Classes of pallet forks

[mcfarmall]

I learned something today and thought I'd pass it along after searching the internet, OTT and TBN. I watched a video from Good Works Tractors and Courtney was discussing a new stump bucket attachment that he will be offering which is designed for any Class 2 pallet fork attachment. Not knowing what he meant, I began searching.

Here's what I learned...and I'm sure there are some on here that already know this (one member in particular comes to mind ) but I really had to scour the web and when I found the information I wanted to pass it along for others. Pallet forks are classified by their capacity. Sounds pretty obvious, huh?

The frame size determines the classification as shown below and is measured from the top rail where the forks hang to the bottom edge of the lower rail:

Class 1, carriage height 13", capacity < 2,200 lbs
Class 2, carriage height 16", capacity between 2,200 and 5,500 lbs
Class 3, carriage height 20", capacity between 5,500 and 10,998 lbs
Class 4, carriage height 25", capacity between 11,000 and 17,600 lbs

There may be other classes above 4, but for our purposes on this forum I thought the first four were most relevant.

My pallet forks for the M5660 are Class 2.

 

[Bmyers]

Mine is class 2 also.

 

[Tractor Beamer]

However, to muddy the waters a bit, HLA forks that are 900 lb and 1200 lb capacity are class 2. So I think it might be more a carriage dimension thing rather than a weight capacity thing.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Class is physical dimension and MAXIMUM capacity, not a 'range'

say ... Class 2, carriage height 16", capacity between 2,200 and 5,500 lbs
that says I MUST have at LEAST 2,200 lbs as the minimum load,

hmmm... I haul a lot of empty skids here, pretty sure they don't weigh 2,200 lbs !
though some days after dragging them 20feet they seem like 2200 !!!