Results 1 to 19 of 19

Does anyone know where to find a good forklift?

| A Day in the Life of a Scrapper
  1. #1
    ATLjunkcars started this thread.
    ATLjunkcars's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Dec 2015
    Location
    Atlanta
    Posts
    4
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post

    Does anyone know where to find a good forklift?

    I buy junk cars and scrap them. Im looking to make my job easier by using a forklift to lift the cars in the air to gain easier access to the catalytic converters. Can anybody give me advice on what and where to buy a forklift from?

    atljunkcars.com



  2. #2
    JohnC4X4's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Apr 2011
    Location
    South East Ma
    Posts
    986
    Thanks
    162
    Thanked 1,127 Times in 514 Posts
    Check Craigs list
    also check for local companies that repair fork lifts >> They sometimes have trade in's

  3. #3
    matador's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    We purchase laptop computers and many components for greater than scrap value. We offer a shipping reimbursement program.replies

    Member since
    Nov 2013
    Location
    Big Wonderful Wyoming
    Posts
    2,310
    Thanks
    1,813
    Thanked 3,200 Times in 1,448 Posts
    How high do you need to lift? If it's not a lot, some people out here have setups like this:



    A cheap farm tractor can be had for around $3000, and a welding shop can make a set of forks for a couple of hundred dollars. It may be an option to look into. The most important thing if you go this route is to make sure to add balast to the front of the tractor.

    Of course, put stands under the car to support it- if something slips and the car falls, it could easily kill you.
    More than Scrap Value Shipment Tips: http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/scrap...tml#post242349

  4. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by matador:


  5. #4
    kane333's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Kearneysville, WV
    Posts
    120
    Thanks
    70
    Thanked 115 Times in 47 Posts
    Even a forklift used as a car lift is dangerous. A hydraulic hose blow out and that would be the end.

  6. The Following 4 Users say Thank You for This Post by kane333:


  7. #5
    MattInTheHat's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Sep 2012
    Location
    rock hill, sc
    Posts
    1,464
    Thanks
    1,142
    Thanked 1,396 Times in 703 Posts

    Does anyone know where to find a good forklift?

    I would go for a skid steer if you can make it fit your budget. many many uses.

    please set the cars on something before you put your body under them.
    Currently looking for a job in or related to scrap/recycling. Relocation is possible for the right offer.

  8. The Following User Says Thank You to MattInTheHat for This Post:


  9. #6
    NatureRecycleFlorida's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    May 2015
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    171
    Thanks
    143
    Thanked 151 Times in 86 Posts
    if you did not care about the cars body work use a truck to pull the car on its side

  10. The Following User Says Thank You to NatureRecycleFlorida for This Post:


  11. #7
    webuyselltradestuff's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    May 2013
    Location
    Watkinsville, GA
    Posts
    950
    Thanks
    131
    Thanked 1,284 Times in 583 Posts
    actually a regular car lift (2 post) will be cheaper than a forklift....GRANTED the forklift can be used to move other stuff around (ie the car if it doesn't run). Ideally you will work up to having BOTH.
    PROFIT is made when you BUY/ACQUIRE NOT when you sell

  12. #8
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Apr 2015
    Posts
    2,168
    Thanks
    632
    Thanked 2,503 Times in 1,138 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by kane333 View Post
    Even a forklift used as a car lift is dangerous. A hydraulic hose blow out and that would be the end.
    All my truck cranes were fitted with burst valves, trust me they work.

    Last edited by alloy2; 12-31-2015 at 10:29 PM.

  13. #9
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Apr 2015
    Posts
    2,168
    Thanks
    632
    Thanked 2,503 Times in 1,138 Posts
    I've never thought of checking temperature on hydraulic components to find which one was faulty, but have checked exhaust port runners on a diesel engine to locate a cylinder running cold.

    Anyhow just thought this short troubling shooting video would benefit our new fork lift owner.


  14. #10
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Apr 2015
    Posts
    2,168
    Thanks
    632
    Thanked 2,503 Times in 1,138 Posts
    The ultimate fork lift - home made.


  15. The Following User Says Thank You to alloy2 for This Post:


  16. #11
    jeanbean0109's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    May 2015
    Posts
    71
    Thanks
    5
    Thanked 56 Times in 35 Posts
    Simple soluition. Actually three. Cheapest method is your truck and a tow chain. Wrap the chain across the roof through the opposite window and hook into something like the o **** bar. Now put truck in 4 lo and it will pull it right over. Stop wherever you want even if its compeltely on its side. 2nd method. If your truck sits high enough and have a decent push bumper, engage 4 lo and push from the side and it will go over. Those are the cheapest and if you hav strong enough chain, then no need for safety. Chain and truck will keep it falling on you. Last method is a wrecker. Drop the boom. Wrap a strap through both front windows and lift straight up in the air. Or a a good piece of steel through the windows like a i beam or channel....hook j hooks both sides and lift.

    Absolutely no need for a forklift unless your palletizing and shipping engines, transmission.

    And if you get creative, you can build a simple a frame on the back of your truck and use a winch or chain hoist to pick up crap. Then drive and drop where you want. Check youtube for hillbilly wrecker videos to see what im talking about.

    And lastly you want to pick up motors and what not. I cut two holes in my pick up box. I put my cherry picker in the back. Then ran chain through the holes to truck frame and a ratchet binder to tighten it down. Then im able to pick anything up and drive it around the yard with ease.

    In fact, back in the day my ex partner wrecker broke. He did the same **** thing. Strapped the cherry picker down in the bed. And was towing cars home with chain wrapped to a piece of steel under the bumper locked to the control arms under the car and lifted up with the cherry picker. A coupel more straps and easy driving and drug cars home with ease.

    Necessity is the mother of all invention and there is ways to do. Simple physics and egyptian technology plus redneck ingenuity and your set.

    O and when you roll a car with the chain, dont be surprised some a s s hat neighbor calls the cops on you complaing. They did with me and cop wa slike um..wtf. Um he s on private property, nothign he could do. Why was he called lol. He was actually intrigued how easy it is to roll a car right upsiude down with a chain and 4 lo...gears are your friend.

  17. #12
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Apr 2015
    Posts
    2,168
    Thanks
    632
    Thanked 2,503 Times in 1,138 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by jeanbean0109 View Post
    Simple soluition. Actually three. Cheapest method is your truck and a tow chain. Wrap the chain across the roof through the opposite window and hook into something like the o **** bar. Now put truck in 4 lo and it will pull it right over. Stop wherever you want even if its compeltely on its side. 2nd method. If your truck sits high enough and have a decent push bumper, engage 4 lo and push from the side and it will go over. Those are the cheapest and if you hav strong enough chain, then no need for safety. Chain and truck will keep it falling on you. Last method is a wrecker. Drop the boom. Wrap a strap through both front windows and lift straight up in the air. Or a a good piece of steel through the windows like a i beam or channel....hook j hooks both sides and lift.

    Absolutely no need for a forklift unless your palletizing and shipping engines, transmission.

    And if you get creative, you can build a simple a frame on the back of your truck and use a winch or chain hoist to pick up crap. Then drive and drop where you want. Check youtube for hillbilly wrecker videos to see what im talking about.

    And lastly you want to pick up motors and what not. I cut two holes in my pick up box. I put my cherry picker in the back. Then ran chain through the holes to truck frame and a ratchet binder to tighten it down. Then im able to pick anything up and drive it around the yard with ease.

    In fact, back in the day my ex partner wrecker broke. He did the same **** thing. Strapped the cherry picker down in the bed. And was towing cars home with chain wrapped to a piece of steel under the bumper locked to the control arms under the car and lifted up with the cherry picker. A coupel more straps and easy driving and drug cars home with ease.

    Necessity is the mother of all invention and there is ways to do. Simple physics and egyptian technology plus redneck ingenuity and your set.

    O and when you roll a car with the chain, dont be surprised some a s s hat neighbor calls the cops on you complaing. They did with me and cop wa slike um..wtf. Um he s on private property, nothign he could do. Why was he called lol. He was actually intrigued how easy it is to roll a car right upsiude down with a chain and 4 lo...gears are your friend.
    Rolling a car onto its side bad advice for the world we live in these days, what about the transmission and engine oil that’s going to contaminate the ground not to mention the gasoline and the potential fire hazard.

  18. The Following User Says Thank You to alloy2 for This Post:


  19. #13
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Apr 2015
    Posts
    2,168
    Thanks
    632
    Thanked 2,503 Times in 1,138 Posts
    I picked up the same loader shown in the youtube for $500.00, rebuilt the starter hung a fuel tank on the side then drover her home and used it for the next five years. The only major changes I did were to add a hydraulic winch and forks.

    I used the winch to lower heavy stuff into the scrap trailer so as not to punch out the flooring.


  20. #14
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Feb 2014
    Posts
    149
    Thanks
    72
    Thanked 182 Times in 76 Posts
    I made arrangements with a local tractor dealer that I would fill in for their low bed driver when he called in sick or was on holidays. Instead of them paying me, I would use one of their skid steer loaders or forklifts when I needed it.

  21. #15
    NHscrapman's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jan 2013
    Location
    new hampshire
    Posts
    1,582
    Thanks
    4,076
    Thanked 2,176 Times in 941 Posts
    Check out Atlanta Liftruck Salvage Inc.
    PO Box 419
    4026 N. Expressway
    Sunnyside, GA 30284
    Phone:
    770-412-8111
    There ain't nothing wrong with an honest days work. Anyone who says otherwise is a fool.- Old Man

  22. #16
    webuyselltradestuff's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    May 2013
    Location
    Watkinsville, GA
    Posts
    950
    Thanks
    131
    Thanked 1,284 Times in 583 Posts
    hey just saw you are in Atlanta. I am down the road in Athens essentially...there are TONS of those typically on Craigslist from FSBO and from companies that deal in those...I know I have looked before. Start there.

  23. #17
    JohnC4X4's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Apr 2011
    Location
    South East Ma
    Posts
    986
    Thanks
    162
    Thanked 1,127 Times in 514 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by webuyselltradestuff View Post
    there are TONS of those typically on Craigslist from FSBO and from companies that deal in those...I know I have looked before. Start there.
    I wish I had thought of something like that

  24. #18
    jeanbean0109's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    May 2015
    Posts
    71
    Thanks
    5
    Thanked 56 Times in 35 Posts
    Unless you roll a car completely on the roof, you will not spill any oil period. Only roll on its side and your fine. In fact you do it right, get a drill and drill a hole in the pans while on the side to drain them. Then ya good to go. And even rolling completely on roof will highly probale nopt leak much if any oil. I had a car that was a rollover many years ago, totaled. Bastard was still full on oil, no apperant leaks anywhere. All I had to do was pull the plugs and crank it voer to blow the oil out of the cylinders. And she fired right up. So if your dumping oil, you aint doing something right....

  25. #19
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Nov 2016
    Posts
    1
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    Try to stick with local brands
    Watch and ask for forklift parts support—some of the older models are hard to find parts for. Also Chinese models have really lousy parts support.

    I would not recommend using the forklift to lift up the car and then standing under the car and removing catalytic converter. Try to get a racking set up or something where the car is secure. I’ve seen forklifts lose their loads.

    For forklift parts check out store.intellaliftparts.com


  26. Similar threads on the Scrap Metal Forum

    1. Good find!! At least for a newbie like me
      By ScrapyCanuck in forum Scrap Metal Questions and Answers
      Replies: 15
      Last Post: 01-12-2015, 01:29 AM
    2. Good Help is Hard to Find
      By mikeinreco in forum Computer Recycling
      Replies: 5
      Last Post: 03-26-2014, 08:31 PM
    3. Didn't find much today, but it still was a good day
      By TheRecycler in forum A Day in the Life of a Scrapper
      Replies: 6
      Last Post: 06-29-2013, 04:41 AM
    4. very good find,,atleast i think
      By scrappergirl4200 in forum A Day in the Life of a Scrapper
      Replies: 3
      Last Post: 01-31-2012, 11:46 AM
    5. Good spots to find scrap
      By Akahn in forum Scrap Metal Questions and Answers
      Replies: 5
      Last Post: 12-19-2011, 11:33 PM

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 3 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 3 guests)

 
Browse the Most Recent Threads
On SMF In THIS CATEGORY.





OR

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

The Scrap Metal Forum

    The Scrap Metal Forum is the #1 scrap metal recycling community in the world. Here we talk about the scrap metal business, making money, where we connect with other scrappers, scrap yards and more.

SMF on Facebook and Twitter

Twitter Facebook