5 Reasons To Buy A Freestanding Pallet Jack For Your Farm Instead Of A Tractor Attachment
A working farm is full of heavy containers that need moving, from plastic barrels of liquid fertilizer to bins filled with manure. If you regularly load these kinds of containers into a truck or trailer for transport, using pallets and a matching pallet jack lets you work alone without putting yourself in danger. Invest in a quality pallet jack instead of getting a fork attachment for your tractor to gain these five distinct benefits.
Getting Into Tight Spaces
Can your tractor fit into every barn, shed, and other storage space around the farm? Narrow and small pallet jacks navigate in crowded areas much more easily, and you can roll through the entire barn to reach the very back instead of just stacking everything near the entrances. Even if your barn has a door wide enough to let the tractor in, that space inside is going to eventually fill up and block the vehicle's path.
Lifting Larger and Smaller Loads
The weight limit of a tractor mounted pallet lifting attachment is set by the strength of the three-point hitch or power takeoff (PTO) on the equipment. If your tractor is only capable of lifting one ton with a fork, you'll be stuck when you have to move a three ton container of grain unless you have a jack on hand for heavier loads. Pallet jacks carrying multiple tons still cost a lot less than most specialty tractor attachments too. It's also a lot less expensive to buy a stronger jack than a bigger tractor to boost your lifting capabilities.
Reducing Bumps and Spills
Perhaps you've been practicing your skills at raising and lowering the lift fork on your tractor, but you still end up spilling a little fertilizer or grain as you roll across a bumpy surface. Pick a specialty pallet jack that offers features like
- Extra large, knobby tires for better traction and a smoother ride over uneven terrain
- A suspension system between the wheels and base to absorb shocks
- Wider wheel bases to keep the jack from turning over and spilling
- Tougher bearings and other parts
It's easier to control the movements of a container loaded on a pallet jack when making tiny adjustments, but there are still a few safety risks to handling materials this way. Always check the wheels for wear and test the controls before loading to prevent dangerous mistakes while the load is in motion.
Enjoying a Wider Range of Lift
Like the total weight, the range of lifting for pallets is limited to your tractor's range when you're using an attachment. Different models of pallet jacks offer different height limits, and high lift jacks allow you to do a lot more without major expenses to change out the lifter arms on your tractor. High lift units can still handle any shorter amounts of lift too, so there's no need for both kinds of equipment aside from differences in weight limits.
Adjusting the Forks
Despite efforts to standardize pallet sizes across some industries, these wood structures vary greatly in size and shape. A busy farm can end up collecting half a dozen different configurations, all of which require certain fork spacing for safe pick up. Adjustable pallet jacks are far less expensive and easier to find than tractor attachments that allow for fork width adjustments.
A tractor is an indispensable part of a working farm, but that doesn't make it the best tool for every job. Save your equipment for plowing the fields and cutting hay by investing in a separate tool for handling pallets and containers. It is also easier to find a buyer for a used pallet jack when you upgrade to a newer model and want to recoup some of your original expenses since the jack works equally well for restaurants, warehouses, and other businesses. For more information on pallet jacks, talk to a pallet jack supplier.
Share