tractor Forks help

[Dale1995]

I bought a JD 2320 this summer with a 200cx loader, and am now also wishing that a set of forks for this machine might come in handy for odd jobs around the house, my dilemma is that I don't know if I should go with 36" forks or 42" ones. I am going to buy the fork tines new on line from some dealer, (any suggestions) My John deere dealer wants about $850 dollars for a complete set up that will be a quick change with my loader bucket. I figure that I can build it for a lot cheaper and exactly what I am looking for. Since I am a Shop teacher and teach welding....I have the place to build this this winter. I only want to be able to pick up pallets with fire wood, or wood pellets. I am also thinking of build a new building to house my tractor and all it attachement and the forks would come in handy for lifting materials when I am building. I realize that the capacity of the loader is around 1000 pounds, therefore I don't need huge fork tines. I want to keep the fork assembly as light as possible so I can lift more things. Any ideals suggestions or pictures would be greatly appreciated.....I live in Caribou Maine and We just got 6" of snow this morning.....!!!

 

[kennyd]

I built mine from 2x3 box and some 1" round bar. I got the forks(42") from a local forklift company for $100, they where "out of spec" for forklift use. The hooks and pins for the JD QA system are available from JDParts for about $35.00.

 

[JB4310]

I would go for the longer ones as they come in handy for bulky stuff like brush handleing etc. or larger but lighter pallets.
Kenny did a great job on his, those one piece forks would be the perfect size to start with for a custom build.
I think I paid around a $1,000. for mine from the dealer, I have the 300 loader.
JB.

 

[kernal]

I got a set of Frontier forks for my 2320. Dealer only had he 48" forks in stock so that's what I got. I am not sure how much lighter the shorter forks are but the longer forks have come in very handy.

 

[Gizmo2]

Go with the 42"

 

[Sherweld]

Another vote for 42", it makes handling 4' pallets a bit more stable.

Also here's mine, where I built my own forks as well as the frame. They seem to do just fine in the load range you are in.http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/128844-quick-attach-pallet-forks.html

Sherweld

 

[Mighty Dodge]

Go with the 42's. I built mine. Got the frame with the forks at an equipment auction for $85. Got the hooks and pins from jd. They stay on the tractor all the time unless I specifically need the bucket.

M.D.

 

[Dale1995]

Well I broke down and did buy the 42" forks like you guys all suggested, I got them at budgetforklifts.com and they only cost me a little over $200 including shipping, the guy even threw in the shaft that will go through the eye of the fork (this is made of 4140 steel) the capacity of the forks it 900 lbs, the capacity of my loader is 899 lbs so I figured that would be perfect.....no use over engineering this.....it will only add excess weight. You guys say that I can get the hooks and pins to build this from my local John deere dealer, does anyone have the part number to make things easier? Thanks for all your help, keep those opinions and ideals coming!

 

[kennyd]

Here are the numbers, looks like the price went up A LOT though since I last bought mine!


W43359 HOOK, BUCKET ADD 20.25 USD
W47211 PIN, BUCKET ADD 24.30 USD



The pins are easy to make though if you have some 1" round bar.

 

[Trucker1]

I vote for the 42" forks too. Better to have too much than not enough.

Kenny, I paid nearly $55 for two QA hooks, and two pins a couple months ago.