What else do you do with forks besides lift pallets?

[Big Barn]

I made a set of independent forks for getting under things that are not flat on the ground:
View attachment 722491View attachment 722492

Picking up a RR tie that is at an angle to the ground:
View attachment 722493

Setting the angle of the forks by curling down:
View attachment 722494

Backed up and got under the tie:
View attachment 722495

Picked it up:
View attachment 722496

Curled up and raised for transport:
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Too slick X! Nice design and build. You are definitely hired. !

 

[civilian]

Found another use for my forks. Rolling up the garden hose and transporting it back to the garage. Jon

 

[bdhsfz6]

I screwed a piece of treated plywood to a pallet and use it as a portable workbench.

 

[sandman2234]

Buy them to resell at the very least... wish I could find a set for $300.

Wow, I was thinking $300 was on the high side, but I got mine in the deal with my tractor.
I located a used forklift, took the carriage and forks off the mast and added 3 pt hitch pins after welding 3 plates to it.
I use it on the tractor that doesn't have a loader, or when the loader won't pick up something due to weight. The 3 pt is a lot stronger!
David from Jax

 

[PILOON]

Wow, I was thinking $300 was on the high side, but I got mine in the deal with my tractor.
I located a used forklift, took the carriage and forks off the mast and added 3 pt hitch pins after welding 3 plates to it.
I use it on the tractor that doesn't have a loader, or when the loader won't pick up something due to weight. The 3 pt is a lot stronger!
David from Jax

I shopped with a friend for a while and the with majority the asking was $500. here in Canada.
That was merchants of used equipment and not private.

 

[CADplans]

I located a used forklift, took the carriage and forks off the mast and added 3 pt hitch pins after welding 3 plates to it.
I use it on the tractor that doesn't have a loader,

We have some apple orchards near us,,
one guy took the mast and forks off an old forklift, and mounted it to the FRONT of a mid 1950's CASE tractor.
I would guess the CASE is ~25-35HP,, He has forks on the rear also.

At harvest, he can move two giant boxes of apples, one front, one on the back,,
when out of the field, he loads the boxes on either a truck flatbed, or a 20 foot trailer.

 

[Torvy]

So if the rated capacity of the forks is 4000 lbs and the tractor is capable of 5300+ breakout force, does it follow that the tractor can lift (albeit not very high) around 5000 lbs? If so, would it be better to get forks rated up to 5500 lbs just to be safe? I am think that one use of the forks, for me, will be moving large logs (at least until I get a grapple). I am thinking that the tractor will give me some feedback if I start to push it too hard...maybe not the forks. I don't want to buy them twice.

 

[CADplans]

I am think that one use of the forks, for me, will be moving large logs (at least until I get a grapple).

Once you move a LARGE log with forks, you will never consider using a grapple to move the LARGE log.

The weight added by the structure of the grapple wastes the loader lift capacity.
In many cases, a set of forks will lift a log 1,000 pounds heavier than a grapple.

That is because the grapple weighs 1,000 pounds more than the forks.

Leave the grapple for moving lightweight, bulky, hard to handle brush, etc,, and do the heavy lifting with forks.

 

[ptsg]

Once you move a LARGE log with forks, you will never consider using a grapple to move the LARGE log.

The weight added by the structure of the grapple wastes the loader lift capacity.
In many cases, a set of forks will lift a log 1,000 pounds heavier than a grapple.

That is because the grapple weighs 1,000 pounds more than the forks.

Leave the grapple for moving lightweight, bulky, hard to handle brush, etc,, and do the heavy lifting with forks.

That's what most people who load log with loaders use here. Just the forks but with a clamp on and it allows to load more than one. The others typically use a logging trailer with a logging crane.

 

[Torvy]

That's what most people who load log with loaders use here. Just the forks but with a clamp on and it allows to load more than one. The others typically use a logging trailer with a logging crane.


View attachment 756292

Is the thumb/grapple arm a separate attachment or are they sold like that? I have seen some sold here with two arms, never one. Does it get in the way of loading pallets, or can it lift up out of the way?

what kind of tractors are those? I could not read the names.

 

[ptsg]

Is the thumb/grapple arm a separate attachment or are they sold like that? I have seen some sold here with two arms, never one. Does it get in the way of loading pallets, or can it lift up out of the way?

what kind of tractors are those? I could not read the names.

These are mounted solid but it's as simple as pulling the pins of the cylinder and the clamp out in order to keep just the forks.

The tractors are NH T4.90 Low Profile, if I remember correctly. I had these pictures saved for quite a while.

Here is another closer look at the forks:

 

[Wagtail]

I screwed a piece of treated plywood to a pallet and use it as a portable workbench.

Yep. I do that with my bale-spears as the separation between the spears matches a standard pallet.

Mind you, my bale-spear frame can be swapped for adjustable forks.

 

[California]

We have some apple orchards near us
one guy took the mast and forks off an old forklift, and mounted it to the FRONT of a mid 1950's CASE tractor.
I would guess the CASE is ~25-35HP,, He has forks on the rear also.

At harvest, he can move two giant boxes of apples, one front, one on the back,,
when out of the field, he loads the boxes on either a truck flatbed, or a 20 foot trailer.

I saw an old tractor front forklift attachment [mast and chain lift] for sale on Craigslist, and a few years ago my neighbor had one, plus rear forks, on an old Case or Ford. The builder plate on these showed made in NorCal. Most likely for the orchards.

Forks front and rear are used in the apple orchards here. The front forks can lift two filled bins, stacked, onto the haul truck. For this double lift a filled bin on the back is needed for ballast.

 

[Xfaxman]

Move 5x6 round bales.

The 6' long forks:

With a bale on them:

 

[RobertEH]

New Tractor owner - Got a set of forks and have not yet used them a lot. But I was able to palletize 170 gallons of water and move it around for storage (my loader has about 1600 lbs of lift - LS MT2 35)

I used them to lift my boat off the trailer so I could do trailer maintenance

And I used them to elevate my quad for an easier oil/filter change

 

[sixdogs]

Move 5x6 round bales.

The 6' long forks:
View attachment 756442

With a bale on them:
View attachment 756445

That is one heck of a versatile machine.

 

[Xfaxman]

That is one heck of a versatile machine.

Yep, mowing the lawn now in the airconditioned cab:

 

[SmallChange]

what kind of tractors are those? I could not read the names.

I was going to ask the same thing! The brand is New Holland, you can see the end of "Holland" on one. I *think* the one with forks plus clamp is an "orchard tractor", very compact and powerful. It'd be nice. Not sure though, not sure the model number.

 

[tmcj]

I just recently got a set of forks for my Max 26 XL. 1st task was to move a bunch of 8' picnic tables for our family reunion picnic. I used to move them by hand, then used straps with the bucket hooks and shackles, but the forks makes it so much easier. I'm sure they will be very handy to have around.

 

[dragoneggs]

With a bale on them:
View attachment 756445

No way! Are you coming or going? I'm a Libra... love the balance!