6 Insanely Useful Forklift Attachments to Boost Efficiency
In the fast-paced world of industry and logistics, reliable equipment is the backbone of efficient operations. Forklifts are vital equipment for any manufacturer, shop, or warehouse.
But all too often, momentum is disrupted by a forklift that isn't equipped to do the job you need it to do.
In this blog, Sidekick Attachments will introduce you to six well-designed, handy forklift attachments guaranteed to enhance your business’s efficiency.
Let’s go!
What is a Forklift Attachment & How Does it Help?
Just in case you are new to forklift attachments, we’ll give a quick definition and explain why they’re helpful.
Forklift attachments are equipment pieces crafted to fit over forklift prongs, expanding the tasks the forklift can perform.
Benefits of forklift attachments include:
- Increased efficiency: You accomplish more tasks with your forklift and reduce downtime when transitioning to other equipment.
- Increased safety: Using forklifts for jobs they weren’t designed to do increases the risk of workplace injury. Investing in high-quality attachments mitigates this risk significantly.
- Labor dollar savings: Sidekick’s attachments have saved shops an average of $1875 per shop annually!
Now that we’re on the same page, let’s move on to the attachments we’re here to discuss.
Trailer Movers
Traditionally, moving a trailer or RV required a tractor or truck with a hitch, requiring businesses to keep vehicles like this on-site. However, trucks and tractors are costly and space-consuming, and often multiple are needed due to diverse hitch and trailer types.
Enter the forklift trailer mover attachment.
Most manufacturing businesses have one or more forklifts. A trailer-mover attachment is designed with a hitch, transforming your forklift into a multi-purpose tool and eliminating the expense and space constraints associated with trucks and tractors.
To attach the trailer mover, simply slide it onto your forklift's tines. The forklift trailer hitch empowers your forklift to tackle various tasks efficiently, and customizable attachments ensure compatibility with various forklift models and trailer types.
Benefits | Trailer Mover
- Saves time & money
- Easier to use than a truck
- OSHA compliant
- Cuts the amount of equipment needed for a job
- Less wasted storage space
Learn more about trailer movers by reading our blog, What Is A Forklift Trailer Mover? (plus 7 benefits you might not have thought of).
Semi-trailer Movers
A semi-trailer mover is essentially an enlarged variant of the trailer mover attachment, but it also includes a semi-hitch feature.
The conventional approach usually requires a separate truck or tractor to move trailers. You may be tempted just to drill holes in the forks of your lift, but this is extremely hazardous. Plus, it’s not OSHA-compliant and often requires unhandy chains or pins for stability.
In contrast, the innovative Semi Trailer Mover eliminates these challenges. With a hands-free, self-locking attachment, the need for chains or pins becomes obsolete. This versatile solution accommodates various trailer styles – bumper hitch, 5th wheel, and gooseneck – ensuring enhanced stability and excellent movement control.
The semi-trailer mover is built with high-quality steel and includes a bright finish for greater visibility. It has a tong load of around 1,500 lbs, and a push capacity ranging from 2,000 to 7,500 lbs, contingent on the ball size.
A semi-trailer mover alleviates concerns about fork damage and eliminates the need for precarious or ineffective trailer-moving techniques, saving time and increasing safety.
Benefits | Semi-Trailer Mover
- Hands-free attachment
- Saves time & money
- User friendly
- OSHA compliant
- Doesn’t require additional support for stability
- Cuts the amount of stored equipment
Forklift Extensions
One of the most useful, basic forklift attachments is forklift extensions. Forklifts are designed for lifting and transporting a variety of pallets and materials. Yet, oversized items occasionally exceed the standard forklift tines capacity. This is where forklift extensions are so beneficial. These attachments easily slide over to the regular tines, securely extending them and enabling the safe movement of much larger loads.
Extensions are available in different sizes, so you can purchase a set that fits your forklift size and works well for your needs. Just remember to be extra cautious when using a long extension to haul a heavy load. This impacts the stability of the forklift and can impact your visibility. It's best practice to keep forklift extensions within 1.5 times the length of the tines. So, for example, if your tines are 4 feet, extensions shouldn't exceed 6 feet.
Benefits | Forklift Extensions
- Easily move large loads
- Safely move large loads
- Unload a trailer from just one side
- Less risk of damage to products
- Creates a more versatile forklift
- Reduces unnecessary wear and tear
- Carry two pallets at a time
- Fully tapered design for easier loading and unloading
- OSHA compliant
Read our blog, The Ultimate Guide to Forklift Extensions (and other forklift attachments), to learn more about forklift extensions, their uses, benefits, and how to choose a good set.
Rotators
Forklift rotator attachments, also known as rotators, are specialized additions that replace the standard carriage and tynes on a forklift mast. These attachments are operated hydraulically and can smoothly rotate loads 360 degrees. Some designs might also include side-shift functionality.
A rotator is a life-saver when you need to dump, pour, or otherwise transfer trash or product from one container to another. It quickly and easily flips loads and returns forks to their upright position in a single, seamless motion.
Benefits | Rotator
- Easily dump large containers
- Increases efficiency and overall productivity
- Promotes a safer work environment
Push-Pull Attachments
Push-Pull attachments provide a streamlined method for shifting and moving loads and eliminate the need for conventional pallets. Commonly employed for products such as seeds, agricultural materials, cosmetics, and cased food, these attachments substitute wood or plastic pallets with cost-effective slip sheets.
Here’s how the attachment works: The gripper bar of the push-pull grate pulls both the slip sheets and the load onto the push-pull's carrying plate. Depending on the setup, the load is either pushed off with the slip-sheet or, if equipped with a slip-sheet saver, only the load is pushed off.
Benefits | Push-Pull Attachment
- Increases efficiency and overall productivity
- Eliminates the need for traditional pallets
- Easily slips on over existing forks
- Lower product shipping weight
- Saves space
Side Shifter
Let’s wrap this blog up with one of the most popular, versatile attachments: the side shifter attachment. This helpful equipment allows you to shift loads from side to side and position them more precisely, saving labor costs and warehouse space. It’s also great for working in cramped spaces.
As with forklift extensions, a side shifter attachment alters the forklift's load center, potentially reducing its lifting capacity as the load extends outward. Because the side-shift mechanism is heavy, it will consume some of your forklift’s load capacity. Ensure you have plenty of lateral stability, especially at heights, to prevent a tipping hazard.
Benefits | Side-Shifter Attachment
- Easily shift loads in tight spaces
- Move heavy loads and equipment with precision
- Position cargo during loading/unloading
- Align fork carriage with forklift pallets
- Minimize fuel and pallet damage
- Expedite pallet loading
- Optimize warehouse space
How Sidekick Attachments Can Help
Although not an exhaustive compilation of forklift attachments, we trust this blog is an inspiration for envisioning a safer, more efficient workplace!
At SideKick Attachments, we understand the frustration, inefficiency, and safety issues of poorly built, cheap forklift attachments. That’s why we’ve partnered with Iron Bull Manufacturing to create a line of the sturdiest, most efficient forklift attachments available today. With their engineering expertise and our practical forklift experience, we’ve created a product that will stand the test of time.
Working with us is simple.
- We help you find the part that is correctly sized for your machine.
- Order your part. We’ll package it carefully to ensure it arrives safely and without defects.
- Enjoy the increased efficiency and safety of your forklift!
Curious to learn more? We’d love to hear from you!