Fork holder for Bobcat trailer

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Looking to see if anyone has built an undermount forkholder for skid-steer (bobcat) forks that would hold the forks perpendicular to the trailer frame before the ael. Attached Images
Reply:That is a great idea!  When I trailer my skid steer with its attachments it is always annoying to get it all loaded.  I like the idea of being able to put the forks on the side and leave the grapple and dirt bucket (held in the grapple) on the machine.One concern I have is whether the weight would be too unevenly distributed on one side.  Many of the forks out there weight 500# or more, would that imbalance the trailer much?  I am guessing that is a 10K or 12K lb trailer, so it probably doesn't matter - but might be worth thinking about.Hobart LX235Victor 250 Oxy-Acetylene Rig (welding and cutting)Bobcat 773F-350, 1999, 4x4, 16' 10K# trailerOutdoor Wood Burner - 10 cords/year
Reply:Here's one I helped build a few years ago.  I wouldn't worry about the weight on the one side of the trailer- it wasn't an issue.  Use box tubing for the forks, you don't want the fit too tight because remember you ll be loading them with a bobcat.  Gusset the box tubing appropiately underneath the trailer and add a way to lock in the forks.  As you can see in the picture, the locking mechanism goes completely around the square tubing on the forks and then is secured closed with a padlock.  Oviously the forks are pushed all the way in for transport- they're pulled out for the picture.  Any questions feel free to ask.  Good luck. Attached Images
Reply:lincweld, that's exactly what I'm describing.  I've seen them standard on more expensive trailers.  How does your friend secure the forls during transport?  I've seen chain on some, but that seems flimmsy to me.  Is that some type of a locking clamp I see in your pic?  I was thinking of welding 3/4"-1" inner diameter pipe abiout 3" long to each side of the fork carrier, then weld two pices on the traler with 3" between them, so when the forks are pushed all the way in, I can thru-pin them with a grade 8 hitch pin.  What do you think?
Reply:kamccarthyinc, i know in the picture its a little hard to see (sorry bout that i had to scan the pic onto the computer) there are two pieces of 1/2" plate cut into the shap of an "L".  You'll notice one piece is welded to the side of the trailer just behind that square pocket.  That piece extends up pass the level of the trailer deck a couple inches.  It has a hole drilled though it at the top big enough to slide your padlock through it and the second "L" when its in the up position. That holds the second "L" in the up position so you can load your forks and slide them into place with no headaches.  The second "L" is hinged with a bolt to the first "L" using a bolt.  So you slide your forks in, pull your padlock out, the second "L" ,which is hinged to the first falls into place around the existing box tubing on your forks.  Take the padlock and lock the two pieces in the position you see in the picture and those forks an't go'n anywhere.  Make sure at your hinge point you use at least a 1/2" grade 8 bolt (i think we used 5/8" or 3/4") and weld the nut to the bolt so it can't loosen.  There's more than one way to skin a cat so if you think using your pipe and hitch pin fits your application, then there's your solution.  Using the padlock idea, not only where things held tightly, but it also kept the honest people from taking his forks!
Reply:Keep in mind your over all width 8'6" is the legal max width.thermal arc mst400, va4000 feeder, lincoln 175 min, victor torches, miller s32p feeder, air arc k4000 for work.
Reply:Thanks adam21584.  My trailer is 8'2" (outside fender to outside fender) with the fenders being 12" wide themselves.  My CAT forks with carrier are only 6" wide, so this shouldn't be an issue.  Thanks for bringing up the topic though.-KM
Reply:lincweld, I think I like your idea with the two inverted "L" pieces and the lock.  What is the wall thickness of the tube on your forkholders, and can the forks be stored on both sides?
Reply:kamccarthyinc, the square tubing was 1/4" wall thickness. Actually the tubing did not run from one side to the other so those forks in the picture could only be loaded and hung from the side seen.  However, I don't see any reason you can't run the tubing the entire width of the trailer so you can hang from either side, that would be a good modification.  Good luck.