Adapter for Avant to skid loader or mini?

[ATH]

Just bought an avant ... I picked up their weld-on adapter plate. Was planning to stick it on a set of pallet forks I have.

But I got to thinking - could I make it more universal?

Some googling, I can get adapter latches (or whatever they are called?):

Thinking if I weld the Avant plate to those, then I could hook to other standard skid loader attachments as well.

so questions:

1) Is that a bad plan?
2) I can find standard skid plate adapters, but not miniskid (which I don't need for my pallet forks...but would be nice to have for other attachments). Is there a reason why? Where would I find such an adapter? (Avant has one ready to go with their attachment plate already on it for $1200...the ones pictured are $90 on EBay...the avant adapter is $225)

 

[Reach]

1) seems to me that it should be a fine plan, as long as there is enough space for the attachments to fit on, and as long as the cheap adapters, you have there are strong enough for what you want to do with them.

2) I do not know why miniskid plates do not exist, I would think someone would have one by now, but I don’t know. The extreme difference in price makes me wonder about the quality of what you found online, but they might be strong enough. For the price, it is probably worth trying them out at least.

 

[RyanCafferky]

Avant sells adapter plates that allow you to use your Avant with full size skid steer attachments or with mini skid attachments. I have the full size one so I can use my Kubota tractor buckets and forks with my Avant.

 

[ATH]

I think that adapter from Avant is like $1200? I think? Its hard to get prices for their stuff without having to make calls...and even then, I'm finding "we don't have that, I'll have to get back to you" and then they don't.

It occurred to me the reason I cannot find adapters like that for a miniskid universal mount is those are made to upgrade old tractors. There are no minis that don't already have a universal plate.

I found one whole plate for $600 that I could weld an Avant plate onto. But for that money (Avant plate costs $225...so its $825 at least) and my time, plus semi-questionable welding skills, I might as well buy Avant's adapter.

After digging more, I found a full size universal mount I like better than the one in the original picture - I think will be much easier to attach the Avant plate:

But its $225, so I'm at $500, plus some extra metal (probably angle iron) to make the Avant plate fit.

Still debating if its worth it. I don't know how many other universal attachments I'll want.

I have the one plate that I was ready to weld onto pallet forks I've had. That'll be permanent for both the forks and the plate. I'm also thinking I want hydraulically adjusting forks for tree planting at some point. If I weld this onto the forks I have then I'll end up with a 2 sets of forks, and I really don't need that and the market for buying forks with an Avant plate is relatively small. If I have a universal plate, I can probably find lower cost hydraulic forks.

 

[Reach]

I think that adapter from Avant is like $1200? I think? Its hard to get prices for their stuff without having to make calls...and even then, I'm finding "we don't have that, I'll have to get back to you" and then they don't.

It occurred to me the reason I cannot find adapters like that for a miniskid universal mount is those are made to upgrade old tractors. There are no minis that don't already have a universal plate.

I found one whole plate for $600 that I could weld an Avant plate onto. But for that money (Avant plate costs $225...so its $825 at least) and my time, plus semi-questionable welding skills, I might as well buy Avant's adapter.

After digging more, I found a full size universal mount I like better than the one in the original picture - I think will be much easier to attach the Avant plate:

But its $225, so I'm at $500, plus some extra metal (probably angle iron) to make the Avant plate fit.

Still debating if its worth it. I don't know how many other universal attachments I'll want.

I have the one plate that I was ready to weld onto pallet forks I've had. That'll be permanent for both the forks and the plate. I'm also thinking I want hydraulically adjusting forks for tree planting at some point. If I weld this onto the forks I have then I'll end up with a 2 sets of forks, and I really don't need that and the market for buying forks with an Avant plate is relatively small. If I have a universal plate, I can probably find lower cost hydraulic forks.

A universal plate could definitely come in handy, and I think the adapter you have there looks better than the other one. One concern, though, every adapter or adapter piece that you add pushes the load further out from your machine, thereby reducing your lifting capacity. Not sure how big your machine is, if you can afford the loss of capacity or not.

 

[ATH]

A universal plate could definitely come in handy, and I think the adapter you have there looks better than the other one. One concern, though, every adapter or adapter piece that you add pushes the load further out from your machine, thereby reducing your lifting capacity. Not sure how big your machine is, if you can afford the loss of capacity or not.

A 528 is rated for 2100 lb...

I feel like if I just bite the bullet now and buy an adapter it gives me options in the long term. Just trying to figure the most efficient way.

 

[Lumberjack]

For $1200 and fabrication not being a passion of yours.... I'd just buy it and use the time saved to give some bids.... everyone wins and you end up with a better result (I assume).

 

[ATH]

For $1200 and fabrication not being a passion of yours.... I'd just buy it and use the time saved to give some bids.... everyone wins and you end up with a better result (I assume).

I didn't say I don't enjoy fabrication... I said I'm not very good at it LOL!

 

[Reach]

A 528 is rated for 2100 lb...

I feel like if I just bite the bullet now and buy an adapter it gives me options in the long term. Just trying to figure the most efficient way.

Probably buying the adapter is the best option if you expect to use it for other attachments, especially if you’re not so good at fabrication. 2100 pounds is decent, but that will drop in a hurry if you start pushing attachments out further in front of you.

 

[ATH]

So thinking about it once more before pulling the trigger in an adapter... it'll certainly be adding weight like you said @Reach . Also for the cost, I can get 5 weld-on adapter plates. (These: https://www.avanttecno.com/us/attachments/adapter-plate )

Even if I go cheap buy the red thing, that's the cost of an adapter plate, plus I need plate to put on there so it's really the cost of 2.

Am I going to want more than 3 non-Avant attachments??? The grapples (whether Avant BMG, or Ryan's) are all available with the right attachment. So there's one that doesn't matter. I already have their bucket and demolition bucket. So I'm probably back to just thinking welding an adapter plates on as needed if I have 3rd party attachmens.

One other factor - Looking at the book from Avant, they have a disclaimer that the Avant->universal plate is for temporarily moving equipment. I'm sure it's just a CYA statement. @RyanCafferky have you had any concerns using yours with other attachments? I'm thinking specifically about an auger...will the wider plate in any way spread the torque differently such that there is more torque on the loader's arm???

Appreciate being able to think through these things with others!

 

[RyanCafferky]

. @RyanCafferky have you had any concerns using yours with other attachments?

Zero concern. It is built rock solid. I mostly use mine with a 60” wide tractor bucket for moving chips and stump grindings or for grading after we do big stumps. I also occasionally use it with forks when milling or moving things around at our place.

 

[ATH]

I put that plate on the pallet forks today...not sure I needed the 0.8" plate and I didn't know until I looked in the book that they have a 0.4" plant....and you can buy just the hooks (part A31566 or A37015):

I need to get a price, but I'm assuming they are relatively cheap(er) I'll probably order some just to have on hand. Makes modifying other attachments seem more practical.

Anyhow, my handiwork - I welded the full length of all joinng surfaces. I know that is unnecessary...but I figured the welds will be strong enough somewhere along there to hold!





Painted and ready to go:

 

[Jehinten]

I wouldn't be concerned with losing too much capacity by adding an adapter to use mini skid attachments. The reason being is the mini attachments are built for a smaller machine to operate them. Using your machine at full capacity with a mini attachment would likely damage the attachment.

Certain attachments should be perfectly fine. Forks used within reason, an auger. Trencher.... but for grapples and a heavy duty use forks you can take the adapter out and use avant attachments.

 

[Reach]

I put that plate on the pallet forks today...not sure I needed the 0.8" plate and I didn't know until I looked in the book that they have a 0.4" plant....and you can buy just the hooks (part A31566 or A37015):

I need to get a price, but I'm assuming they are relatively cheap(er) I'll probably order some just to have on hand. Makes modifying other attachments seem more practical.

Anyhow, my handiwork - I welded the full length of all joinng surfaces. I know that is unnecessary...but I figured the welds will be strong enough somewhere along there to hold!

View attachment 99936


View attachment 99937
Painted and ready to go:

View attachment 99938

Looks good, and that is a lot of weld! Also, that is. Really heavy plate. Excessively so, the 0.4” plate would definitely be a better option for the future, and anywhere you have a flat plate to mount to already the hooks without the plate should be plenty.

 

[evo]

Looks great. I agree the plate is overkill.

Just some advise not that I necessarily think anything it wrong. Looks like another pass could make things beefier a plate that thick with a weld only going about 1/2 thickness is going to get you half of the potential strength. Probably not a big deal at all. Welds look good, maybe a little cold or too fast but this is the strongest joint so not a biggie.

 

[ATH]

Looks great. I agree the plate is overkill.

...maybe a little cold or too fast but this is the strongest joint so not a biggie.

Was at 250A and that's all she's got. Maybe go to manual settings keep the voltage up and slow down wire feed rate? It felt a little fast, but once I got in the groove it seemed to go well. I turned down the automatic settings a little and it wasn't doing as well.

Thanks for the tips!

 

[ATH]

I did buy a set of brackets. The dealer said they're $112. I found them for only $68 shipped. Tried to order 2 sets, but they only had 2 brackets (1 set) left.

I'm gonna go see if the local steel place can put that curve in a piece with a press. If so, just need to figure out the bottom. When I saw the pics, I thought maybe a thick wall pipe. Still thinking that's a possibility, but they came with a hole cut into a square piece. That is going to be harder to make without a mill.

 

[ATH]

Update:
Got a quote to have matches for the bottom pieces made. I think he said they'd burn them...laser cut maybe? Or maybe they would be milled. If I bought 8 pieces (to make 4 sets) they would be $30 each. Not bad...but before spending $240, I thought I could waste some more time and money on the way there.

1.5" extra heavy pipe is about perfect size. I was able to heat and bend 1/4" x 1.25" (I think that was the width...same as original). So, instead of spending $240 to have 8 parts made, I bought a 36" long piece of pipe for $45 (and a $300 band saw on a stand from Harbor Freight to cut the pieces, logically!).

The ones I bought on the left, the ones I made on the right. Currently have everything cut for 2 more sets and bent for one more - ran outta time to finish.

 

[ATH]

I have a small snow plow that came with a lawn mower tractor I bought from a friend. It has sat in the corner since. One set will convert that to push with the Avant. Not sure how much use it'll get...but better odds I'll quick attach it onto the loader than trying to figure out bolting it on and off of the lawn mower!

The other set will go to make a trailer hitch so I can use the loader to move trailers around. I think that'll just be an angle iron frame with the brackets. Not sure it even needs a plate.

No exact plans for the others yet, but I'll have them and sure I'll find an attachment I'll want!

I did find a Digga auger that will come Avant-ready. Branch Manager is available for Avant. So won't need these for either of those.