Fork extensions for bobcat?

[MinnesotaDave]

I'm in the market for fork extensions for the Bobcat 873.

I noticed the factory made ones are open on the bottom and made of 1/4" bent steel.

Any preference for just using 3/16" rectangular tubing? Would seem stupid easy to just do it that way?

6' or 8' ?

[jpump5]

One possible mistake is to measure the fork at the heel (thickest point)
and buy rectangular tubing to fit, only to find out fork has a slight offset ,
causing tube to get stuck on fork. Takes a sledgehammer to get it off.
I’ve seen this happen a couple times with small forklifts. Not sure if bobcat
forks are shaped the same way.

[M J D]

Other than being a little more difficult to taper the end , rectangle tube is the way to go. I would wrap the end that you enter the forks. Something like 1/4 x4 or 6" flat to help prevent that end from spreading. Good idea to attach a length of chain on each extension to prevent them from sliding off the fork when backing up.

[MinnesotaDave]

One possible mistake is to measure the fork at the heel (thickest point)
and buy rectangular tubing to fit, only to find out fork has a slight offset ,
causing tube to get stuck on fork. Takes a sledgehammer to get it off.
I’ve seen this happen a couple times with small forklifts. Not sure if bobcat
forks are shaped the same way.

Good to know, I'll eyeball with a straight edge and see what general shape I'm dealing with.

Other than being a little more difficult to taper the end , rectangle tube is the way to go. I would wrap the end that you enter the forks. Something like 1/4 x4 or 6" flat to help prevent that end from spreading. Good idea to attach a length of chain on each extension to prevent them from sliding off the fork when backing up.

Hadn't considered the spreading, makes sense. Like the wrap on the end of a 2" receiver tube.

I was thinking of cutting the tubing so that a pin can be used at the heel to keep it on.

[Lis2323]

Or use C channel flat side UP "hook the end where the fork is bent at the moldboard

Taper the "business" ends and box them in if you wish to get fancy


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[MinnesotaDave]

Or use C channel flat side UP "hook the end where the fork is bent at the moldboard

Taper the "business" ends and box them in if you wish to get fancy


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I saw that the factory ones are that way, and I tend to "over use" things so I was thinking that may not be a great way to go?

[thegary]

I saw that the factory ones are that way, and I tend to "over use" things so I was thinking that may not be a great way to go?

I have a set that I made several years ago. I made them from 6" channel I had laying around. I made mine 6ft long and unless you have a very large skid loader that all I would advise. Mine is a NH LX665 with 1700 lb rating . I also have a weight kit on it that brings the rated capacity to 2000lbs. Anything 8 ft deep that has any weight to it would over load mine. I tried last fall to move a 8x12 storage shed with the 6 ft forks. It had enough depth but the loader could not handle the load. I can't imagine that shed weighing more than about 1000lbs. I made mine to lock on the the fork like the store bought ones and it works well. Every lb counts when you do not have a big machine and every pound the fork extension weighs is a pound less that you can carry with it. Depending on the size of your forks you might be able to get away with 4" or 5" channel but do not go too light on it. I tapered the legs of the channel the last 2 ft on the end so I could slip under something easy. I have not bent mine and am happy with them. OSHA only allows 1.5 times the length of the fork that the extensions are used on. With that said it is a mute point for personal use. The weight is also important when having to move them around by hand , the C channel is not too bad to carry by hand if needed.

[Lis2323]

I saw that the factory ones are that way, and I tend to "over use" things so I was thinking that may not be a great way to go?

Hey Dave I snapped a couple pics of the ones I made.

Seven footers...










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[Lis2323]

I didn't add any text because thegary already did better than I could


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[Frenetic]

Hey Dave I snapped a couple pics of the ones I made.

Seven footers...

Lis2323, i'm admiring your work! Can i ask: how did you cut that long taper?

[akpolaris]

Hey Dave I snapped a couple pics of the ones I made.

Seven footers...










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Multi purposing the pipe clamps.

[Lis2323]

Lis2323, i'm admiring your work! Can i ask: how did you cut that long taper?

Thank you Frenetic.

Those were only 24” cuts tapering to the tip. I clamped a straight edge to the channel wall and cut with an oxy-acetylene torch outdoors.


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[SweetMK]

Hey, Dave,, did you ever get fork extensions?
I needed extensions when I built my shed, so I went to a local steel supplier, and purchased a 24 foot length of 3X6 rectangular tube, 3/16" thick, 24 feet long, they cut it in half for free.

The "cut in half" we my TOTAL fabrication. my farm tractor has a 2500 pound capacity loader (the tractor weighs 10,000 pounds total)

I have lifted, or attempted to lift stuff up to and beyond the capacity of the loader. I have stalled the loader, as well as lifted a rear tire off the ground.
The extensions, as far as "damage", look like they have never been used.

I have had the extensions sitting outside since I got them, in 1997. So, I have had them a while. They get used often, anytime my 48 inch forks are not long enough.

I have always thought about adding chains to secure the extensions to the loader frame, but,, some things never happen.
My fork frame for my tractor is also DIY,, I saw a neighbor had the forks sitting in a field, and it started from that,,

The fork frame is now in its third "iteration",, I have finally evolved to "Quick Attach"