A forklift slipper, also known as a fork extension, tyne extension or tyne sleeve, is a heavy-duty steel attachment that temporarily lengthens a forklift’s existing tynes. Its purpose is to give you the reach and stability to safely handle oversized, long or awkwardly shaped loads.

Forklift slippers are hollow steel sleeves that slide directly over your forklift’s standard tynes.

• Installation: They slide on manually, no tools, hydraulics or modifications to the forklift required.
• Security: They lock firmly in place with steel locking pins positioned behind the tyne heel to stop them sliding off.
• Function: They increase the reach and stability of the lift, but do not increase the forklift’s lifting capacity.

Forklift slippers should not be longer than 167% of the original fork tyne length, according to Australian Standard AS2359.15. For example, if your forklift tynes are 1070mm long, then the maximum allowable extended length on those tynes will be calculated as 1070 x 1.66, which equates to a slip-on length of up to 1785mm.

Measure the length of your forklift tynes the maximum length of the appropriate sleeve is to be calculated in this way:

• Length: maximum 167% of the original tyne length
• Width: inside width up to tyne width + 10%
• Height: inside clearance up to tyne height + 15–25mm, depending on carriage class

This falls under the Australian Standards and meets the required design criteria for a stable lift.

Forklift slippers should be secured to the fork tynes using locking pins behind the fork tyne heel to prevent them from sliding off.

Forklift slippers that comply with the Australian Standard will have a compliance plate attached, specifying the Working Load Limit (WLL), TARE weight, and model number, as well as noted the Australian Standard AS2359.15.

• Never overload: do not exceed the Working Load Limit (WLL) on the compliance plate or the forklift’s revised rating.
• Choose fully enclosed bottoms: enclosed steel bottoms offer better structural integrity than open-bottom styles.
• Secure the locking pins: never operate with slippers unless the retention pins are locked behind the tynes.
• Inspect regularly: check daily for wear, cracks or bent steel.
• Re-rate the forklift: supply your slipper design calculations to the forklift manufacturer so they can issue an updated rating plate, as required under Australian WHS standards.

To meet Australian Workplace Health & Safety Standards all fork extension slippers should have an engineer approved design certificate ensuring the design has been checked and load tested. This can be done once and calculations need to be provided to the relative Forklift manufacturer, so they can provide the additional rating plate for that specific attachment to your Forklift. This then meets Australian WHS standard.

Yes, using slippers reduces your forklift’s effective capacity. Because they extend the forks, they shift the load centre further forward, away from the mast, which reduces the truck’s residual capacity and increases the risk of tip-over. The forklift must be re-rated, and you should always check the updated load chart before lifting.

Yes. Fitting slippers moves the load centre, so your forklift needs an updated capacity rating plate from the forklift manufacturer (OEM). Bremco supplies an engineer-approved design certificate with load calculations, so your OEM can issue the additional rating plate. This only needs to be done once.

Measure three things on your existing forklift tynes: the length (along the top face, from the heel where it meets the carriage to the tip), the width, and the thickness. These figures let us match the correct slipper for a snug, compliant fit.

Bremco BMP003 forklift slippers come in three classes: Class 2 (for 1500–2500kg forklifts, 3000kg WLL), Class 3 (for 3000–5000kg forklifts, 4000–5000kg WLL) and Class 4 (for 6000–8000kg forklifts, 8000kg WLL). Lengths range from 1600mm to 3000mm, with custom sizes available on request.

Bremco forklift slippers are fully fabricated from steel plate with a tapered, slim profile and finished in hot-dip galvanising for corrosion resistance and a long service life.

Compliant forklift slippers carry a permanent compliance plate attached to the slipper, which under AS2359.15 must display:

1. The Working Load Limit (WLL)
2. The TARE weight of the attachment
3. The manufacturer’s model number
4. Reference to the AS2359.15 standard

If a slipper has no compliance plate, it should not be used.

Yes. Bremco forklift slippers are manufactured in our Brisbane workshop, comply with AS2359.15, and are backed by a 12-month structural warranty.