What you put on the front of your compact tractor's front loader depends
on the jobs you have to do. Moving dirt? A materials bucket will do.
Moving a lot of dirt? Maybe you need a heavy-duty bucket. Have brush you
need to haul away? Try a grapple bucket. Have a variety of chores? A
four-in-one bucket might be just the tool for you.
Taking stock of your needs before you buy a bucket is important. But you
also should be careful to pick the right bucket for your tractor's
characteristics. The easy choice is to go with your tractor
manufacturer's buckets. But if you decide to buy an after-market bucket,
remember that different tractor manufacturers have different connectors
and/or quick-attach systems. (After-market buckets are plentiful and
offer more choices and price ranges.) If you plan to buy a bucket from
any of the many good shortliners, make sure you have the right
connecting system for your brand of frontloader.
Also, choose a bucket that fits your tractor's tread width. Generally,
buckets should cover the tread width of the tractor� �� ��and no more� �� ��to
provide the most efficient service. For compact tractors, buckets
usually come in 49-, 53-, 61- and 73-inch sizes.
Here's a look at some of the bucket types available. The buckets
pictured are from John Deere.
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The materials bucket is the basic bucket, good for scraping gravel
roads, moving dirt and scooping manure. Its top usually is parallel to
the cutting edge to provide a frame of reference so the operator can
level the load. This bucket is quite durable� �� ��if you know its limits.
High volume materials buckets have bigger mouths, good for moving snow,
mulch or any other material that is bulky but not heavy. However, these
buckets are not hearty enough for digging. $537-$615.
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The four-in-one bucket is the jack-of-all-trades. It works like a
materials bucket in one mode, but its long, flat bucket opens in the
middle to grab things. The lower lip can be used as a cutting edge to
trim off sod or level a gravel road. Or its top can flip partially up to
use like a blade. The grapple requires an additional hydraulic
connection. $1,437.
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The heavy-duty materials bucket is the same as the materials bucket,
only more rigid with reinforced construction on the top and sides.
Mounting hooks are also stronger. Good heavy-duty models have
replaceable wear bars or cutting edges for longer life and (as shown
here) accessory teeth for digging. $662-$742.