425 Pallet Fork Question

[TBH_Farms]

Hello, all.

I am looking for somebody who has some experience with the forks on a PT425. We have a new 12 acre parcel and we will need to unload building components from a flatbed semi trailer. Theoretically, the PT425 should reach, but has anyone actually done this? I have conducted a pretty thorough search and haven't found any mention of this particular application. But I figured that if anyone had the answer, the TBN guys did. Thanks very much!

 

[MossRoad]

Welcome to TBN! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I have a PT425 that is about 3 years old. The newer one's are rated for a 60" lift. I'm not sure how high the back of a flatbed semi trailer is. The lift weight is rated at 800 pounds. I think that is at the back of the forks, where it would attach to the lift arms. The farther out you go, the less it will lift because of leverage. Also, as you turn the unit, since it is articulated, the center of gravity shifts dramatically. You need to be very aware of this phenomenon, noted here on TBN as "The PT Pucker". If you have a full load up high and turn the tractor sharply, the tractor WILL tip down on its nose.

Proper forklift procedure would be to drive up straight to the truck, lift the load only high enough to get it off the deck, back straight out until the load clears the trailer, then lower the load to within a few inches of the ground before proceeding any further.

You may already know this, so sorry if I sound like I'm lecturing a newby or something. Don't mean for it to sound that way> /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Where abouts are you located? Maybe someone is nearby.

 

[TBH_Farms]

No problem, Moss. I've been lurking around here long enough to respect your advice. I should have mentioned it before, but I have yet to purchase a PowerTrac. I plan to purchase one of the models, but I haven't decided which one. My uses will determine which model I buy. Your comment about the PT pucker is well taken...I've seen your pictures, and it was the main thing I would be worriyng about. I drive big trucks at work, and your standard flatbed trailer is a hair under 5 feet. So, based on your comments, I don't think it will work. Which means that the 426 is out. Which is kind of a bummer, because there is a substantial price difference between the 425 and the 1445. I can probably justify it to the finance minister ("honey, it's either this one, or the small one AND a forklift") /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Hmmm...

 

[pajoube]

I have to agree with MossRoad. I have the newer 425 with the higher lift. I have no problem lifting far more than the 800 lbs if it is tight to the back of the forks. What I do on the heavier lifts is to tilt the forks back with the load which shifts the weight to the back of the forks. You would be amazed at the amount you can lift.
PJ

 

[NJBill]

TBH
I have an April '04 delivery PT422. Due to a mix-up, my 48 inch mower was not delivered with the Tractor. After notifying Kristie she told me it would be shipped by Overnite. It arrived in a 48 foot closed box, with no other items on board. My forks were delivered with the tractor, so I had the opportunity to use them. On a black top roadway I was just able to slide the forks in the pallet and gently ease out far enough to be able to tilt enough to clear the bed. Remember the PT 422 is only a 50 inch lift height. When I asked the freight co they told me 48 inch beds were the norm.
Maybe this will make it easier for you to negotiate with the CFO.
I hope you find a way to be able to test this for yourself, you show good signs of being another PT'er.
Bill

 

[jol1269]

well i have the newer 425 and forks and i just recieved the 60'' mower on a 40 ' box trailer and it unloaded it fine now the one thing to consider is ofcourse the pucker and what the size and weight will be the 60 '' lift will reach the forks a lil short so make sure you get a really good bite on the skid or you may tip it and also if your new to the forks remember when leting it down to adjust the level as the pts dont have a self leveler on them so go slow with the lowering and the tilt just my two cents

 

[MossRoad]

<font color="blue"> i just recieved the 60'' mower on a 40 ' box trailer and it unloaded it fine </font>

That's good news! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[SnowRidge]

I just unloaded a seven foot trailer for our PT-425 from the back of a full size Semi. It was not a treat. We used the PT and forks to get the palletized trailer turned around (it was lengthwise in the semi), but I was afraid to try to do the whole job using the PT because of lateral balance issues. We used the bucket on my Branson instead, and used the PT to transfer it from the bucket to the ground, once it was safely away from the road.

I still managed to drop it the last couple of feet.

The PT-425 will reach high enough with no problems, but you must consider the forks are really narrow, and they don't have a lot of reach (they aren't real long). Building materials tend to be heavy, and if the pallet (or load) is wide, you may have lateral stability problems, as I did.

I have also found that the PT forks don't fit some standard pallets on center--at least those I have laying around here. They are too narrow, and the tines are interfered with by the center skids. In other words, the skids are too close together for the PT forks.

For use around our place, I built PT sized mini pallets. We use them a lot, but I would never count on being able to pick up an unknown load on an as yet unseen commercial pallet. It might work, but it might not.

The bottom line is simple. The PT-425/forks combo is really handy, and I have no qualms recommending the forks to a potential PT-425 owner, but it isn't the equal of a commercial forklift, and it must be used within its limitations.

And never forget the PT pucker that others have mentioned.

FWIW, I have hundreds of hours running commercial forklifts from when I was in the military, so I speak from some experience.

 

[tracdoc]

TBH

I was unable to determime from the thread whether your need to unload materials from a flatbed semi will be a short term requirement or a long term ongoing need.

IMHO, if it's short term need, you might be better off by renting/leasing a proper forklift or skid steer (e.g., a NH LS180, w/ 2700# lift capacity and a lift height of 6'+) to get the job done without the excitement of the PTP /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif> You can then choose the right unit to purchase, i.e., the one which will best satisfy your long term requirements for your 12 acres.

Good luck, and happy hunting...