Pallet fork add on for bucket?

[Blk88GT]

I've found that I've been buying large items lately, most come on a pallet. Nothing overly heavy, but I can't help but think.

Has anyone made a set of pallet forks that can somehow mount up to the bucket and be removed easily? The 3ph is useless to me in this case as I normally haul the load in my truck, or my trailer and need to remove it from there.

The recent item was a ~300lb air compressor, and I had to get some buddies to drive out to my place to help me unload it.

Anyone tried something like this?

 

[4sarge]

I have a QA on my tractor to replace the bucket with pallet forks. Very handy to have and pallet forks are also useful for moving large logs, boulders etc. I have palletized items in the barn and use the tractor to move them around instead of rearranging all by muscle power. Glad that I have mine

 

[art]

There are numerous companies that already make units as you described. Some attach with a large screw plate that tightes onto the bottom of the bucket, others use a chain over the back and a turnbuckle or chain binder to secure them to the bucket.

The problem is with the blockage of the bucket to the load you are trying to spear! You will often need a guide to cut your frustration.

 

[Blk88GT]

Art, what companies make such an animal?

 

[hazmat]

Nothern tool sells paynes but really the way to go (if you can afford it) is a skid steer quick attach & dedicated fork frame.

I just lifted 16 sheets 3/4 ply + 5 sheet 1/2 ply + poplar boards ~1,500# with my B3030 (rated at 900# in bucket). It only went up 1 or 2 feet, but got the load from my driveway to the walk out basement (rear of house). I probably would have broken something with clamp on forks, not to mention they push the load further out front & I likely wouldn't have been able to lift it.

I took a picture, I'll upload soon...

 

[LBrown59]

Art, what companies make such an animal?

Paynes :
I have a set of their clamp on forks for my BX23.
Would not give them up for 5 times what I paid for them.
Have plans for using the same concept to hang a mower off to the side for mowing out over ditches and banks.

 

[frwinks]

here's a pic of my set up from this weekend.. they're old forklift forks attached to the bucket via a couple of tabs, solid plate in the center and slide on 1 5/8" solid 4340 bar. Came in handy this weekend, that's for sure

 

[bota7800]

There are always a couple of companies fighting it out on eBay offering forks. They also have ratcheting load binders to attach them but I found a better price on the binders at Harbor Freight. They have been very useful but as mentioned, visibility is a problem. I just stand up a couple times to see and align the load.

If you know how to weld they are pretty straightforward.

Hazmat, that is pretty impressive. As I am sure you know, you cannot lift as much away from the pin location as you can at it. I was unable to lift a 600 or so pound pallet from a truck with my B7800 which I thought was a budget version of your machine.

 

[gotrocks]

Here is how I have mine set up.
Got a set of regular forks, weld 2x4 steel tube to the top then weld the "brackets". Cut 2x4 stud to stick into top of tubes.

Set forks on the ground, curl the bucket all the way down, ease up to the forks, set the top/curl of bucket under the brackets, "un curl" the bucket and the forks are ready to use.

This arrangement allows me to change the space between the forks as needed.

 

[hazmat]

...

Hazmat, that is pretty impressive. As I am sure you know, you cannot lift as much away from the pin location as you can at it. I was unable to lift a 600 or so pound pallet from a truck with my B7800 which I thought was a budget version of your machine.

My QA pallet forks move the load ~18" closer to the lift pins vs. clamp on forks which makes a huge difference. Also I have the added benefit that the fork frame weighs less than the bucket.