Loader Lightweight pallet forks for 200X & 200CX loader

[C-Range]

I would like to hear your comments for attaching an iMatch quick hitch to your frame. How do you feel this would best be accomplished?

This might even benefit from a separate post, Lightweight iMatch for JD 200/300/400 loaders.

Hey dmay,

I'm sorry for not being responsive, as well to anyone else who posed a question that has gone unanswered. I've been very very busy just trying to get this current design marketted. I'd definitely be interested in looking into your idea, but I'll need some time. Keep bugging me and be patient. Thanks much for bringing your idea to the forum.

Regarding the pallet forks, I have a couple of updates to mention:

1- Placing an order only requires submitting 50% down and the balance around the time of shipment. This is mainly due to the fact that shipping will vary from person to person depending on where you live and what you are getting (yay). The other reason is that I am still pursuing other quotes for the waterjet and if I can possibly get the cost down further, I will subtract it from the balance.

2- On the subject of shipping, I fully welcome anyone who wants to pick their goods up instead of having them shipped to do so. I am in central Massachusetts, 20 minutes from Worcester.

2- The current quote I have for the waterjet plates includes steel that is 25% stronger than the design specifies. This steel also has no mill scale and therefore requires little or no preparation to weld or paint. The waterjet cutter had it in stock and kindly offered it for less money than the more common structural steel I specified (and used to build mine).

Now, since this thread has ground to a halt since I posted costs, it appears some might have been expecting the cost to be less. This is low volume manufacturing and custom work. It wasn't cheap for me either. I only added pennies on the dollar for my engineering & design time and as little as I can stand to charge for losing my own free time to welding. I got waterjet pricing based on the amount of interest being expressed and I am not doing this for any reason other than to share. If ten people buy plates, I make $300. You can do the math. It's hardly worth my time if I were trying to make a bunch of money from this but I have to get something for my work.

Anyway, that's enough of that. Time for me to go relax and enjoy the long weekend by working on building a stone wall.... Here are a few more pictures.

 

[belltech64]

Chris, I've been looking on ebay for the forks. But I'm not finding what I think I'm looking for. Can you help? Thx. Rod

 

[belltech64]

To all & Chris, never mind the above question. I found the answer in the previous messages. My apologies to all. Chris, by the way, I didn't find the prices out of line. Thx. Rod

 

[dmay]

Hey dmay,

I'm sorry for not being responsive, as well to anyone else who posed a question that has gone unanswered. I've been very very busy just trying to get this current design marketted. I'd definitely be interested in looking into your idea, but I'll need some time. Keep bugging me and be patient. Thanks much for bringing your idea to the forum.

No worries. This is all volunteer free time with no expectations on anyone.

Now, since this thread has ground to a halt since I posted costs, it appears some might have been expecting the cost to be less.

I applaud you for creating your unique product. What you have shared is your cost to build and ship. This has to be compared to the marketplace. Everything Attachments offers JD pallet forks at $735, 220lbs, free US shipping:

42" John Deere Compact Pallet Forks

 

[RollTideRam]

These forks look very good. Have you thought about adding an upright to the carriage? Something to support the load from falling. JC

 

[ttolhurst]

I applaud you for creating your unique product. What you have shared is your cost to build and ship. This has to be compared to the marketplace. Everything Attachments offers JD pallet forks at $735, 220lbs, free US shipping:

Currently unavailable, it should be mentioned. And 40 pounds more.

 

[Artesia Aggie]

I'm sorry for asking a question that I am sure has been already answered, but for a set of forks that are as finished as is possible what are you charging? I have been looking at forks for my JD 2520. Thanks. If you want to PM me please feel free

 

[dmay]

I'm sorry for asking a question that I am sure has been already answered, but for a set of forks that are as finished as is possible what are you charging? I have been looking at forks for my JD 2520. Thanks. If you want to PM me please feel free

Pricing was answerd in post#28 attachments, which I believe stated finsihed/painted @ $790 + shipping.

 

[C-Range]

I applaud you for creating your unique product. What you have shared is your cost to build and ship. This has to be compared to the marketplace. Everything Attachments offers JD pallet forks at $735, 220lbs, free US shipping:

Hey dmay and everyone,

Yep, I know those forks. They're about the best thing going out there that I saw commercially. The key word is commercially. I'm one guy building somewhere between 5-30 of them. This is one reason why I am trying to encourage those who are able to weld to get the plates and build their own set. That way it costs you $500 instead of their $750 and you get a terrific set of pallet forks!

In fairness, I do like the lighter weight of my design better, but they do have a fence on theirs, so there's the trade off. I have full respect for EA's place in the market. I'm just the kind of person who would rather pay $500 and do some of the work instead of $750, but that's just me.

These forks look very good. Have you thought about adding an upright to the carriage? Something to support the load from falling. JC

Yes, but for my needs, I'd rather have the weight reduction (see pictures below). One could certainly be added for others if desired and I'd be happy to work with you to get it done.

Pricing was answerd in post#28 attachments, which I believe stated finsihed/painted @ $790 + shipping.

Yep, the painting is expensive. It's labor intensive and time consuming. If I were building 4 or 5 of them at once, I could get the painting cost way down but these prices are based on doing one. I'd be more than happy to return a discount to all involved on the second 50% if it works out that I end up painting several at once. Heck, I could do better on much of the other pricing if I were doing several at once, and I guarantee that I would.

Okay I think that's all the questions. Now for some new 'dirt'. I had an absolute blast today using the forks to rebuild a stone wall. This was an existing wall that was penetrated long ago. I was just trying to restore what I could get back to original. Some of the stones were missing but I closed the gap as much as possible. Most of these stones were far too large to move by hand, nevermind lift. And the pallet forks were an absolute BOON for the job on that amazing little 2305. I am truly privileged to have this equipment.

 

[VABlue]

Very nice looking work! I'll take option #2, please... No sense in dorking with special welding requirements when I can barely spell 'welding' to begin with!

And don't worry about making a little money, you deserve it for the time and effort you put in. Nothing worth having is going to be cheap, or we could have found these forks at HF!