Pallet Forks

cathy liebchen · May 31, 2022

The UA FROM Pallet forks.com or from skid steer depot

rScotty · May 31, 2022

4570Man said:
I think 60” forks would be a nuisance. They’re going to stick through the pallet a considerable distance and accidentally hit stuff on the other side. BTW, shingles are way heavier than they look and the M59 won’t lift a bundle.

Hmm... two guys that know tractors & both say stick with 48".... So I guess that settles it.
It never crossed my mind that the M59 wouldn't pick up a pallet of whatever. Now I wonder if palletized loads are standard weights?

A pallet of the shingles I'm looking at is said to weigh about 1800 lbs. That should be well within the M59's capabilities. I've carried 3200 lbs (30" concrete culvert section) on a chain that went over padding on the front of the bucket lip. So the weight was centered below the bucket lip. That's the max I've done. It had no problem lifting that load and traveling a few hundred yards - but I wouldn't do it again. I went slowly. Very slowly.
rScotty

4570Man · May 31, 2022

Captain Dirty said:
4570Man made the point: the extra length is likely to be more troublesome for most maneuvering. If I expected semi-regular need for longer forks I would probably spend the few hundred bucks for fork extensions; the aggravation of puncturing walls or whatever would quickly out-weigh the cost of the extensions..

If you need 60” forks you’d definitely realize it and it wouldn’t be a debate. Otherwise buy 48 or 42 ones.

4570Man · Jun 1, 2022

rScotty said:
Hmm... two guys that know tractors & both say stick with 48".... So I guess that settles it.
It never crossed my mind that the M59 wouldn't pick up a pallet of whatever. Now I wonder if palletized loads are standard weights?

A pallet of the shingles I'm looking at is said to weigh about 1800 lbs. That should be well within the M59's capabilities. I've carried 3200 lbs (30" concrete culvert section) on a chain that went over padding on the front of the bucket lip. So the weight was centered below the bucket lip. That's the max I've done. It had no problem lifting that load and traveling a few hundred yards - but I wouldn't do it again. I went slowly. Very slowly.
rScotty

A bundle of plywood is 3600 pounds or so. The M59 didn’t want anymore but it’ll do that. I can’t imagine any full pallet of shingles being 1800 pounds. A pallet of dimensional shingles is 4400 pounds and that’s a no from the M59.

rScotty · Jun 1, 2022

4570Man said:
A bundle of plywood is 3600 pounds or so. The M59 didn’t want anymore but it’ll do that. I can’t imagine any full pallet of shingles being 1800 pounds. A pallet of dimensional shingles is 4400 pounds and that’s a no from the M59.

4570Man said:
If you need 60” forks you’d definitely realize it and it wouldn’t be a debate. Otherwise buy 48 or 42 ones.

I agree on those numbers. The shingles I'm using are stone-coated metal type. They are much lighter.
Thanks. I'll get the 48". BTW, I didn't know there was such a thing as fork extenders...

jigs_n_fixtures · Jun 1, 2022

Bunks of plywood are a standardized weight, but palletized freight isn’t.

Smokeydog · Jun 1, 2022

The Bobcat pallet forks had a nice sticker chart on the guard noting the max lift VS distance on the tines. Sure drops off fast. Some loads I could curl lift to clear the ground or off the truck but couldn’t lift straight up.

Sometimes forking a pallet or stack is only time I turn off the soft ride FEL system because of the bounce. Carrying a load particularly steel on steel much smoother when on.

Rear implement ballast a must.

Emainiac · Jun 1, 2022

I have a set of 42" forks and regret not going to 48". Tough to see the tips of the forks when they are 42" and you are trying to align them with a pallet.

Check out Skid Steer Attachment Depot. I ordered from them and their prices and service are great.

Beaver Cove Deere · Jun 1, 2022

Titan owner here. 60's because I also lift snowmobiles. I use a pallet to put items onto and lift them onto my mezzanine in the garage for out of the way storage.