Pallet Fork Question

[DennisH]

Hi

I'm looking for a pallet fork for my 870 JD that has a 300X loader and will use this for light work around the house mainly while doing some landscaping this year. Can't imange I would be lifting anything heaver than 1000 lbs.

I ran across this pallet fork localy and the seller is asking $400, cheapest I have found is about $650 new.

What do you think about this?

 

[YesDeere]

Is that John Deere quick attach? Can't tell.


It also looks like it is not a fixed fork but a floating style. I lucked out and found a frontier set for 400 that are fixed and qa I also looked for a long time

 

[murphy1244]

Looks homemade, What kind of mount is it?

 

[DennisH]

Agree with the homemade part, the mount is for a 300X loader.

 

[murphy1244]

Offer him 300.00

 

[sdkubota]

Although the corner braces probably added strength, they also introduced a lot of heat into the bend area which isn't good. A 1000 lbs probably won't matter but as far as I am concerned the forks are now ruined. The angle braces also prevent the folks sliding all the way in so whatever you are carrying can vest on the back vertical portions. Probably isn't a bad deal and I might be making a mountain out of a molehill but that is my opinion.

 

[DennisH]

Although the corner braces probably added strength, they also introduced a lot of heat into the bend area which isn't good. A 1000 lbs probably won't matter but as far as I am concerned the forks are now ruined. The angle braces also prevent the folks sliding all the way in so whatever you are carrying can vest on the back vertical portions. Probably isn't a bad deal and I might be making a mountain out of a molehill but that is my opinion.

Good eye, I had not thought of that.

 

[sdkubota]

Not that good of eye because I just noticed the fork appears to not be bent at the bend. Every real set of forks I have seen has the bend noticeable...meaning the fork was a single piece of metal bent to create the 90 degrees. It leaves a noticeable round back of the fork. Those don't appear to have been bent by what I am seeing so perhaps completely welded together???

 

[DennisH]

sdkubota, I think you are correct.

 

[PapaPerk]

I would keep looking. Your machine QA?

 

[DennisH]

Yes, my loader is a QA 300X.

 

[Leejohn]

Pass, you well not like them when you use them.

 

[DennisH]

Pass, you well not like them when you use them.

What will I not like about it?

 

[JJZ 109]

What will I not like about it?

I think those free floating type of forks will always want to maintain "level" no matter how much you place them in the "dump" position. Not good if you need to tip your forks to get into anything or tip them to let something slide off. I have and prefer fixed.

 

[DennisH]

Thanks Todd.

 

[JJZ 109]

Thanks Todd.

You're welcome. I had an old set of Wifo (made in Canada) forks of that type. A) They were very heavy. B) They were of the type that you pictured. They behaved as I described above. I really didn't care for them. Sold 'em and went with the fixed type.

 

[PapaPerk]

I think those free floating type of forks will always want to maintain "level" no matter how much you place them in the "dump" position. Not good if you need to tip your forks to get into anything or tip them to let something slide off. I have and prefer fixed.

Exactly!

 

[arrow]

I also have rotating bar forks which I made myself. They have lifted everything I have asked that the fel allows. Stuff can slide off of them because the weight of the stuff keeps them pinned to the back bar until it slides off. You can pick up stuff as the weight of the forks also allow a slight tipping enough to get under. Mine cost $150 to make.

 

[arrow]

I'll try again

 

[C-Range]

Hi

I'm looking for a pallet fork for my 870 JD that has a 300X loader and will use this for light work around the house mainly while doing some landscaping this year. Can't imange I would be lifting anything heaver than 1000 lbs.

I ran across this pallet fork localy and the seller is asking $400, cheapest I have found is about $650 new.

What do you think about this?

Hi Dennis and All,

The closest thing to those forks selling for $400 are probably the HLA light duty ones. Maybe those are an older design of theirs. Personally, I wouldn't pay more than about $225-250 for those, especially given their outdoor condition. You would want to flip them over and look at the amount of rusting underneath/bottom. If they are homemade, all bets are off. You should be able to tell by how the pieces are cut or maybe the weld quality.

With your 300 loader, I would recommend you get something more substantial for your own safety. You might think you will only move light things, but inevitably you will rationalize this over time. Plus, your tractor doesn't know you only want to move light things. One accidental jerk of the joystick with a marginal load and you could twist them up like a pretzel, hopefully not hurting yourself in the process.

Regarding fixed vs floating forks, there is a some information about their differences here: Pallet Fork Design Comparison.

Good luck in your quest!