What can $320 and about 10 hours of time get you?

[bikerdib]

I know, there are a lot of answers here (some could probably get you arrested). :laughing:

But in my case, over the last weekend it got me an almost complete pallet fork set up for my B3300. I ordered the forks and slide rails from Skid Steer Express and then went to a nearby steel warehouse and purchased the other steel (3 X 5 X 1/4 inch angle, 3/16 X 2 inch flat, 2,1/4 X 2,1/4 X 1/4 inch square tubing, 1 inch, schedule 80 tubing and 2 X 2 X 3/16 angle). Included in that $320 cost are the 7018 welding rods and the paint.

I had recently added a Kubota Quick Coupler to my LA504 loader so I decided I could save lots of cash by building the fork carrier myself. Quotes for a carrier and forks set up to match the Kubota Quick Coupler ranged from $800 to over $1000 and that didn't even include the shipping cost.

I say it's almost complete because I sprayed it with primer on Sunday but I need to spray the Kubota orange (the forks are black) sometime in the next couple of days. I spray something this large under my carport so the wind is going to be the determining factor.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Sounds like well spent time and money. :thumbsup:
Show us a picture if you can. That way we can steal some of your good ideas on how to build stuff.

gg

 

[bikerdib]

I'll get some pics up after I get the pretty Kubota orange on it.

 

[grsthegreat]

ohh, i was thinking about laying out 800 for a set of QA forks. im interested. what is the weight rating on the forks you purchased??

 

[crash325]

ohh, i was thinking about laying out 800 for a set of QA forks. im interested. what is the weight rating on the forks you purchased??

About $50 worth of scrap iron, some welding rod and maybe 12 hours and you got it done. No UPS or extras.

My forks go on and off, including dropping the bucket in less than 3 minuets. Unlatch the bucket, back out, drive into forks, and latch them on. If the job is very far way, pick up the bucket and drive away.

I have picked up 2,000 pounds with these. Load has to be all the back at that weight or the tractor will not lift it.

 

[bikerdib]

crash325, you are lucky; it appears you have the skidsteer type setup. I have the Kubota proprietary Quick Coupler and finding matching implements is not easy and when you do, they are usually more expensive.

It took a lot of measuring and re-measuring to make sure the 4 pins lined up on my fabrication.

grsthegrate, the forks I got are 36" and are rated for 2300 lbs. They sell the forks plus top and bottom slider rail or they will sell just the forks for around $150. To me, it was worth an extra $60 to get the two rails because they are hardened steel. Plus they already have the notches precut.

The website doesn't give a phone number but if you email them they respond very quickly. For the three emails I sent, I got a response in less than 30 minutes. They also shipped my order the same day; and for free.

Skid Steer Attachments Pallet Forks Hay Spears Bobcat Cat John Deere Mount Plate

 

[TDVT]

Thanks for the info. The kit you got is really reasonably priced, wish I had found that set-up a while back.

While looking at their other stuff I found this:

3PT RECEIVER HITCH


I don't think I could build that for $88, & that price includes shipping.

 

[grsthegreat]

skid steer express has a nice loader mount receiver bracket....kind of like the one i was planning on making myself. i haven't priced out the steel on my design yet, but if this one is close to the cost , i may buy it.

i made one for my last tractor, and it worked great. i need to make one for my new tractor to house a 2" and a 2-5/16" ball so i can move my trailers and my 5th wheel trailer with the front loader.

my 5th wheel horse trailer has a tongue weight of 1500#, so my loader can move it without an issue.

way easier than the 3 point receivers.

 

[bikerdib]

Right now it's hanging on my shop hoist in my garage, painted primer red. The lighting in the garage is not that good and it's rainy and windy today. I hope the weather improves so I can paint the finish coat Wednesday or Thursday. I'll take some pics then.

 

[tratliff]

This is what $240 and about 20 hours got me last weekend. I am always struggling with having the right tool with me when I take off across the land with my tractor and also looking for a way to water tree transplants that are not close enough to my water supplies. This should be able to do both and helps me get some welding experience. As you can tell this is still a work in progress but you get the basic idea. It attaches to my iMatch and also has a 2 " receiver on the back.