[Brian]

I am wondering how many people with sub-compacts have forks and if so what uses you have for them.

I have them and cannot live without them. If you do not have forks, please let me know why. If you have them, please let me know what you like about them and the uses you have.

My neighbor is looking at a 2x20 so it has me thinking.

 

[Kennyd]

I have a set I made years ago...today I would buy Chris's if I had 3x20 or smaller machine. I keep stuff on pallets like my snowplow so i can move it around easily.

 

[tackit]

I built this carrier so I don't need them.

 

[WilliamBos]

Here is the new set up Dad made when we got the 1635. It is a combo of an old 3PT scraper blade frame, and the carrier and forks off an old MF industrial fork lift.

[URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2909739800064803886tMKOxy][/URL]



And here is the first set up we made when we had the 1523. It was a little lighter, as far as the 3PT mount, but worked OK for the 1523. I had to help lift on a few occasions, just because of the length of the forks.

[URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2866920060064803886vXjigR][/URL]

Uses, hauling literally everything, from bags of corn to the woodshed (as we heat with corn too.) to hauling wood to the woodshed, to hauling the burn barrel out back to empty it,to putting the implements away at the end of each season,(like RFM in the fall, to snowblower in the spring.) , well EVERYTHING!! They are invaluable.

 

[RandyM]

AAAawwwwhhhh, come on guys you're making this difficult. You are going to push me in to getting forks aren't you. The struggle here is, it's another piece of equipment to store and buy. I do use my loader when needed, I just haven't convinced myself I really need it. The problem will be the realization of why I waited so long to get it once I do. :tongue:

 

[WilliamBos]

AAAawwwwhhhh, come on guys you're making this difficult. You are going to push me in to getting forks aren't you. The struggle here is, it's another piece of equipment to store and buy. I do use my loader when needed, I just haven't convinced myself I really need it. The problem will be the realization of why I waited so long to get it once I do. :tongue:

Here is what we did, keep your eyes peeled, scour areas and scrap piles, and if you can weld, it could come together real cheap. Then you will not feel so guilty.

Ours sit outside year round. But the forks are off the ground in a skin, and the foot sits on a block.

 

[Will]

Here be mine.

Only have pics of it use with my cage but use it all over place from moving fire wood on a pallet to a temporary work bench.

Definitely one of my favorite add-ons.

 

[dellwas]

Nice gear guys. Methinks I'm going to have to fire up the Lincoln over the winter and fab something up. Way too busy to do it this summer....

 

[Uncle Wayne]

I don't have a sub compact but I do have a set of forks. They are very useful to me. I'd recommend pallet forks to everyone. Bought mine off Craig's list for less than half price of a new JD set.:thumbup1gif:

 

[ttammag1]

Don't have a set of forks yet but I hope it is just a matter of time. Right now the problem is funding, as always. Man, the cage setup of Will's would be nice! Especially, when it comes time to harvest the fruit trees.

 

[eepete]

My B21 TLB has the bucket pretty well attached- no quick-hitch thing. So I heard about clamp on forks. At first take, they just didn't look strong enough...:unknown:

Pete

 

[eepete]

...But then someone clarified what they were talking about, and I got the real deal. Here's a shot on my B21, and a close up for those who have welders (I don't).

The bucket on the Kubota can lift about 1000 #s. The forks take off about 120#, and the change in the moment (the weight being further out from the pivot point) change that again, so the lift capacity is only about 750 pounds. But, it's better than nothing. You have to be _real_ careful not to jar anything or I suspect it would be very easy to bend your bucket. These cost about $400 when I got them about 10 years ago, seemed steep (and for then it might have been). But they quickly became one of those "how did I live without it" items.

When I get my loader for my 4520, I suspect I'll get the skid steer attach flavor and then I look forward to some real forks with more lift power.

Of course, that 1st attempt I made on a clamp on fork might be nice if you had a whole lot of BBQ to get through....:laugh:

Pete

 

[Curtis Cabs]

Hey, great topic Randy! I have no use for forks at all. :laugh:

In my own case, they are used as a landscaping tool just as much as actual "pallet" forks. Here is the latest video clip uploaded to YouTube showing a less obvious use for forks. This particular video also demonstrates switching between JDQA attachments.

There are hundreds of uses for forks. One of my other favorite uses for forks on a loader is the ability to reach deeply into the bed of a pickup truck to place or retrieve just about anything. There's no climbing up into the bed and wrestling whatever is in there to the tailgate to unload. As an example, we brought home 72 bricks last week for a landscaping project. I just had the store drop the pallet of them in my pickup with their forklift. When I got home, the bricks were unloaded and placed right where they were needed in a matter of seconds and I never had to touch a single one. It's bliss.

One word of advice to anyone thinking of forks is to give strong consideration to fixed forks over floating forks for tractor use. You can't put down pressure on floating forks as they are designed to swing out and remain level with the ground as the loader is dumped/curled. Floating forks are generally indicated by the presence of a round mounting shaft at the top of the fork. I'm working on adding a page to the Artillian website to illustrate this and the differences.

 

[dellwas]

Silly you, ya have to use a barbeque fork, much bigger and sturdier! :laugh:

My B21 TLB has the bucket pretty well attached- no quick-hitch thing. So I heard about clamp on forks. At first take, they just didn't look strong enough...:unknown:

Pete

 

[RandyM]

Hey, great topic Randy! I have no use for forks at all. :laugh:

Now Chris, aren't you just a little bias on this topic?

Actually, this is Brian's thread. He does get a good idea now and then. :mocking:

 

[Gizmo2]

I use ours almost as much as the bucket. Also makes painting the house trim a snap. I'm on the tractor:lol:

 

[Curtis Cabs]

Now Chris, aren't you just a little bias on this topic?

Very funny, Randy. I'm biased on a yes vote for the need for forks, absolutely! I don't care nearly as much as to where they come from. Building one's own forks is great fun (which is the main reason I still offer the kit).

Actually, this is Brian's thread. He does get a good idea now and then. :mocking:

Sorry guys, I would have sworn I had read the question as being from Randy. That's what I get for going a 100 mph all of the time.

 

[CharleyFarmall]

Once you have them you will wonder how you lived without them. Mine are on more than the bucket!

 

[North Country]

I have Chris' forks and they are on far more than the bucket. It's a pretty simple rule I have - if I need the bucket, I put it on, use it, and then the forks go back on. I find I'm much more likely to find the forks useful on short notice than the bucket.

 

[Jeffery]

How much is a set of forks for the 200cx anyway?