Forks for tractor - bucket mount or independent?

[Iowa_Dave]

All - I anticipate getting a set of forks for my tractor sometime soon and I have been considering getting the kind that clamp on to the loader bucket v. a set of independent forks. My main purpose in getting some forks is to be able to load logs onto a sawmill. (My rough calculations would estimate that I might be lifting up to 3000 pounds, usually less than that.)

Does anyone have any advice/experience with forks that they can share? TIA.

 

[Bill]

My old neighbor had a set that went on the bucket. He made them. Had a bar welded to the top of the bucket and drove up and locked hooks on the forks over the bar. The back of the forks hit the bottom of the bucket. That set up was nice. Easy on easy off.

If I needed forks it’s the only way I would go.

 

[scott44]

I bought a set of the clamp onto the bucket one and they work but they for light duty work and not heavy duty work. You can tighten the clamps the tightest you can get them and mine still seem to get cockeyed if I bump something they are going here or there. I have a cross piece that keeps the forks a curtain distance apart but this makes me put the clamps on the flat stock of the bucket and not on the cross member supports and when they are not on the supports the bucket seems to flex quite a bit. The bucket on my tractor isn't the newer quick connect for different attachments or I would have bought the attachment and not the clamp on ones, the clamps ons are better than nothing and ok for occasional use. If I continue using these I'm going to beef up the bucket.

 

[Baker]

We have forks for our tractor that are independent. We take the bucket off to put forks on. One of the better tractor investments I've made. Use them all the time, probably more than the bucket.

 

[DJN]

We have the clamp-on forks at the farm, and stand alone fork attachments at work. As Scott said, the clamp-ons aren’t the best bet for heavy duty work. Having used the stand alone forks for years before using the clamp-ons, so maybe I’m biased toward the stand alone set, but they just seem much sleeker and easier to use and adjust as well as much more stout. I would definitely vote for a stand alone set.

 

[swat1018]

For heavy stuff, get dedicated forks. The clamp on style set out front further, leveraging the tractor with a load more.

 

[Tree Spud]

All - I anticipate getting a set of forks for my tractor sometime soon and I have been considering getting the kind that clamp on to the loader bucket v. a set of independent forks. My main purpose in getting some forks is to be able to load logs onto a sawmill. (My rough calculations would estimate that I might be lifting up to 3000 pounds, usually less than that.)

Does anyone have any advice/experience with forks that they can share? TIA.

I have a separate bucket and forks on my tractor. Two issues I see with integrated set...
1. Mechanical clamp attachment vs lock in place fork lift attachment. Bobcat style attachment is proven locking mechanical to insure no mechanical failure or saftey issues. You have up to 3000 lbs shift because of a mechanical failure or a simple shift of 1"-2" of a clamp ... you have no idea unless you are an experienced lift operator how that load and your tractor will react.

2. You are extending the weight balance forward from the tractor by the length of the bucket. We at work have extended forks, but the lever point of lift is next to the lift point near the center of gravity of a very heavy fork truck. Your mechanical lift point is at the rear tractor tire with weight of load 10'-12' out with 10' plus logs. Based on this your tractor weight ballast and tipping point can change dramatically. Grab a 10 lbs weight and hold near your chest, then extend you arm and experience the control difference ... the mass & force acceleration equation changes dramatically.

I will tell you with 30 plus years of working in industrial factories where lifting imbalanced heavy loads can cause catastrophic human injury or death, think through any advantage of price or ease of the attachment.

Good luck, be safe!

 

[rocksnstumps]

Same concern or at least do the math as point #2 above.

The 3000 lbs you might want to lift will actually be way out in front of your bucket with the clamp on style. Is your loader big enough to lift 4000 lbs because likely that is the leverage that results from pushing the load out so far. If your loader is that heavy duty I don't think most clamp on style are tough enough to take what your big rig can push around.

Take a look at and lift a set of forks that are designed for a 5000 lb forklift. Those suckers are some thick heavy pieces of steel

 

[Buckly]

There are charts but, all I can say is the further you go out , capacity reduces greatly real quick. 3000 pounds out that far from the bucket I’m guessing you’d need at least 5000 pounds capacity on your bucket.and forks Also, lifting is one thing but, moving with the load out that far might not be possible. I’ve used those clamp on forks on a skid steer bucket and they were a pain. Always twisting and you really couldn’t lift near what I wanted. Then again, maybe you’d be fine

 

[Dukslayr]

the only reason I personally would get a set of clamp on forks is if I didn’t have quick attack on my FEL. I’m guessing I can swap out my bucket for my forks in the same time or less than it takes to put the clamp on style on the bucket, and end up with having a much more sturdy set of forks than the clamp on style. For what it’s worth my bucket hasn’t been on my newer tractor since the day I brought it home last year. My FEL has a grapple on 90% of the time now. If you have front hydraulics or are willing to run lines for 3rd function you might consider a grapple if you’ve got the time and money...great for moving logs and so much more control than forks.

 

[Tree Spud]

I have the quick attach on my FEL, added a grapple & 3rd function hydraulic 2 years ago, and have a bucket with added chain hooks and a set of industrial forks.

All of these have a different function and can do very important tasks that the others can't. The nice about the industrial forks is that they are adjustable side to side out to 4' which helps with load stabilization.

 

[Iowa_Dave]

Many very good replies, thank you! I think I will get the independent forks attachment. Thanks again!

 

[SwampCat]

I have a wood mizer lt 28 and I use forks to load the logs. These guys are giving you advice based on their experiences with forks in general. No way would I want forks attached to the bucket for loading logs on a mill. The bucket blocks a lot of your vision where you want to place the log. Get dedicated forks and dont look back.

 

[Iowa_Dave]

I have a wood mizer lt 28 and I use forks to load the logs. These guys are giving you advice based on their experiences with forks in general. No way would I want forks attached to the bucket for loading logs on a mill. The bucket blocks a lot of your vision where you want to place the log. Get dedicated forks and dont look back.

My primary motivation for getting forks is to then be able to load logs on the sawmill that I plan to buy sometime in the next few months. I am pretty sure i will get a Woodmizer and the LT 28 is one of the models that I am considering.

I have settled on getting dedicated forks, not bucket attachments. What size of tractor do you have? How big of log can you safely handle? Do you ever cut logs longer than 12' or so? My thoughts are that I would most commonly cut logs in the 28"ish diameter range and normally not longer than 12'. I plan on drying and using myself most of what I cut FWIW.

 

[SwampCat]

Twelve ft is as long as I typically cut. I have a 5065e - 65 hp jd. There is a huge difference in log weights. I think a 28”, 12 ft green, oak log would be a load for my tractor. It does alright with a pine log that size and would probably make it with an oak log - but never tried a green oak log that size.

 

[hillrunner]

I'd definitely get an independent mounted fork set up. You'll have less lift and stability with the forks sticking in front of the bucket.

We used bucket mount forks moving round bales when I was younger. It was a night and day change for the better when we finally got the independent mounted forks.

 

[hillrunner]

My primary motivation for getting forks is to then be able to load logs on the sawmill that I plan to buy sometime in the next few months. I am pretty sure i will get a Woodmizer and the LT 28 is one of the models that I am considering.

I have settled on getting dedicated forks, not bucket attachments. What size of tractor do you have? How big of log can you safely handle? Do you ever cut logs longer than 12' or so? My thoughts are that I would most commonly cut logs in the 28"ish diameter range and normally not longer than 12'. I plan on drying and using myself most of what I cut FWIW.

I hope you keep us updated on your sawmill. It's something I've toyed with the idea of buying but I really can't see how I could justify it.

 

[Iowa_Dave]

I hope you keep us updated on your sawmill. It's something I've toyed with the idea of buying but I really can't see how I could justify it.

Will do. I am pretty sure I will be getting a Woodmizer, but I vacillate on the model all the time. :) I think my low end is the LT15 and my high end is probably the LT28 or LX150. I have enough saved to spring for the less expensive models now, but am leaning towards saving my pennies for a little longer and going with the LX150 or LT28. We'll see. :)

I also plan to construct a kiln to be able to then dry the wood down too. Kind of leaning towards getting a used 20' shipping container and modifying it for the kiln.

 

[Tree Spud]

Will do. I am pretty sure I will be getting a Woodmizer, but I vacillate on the model all the time. :) I think my low end is the LT15 and my high end is probably the LT28 or LX150. I have enough saved to spring for the less expensive models now, but am leaning towards saving my pennies for a little longer and going with the LX150 or LT28. We'll see. :)

I also plan to construct a kiln to be able to then dry the wood down too. Kind of leaning towards getting a used 20' shipping container and modifying it for the kiln.

Very cool! Yes, keep us posted on how you set-up and build everything.

 

[jsasker007]

Would a 4-way bucket be able to grab logs? Maybe a grapple bucket? Are forks the best thing to use? I would think being able to clamp down on what you're moving might be safer?