I went to my dealer but he didn't have any forks, so called around and found some 70 miles away. I needed them at the time to unload metal for my building. The ones I bought are 48 inches. The frame is all galvanized and seems to be holding up fine. I use them for everything, like branches and once to break a tire bead. I used them once to put up purlins up in the building by strapping on to the top. Worked perfectly.
I have 42" forks for my tractor, but I bought them during COVID when nobody had any inventory, I was just happy to get what I could and had to order them from Messicks and have them shipped across the country because my dealer couldn't/didn't seem to interested in getting the stuff I ordered with my tractor. It was excuse after excuse it seemed with him. So I said screw it and ordered them from Messicks....the forks are for a compact tractor though, so they're a bit heavier than what my sub-compact tractor really should have but they get the job done for the most part. I wish I could get 36" forks as the 42" forks are a bit overkill sometimes for what I move around most of the time its smaller stuff so the shorter forks would work fine, especially for the smaller tractor and smaller pallets I built for it. I've used my pallet forks to move tree branches and brush around too, yeah a grapple would be great, but not for the ridiculous cost of them plus shipping, pallet fork shipping was bad enough and that was with having them shipped to a freight terminal and then I had to drive 40 miles one way to get them and come back home LOL. I bought a log splitter this past summer and had it shipped to the house. Course it was shipped by a freight company, so it had to be unloaded from a semi trailer. The truck driver was sure happy to see me sitting there with the tractor when he pulled up. He backed in the driveway, opened the trailer door, I picked the crate up with the pallet forks and away he went...he wasn't even here for 5 minutes and he was unloaded and gone. Being able to receive large, bulky, and heavy items at home and be able to unload out of a semi truck is a game changer.
I agree that forks are a definite must. Some thoughts: Get the forks that are attached top and bottom so you can pitch the forks down. The other kind that are only attached at the top, and float at the bottom limit the usefulness. To make adjusting the forks side to side easier, tilt the loader down until the forks are hanging only on the top rail. This way you’re not fighting the weight of the fork on the bottom rail and binding as you try to slide it.
I got a set of ultralight Hardox pallet forks to maximize my JD1025R lift capacity (from Everything Attachments just before they went crazy - hope they get it back together). Definitely my most used attachment. Everything from offloading delivery trailers & trucks to retrieving deer off the back hill. Great for gathering logs to harvest for firewood as well. Even bringing my 200 lb portable generator over alongside the house last month during a power outage. Moves pallets, too!
Another way of taking off the forks is after sliding the forks to the center and then put a 4x4 on the ground let down the forks then back up. I know this works because I drove a forklift for close to 38 years.
I use my pallet forks a lot! I have 42" and they work great for just about everything. I believe fork extensions are available or just fabricate your own if you have the know how for longer reach.
We went with Precision adjustable add a grapple for our forks. Great with round bales and moving things around with pallet forks with th grapple jist all the way up. It is a pricey option, but we have a lot of flexibility in just one attachment.
I will concur that pallet forks are my most used loader attachment. Here is some feedback. To make your forks easier to slide, you don't need grease which is messy and attracts dirt. Simply raise the loader and point the forks to the ground keeping the tips off the ground. Release the lock pin and the forks will slide across the frame MUCH easier. Also, the bolts you referred to on the spear and the fangs are not 3/4" and 9/16" bolts. They are 1/2-13 and 3/8-16 bolts which require a 3/4" and 9/16" WRENCH respectively.
I thought I would use the bucket most when I bought my tractor. Nope. Pallet forks. I bought a good set made here in Knoxville TN. I have a couple of nice plastic pallets. It is amazing for moving bagged mulch, etc around our property. They really help installing and removing the 5th wheel hitch from my truck! No more strained back.
Love my clamp on bucket forks! I'm probably not done inventing ways to use them, but over the summer I lifted and set 18' 6x6 heavy wet pressure treated posts for my barn build with them. I clamped my forks on close together and used a choker chain to hoist and carry the posts. The best part was that after I dropped them in the hole, I could get them vertical on both planes by adjusting the bucket, tapping the slightly loose forks, and adjusting the chain until everything was held perfectly in place, then placing the concrete around the posts. (Setting posts that size has never been a 1 man job until I got my bucket forks.) Of course, wet pressure-treated timbers will do whatever they want to do after that, bowing and twisting every which way until all your precision work was for nothing. 😆 I don't have the back to lift the big round bale rings when they're still partially full, and I need to put out fresh bales. But those forks on the bucket make it easy. Also, my plan for the future is to build firewood pallets and modify my covered porch railings so they easily lift up for temporary removal. I can use my forks to set my firewood pallets on the porch instead of jockeying a trailer into position to unload firewood one piece at a time, then stacking it. My forks are going to end that dreaded chore. I was a little worried about the forks over-stressing the lower pan of the bucket, possibly bending it or causing stress cracks at the outside lower corners of the bucket. For that reason, I use ratcheting load binders hooked onto the top of the bucket and down to the forks to share the load.
I have a subcompact Deere. The clamp on forks work great and you don’t sacrifice lift capacity much at all and a fraction of the price of a full set of forks.
That 2 in one system just frustrates me watching it! I rather have the two separate loader attachments than fiddle around with taking forks and tines off. The older I get the worse my back feels after something like that. What I am actually after now is adding electric or hydraulic to my handles on the quick coupler so I can get implements on and off the loader from the seat like the skid loaders have now days. I find if I have to get on and off the tractor more than a few times a day my back starts to bother from the climbing and twisting.
I tend to agree. I've got a fork/bale spear combo that I made myself. I already had a hay spear and I came up with a carriage and forks off a small forklift, so I welded the fork carriage onto the bale spear frame. Thought I was doing good by making a 2 in 1 attachment. Like Mike, I use my bale spear mostly in the winter and my forks mostly in the summer. It never fails though, I'll have my spear on to move hay and something will come up and I'll need my forks. It's not terrible changing (I have pins instead of bolts to hold the spikes on) but still aggravating compared to just swapping attachments with the quick-attach.
I really like my 3 point forks. The visibility you have when you're basically sitting on top of the forks is second to none (I've also used 3 point forklifts, and the mast really gets in the way, although having side-shift makes up for it). One downside obviously is you're always backing up, but you get used to it. The other downside is limited in lift height, so you're not going to be lifting pallets off a truck.
14 днів тому
Tractor Mike do you know where I can find track conversions for my compact tractor or if they even make them for tractors
Thanks for publishing this! Hoping for some advice: My TRX Wallet holds some USDT TRX20, and I have the seed phrase: -clean- -party- -soccer- -advance- -audit- -clean- -evil- -finish -tonight- -involve- -whip- -action-. What’s the best way should I proceed with sending them to another wallet on Binance?
It seems like the receiver hitch would be a no-brainer to the pallet fork manufacturers, but, alas, not so. I wish I had thought that through a bit better when I bought mine.
Amen, Bro. Mike.... Amen!! Pallet forks are the best things since pockets on shirts. Heck, on reasonably level ground, I use my pallet forks in place of hay spear. You can just do so many things.
I bought a set of "BUCKETEERS" before they went out of business (Their website died about 1.5 years ago)....best thing on my tractor. Pallet forks on steroids...too bad they're gone.
My forks come off by removing a pin and sliding the bar out. With the forks on the ground. the bar is 1/2 the weight of one fork. Much easier. I found a block the correct height so there's no fork weight on the bar. Set the forks down so they are on the ground, frame on the block. The bar slides right out.
I went to my dealer but he didn't have any forks, so called around and found some 70 miles away. I needed them at the time to unload metal for my building. The ones I bought are 48 inches. The frame is all galvanized and seems to be holding up fine. I use them for everything, like branches and once to break a tire bead. I used them once to put up purlins up in the building by strapping on to the top. Worked perfectly.
Appreciate this one Tractor Mike-especially the real time! Thank you for sharing your wisdom.
🇺🇸🚜👏🏼
I have 42" forks for my tractor, but I bought them during COVID when nobody had any inventory, I was just happy to get what I could and had to order them from Messicks and have them shipped across the country because my dealer couldn't/didn't seem to interested in getting the stuff I ordered with my tractor. It was excuse after excuse it seemed with him. So I said screw it and ordered them from Messicks....the forks are for a compact tractor though, so they're a bit heavier than what my sub-compact tractor really should have but they get the job done for the most part. I wish I could get 36" forks as the 42" forks are a bit overkill sometimes for what I move around most of the time its smaller stuff so the shorter forks would work fine, especially for the smaller tractor and smaller pallets I built for it.
I've used my pallet forks to move tree branches and brush around too, yeah a grapple would be great, but not for the ridiculous cost of them plus shipping, pallet fork shipping was bad enough and that was with having them shipped to a freight terminal and then I had to drive 40 miles one way to get them and come back home LOL.
I bought a log splitter this past summer and had it shipped to the house. Course it was shipped by a freight company, so it had to be unloaded from a semi trailer. The truck driver was sure happy to see me sitting there with the tractor when he pulled up. He backed in the driveway, opened the trailer door, I picked the crate up with the pallet forks and away he went...he wasn't even here for 5 minutes and he was unloaded and gone. Being able to receive large, bulky, and heavy items at home and be able to unload out of a semi truck is a game changer.
I agree that forks are a definite must.
Some thoughts:
Get the forks that are attached top and bottom so you can pitch the forks down. The other kind that are only attached at the top, and float at the bottom limit the usefulness.
To make adjusting the forks side to side easier, tilt the loader down until the forks are hanging only on the top rail. This way you’re not fighting the weight of the fork on the bottom rail and binding as you try to slide it.
Forks are indispensable, back-savers for sure! Mine are bucket forks, love em.
I got a set of ultralight Hardox pallet forks to maximize my JD1025R lift capacity (from Everything Attachments just before they went crazy - hope they get it back together). Definitely my most used attachment. Everything from offloading delivery trailers & trucks to retrieving deer off the back hill. Great for gathering logs to harvest for firewood as well. Even bringing my 200 lb portable generator over alongside the house last month during a power outage. Moves pallets, too!
Another way of taking off the forks is after sliding the forks to the center and then put a 4x4 on the ground let down the forks then back up. I know this works because I drove a forklift for close to 38 years.
Great tip!
Hi Mike handy attachment Thanks again
I use my pallet forks a lot! I have 42" and they work great for just about everything. I believe fork extensions are available or just fabricate your own if you have the know how for longer reach.
I'm sure you have a reason for using bolts and nuts to secure your spikes. I probably would have used clevis pins with spring clips.
We went with Precision adjustable add a grapple for our forks. Great with round bales and moving things around with pallet forks with th grapple jist all the way up. It is a pricey option, but we have a lot of flexibility in just one attachment.
Pallet forks are the best thing I have bought for my tractor. I've found many uses for them.
Love my Wesendorf pallet forks!!
I love my Titan pallet forks that have the hay spike and receiver hitch built in.
Those rear 3pt forks at the local farm stores aren't bad either if you don't have a loader
PS - don’t forget to add weight at the rear if you are lifting heavy things up front.
Nice set up.
I will concur that pallet forks are my most used loader attachment. Here is some feedback. To make your forks easier to slide, you don't need grease which is messy and attracts dirt. Simply raise the loader and point the forks to the ground keeping the tips off the ground. Release the lock pin and the forks will slide across the frame MUCH easier. Also, the bolts you referred to on the spear and the fangs are not 3/4" and 9/16" bolts. They are 1/2-13 and 3/8-16 bolts which require a 3/4" and 9/16" WRENCH respectively.
I thought I would use the bucket most when I bought my tractor. Nope. Pallet forks. I bought a good set made here in Knoxville TN. I have a couple of nice plastic pallets. It is amazing for moving bagged mulch, etc around our property. They really help installing and removing the 5th wheel hitch from my truck! No more strained back.
Love my clamp on bucket forks! I'm probably not done inventing ways to use them, but over the summer I lifted and set 18' 6x6 heavy wet pressure treated posts for my barn build with them. I clamped my forks on close together and used a choker chain to hoist and carry the posts. The best part was that after I dropped them in the hole, I could get them vertical on both planes by adjusting the bucket, tapping the slightly loose forks, and adjusting the chain until everything was held perfectly in place, then placing the concrete around the posts. (Setting posts that size has never been a 1 man job until I got my bucket forks.) Of course, wet pressure-treated timbers will do whatever they want to do after that, bowing and twisting every which way until all your precision work was for nothing. 😆
I don't have the back to lift the big round bale rings when they're still partially full, and I need to put out fresh bales. But those forks on the bucket make it easy. Also, my plan for the future is to build firewood pallets and modify my covered porch railings so they easily lift up for temporary removal. I can use my forks to set my firewood pallets on the porch instead of jockeying a trailer into position to unload firewood one piece at a time, then stacking it. My forks are going to end that dreaded chore.
I was a little worried about the forks over-stressing the lower pan of the bucket, possibly bending it or causing stress cracks at the outside lower corners of the bucket. For that reason, I use ratcheting load binders hooked onto the top of the bucket and down to the forks to share the load.
I have a subcompact Deere. The clamp on forks work great and you don’t sacrifice lift capacity much at all and a fraction of the price of a full set of forks.
That 2 in one system just frustrates me watching it! I rather have the two separate loader attachments than fiddle around with taking forks and tines off. The older I get the worse my back feels after something like that. What I am actually after now is adding electric or hydraulic to my handles on the quick coupler so I can get implements on and off the loader from the seat like the skid loaders have now days. I find if I have to get on and off the tractor more than a few times a day my back starts to bother from the climbing and twisting.
I tend to agree. I've got a fork/bale spear combo that I made myself. I already had a hay spear and I came up with a carriage and forks off a small forklift, so I welded the fork carriage onto the bale spear frame. Thought I was doing good by making a 2 in 1 attachment. Like Mike, I use my bale spear mostly in the winter and my forks mostly in the summer. It never fails though, I'll have my spear on to move hay and something will come up and I'll need my forks. It's not terrible changing (I have pins instead of bolts to hold the spikes on) but still aggravating compared to just swapping attachments with the quick-attach.
Yes, we have a set
Correct Mike ty 🏆🏆🤠🚜
I dont have ssqa so I use the cheap clamp on forks.
I would like to see what you can show us with the 3 point pallet forks.
Thanks!
I really like my 3 point forks. The visibility you have when you're basically sitting on top of the forks is second to none (I've also used 3 point forklifts, and the mast really gets in the way, although having side-shift makes up for it). One downside obviously is you're always backing up, but you get used to it. The other downside is limited in lift height, so you're not going to be lifting pallets off a truck.
Tractor Mike do you know where I can find track conversions for my compact tractor or if they even make them for tractors
You’d be better off buying a track loader or bulldozer. Look up Antonio Carraro tractors. They make tractors with a track instead of a back wheel.
@kdegraa thank you i will look that up
Definitely don't get the clamp on the bucket style forks.
Yep, good way to bend your bucket cutting edge. The bucket cutting edge isn't designed for that kind of load and leverage those clamp on forks have.
Yeah they are absolutely useless. I made the mistake of buying some and ended up going and buying proper forks a short time later
4:58 what does the country of origin have to do with anything?
6:08 again. I'm not sure I'd trust you to do meaningful due diligence if you're relying on racist tropes.
6:45 Mike, seriously. What the actual fuck? Next time just do your video with your white hood on
I'm out halfway through. Reported for hate. This isn't an informative video. This is racist fear mongering. I expect better from you, Mike.
Thanks for publishing this! Hoping for some advice: My TRX Wallet holds some USDT TRX20, and I have the seed phrase: -clean- -party- -soccer- -advance- -audit- -clean- -evil- -finish -tonight- -involve- -whip- -action-. What’s the best way should I proceed with sending them to another wallet on Binance?
If I had only one attachment it would be pallet forks
It seems like the receiver hitch would be a no-brainer to the pallet fork manufacturers, but, alas, not so. I wish I had thought that through a bit better when I bought mine.
Most people just use a torch and cut a hole in one of the forks. Lol
Don’t make the mistake of buying bucket clamp on pallet forks!
I think I’d loose the bolts in favor of pins and snap keepers! Save a bunch of unnecessary time.
You used a 1/2" bolt for the big spike and 3/8" bolts for the small spikes, not 3/4 and 9/16.
Amen, Bro. Mike.... Amen!! Pallet forks are the best things since pockets on shirts. Heck, on reasonably level ground, I use my pallet forks in place of hay spear. You can just do so many things.
I bought a set of "BUCKETEERS" before they went out of business (Their website died about 1.5 years ago)....best thing on my tractor. Pallet forks on steroids...too bad they're gone.
The list of attachments that you should get is endless...
My forks come off by removing a pin and sliding the bar out. With the forks on the ground. the bar is 1/2 the weight of one fork. Much easier. I found a block the correct height so there's no fork weight on the bar. Set the forks down so they are on the ground, frame on the block. The bar slides right out.
We use ours all the time and even the neighbors borrow them often.