Who knows about pallet jacks?

oliver power · Jun 30, 2015

Looking to buy a pallet jack. They have load wheels, and steer wheels. Where on the fork should the load be? Centered over the load wheels? Or, between the load wheels, and steer wheels? Any other tips when buying a pallet jack?

JBDyer · Jun 30, 2015

Push the pallet jack all the way into the pallet, then check and see that the "load" wheels are not directly on top of the bottom deck boards, if they are and then pull the jack out just enough that the rear wheels just clear the bottom boards the jack it up and get after it. Pretty easy to operate, just don't go too fast with a high load.

wrenchere85 · Jun 30, 2015

If you are putting the pallet agenst the wall, be care full your forks do not stick out past the pallet. I bought a Harbor Fright pallet jack and it works great. 200.00 with a 20% off coupon

Steve@Advance · Jun 30, 2015

A lot depends on what it will be used for. They come in different weight ratings, widths, heights, wheel material, even temperature ratings!

Do some homework, look at all the possibilities, and you'll make a good decision. Like anything, you get what you pay for. If it's occasional use, a lesser brand will be sufficient as long as it's withing the load rating. If it's heavy use, need a upper end one or it will be constantly broken! Worked at a shop several years ago, the jacks got a real workout. Best brand I found were Bishamon. Expensive, but worth it in the long run!

Charles in Aus. · Jun 30, 2015

The wider the forks are set the more stable it will be .

Dick L · Jun 30, 2015

Handy jiggers. I couldn't get along without mine. Any where between the wheels. As long as the weight center is more than half way over the tip rollers it works fine. We unload 1500 pound gaylords of plastic material when the fork truck is not close. I use it to move secondary equipment from press to press. As stated you have to make sure that the tip rollers are not on a pallet slat when moving pallets.

Mark6005 · Jun 30, 2015

Dick was correct just be sure your placement is correct to lift the pallet we use ours to about 1800 lbs and rolls fine when cranked high enough We load and unload trucks with a dock plate. Easier than firing up the lift truck for one or two pallets. Handy to move inventory around also

NEKS · Jun 30, 2015

I thought all pallet jacks were standard. Bought one on a sale one time, it was heavy duty. Got it to my shop and it was to wide to go into some pallets. On heavy duty oak pallets it would work. The light built pallets it would not.

showcrop · Jun 30, 2015

(quoted from post at 18:28:30 06/30/15) The wider the forks are set the more stable it will be .

That must be an Australia thing. I've never seen one with adjustable forks.

CCer · Jul 1, 2015

A pallet jack works good to remove and re-install a set of dual wheels on a heavy truck or trailer.

Charles in Aus. · Jul 1, 2015

No not adjustable but available in different widths to suit various pallets . I would have thought pallets would be made to a standard pattern but it seems they are not . I was given a very handy pallet jack by a neighbour , the forks are very close together and he had had a few mishaps with it . I find it invaluable in the workshop , almost as handy as a chain block . Best use I find for it is underneath tractor tyres when removing them , the narrow fork spacing suits vintage Ferguson tractors perfectly.

oliver power · Jul 1, 2015

I Thank You for your replies. All good information.

dr sportster · Jul 1, 2015

If you bring it on a job site watch the carpenters . They will put 9000 lbs of sheetrock on it when your not looking.

Dick L · Jul 1, 2015

The problem with a standard size pallet is engineers can't seem to design all products to fit on a standard sized pallet.

^D

Who knows about pallet jacks?

oliver power

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JBDyer

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wrenchere85

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Steve@Advance

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Charles in Aus.

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Dick L

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Mark6005

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NEKS

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showcrop

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CCer

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Charles in Aus.

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oliver power

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dr sportster

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Dick L

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