Forks

[Dennis Mohn]

Check with the manufacturer for sizing and capacity. A lift chart will tell you how much you can lift and at what extension from your equipment. Remember the further away the less lifting ability regardless of horsepower. You may have the power to lift but not the counterweight necessary to do it safely

 

[panamaguy]

I will likely get longer Forks. I will keep weight in mind. I dont have to lift much weight. All the brush, or 98% anyway, is cedar. Not too heavy when dry. Just gotta haul them to a burn pile.

Thanks again. Im looking at tractor supply. Also iron something, formerly Titan, I think. Maybe something used.

As a welder all my life and worked in a shop for 3 years that made attachments whatvi would dois buy 42 inch forks for pallet moving and then make a set of folk extensions for the lighter stuff. Say for example your forks arec4 inches wide. But real heavy 6 inch C channel . Not the standard weight and make them no longer that 6 feet. Inbthe back of the channel make a loop out of 1/2 by 1 flat bar. It has a slight bend down and what you do is slide the extension on at about a 45 degree angle. When that loop gets behind the fork you can lay it down on the folk. This stops it from sliding off and quick and easy to install with no tools. Now you have the best of both worlds when you need them

 

[panamaguy]

Wow should have proof read that. Sorry

 

[tradosaurus]

Grapple is ideal. Just the cost isn't ideal

My time and convenience is worth a lot of money. I use the heck out of my grapple and rarely have the bucket installed.

 

[Blue Mule]

I have the Titan forks. 42" I think. Nice backrest on them. I use them all the time. It's astonishing just how quickly load capacity decreases as you move out to the end of the forks.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I have 4 foot forks.

When I first got them, I tried moving some pine trees to the burn pile with them, but it's almost impossible to get the balance just right. I have a grapple, and it's the ideal tool for moving trees, but since I had the forks already on, I tried using them. It was so frustrating that I will never do that again.

I was surprised to read that, as that is something I do all the time with my pallet forks and its no big deal to do at all.

I bet I've moved brush and logs a thousand times with my pallet forks, I just move the forks as far apart as they will go and drive under the load.

Most sawmills use pallet forks or pallet forks with a matching grapple, just as I do all the time around here. I switched from a dedicated grapple to my pallet forks.

SR

 

[cj7]

In my old shop. I installed 2 x 8s on wall behind the pallet areas that were used often and that kept from poking holes in the wall.

 

[ptsg]

I was surprised to read that, as that is something I do all the time with my pallet forks and its no big deal to do at all.

I bet I've moved brush and logs a thousand times with my pallet forks, I just move the forks as far apart as they will go and drive under the load.

Most sawmills use pallet forks or pallet forks with a matching grapple, just as I do all the time around here. I switched from a dedicated grapple to my pallet forks.

SR

Same here. That's how I load logs on my trailer actually. Never had any issues even on hills and weird shaped ground.

I also move branches with the forks and never had a grapple or a need for one.

 

[jigs_n_fixtures]

My forks are on a SSQA frame and are standard Class 2 pattern 42-inch length. I also have a second pair of 36-inch forks. One thing to consider is how much the forks themselves weigh. You need to adjust the width of the forks, and this involves picking them up and moving them around on the frame.

Also, standard pattern frames and forks, allow you to add a second pair of forks and use them to pick up brush piles, etc. I have a grapple on the frame, so it works well with two pair of forks mounted to use it for picking up brush piles, stacked logs, lumber, etc.

Also, the vast majority of pallets are 42X48. Even if the load is a bit off center on the pallet, you can lift it safely with 42-inch forks.

 

[whatscooking]

Check out goodworkstractor. They have A sale going on now, the Versa fork is quite versatile.