis, I could deal with getting the pins out/in.

Then I sold the BX to buy a Kubota B2620. It doesn't fit this machine's bucket pins. Thus I bought the Clamp On style for the new model. The pads for screw down are wide and hold in place okay. This will work for me. But, if had to use forks very often I'd want a QA set up.
If I was a welder maybe I could adapt the original forks to the new machine, either for FEL attachment or 3 pt attachment.....or just sell them as is. So, dragoneggs, be careful how you spend your bucks. Cheers, Mike

 

[schweizer]

SSQA is the only way to go. Can you weld, OP/Smithy? I bought a generic SSQA plate for $120 then welded on some surpluss forks a friend got at an auction. Heck, if you weren't on the other side of the country I'd sell you the second set of forks I have just laying around real cheap. You could make something similar. I use it for *everything* - lumber, pavers, construction platform. My DK44 can lift a whole pallet of concrete pavers - no worries about a pallet of wood.

Marcus

 

[PILOON]

Another option would be a 3-POINT set up.
That way you have the bucket for other chores and a greater capacity with 3 point. Also placement is easier as you are then just like a fork lift but the major downside is craning your neck while placing the load.
With 3 point however stacking would not be an option.

 

[schweizer]

Here's some pics of what I was referring to. It's an easy way to make your own pallet forks if you have access to some old forks and have a little welding skills (or can get a friend to weld for you, like I did). The SSQA adapter plate was $120, the forks were surplus, the round rod stock and short metal plates were about <$50 from a metal scrapyard. The D-rings have been very helpful in securing loads.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Of course stand alone should be the strongest IF you have a quick hitch set up.

Our fixed bucket lead us to go with chain on's as our only cost effective option and we picked up the second set for when moving brush.

One plus for chain-on/clamp-on forks is you can show up with both your forks and your buck really easy.

Pallet Forks -- Bucket Pallet Forks

This is one of the nicest sets I have seen but not cheap but are complete. Chain on forks can move some and come back into places to a degree. The big plus in my view is they move the stress from the lip to the rear edge of the bucket unlike clamp on forks.

Anytime the bucket is on your view of the forks is blocked but by inserting 2x4 standards you and judge the angle of the fork by them and the bucket level gauge. We do not use ours that often but seem worth the purchase price over and over.

 

[PhysAssist]

That's why I went with chain-on forks from Yankee Warehouse, another TBN advertiser/sponsor though a little visible than some others.

They are very stable, they attach and work well over top of my toothbar (PTB) and as long as I sit tall in the seat, I can usually see either over or under the bucket, or like others have admitted occasionally standing up on the tractor deck to see them if necessary.

I admit that I have crimped the rolled edge of my bucket top a bit with the chains and load binders, but that was my doing, because I didn't pay attention to their instructions to only tension the chains lightly.

I paid $129+ reasonable shipping and have way more than gotten my money's worth in the time since.

They have increased the price now to $149+ Heavy Duty Chain on Bucket/Loader Forks - Yankee Warehouse, LLC.

Not having a QA isn't the tragedy some here seem to think, though they are right that bucket forks do cause limitations in weight capacity, it only matters when you are fighting that margin, and it hasn't been a problem for us in our use.

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!!!!!!

 

[JoelD]

There are more variables than one would think. For me, I don't use my forks often but when I do they are invaluable. I made my own set out of c-channel and I notched them to fit onto my cutting edge and then use chains which wrap around the back of the bucket. They work great for what I need them for. I pop them on and off easily and quickly. I could not justify the cost of quick attach plate and then forks and then I would've had to do something with my bucket to quick attach as well. I have about $25 into my forks and they have never let me down.

 

[JoelD]

That's why I went with chain-on forks from Yankee Warehouse, another TBN advertiser/sponsor though a little visible than some others.

They are very stable, they attach and work well over top of my toothbar (PTB) and as long as I sit tall in the seat, I can usually see either over or under the bucket, or like others have admitted occasionally standing up on the tractor deck to see them if necessary.

I admit that I have crimped the rolled edge of my bucket top a bit with the chains and load binders, but that was my doing, because I didn't pay attention to their instructions to only tension the chains lightly.

I paid $129+ reasonable shipping and have way more than gotten my money's worth in the time since.

They have increased the price now to $149+ Heavy Duty Chain on Bucket/Loader Forks - Yankee Warehouse, LLC.

Not having a QA isn't the tragedy some here seem to think, though they are right that bucket forks do cause limitations in weight capacity, it only matters when you are fighting that margin, and it hasn't been a problem for us in our use.

I welded c-channel to the top of my bucket first thing when I purchased my tractor. My chain on work great for what i need. Easy on and off and super inexpensive. They have done all I've asked.

 

[PhysAssist]

2x for easy on & off, and doing the jobs we need!

I'm just learning to weld, so I wouldn't trust anything I make to bear the weight reliably yet, and the forks were our 2nd or 3rd purchase after buying our B2320, and reading about uses for FEL-mounted forks on TBN, so that was before I even thought about learning how to weld.

I welded c-channel to the top of my bucket first thing when I purchased my tractor. My chain on work great for what i need. Easy on and off and super inexpensive. They have done all I've asked.

 

[dragoneggs]

2x for easy on & off, and doing the jobs we need!

I'm just learning to weld, so I wouldn't trust anything I make to bear the weight reliably yet, and the forks were our 2nd or 3rd purchase after buying our B2320, and reading about uses for FEL-mounted forks on TBN, so that was before I even thought about learning how to weld.

In the same boat I would imagine as you on welding proficiency, as I haven't really welded since a few limited hands on classes in college as part of an engineering degree. But it was fun. There are several projects though on my mind where a failure of a weld would not be catastrophic but just embarrassing.