A forklift spreader bar is a bar that attaches to the front of a fork truck. It is used to stabilize any material that has a tendency to bend when it is lifted. With the stabilizing effect of the bar, materials can be handled more easily, safely, and without damage to their structures.
These forklift attachments are engineered with universal fit so they will work with any rough terrain, extendable reach, or straight mast fork truck. Attachments come in 12 foot, 20 foot, or 30 foot lengths to handle different load requirements.
There are many materials that will bend and warp when lifted with forks. Forks are too close together to support the heavy ends of long, cylindrical objects or excessively wide loads. There arose a need in the material handling industry to develop a fork truck attachment that would provide equal support to the ends of these materials in addition to supporting the center of gravity.
Forklift spreader bars were engineered to solve this problem. They have since found extensive use in manufacturing, warehousing, and repair operations.
Each attachment is manufactured with fork pickets that allow it to accept forks measuring up to 7 inches wide to 2 and one half inches thick.
 ![Forklift Spreader Bar Attachment]() Spreader attachment bars can also be attached to cranes. A center hold accepts a hook and allows the attachment to be suspended from a cable.
These attachments are adjustable. Model size refers to the maximum extension of the unit. For example, the 30 foot forklift spreader bar actually extends anywhere from 20 to 30 feet. The 12 foot model extends between 8 and 12 feet, and the 20 foot model extends between 12 and 20 feet.
The shorter the extension of a bar, the more its weight capacity increases. For instance, a 30 foot bar extended to only 20 feet will support 20,000 pounds. At 25 feet, its capacity drops to 18,000 pounds, and at 30 feet, its capacity is only 15,000 pounds.
Crane hook capacities are less, but still sufficient to make the device a practical crane attachment suitable to a wide range of operations.
Forklift spreader bars have a number of indoor and outdoor applications. They are used extensively in the construction, repair, and material handling industries.
Common uses for these attachments include the moving of rebar cages. Rebar cages will warp very quickly when lifted on standard forks. Attaching a bar to the cage will prevent the weight of either side from bending the cage downward from its center of gravity. This preserves not only the base of the cage, but the dimensions of the mesh that would also be warped if the cage were to bend at the center.
Another very practical use for forklift bars is in the construction business. Both erectors and beams need support at the ends as well as in the center. Bars give them this support, preserving both their integrity and the building they work to frame.
The sheet roofing and siding industry also uses forklift spreader bars to lift large sheets by the edge and position them on roofs and walls. Cranes are also used to lift the beams by the center and position metal sheets on roofs where fork trucks cannot reach.
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