How to Transfer Plastic Pallets to Wood Pallets

Use forklifts to transfer pallets.

Materials and parts are often shipped to warehouses or businesses on fragile plastic pallets. You can typically recognize them by the large amount of clear plastic wrap surrounding the goods to secure them together. Problems arise when the plastic is removed. The pallets will occasionally collapse, leaving it impossible to get the forks of a forklift underneath. If you transfer plastic pallets to wood, you can then move the fragile plastic pallets around anywhere at any time with a forklift.

Things You'll Need

• 2 beams, 4-feet by 4-feet by 42-inches
• Forklift

Instructions

1. Lay the two beams across a wooden pallet parallel to each other, 28 inches apart.

2. Start up your forklift. There are three levers on a forklift. Pull back on the lever nearest your body to lift the forks 3 inches off the floor. Push forward on the lever the farthest from your body to tilt the front of the forks downward until the tip of the forks touch the ground or cement.

3. Drive the forklift to the plastic pallet and center the forks under it. Drive forward until the forks penetrate all the way under the pallet and emerge out the other side. Pull back on the first lever to lift the pallet 6 inches off the floor.

4. Drive the forklift to the wooden pallet. Center the plastic pallet on the beams. Pull back on the lever nearest you and raise the plastic pallet until it is above the beams on the wooden pallet.

5. Drive forward until the plastic pallet is centered above the wooden beams and stop. Push forward on the lever nearest you, letting the plastic pallet descend slowly and come to rest on the beams. Put the forklift in reverse and back out slowly, leaving the plastic pallet on top of the wooden pallet.

Tips & Warnings

• Also known as "stickers," you can get discarded 4-feet by 4-feet beams at any warehouse or home improvement store.

• Watch very carefully as you back out. Make sure that the forks do not hook on something and tip over the plastic pallet.

• Forklift driving is dangerous. Never drive a forklift unless you are experienced or have an experienced driver on hand to instruct you. Some states even require licensing.