Pallet fork attachments

Engineered to handle loads with exceptional efficiency

Broad applications

Lift bricks, load shipping containers, or move hay bales. Builders, farmers and site managers rely on skid steer pallet forks to tackle all kinds of tasks, which is why it remains one of the most widely used attachment types on the market.

Agile handling

Fit where forklifts can’t, including tight yards, narrow gaps between buildings, and sloped paddocks. This attachment also gives operators sharper control over the load, which is crucial when you’re moving materials across uneven ground.

Superior visibility

Gain a clear line of sight to both the forks and the surrounding work area. Pallet fork attachments offer better visibility compared to standard buckets. This helps operators place loads accurately the first time around with less risk of collisions.

Cost-effective equipment

Cut labour costs. Attachments equip one operator to do the work of a small crew, which is key on mine sites, construction projects and farms where every hour on the clock counts. It’s a smart investment that can quickly pay for itself in savings.

Make light work of heavy lifting with Hydrapower

40+ years of experience

Decades of delivering earthmoving attachments have taught us what truly matters on site: precision, longevity and ease of use. Every pallet fork we build is designed to help you lift quicker, work cleaner and skip the rework that comes from equipment that can’t handle the load.

Australian quality

Hydrapower pallet forks are designed and built in Brisbane using premium-grade Australian steel and hydraulic components. Manufacturing locally means tighter quality control, faster turnaround and forks built to endure demanding conditions, from intense weather to rugged terrain.

Trusted across the globe

Contractors, civil crews and agriculturalists across Australia and overseas count on our pallet forks every day. Whether you’re an owner-operator with one machine or managing a large fleet, our attachments are built to perform across construction sites, farms and everything in between.

Rigorous compliance

Be confident in compliance. Every pallet fork attachment is tested against Australian Standards and designed to handle the demands of your job site. This equipment holds its load, keeps performing over time and cuts the risk of breakdowns when you’re relying on it most.

Local support

Have a question? Speak with Australian-based specialists who know your equipment inside out. From servicing and spare parts to on-site technical advice, we manage all aspects of your attachment under one roof. With responsive support on hand, you can reduce unnecessary downtime.

FAQs

What is a pallet fork attachment?

A pallet fork attachment is a lifting tool fitted to a skid steer, compact track loader, or similar machine. It typically features a heavy-duty frame and adjustable steel tines designed to pick up, carry and position pallets, building materials, timber, hay bales and other stable loads.

This type of attachment allows existing equipment to perform many of the material-handling tasks associated with a forklift, while retaining the mobility and versatility of the host machine.

This makes it particularly useful on farms, construction sites, industrial yards and uneven outdoor terrain where a conventional forklift isn’t suitable.

Can the distance between tines be adjusted?

Yes. The distance between the tines can be manually adjusted:

• SL Series: 250 to 860 mm (inside tines)
• PF Series: 250 to 1150 mm (inside tines)

The tines slide across the frame, allowing the operator to widen or narrow the spacing to suit different pallet widths and load sizes.

This makes it easy to accommodate varied materials throughout the working day, from narrow pallets to wider loads.

What applications are pallet fork attachments used for?

Pallet fork attachments are used across construction, agriculture, landscaping, warehousing and other industries.

Common pallet fork applications include:

• Moving palletised materials: Transport bricks, blocks, pavers, bagged cement, fertiliser, animal feed and other packaged goods.
• Handling timber and logs: Lift and relocate logs, sleepers, posts and lengths of timber around farms, worksites and landscaping projects.
• Transporting hay bales: Move, stack or load square and round hay bales, provided they can be safely supported and secured.
• Carrying building materials: Position timber, roofing sheets, tiles, insulation and other materials closer to the work area.
• Moving fence posts: Carry multiple posts across uneven ground and place them where they are needed for installation.
• Clearing branches and vegetation: Pick up bundled brush, branches and green waste during land clearing or property maintenance.
• Loading trucks and storage areas: Raise materials onto trailers, loading platforms, storage racks or other elevated surfaces within the machine’s rated lift height.
• Handling crates and equipment: Move boxed goods, machinery components and other stable loads that can be safely supported by the fork tines.

How does a pallet fork attachment improve safety?

Safety starts with how the load is supported and contained. A heavy-duty load guard, fitted as standard on Hydrapower’s pallet forks, sits behind the tines to stop materials sliding back toward the operator if a load shifts during lifting. That’s one less risk to manage when you’re moving pallets of bricks, feed or building materials around a busy site.

Tine adjustment plays its part, too. Being able to widen or narrow the gap between tines means the load sits properly supported across its full width, rather than perched on tines set too close or too far apart. A poorly matched fit puts uneven pressure on the load and makes it more likely to tip or slip in transit.

To support safe operation, it’s important to:

• Keep the load low while travelling. A raised load lifts the machine’s centre of gravity and makes tipping far more likely, especially on uneven ground.
• Balance the load evenly across both tines. Weight loaded to one side unsettles the machine during lifting and turning.
• Stay within the fork’s rated capacity. Working beyond the pallet fork’s maximum load rating strains the hydraulics and increases the risk of tipping or component failure.
• Set the tine width to suit the load. Correct spacing keeps the load properly supported instead of concentrated at the tips.

Combine well-built equipment with proper operating practices, and pallet forks are one of the safer attachments you can fit to a skid steer or mini loader.

Which machines are compatible with Hydrapower pallet fork attachments?

Hydrapower pallet fork attachments are compatible with skid steer loaders, mini loaders, telehandlers and backhoes from most OEMs, including Bobcat, Caterpillar, Komatsu, John Deere, JCB and Kubota.

If you’re unsure whether a specific model suits your machine, please contact our experienced team to confirm compatibility before you buy.

How do I choose the ideal pallet fork attachment?

The right pallet fork depends on your machine, your load, and the job you’re doing. Key factors to consider include:

• Machine type: Skid steers, telehandlers, mini loaders and backhoes each use different mounting systems, so the fork frame has to match your machine’s hitch or quick-attach plate.
• Load capacity: Every pallet fork carries a rated maximum, and exceeding it risks tipping the machine, overloading the hydraulics, or bending the tines under strain. Depending on the model, Hydrapower pallet forks can lift up to 1,600kg.
• Lifting height: The fork’s reach needs to suit your machine’s mast or boom, since undersized reach limits where you can place a load and oversized reach can affect stability.
• Fork width: Tine spacing should be sized to your typical pallet, bale or load, as forks set too narrow or too wide make loads unstable and harder to control.

Still not sure which model suits your setup best? Contact our technical team for tailored advice and a free quote. We’ll ensure you select the right attachment for your machine and job.