Forks Bucket Forks

[RichNJKubota]

I've been reading the posts about the bucket forks and decided this is what I need to move pallets - as opposed to the way I do it now by hooking a chain onto the object on the pallet and lift it with the FEL.
All the local dealers want at least $500 buckaroos for clamp on bucket forks.
The best price ($290 incl shipping) for light duty forks is from http://www.paynesforks.com/index.htm
Does anyone have any other options?
I live in NJ near PA and south of NY state.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[Bobm]

Rich-

The best place I found for bucket forks is A.B.C. Groff, Inc. at http://www.abcgroff.com/ic/fork.htm . You are close enough that you might be able to pick up your forks and save the shipping. Shipping however is not too pricey in that if you are looking at light duty (ie. 2000 lb rating) forks, they can be UPS’d quite reasonably.

If you don’t like the MDS forks ( I think they are the best value, and nearly identical if not identical to blue line and others), try these URL’s for other providers.
http://www.attachmentsintl.com/
http://www.bluelinemfg.com/
http://www.gearmore.com/

A word of caution though… clamp on forks can play havoc with lighter duty buckets. Something like the chain on forks from http://www.brbucketforks.com/index.html are more cumbersome to mount, but disperse forces more effectively. Of course, your best bet is to replace the bucket with true pallet forks… but then there’s that $$ thing again!

Good luck in your pursuit!

 

[gabby]

3 pt. hitch forks are best in my book for moving pallets. Mine is custom made with the forks set close together for pallets. I move pallets stacked high with 40 bags of shavings that way. I wouldn't even try it with bucket forks. I use it for round bales too.

All the 3ph fork lift attachments I see for sale are way too wide for pallets.

I've seen new nekkid spears for sale on ebay for about $50 each and they would be fine for a custom made 3ph pallet/round bale mover. I'm sure you could have one made for about the same $$ as the light duty $290 forks you're thinking about. If you're interested I'll take a picture of mine and post it.
Gabby

 

[KiotiJohn]

On Ebay:
bucket forks

More Ebay Forks

John

 

[OkieG]

<font color="blue"> 3 pt. hitch forks are best in my book for moving pallets </font> Yes, but.....

If loading/unloading a truck, a 3PH will not lift high enough. Loader forks will. At least this is true for my small tractor.

and,

Moving pallets with 3PH forks and no hydraulic toplink would make me lean real hard toward loader forks! An hyd. toplink makes all the difference in being able to enjoy using 3PH forks.

The big advantage to 3PH forks, in my mind, is that heavy loads are better tolerated by the rear axle. And that's an important advantage. I am fortunate to have both loader forks and 3PH forks. I choose the set best for the job. Having both is not completely redundant by any means.

Although it probably varies from one tractor model to another, my clamp-on loader bucket forks will actually lift a little more weight than the 3PH forks.

OkieG

 

[NHSawyer]

Rich,
I have a set of clamp on forks from Paynes and I think they are great. Mine are heavy duty. I use them to move logs and other things.
They are very rugged and can take abuse like pushing logs off the top of a dump truck. They clamp on nicely & stay clamped.
I think they are one of the best equipment buys I have made.

 

[RichNJKubota]

I'll give ABC Groff a call tomorrow. I buy New Holland parts and manuals from them.
Lots of good links and I'll check them out.
One question:
I see many of the light duty forks are around 36" long. All of my pallets are closer to 40-44". Will a fork that does not reach under the entire pallet work OK?

I don't need to lift more than 800 pounds so light duty will be fine as they seem to be rated for about 1000lbs depending on manufacturer.

The tractor does have remote hydraulics so maybe I should buy a 3pt fork and a top link cylinder. May be a good option for me as lifting real high is not needed 99% of the time.

 

[gabby]

"The tractor does have remote hydraulics so maybe I should buy a 3pt fork and a top link cylinder. May be a good option for me as lifting real high is not needed 99% of the time"


I don't use a hydraulic top link. You don't need it to move pallets. Plus, make sure the forks are close enough together because most pallets aren't very wide. Good luck.
Gabby

 

[RichNJKubota]

Good point about the width of the pallets. Most of the pallets I use are no wider than 31". I'll measure before I buy.
Thanks,
Rich

 

[shoppintractors]

Would forks like this work for you? They mount on a 2" pipe. There solid steel. Weigh 75 Lbs. each. My thoughts would be to weld tabs for a three point set up. Or fabricate some brackets to mount across the top of a bucket that would cradle a 2" pipe. I Picked them up from a scrap dealer for $50.

See attachment.

Don