Pallet forks on your FEL

[jhortonvt]

I'm having a new home built and plan on getting a few things (like log siding) shipped in on pallets. I have a 4310 w/ a 300cx and I'm interested in getting some pallet forks for the loader.

My questions are:
Do they just clamp on to your FEL bucket?
About how much do they cost?
Does anyone have any pics of forks on their FEL?

It would be very convenient to move the stuff around on their pallets vs loading an unloading them to move.

 

[jhortonvt]

Well I put the cart before the horse here and did a search AFTER I posted my questions. I'm a little more enlightened now.

I think I have a ballpark idea on the price and I've PM'd a couple who bought or sell them.

And from what I've seen they have their own brackets for the loader arms, but I'm still curious if anyone makes a set that just attaches to your bucket.

 

[bobbyjak]

Do a search on E-bay for "Pallet Forks"..There are a bunch out there..

 

[beenthere]

I gather you have considered the Deere forks and decided you don't want to go that route. You will have more lift capacity with the Deere forks, IMO, as the lift points will be closer to the tractor.

Mine are quite handy to quickly drop and pick up, in exchange with the bucket, compared to the bucket clamped ones. But they are a bit more expensive. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[kennyd]

For the loads you are thinking of picking up, I would definitely not recommend the clamp on the bucket forks. It puts the load way to far in front of the tractor, a you will have a very hard time seeing them over the bucket.

JD makes a nice set of forks that quick-attaches in place of the bucket, takes less that a minute to change over.

I made my own last year, they are very handy to have.

 

[jgbanshee]

How much $$$ are the JD forks?

 

[EquipmentJunkie]

Kennyd is correct. For the type of loads that you will likely be moving and your loader's size, do not consider clamp-on forks.

The combination of clamp-on forks, heavy skids of precious building materials, uneven ground at a jobsite and a lower capacity loader can result in costly spills or mistakes.

Dedicated forks are the way to go. The quick attach on the 300CX makes changing to forks easy.

 

[bczoom]

Justin,

I don't have a 4310 nor the FEL forks but have you checked the tractor/loader capacity vs. what you plan on lifting, especially at the heights you need?

Brian

 

[beenthere]

That's a good recommendation, and I assumed jdhortonvt had that covered.
I was a bit surprised how much some of the pallets can have stacked on them, and when unloading shingles from a truck, I learned I didn't have the capacity needed.
Doing some preliminary testing of pallet loads and weights would be a good idea.
On the other hand, I am surprised how much green oak firewood I can load on a pallet and move around. I find the pallet forks very handy. There would be an endless number and variety of tasks when building a new home that the forks could be used for. Having a 'box' to move supplies, and to use as a 'scaffold' or 'work platform' are among the many things.


Am not sure of the cost. But don't recall that it was out of line for similar quality attachments. The adjustable fork tines are great, and can be moved out to easily balance a long log, or moved to the middle to grub out rocks and stumps. Can actually drive them into the ground by a rock and pop it out and carry it away.

 

[rmonio]

Justin -

I priced out the forks from both JD and some other vendors - and agree with the others that you should get the forks that mate to the quick attach on the FEL (more strength, stabillity, etc.). On my JD4600/460FEL, I went with Horst Welding's forks (sold through my local JD dealer for roughly $575) as they were less than the Deere models and had a reasonable lift/load capacity for what I wanted. The forks are adjustable, handle about the same load as the Deere model and quick attach just as fast. I've noticed however that their load factor is actually a bit more than what they advertise - and they are cheap to replace if they get bent too much. I have built boulder walls, lifted large boxes, hay, etc., with them and they have worked fine for me.

Good luck! I really used the forks during my fence building escape recently (1300ft) so it was indeed a good purchase for me. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Take care.

-Bob