Lightweight Pallet Forks Advice Needed.

[Rdrett]

Hello I have a Kubota L2501 With A LA525 loader.

I wanted to remove the 120 pound 66 inch bucket and install pallet forks.

I have a skid steer quick attach coupler on my LA525 loader.

I have already done a lot of research and I cannot find a light weight set of forks below 200 pounds.

I found these on amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Titan-Pallet-Attachment-Attach-Capacity/dp/B01EB89LLK/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1515096492&sr=8-9&keywords=titan+pallet+forks

At 229 pounds they are the lightest pallet forks I can find.
Do they make a set of adjustable forks that weight less than 200 pounds?

Most forks weighs around 300-400 pounds and I don’t want to lose 1/3rd of my capacity installing heavy forks.
I would like to get a set of forks around the same weight as the bucket but that appears impossible.
With the Titan forks I linked above I will only lose 100 pounds on my lift capacity and I am comfortable with that but I do not want to go any heavier.

Also I do not want a set of bolt on forks!

 

[tthorkil]

https://www.everythingattachments.com/Pallet-Forks-s/108.htm
If you have not already perused this site, I would recommend looking there. I have not purchased anything from them, but many members of this site have mentioned purchasing implements from them. The weights of a few of the pallet-forks are in the 220 to 230 pound range.

 

[anavidi]

The added weight of pallet fork attachment is the reason I opted for bolt on bucket forks. Good luck in your search.

 

[dirtydeed]

I just picked up a set of these...not too heavy and they have a 2" receiver built into the frame...I paid less than they are currently listed for. Check around, they seem to offer sales all the time.

The forks themselves are pretty heavy duty, so, you will lose some lifting power.

https://www.palletforks.com/titan-skid-steer-42-pallet-fork-trailer-hitch-attachment.html

 

[torch]

The first thing you need to consider is how much weight do you need to lift? At the tips?

I built myself a set of forks that only weigh about 100lbs. However, I designed them with a 500 lb weight limit in mind (actually, I figure they could lift 1000 lbs, but the tractor won't!)

If you envision unloading 1/2 loads of cinder blocks from the delivery truck, then you need something that can handle 2,000lbs or more and I can't see the steel that can handle it weighing less than 200lbs.

 

[Kennyd4110]

Artillian makes the lightest set available, and it's a modular system so you can add other things to the fork frame as needed. All made in the too USA unlike some of the others being discussed here.

http://www.artillian.com/SSQA_PalletForkSets.htm

 

[TRA]

Artillian makes the lightest set available, and it's a modular system so you can add other things to the fork frame as needed. All made in the too USA unlike some of the others being discussed here.

http://www.artillian.com/SSQA_PalletForkSets.htm

It would be awesome to have a set of pin on forks that interface with Ken’ bolt on clevis mounts. (That I just ordered a pair of.)

 

[sdk1968]

see you are in Paris KY...

if you want a set of titan clamp on's for dirt cheap... i'll sell you mine.

they work perfect, i just dont have the tractor they were on anymore.

 

[flyidaho]

The added weight of pallet fork attachment is the reason I opted for bolt on bucket forks. Good luck in your search.

I had a pair of home made bolt on (to the loader bucket) forks for my 2105 that were pretty handy, and they didn't cost me anything. But when I bought the new L3301 and got up to speed on the QA feature, I bought a QA forks specific setup, if for no other reason that the load is now closer in then when using forks bolted to the bucket. That would seem to maximize the capacity, it all depends on your need I guess. I also really like the feature I have now, where I can slip the forks off, and use just the QA frame with it's built in 2" receiver feature, super handy for all kinds of picking and moving things around.

 

[Kennyd4110]

It would be awesome to have a set of pin on forks that interface with Ken’ bolt on clevis mounts. (That I just ordered a pair of.)

That would be awesome

 

[anavidi]

I had a pair of home made bolt on (to the loader bucket) forks for my 2105 that were pretty handy, and they didn't cost me anything. But when I bought the new L3301 and got up to speed on the QA feature, I bought a QA forks specific setup, if for no other reason that the load is now closer in then when using forks bolted to the bucket. That would seem to maximize the capacity, it all depends on your need I guess. I also really like the feature I have now, where I can slip the forks off, and use just the QA frame with it's built in 2" receiver feature, super handy for all kinds of picking and moving things around.

My dealer talked me out of getting the quick attach bucket and forks in favor of some gearmore bucket forks. He said the quick attach system and pallet forks add a bit of weight and cost significantly more than the clamp ons. Made sense for my use, I don’t do a ton of pallet fork work.

If I already had the QA system then I’d for sure get the QA forks!

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[Kennyd4110]

My dealer talked me out of getting the quick attach bucket and forks in favor of some gearmore bucket forks. He said the quick attach system and pallet forks add a bit of weight and cost significantly more than the clamp ons. Made sense for my use, I don’t do a ton of pallet fork work.

If I already had the QA system then I’d for sure get the QA forks!

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Wow, sorry to offend but your dealer is crazy and his doing his customers a disservice with that advice. Adding a good set of forks changes the way you work, they are not just for “pallets”.

 

[Arlian]

I was curious of what the standard bucket on my new L3901 weighs and couldn’t seem to find it online, so I called Kubota customer support and after some searching, she told me it weighed 265 lbs. This is the reference number I have been using for my front end implements. Hope this helps.


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[Rdrett]

I was curious of what the standard bucket on my new L3901 weighs and couldn’t seem to find it online, so I called Kubota customer support and after some searching, she told me it weighed 265 lbs. This is the reference number I have been using for my front end implements. Hope this helps.


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You are correct and I misunderstood. My bucket weighs 120 kg 265 pounds.
I thought it was 120 pound and I got very weak because I cannot budge the bucket when unhooked from the FEL. I was wandering how I got so weak!

This really opens up a lot of options for me.
I now realize that a set of forks below 300 pounds will work great for what I need to do!

 

[torch]

There is the extra cost and weight of the locking quick attachment. The QA pushes your load out front an extra 3-4" (?) inches, which reduces what you can lift. Also, the bucket itself looks to have more metal for the receiver than the bolt on bucket.

I think there is only extra weight and distance if a QA adapter is inserted between the two, no? It should be negligible for an OEM solution.

As for pushing the load out, bucket mounted forks seem to push the load out a lot further -- pretty much the full depth of the bucket, a foot or two.

 

[anavidi]

Wow, sorry to offend but your dealer is crazy and his doing his customers a disservice with that advice. Adding a good set of forks changes the way you work, they are not just for “pallets”.

No offense taken! The solution provided by my dealer fit my needs perfectly and saved me approximately $1500, which to me is significant.

 

[Kennyd4110]

No offense taken! The solution provided by my dealer fit my needs perfectly and saved me approximately $1500, which to me is significant.

Understood, that is significant for sure. But to play devils advocate here, if your dealer orders the loader from Kubota with the SSQA carrier and the QA bucket already installed for his stock, then the cost is SIGNIFICANTLY less. Since he orders them with the pin-on buckets, now the customer has to buy the SSQA carrier and a new bucket if they want it. Dealers do this so they can advertise the lowest price on packages-or because they are just misinformed.

Suppose one day your needs change and you need some good forks or a grapple? Your cost to play goes WAY up.

 

[dirtydeed]

just got notice that Titan is offering 10% off. No, they aren't the greatest quality but for light duty under 2,000 lbs, they should be fine. Free shipping too.

just thought I'd mention it.

 

[anavidi]

Suppose one day your needs change and you need some good forks or a grapple? Your cost to play goes WAY up.

This is an excellent point, I spent a few weeks before purchase thinking about this exact thought. There's no way of knowing what my needs will be in 3 years only my best guesses. I figure when (if ever) I need a lot of forklift work I'll buy a forklift.

 

[TRA]

Buy once cry once.

It seems to me there are simply three choices:

1. The sub $200 clamp ons. Good for light and occasional use and not for any real work. Just a get by tool. Good for a hobby farmer or homesteader.

2. $400 medium duty QAs. Real tools for real medium duty work. Gives you some adjustment, puts the load back closer to you, and can lift a reasonable load. Good for light Ag and building work.

3. $800+ professional quality. You can add a grapple for heavier land clearing and maintenance jobs. You get a solid, level, square, and tough set that will last decades. It will save you hours here and there, letting you do tougher jobs with ease. The grapple alone could save you a ton of work too.

Assuming you plan to do tractor work for 20+ years, it seems to me the best you can afford gives you the most reliable and solid tool for the longest period of time. Amortize your decision based on that.