Forklift Q&A

kaiser715

kaiser715

Doing hard time
Joined
Jun 1, 2006
Location
7, Pocket, NC
@Blkvoodoo

I am needing something to move stuff around the shop -- mostly outside on hardpack sandy soil and gravel. Stuff like a truckbed, 1500# genset, motors, etc....some stuff can be forked, some needs to hang frim a boom pole. I don't have a lot of room to manuver, so thinking a small forklift might fit the bill for what I need to do.

Ideally, I'd like to be able to lift my S250 camper to 40" off the ground for loading. Weighs about 1100# and is just over 6' tall....would like to sling with a boom....how big a machine would it take to safely do that?

So....school me on forklifts. What to look for and stay away from? How old/cheap would you go? And brands that are better than others? What kind of problems and ongoing maintenance to expect? Gas vs diesel vs propane? Weight?
 
The soil and gravel part is what is going to screw you hard as far as most cheap warehouse lifts go. Might be able to find a cheap smaller piggyback type forklift or why not midsize tractor with loader and gin pole? You can buy "rough terrain" lifts but they aren't cheap and they aren't small, would suck for inside the shop.
 
if you can get your jeep into where the stuff is, and if you have a winch on said jeep. make a crane for it. two poles 6 tabs. you can make it in about an hour. you'll also need a ratchet strap and a snatch block, and a couple d rings. I might have a pic of my setup. I use a small atv winch and it will lift about 1k lbs.
 
Yep, got a jeep crane...max out at 600# (most I am comfortable with)....wanting to do up to 2k lbs....






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Find an older skidsteer on craigslist and buy a fork attachment if it doesn't already have them. Then you can use it for a lot more than just a forklift. I built a boompole and forks for mine, and couldn't have built my shop without it. Now I use the forks all the time for other stuff, such as loading/unloading boxes and equipment. With the skidsteer for inside/outside, and a pallet jack for precision work inside, you don't really need a forklift. Also works great for typical skidsteer stuff :)
 
Currently on the road so I'll be quick

You're looking for a 5000lb lift with Pneumatic tires, solid pneumatic would be good ( solid rubber tires that resemble air filled) I say 5000 lb as that is easier to find than a 3k pneumatic lift

These tires will look like small truck tires, drives would be in the 7.00x12 size

This would allow you the floatation over semi soft surfaces (gravel) reducing digging in

Stay away from cushion tired lifts for your application, once off pavement they'll sink very easily ( cushion tires are pressed on over wheel ) great for shops and paved drives

As far as brand, well, I'm partial to Toyota, easier to work on, less problematic over all

Ideally, one that runs well, and the brakes and hydraulics all work

Look for a lift that has "free lift" as in, the main mast doesn't rise until the forks almost reach 3/4 height of mast, most generally this will have a single center cyl and outer cyls for the main mast.

A "cheap" lift is guaranteed to need at least $1500+ in other work to make it reliable and practically useful , so chose wisely (most need at least brake shoes and wheel cyls/master cyl)

Time to leave the truck stop (Jeffersonville OH)
 
jeepinmatt said:
Find an older skidsteer on craigslist and buy a fork attachment if it doesn't already have them. Then you can use it for a lot more than just a forklift. I built a boompole and forks for mine, and couldn't have built my shop without it. Now I use the forks all the time for other stuff, such as loading/unloading boxes and equipment. With the skidsteer for inside/outside, and a pallet jack for precision work inside, you don't really need a forklift. Also works great for typical skidsteer stuff :)
Click to expand...

^This is probably your answer. I've done a lot of stuff with a forked skid steer!
 
A forklift is the best tool I've bought in years. I have solid warehouse tires on mine but it goes fine in gravel that has a few years of traffic on it. If I have to stray off the packed path I'll throw down a piece of old plywood or two to get the job done. But even in the softer stuff if you take it slow, don't turn the tires very much at once and don't let it rock left and right it'll go pretty good.
 
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