What size steel do I need?

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I have a 1961 Oliver OC-46 crawler with a loader and I'd like a set of pallet forks for it.  The tractor will lift 2200 lbs but the main purpose of the forks is to move around pallets of firewood weighing closer to 1000 lbs.  I would like to buy a set of forks and then make a very simple frame, basically exactly what this guy did.  I will repost his pictures below, hope he doesn't mind:He built his with 3/4" x 4" for the bars (1), 3/8" x 6" for the plates (2), 3/8" x 5" for the plates to which the pins mount and 1 1/2" x 1/2" supports (4).  I will be buying this material new, so what is the least you think I can reasonably get away with given the work I plan to do with the machine/forks?  Also I've just barely got into welding myself so needless to say me and my 110V PowerMig 130 will not be doing this project.  I plan to buy and cut the material, and have a friend weld it together for me.
Reply:What type of material do you use for this project.
Reply:Maybe you might want to copy his design and material dimensions. This way if you need to lift more weight than you are thinking you need to lift now, the extra lift capacity is already built in and no need to worry it will hold up. No telling when the need may arise to move more than the 1000 Lbs. you envision now, at least make it capable of holding more than your machine can lift so you don't break anything when lifting. That way the worst that may happen to the hydraulics is it will lift the relief valve and not pick it up, but not drop a load if it's already up.
Reply:4140 If you need to slide the forks a whole lot, nitride the upper.Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:Find a junkyard forklift frame and make it work.
Reply:For myself I would go 1/2 inch for 1 and 4, 1/4 inch for 2 and 3.  That would allow for a nice safety factor on the 1000 pound pallets.  I'm not sure how much of a cost savings this would be.
Reply:There is no place in the configuration where 1/4" material would be suitable.The suggestion to find a "junk yard" forklift carriage (carriage "carries" the forks and is the part that runs inside the telescoping mast) and adapt it to your project has much merit.  Look for a Class II forklift carriage. Class II carriages will give a capacity of up to 6,000 Lb.  If you find a Class II carriage on a derelict forklift you may be able to buy it for near to scrap prices.