Hive orientation for 4 way pallet

[pahvantpiper]

Here's a question for you commercial, migrating guys/gals from a commercial wanna be. In your opinion, what is the best way to orient your hives on a pallet - with the entrances facing towards and away from the fork lift or to the sides as you are loading it? Also which type of pallet clips do you prefer - "U" or "W"? I use the standard pallet like I've seen advertised from Mann Lake with the "W" clip. I'm getting ready to make about 50 more though and am considering trying something different.

[Brian Suchan]

most peeps around here use the style with the W type clip & the entrance to the box toward or away from the loader!

[Sundance]

If they are any other way than toward the
loader you have a wide pallet that will
make for issues when loading on a semi
(as far as the numbers able to load) IMO.

[Gregg]

Entrance is always towards fork on pallets I have seen.

Each type of clip had it's advantages/disadvantages: the W shape keeps the boxes a little bit apart, thus letting them dry out in between them and not rotting as fast, however, they seem to get a little wobbly (IME) when pallets are stacked 4 high. The U shaped seem a little more stable, but never let the boxes dry out because they are right up against each other.

I buy the U shape, but do have some that I got used that have the W shape.

[Beemaninsa]

A.H. Meyers has/had a good design and tips for pallet making. You might try calling them and see if they will mail you their instructions/tips. Good price on clips also.
My opinion on clips echos what Gregg wrote: U clips hold hives in position a better. Sides of boxes are right next to each other and suseptable to rot. W cliped hives can bounce out while transporting easier than U clips. Side of boxes are about 1/2 inch apart which probably reduces rot but stuff often falls between boxes and must be cleaned out.
I use U clips.

[AstroZomBEE]

Or try a 6 way pattern with the W clips, I believe the W clips do not bend as easily as the U's. and the 6 way makes a sturdier platform when stacking bees up on a semi. Here at Fisher Bee Farm, we have been converting to bottom board hives on a 6 way pallet.

[Sundance]

I have been toying with the idea of switching
to 6 way pallets too. Is there any downside
other than weight???

[pahvantpiper]

With a 6 way pallet don't you have to stand in front of the entrance on the middle hives while working them? AstroZomBEE, why do you like bottom boards on your pallet - isn't it cheaper and more convenient to use the pallet as the bottom board? Also, from what I understand (and that may be very little), the 4 way pallets where the entrances face the side while loading can be hauled 3 wide on a semi thus using the entire 96 inces of the trailer width. Strapping it down from side to side is also easier as the cleats on the cover don't get in the way. Too, when starting and stopping abrubtly the frames don't swing - which I guess propolis probably fixes. Anyway, thank you guys for the advice, I may switch over to the u clips and if I can find some plans for a 6 way pallet I may build one and see what I think.

[Sundance]

I'd be interested to find out what the load
differences would be with each configuration.
I'll get out the pen and calculator and see.

[AstroZomBEE]

Well, the reason for the bottom boards on our pallets goes as follows. When you get to number of hives that you have to hire helpers that aren't necessarily beekeepers. who dont have the proper sight. Meaning the over look things that can be devastating to a hive. On the six way pallet w/o bottom boards if there was a stone or hole in the box that allowed access from one hive to another, well queen crossover is never good for a hives life span. So, we have people nailing on the bottom boards ahead of time after we go through the empty supers. And we caulk any opening we don't like before making nucs into them or filling them with premade nucs. Making for a better bee tight box, besides the entrance. And yes you do have to stand in front of the entrance to work the center hive. It makes little difference though. You smoke it before you go in and if they decide to attack it doesn't matter where you stand around the pallet they are going to find you. Also, two six way pallets fint across a semi trailer quite nicely. Either side just hanging over the rubrail by an inch. Yes, i believe you can stack 4 ways 3 wide on a semi, but you have to push your center stack in which isn't hard but unless you have really long forks it can be tricky unloading the center stack. As far as the covers go we don't use cleats so i don't know how the affect the loading and strapping process. As for the frame swinging, we run ten frames in everything with no metal spacers. so there is little swing at all, and yes wax and propolis can hold frames still through some very rough circumstances.

Any other questions? I would be glad to inform anyone of how my commercial outfit gets things done.

AstroZomBEE

[ August 04, 2006, 12:24 PM: Message edited by: AstroZomBEE ]