There is no shortage of pallet forks with versatile options to meet every requirement for skid steer loader owners and operators. Tines come in load capacities ranging from 2,500 to 10,000 lbs, lengths from 42 to 60 in, and typically, adjustable widths. If you will be primarily hauling palleted loads, be aware of your pallet dimensions; a standard pallet is 48 in. by 40 in. Brick guards are available featuring full-width guards for loose loads such as pallets of bricks, or walk-through brick guards which make entering and exiting a skid steer or track loader easier. There are also options without brick guards.
Options range from plain pallet fork setups, with just a mount and forks, to more elaborate setups utilizing a hydraulically-actuated grapple to hold loads during transport. Other useful accessories for pallet forks include the hay spike, which cattle operations will find indispensable, and fork frames designed to be compatible with trailer hitches. These add-ons can improve productivity and reduce labor, but whether they will be worth the investment depends on an operator’s needs. If you work with a good equipment dealer, a salesperson well-versed in pallet forks can offer guidance and you’ll be more confident in your decision.
Do you need light duty, medium (or standard) duty or heavy duty? Load and lift capacity is a key metric for any pallet fork setup. Light-duty pallet forks are designed for small skid steers and track loaders, may have limitations on fork tine spacing that prohibit use for some applications and will have rated capacities no higher than about 2,500 lbs.
Selection For Your Skid Steer or Track Loader:
Often, pallet forks come in both different sizes relating to width of the frame and length of the tines. It’s important to understand what types of objects or pallets you would typically be working with to make the best decision on which sizes would be needed for your application. It’s also a good idea to check whether the pallet forks are compatible with the type of coupler that is on your skid steer or compact track loader. Often, pallet forks specifically designed for skid steers and compact track loaders can be easily interchangeable on standard quick-attach style couplers.
Usage of pallet forks for Skid Steer or Track Loader:
When using pallet forks to pick up objects, it’s important to understand the machine limitations in terms of tipping load and rated operating capacity specifications. Information on these specs are commonly found in OEM skid steer and compact track loader brochures. It is not only important to consider the weight of the object you may be lifting but also the weight of the forks that you are using as well. Not fully understanding this could lead to undesirable performance of the machine with forks attached to it.
Spotlight of pallet forks for Skid Steer or Track Loader:
Pallet forks offer increased capacity and durability and come with skid resistant steps on both sides of the pallet fork frame to provide easy entrance and exit into the machine for operators. The brick-guard design provides strength and smooth surfaces for protection against load damage, and the pallet forks also enable excellent visibility.
Subtract the weight of the pallet forks and frame from the machine’s lift capacity to determine the volume that can safely be lifted with your pallet forks. For example, if the machine has a 2,500-lb lift capacity and the pallet forks weighs 300 lbs, the actual amount of the load could not exceed 2,200 lbs. Medium- or standard-duty pallet forks will have capacities around 4,000 to 5,000 lbs, can be used on an array of vehicles ranging from full-size skid steers to large-frame compact track loaders and will typically have tine spacing within standardized limits, allowing for use with standard pallets.
Heavy-duty pallet forks will have rated capacities up to about 10,000 lbs, allowing very heavy loads to be hauled. As with any attachment, be aware of your needs and job applications and select your load and lift capacity based on those needs and on your vehicle’s rated operating capacity. A heavier-duty option is more expensive and is not necessary unless you have needs only a heavy-duty setup can satisfy.
Narrow your field by making a list of projects for your pallet forks around the jobsite or farm. Then, determine if your usage is light duty, medium duty or heavy duty. We understand your needs and pair you with an ideal set of pallet forks.
DIG-DOG Company product skid steers and tracked loaders of different tonnage with multifunctional attachment. If you have found the perfect pallet forks, we would be happy to advise you on how to finance the vehicle of your choice. Whether you're looking for a temporary helper during order volume peaks or a core vehicle for continuous operation, DIG-DOG company offers the right buy package for every requirement. You can obtain a comprehensive overview of all the options by contacting the DIG-DOG company service.
Please feel free to get in touch!
