BF4500 4,500 lb Skid Steer Bucket Forks – 48 Inch Kit

Description

The AG-GO BF4500 4,500 lb skid steer bucket forks give operators a removable way to handle pallets, lumber, fencing supplies, feed, logs, construction materials, and other bulky loads with a compatible loader bucket. Designed for medium-duty farm, property-maintenance, landscaping, and jobsite work, this over-the-top fork system adds material-handling versatility without requiring a hydraulic connection or permanently converting the machine to a dedicated fork frame.

The BF4500 uses 48 inch blades and a solid 1.50 inch diameter by 87 inch shaft. Its longer shaft and higher published rating distinguish it from the smaller BF2500, while its standard 48 inch fork length remains practical for pallet work and maneuvering around barns, storage areas, equipment yards, and construction sites.

The kit carries a published 4,500 lb rating when properly installed and used with suitable equipment. That rating applies to the fork system, not automatically to the loader, bucket, welds, or completed installation. The lowest-rated part of the entire setup always determines the safe working limit.

Operators comparing models, bucket measurements, and fork lengths can read PRO-Link’s bucket fork kit selection guide or review the full line of AG-GO bucket fork kits.

Solid 48 Inch Forks for Farm and Jobsite Materials

Each BF4500 fork blade measures 1.75 inches thick by 3 inches wide by 48 inches long. This blade length provides support beneath standard pallets while remaining easier to position in confined areas than a longer 60 inch fork. The fork assemblies slide along the shaft, allowing the operator to adjust their spacing for different pallet openings, bundled material, and uneven loads.

The BF4500 kit includes:

• A matched pair of 48 inch fork blades
• A 1.50 inch diameter by 87 inch solid steel shaft
• Supplied steel weld-on mounting hooks

The system is designed for compatible buckets with openings up to 38 inches. Bucket opening is only one fit measurement. Before ordering, buyers should also check bucket width, outside height, top-edge shape, steel thickness, hook area, cutting-edge position, shaft clearance, and the space needed for the backs of the fork assemblies.

Machine brand alone cannot confirm compatibility. A skid steer, utility tractor, loader, or similar machine may be suitable only when its bucket construction, lifting capacity, geometry, ballast requirements, and operating limits match the attachment and intended load. The longer shaft provides room to set the forks for different load widths, but both blades should remain positioned evenly around the bucket centerline.

The BF4500 can support a wide range of everyday tasks, including:

• Moving pallets of feed, seed, fertilizer, or landscape supplies
• Carrying lumber, fence posts, panels, pipe, or bundled material
• Staging equipment parts, tools, and building supplies
• Relocating firewood, logs, brush, or storm-cleanup material
• Loading or unloading compatible pallets around shops and storage yards

Loads should be supported by both forks and placed as close to the fork backs as practical. Long, flexible, or poorly balanced material may require additional securement or a different attachment. Never assume that the kit’s rating makes an unstable or unsupported load safe to carry.

For smaller machines, lighter work, and bucket openings up to 32 inches, compare the BF2500 42 inch bucket fork kit. Operators who regularly handle heavier loads should compare the BF4500 with the higher-capacity BF6048, BF6060, BF8048, and BF8060 models before choosing a kit.

Weld-On-Hook Mounting, Fit, and Safe Use

The BF4500 is a weld-on-hook system. During initial installation, a qualified welder or fabricator positions and welds the supplied steel hooks to the top front edge of a structurally suitable bucket. Hook location affects shaft alignment, fork position, clearance, and how lifting forces enter the bucket, so placement should be based on actual measurements rather than appearance alone.

After the hooks are installed, the fork assemblies ride on the solid shaft and the shaft is supported by the bucket hooks. The forks themselves are not welded to the bucket. The operator can then engage or disengage the removable assembly with controlled bucket movements, allowing the same machine to return to digging, loading, grading, or cleanup work after the forks are removed.

No hydraulic connection is required for the fork system. Once the permanent hooks have been installed correctly, the removable assembly can be mounted or removed without ordinary hand tools. The operator should keep everyone away from the machine and attachment during connection, removal, lifting, and lowering.

Before installation, measure from the bucket cutting edge to the top outside edge and confirm that the opening does not exceed 38 inches. Also verify the required shaft width and hook configuration. The related-company ALLPROFORKS bucket fork guide provides additional measurement diagrams and an illustrated overview of the top-mount installation process.

Bucket-mounted forks position the load farther forward than a dedicated carriage normally would. As the load moves away from the machine, leverage increases and usable lifting capacity can decrease. Weight placed near the fork tips creates more leverage than the same weight positioned close to the bucket. Operators must follow the machine manufacturer’s loader limits, ballast instructions, and operating guidance.

For better load control:

• Set the forks evenly and center the load across both blades
• Keep the heaviest portion of the material close to the bucket
• Carry the load low and travel slowly
• Avoid sharp turns, sudden stops, and side loading
• Allow additional clearance for the bucket and fork tips
• Watch for slopes, soft ground, overhead lines, and bystanders

Inspect the forks, shaft, bushings or eyes, hooks, retaining hardware, bucket, and welds before use. Stop if any component is loose, bent, cracked, excessively worn, or misaligned.

The BF4500 is manufactured in the USA at PRO-Link’s production facility as part of the AG-GO attachment line. It is covered by PRO-Link’s one-year limited warranty against manufacturer’s defects.

Questions & Answers

What bucket opening will the BF4500 fit?

The BF4500 is designed for compatible bucket openings up to 38 inches. Buyers must also verify the bucket’s width, structure, steel thickness, hook area, shaft clearance, and machine capacity before installation.

Are the BF4500 forks permanently attached to the bucket?

No. Only the supplied mounting hooks are permanently welded to the bucket. The shaft and fork assemblies remain removable so the bucket can return to its normal work.

Can the 4,500 lb skid steer bucket forks lift 4,500 lb on every machine?

No. The published rating applies to the fork kit. The safe working limit is determined by the lowest-rated component, including the machine, loader, bucket, hooks, welds, shaft, forks, installation, load position, and operating conditions.