Anyone drilled a hole in the end of a pallet fork

   / Anyone drilled a hole in the end of a pallet fork #1  

TNhobbyfarmer

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 23, 2004
Messages
1,185
Location
Middle Tennessee
Tractor
Kubota L3430 Polaris Ranger 500
To accept a trailer ball for moving trailers around? Sounds like a reasonable idea unless I'm missing something.
 
   / Anyone drilled a hole in the end of a pallet fork #2  
Yes, I have a hole in the end of my pallet fork. I will attach a shackle and use it with a chain to lift things.
 
   / Anyone drilled a hole in the end of a pallet fork #3  
I've got holes in the tips, for a trailer ball and a big hook that you can chain to.
 
   / Anyone drilled a hole in the end of a pallet fork #4  
MANY of the forks available around here for a couple hundred bucks were condemned and not allowed in service because of the hole in the end. Same for drawing weld lines across the tips so things don't slip off as easy.

Anyway, for us, it's great. I also carry an eye bolt, forged, maybe 5/8 with a grab hook and a wing nut so I can attach it quickly.

Here is a picture of the hook.

DSC04624.JPG DSC04624B.jpg

Not sure I would want to drill a hole much larger than 5/8 though.
 
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   / Anyone drilled a hole in the end of a pallet fork #5  
I wished I had a hole in mine last weekend when my chain slipped at the wrong time.
 
   / Anyone drilled a hole in the end of a pallet fork #6  
I think forks, when steel on steel, beat she slipperyness of ice, hands down!
 
   / Anyone drilled a hole in the end of a pallet fork #7  
We had that on a fork when I worked at a marina, and we only put that fork on to move trailers (as the ball never left it!) But my pallet fork attachment also has a 2" receiver, so no need.
 
   / Anyone drilled a hole in the end of a pallet fork #8  
I will suggest that you make a box/tube to slip over the end of the fork with the ball on the end.
Then drill a 3/8" hole through it and the fork to pin it to the fork but make it easy to remove.
You can drill the fork but it takes a lot of pressure, slow speed, good bit and start with small bit. A drill press would help.
Also a fork with a hole is not acceptable with OSHA or any inspecting agency.
 
   / Anyone drilled a hole in the end of a pallet fork #9  
Several places around here have a rectangular tubes for each fork. A couple cross braces connect them tighter at the standard fork width for their operations. The crosspieces have a ball welded to it on one end. The other end that the forks slides into has a short chain and hood on the cross piece that they use to hook to the fork carriage to keep the assembly from sliding off. That way no modifications are done to the forks.
For those of us not getting inspected, the hole in the end for a ball would probably work fine. Just keep in mind that depending on how your forks are built you may not want to pull to hard.
 
   / Anyone drilled a hole in the end of a pallet fork #10  
My Titan forks came with holes in each fork.
 
 

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