Forks Forks, spear, or combo?

[kjg26]

I'm looking to purchase a set of forks and. Hay spear. Or a combo. Or just forks. At this time I'm having someone cut the fields for hay but I'm having to move the bales. So my first thought was... hay spear....then I thought a set of forks would be useful in countless ways...then I stumbled across a combo unit.

So the question is...can a set of forks be used as effectively as a hay spear? Should I save a few bucks and just get forks and make them work for the hay? Or spend the couple hundred more and get a combo unit?

 

[goeduck]

I would suggest you get the Titan forks/spear combo. They have many, one of which is below

https://www.palletforks.com/skid-st...t-with-spears-rack-and-hitch-made-in-usa.html

 

[Wagtail]

A combination is the way to go... one where you can swap between either the spears or the forks for the job at hand.

I wouldn't recommend trying to save a few $'s by just using pallet forks on a bale of hay as it's too unstable for a long distance move, over uneven ground.

The right tool for the job is always better.

 

[ning]

Disclaimer: I don't have, or need, a bale spear.

If your fork usage, or the bale spear usage, is only occasional, I can see a combo working out.

I personally would not care to remove or replace forks into the carrier on a daily basis; they're ungainly and heavy (I dislike even adjusting their spread) - if you need to use both daily or even every other day, I'd get two separate units so the swap is painless and takes 15 seconds.

 

[goeduck]

I would suggest you get the Titan forks/spear combo. They have many, one of which is below

https://www.palletforks.com/skid-st...t-with-spears-rack-and-hitch-made-in-usa.html

Note that the model I referenced also accepts a 2” receiver hitch. So the frame has 3 uses, forks, bale spear and receiver hitch.

 

[jimmychew]

I've used both. Forks are best.

 

[gsganzer]

I would suggest you get the Titan forks/spear combo. They have many, one of which is below

https://www.palletforks.com/skid-st...t-with-spears-rack-and-hitch-made-in-usa.html

I have the similar Titan model in 42". Get the 48" if it fits your tractor. The only improvement would be if the spear and stabilizers would store on the frame when they're not being used. I might weld up some things on mine to do exactly that.

 

[duramaxsky]

Disclaimer: I don't have, or need, a bale spear.

If your fork usage, or the bale spear usage, is only occasional, I can see a combo working out.

I personally would not care to remove or replace forks into the carrier on a daily basis; they're ungainly and heavy (I dislike even adjusting their spread) - if you need to use both daily or even every other day, I'd get two separate units so the swap is painless and takes 15 seconds.

I need to remove the forks a lot to use the receiver to move trailers. I made the removal slot on the bottom a little wider. Just put them together in the center and set them down on a level surface. Tilt forward a little and lower a little. Then back out. Putting them on is the opposite. No lifting.. tilt forward after moving past the slot and they slide easier.

 

[Birdhunter1]

Pallet forks are one of those items that will make you wonder how you ever got by without them, I would say 98% of the time my loader is on the tractor the forks are on it. When it comes to moving hay yes you might be able to do it with pallet forks but there is nothing to keep a bale from rolling back if you lift it high, there is nothing to keep it from falling off, and when-if you stack 3 bales in a pyramid you will likely tear apart the lower bales when you go to pick the top one.
Bale spears on the pallet fork frame are much more useful. They way I built mine is I have two bushing welded into the frame that accepts bolt in bale spears, when the spears are out the bushings are there and not in the way. The forks themselves all I have to do is slide them to the middle and they lift off the frame. FYI-- bale spears tend to bend or break when using them like pallet forks and lifting heavy things.

 

[duramaxsky]

My pallet fork frame is a Frontier. I saw a Titan one on our dock this AM. The slot in them is already large enough to put the forks in the center and tilt out of them. I had to slightly lengthen mine to do that.

 

[duramaxsky]

Also my tractor is a forklift more than anything else. They are the most useful attachment I have for my needs. I have never dug anything with the backhoe. But it picks up logs real well. It has a thumb that is real handy. But if I need it I have it. I also use the brush mower. Come winter I will plow snow with the back blade. It's a very versatile and useful little machine. Much better than my old grey market Mitsubishi with a loader with a bucket and a homemade fork attachment. And a rototiller I never used for anything but a counter weight. Probably can't justify the cost with my needs. The old one was getting me by. Just not as well. But I can afford it and the little lady was okay with buying it so who cares. And she will use this one. She never even sat on the old one. Because of the manual transmission and no power steering.

 

[kjg26]

I have the similar Titan model in 42". Get the 48" if it fits your tractor. The only improvement would be if the spear and stabilizers would store on the frame when they're not being used. I might weld up some things on mine to do exactly that.

Thanks everyone for the responses. I know I'll use the heck out of the forks. Just didnt know if I could go without the spear. It will not be a daily back and forth swap so that's of little concern. Why 48 over 42?

 

[ning]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I know I'll use the heck out of the forks. Just didnt know if I could go without the spear. It will not be a daily back and forth swap so that's of little concern. Why 48 over 42?

I put a lot of thought into 42 vs 48 before getting my forks.

I think it comes down to, what you're going to use them for.
42 will do fine for most pallets, especially for smaller tractors where you're probably going to have to pile heavy stuff closer to the loader anyways, so having a few unsupported inches at the end won't matter.

I use mine a lot for moving brush piles, and I'm really glad I went with 48's and if I find a cheap set of extensions I'd happily get some as the fewer trips I make the better (though it's pretty tough to see around a big load of brush and I'm lousy at driving far in reverse!). For my brush carrying, 42's would definitely decrease my load size significantly.

Personally, given the loader capacity of your tractor and its (somewhat) larger physical size, I'd go with 48's unless you have serious clearance problems around your place.

If I'm not carrying something in mine, I find the forks tough to see when they're down low, so I usually tilt the loader up and raise the forks a bit so that the tips are in my line of sight to avoid hitting anything.

 

[goeduck]

One downside to longer forks is simply maneuvering them, you need to back out farther to get free of the load. But they do allow you to carry a longer load.

 

[Wagtail]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I know I'll use the heck out of the forks. Just didnt know if I could go without the spear. It will not be a daily back and forth swap so that's of little concern. Why 48 over 42?

And that's why I recommend the 'combo'. I'm the opposite to you, and duramazsky... my bale spikes are constantly on my FEL. Occasionally I'll need to swap to the forks.

But I can.

 

[gsganzer]

Why 48 over 42?

Better versatility with the 48". It's amazing how many things people build to 48". Deer blinds, dog houses etc. Just makes things like that easier to move.