Bolt-on fork question

[Klipper]

I am looking at Titan Bolt-on bucket forks. Don't need them a lot except for moving brush and occasional lifting.

Not sure if the ones with the 30" forks are enough for lifting pallets or if I have to go with the ones that have the 43" forks.

Any opinions on which length is more useful? I was kinda leaning towards the shorter ones...

 

[robstaples]

Depends on your anticipated function. 30 inch will still lift a 42” pallet if the weight distribution is wide and depending on weight. The tips will rise (be lifted) into the deck of the pallet, if there is one. If it’s 200 lbs, it’s a not difficult situation, as if it’s 1200 lbs or more.
You’re probably limited by your bucket, 30” is my suggestion. Longer , my lead you to damage your bucket.

 

[CoyPatton]

You will lose lots of lift capacity as you get further in front of your bucket. I assume you have a pin on bucket, if so the clamp on forks are a easy way to lift light loads and carry brush. Unless your usage is huge brush piles where the extra length comes in to play, the 30” forks will limit what you try to pick up snd help to protect you bucket from getting the smiley face effect.

 

[Johnkn]

I purchased a set of bolt on forks, I used them 1 time for moving 3 pallets of brick/block. They are 'ok', but even though I will seldom use them, now i wish I had just purchased a SSQA fork attachment from Landpride, etc.

 

[Wyobuckaroo]

If I ever found a pair of clamp on forks, used at a VERY good price, I would use them as a place to start to construct homemade brush forks..

Otherwise to move pallets of firewood and boxes of books, I use quick attach forks..

 

[oldballs]

I went with a 42 inch clamp on fork set. Most of my volume lifting is doing tree limbs and associated brush. Lifting heavy "things" is usually loaded close to the bucket (pin on) . I wouldn't want to try lifting pallets of bricks with this set up.....at least not very often. Probably the capacity of the FEL would be exceeded anyway.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[shooterdon]

I had a set and they are tough to use on pallets...well at least for me. You cannot see what you are doing. OK if you have a "spotter" or a camera.

Lent them to a buddy after I got the LS and added SSQA. He bent them the first day moving large logs.

Get the shorter ones IMHO

 

[Klipper]

I only use the tractor about 15-20 hours a YEAR, and it is a Kioti 25hp CUT. So the forks won't be used to lift any super-heavy pallets. Probably mostly used to move brush, and maybe a medium weigh pallet load. Now that I consider it more, the longer ones might be better for what I want to do. Easier to see out there in front. ?

I know you can brace them with chains. Can you give them a little extra support just using ratchet straps?

 

[CoyPatton]

I only use the tractor about 15-20 hours a YEAR, and it is a Kioti 25hp CUT. So the forks won't be used to lift any super-heavy pallets. Probably mostly used to move brush, and maybe a medium weigh pallet load. Now that I consider it more, the longer ones might be better for what I want to do. Easier to see out there in front. ?

I know you can brace them with chains. Can you give them a little extra support just using ratchet straps?

If you can attach your straps to the forks and secure them to the bucket as well, sure you can.

 

[mcfarmall]

I only use the tractor about 15-20 hours a YEAR, and it is a Kioti 25hp CUT. So the forks won't be used to lift any super-heavy pallets. Probably mostly used to move brush, and maybe a medium weigh pallet load. Now that I consider it more, the longer ones might be better for what I want to do. Easier to see out there in front. ?

I know you can brace them with chains. Can you give them a little extra support just using ratchet straps?

Just for future reference and to make our replies more relevant, please put your tractor brand and model number under your eyeball picture where it says Tractor:

 

[r porter]

i had a set and i think you will be fine as long as you do what you say. mine done the job you want well.

i did upgrade because i wanted to do a lot more after i had them.

chain them!
get the stabilizer bar.

they need both.

 

[Johnkn]

i had a set and i think you will be fine as long as you do what you say. mine done the job you want well.

i did upgrade because i wanted to do a lot more after i had them.

chain them!
get the stabilizer bar.

they need both.

Yep, Mine have the stabilizer bar, seems though that mine want to loosen up after about 15 minutes of operation no matter how much I tightened them down.. I will sell mine and pick up a SSQA set of forks even for my seldom use, I'm too old to be fighting S..... Actually, perhaps not too old, just old enough with learned wisdom that I have NEVER been sorry for spending the $ for the correct lifetime tool.

I use my grapple to move brush/limbs/trees, I could not imagine trying to use bolt-on forks to move brush, etc.

 

[CoyPatton]

Yep, Mine have the stabilizer bar, seems though that mine want to loosen up after about 15 minutes of operation no matter how much I tightened them down.. I will sell mine and pick up a SSQA set of forks even for my seldom use, I'm too old to be fighting S..... Actually, perhaps not too old, just old enough with learned wisdom that I have NEVER been sorry for spending the $ for the correct lifetime tool.

I use my grapple to move brush/limbs/trees, I could not imagine trying to use bolt-on forks to move brush, etc.

If you have ssqa, I would never suggest bolt/clamp in forks. But without the ssqa, it can be a lengthy and sometimes painful ordeal to switch to pallet forks, when pins must be removed and reinstalled. Even replacing pins with bolts is only a moderate time saved. For those light duty jobs often the install on bolt on forks, completion of project and removal of forks is finished before the removal of the bucket is accomplished.

 

[r porter]

the chains kept mine tight all the time. i used a boomer and got them tight.

you could buy a ssqa plate and weld the forks you have to it.

i am thinking of a 3 inch receiver tube welded to the plate and a 2 inch tube welded to the fork to go up in the 3 inch tube with a pin to hold it.

several 3 in could be put on the plate to move the forks wider or narrower. or you could add extra forks for a 4 prong brush mover.