Anyone drilled a hole in the end of a pallet fork

[TNhobbyfarmer]

To accept a trailer ball for moving trailers around? Sounds like a reasonable idea unless I'm missing something.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

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.

 

[flyerdan]

I've got holes in the tips, for a trailer ball and a big hook that you can chain to.

 

[Industrial Toys]

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.



Not sure I would want to drill a hole much larger than 5/8 though.

 

[goeduck]

I wished I had a hole in mine last weekend when my chain slipped at the wrong time.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I think forks, when steel on steel, beat she slipperyness of ice, hands down!

 

[CincyFlyer]

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.

 

[Stimw]

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.

 

[Redlands Okie]

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.

 

[Jstpssng]

My Titan forks came with holes in each fork.

 

[goeduck]

My Titan forks came with holes in each fork.

My Titans did not. Must have been an option?

 

[Xfaxman]

To accept a trailer ball for moving trailers around? Sounds like a reasonable idea unless I'm missing something.

A lot of better ideas: trailer ball for forks - Google Search

No wrench needed:

 

[bigtiller]

I put a 1 & 1/4 inch hole in the fork of a 4000 lb. rated forklift with an annular cutter in a mag drill. It went through like a 3/4 spade bit through a 2x4.

 

[Deere Dude]

A lot of better ideas: trailer ball for forks - Google Search

View attachment 566414


No wrench needed:


I made almost the same style, fits over both fork and has tube for stinger. Slide it on for the strength of both forks, chain to back plate and uses lever style load binder. On or off in a minute and very secure. The hardest chore for the setup is moving the forks into position.


Moving heavy loads using one fork IMO would tweak the fork.

 

[LD1]

Dont know about the whole legal vs not-legal thing. But will say that the towlift tech that works on our lifts at work....I specifically asked him about this.

His exact words were....drilled hole is okay. Torched or plasma cut holes....he is required to take lift out of service.

I have drilled many forklift forks. They are not as hard as people think. Really not much different than just drilling steel of similar thickness.

Figure out the size drill bit you want to use....pilot hole just slightly larger than the web of the drill (if chisel point)....then right to size. No problem at all.

 

[goeduck]

Dont know about the whole legal vs not-legal thing. But will say that the towlift tech that works on our lifts at work....I specifically asked him about this.

His exact words were....drilled hole is okay. Torched or plasma cut holes....he is required to take lift out of service.
.

I can image a fork failure on one side under an extreme tip load would be dangerous. Propagating cracks would come more from irregular holes.

 

[LD1]

I can image a fork failure on one side under an extreme tip load would be dangerous. Propagating cracks would come more from irregular holes.

And there is a big difference in drilling a hole for a ball to move a trailer....or for a pin to prevent something from sliding off

vs

hanging a shackle or clevis on there and lifting for all she's got

 

[Industrial Toys]

Oh, she's got more than that! And I am always mindful of fatique and possible failure at any time. As it sits, I have been doing that for about fifteen years with no sign of trouble.

I built the sleeve for the fork end with a 2" receiver. It's kind of sloppy despite adjustment bolts. A two fork thingie would be MUCH better. Depending on what you are pushing or pulling around, the single fork thingie is hard on the fork carrier.

THIS is a bit much for a single fork receiver.

 

[Ritothebull]

If the OSHA people ever saw some of the crazy stuff people do with forklifts they would probably outlaw them completely. :confused2:

 

[4570Man]

We’ve picked up forklifts with bigger forklifts usually because we got the little one stuck in the parking lot. We overload them and tip them forward pretty often ( all overloads are low to the ground where tipping forward is pretty much the only bad outcome) and using a pallet to change a shop light bulb is the “best” way.