4n1 buckets - useful?

[Charlesaf3]

So per another thread I posted, I'm getting a new tractor (but keeping the old one (gf thinks I'm nuts. Probably am, but as she is gf, not wife, 2 tractors it is ))

New tractor is a Kubota L4740. I'm wondering whether to get a 4n1 bucket with it? They seem like useful implements, especially for bulldozing? Id love to have a bulldozer, but can't really justify it... (mainly moving very sandy soil with a fair number of rocks).

I did a search here, but only came up with some references to them, not really a thread devoted to them. Can anyone educate me a bit? (This place has already educated me tremendously)

And btw, I already have a 4' grapple. New tractor will be set up with QA.

 

[EddieWalker]

I don't have one, but my neighbor does. He bought a brand new New Holland LB75.b last year. It's a full sized Loader/Backhoe with a 4 in 1 front bucket. He also said he wanted the dozer ability that it gives him when he bought it. Remeber, this has 75 hp. It's totally useless at bull dozing.

What it is absolutey FANTASTIC at is picking up logs and brush. I want one so bad it hurts. I've watched him clean up an area with his 4 in 1 bucket in just a few hours that will take me days to accomplish.

It's the ultimate grapple becasue he never has to change anything. It's built right in and all he has to do it push a lever a little and it changes from a loader bucket to a grapple when it opens and closes. Did I say I'm jealous? hahaha

If you can afford it, buy it. I had no idea they even existed when I bought mine and really wish I did.

Good luck,
Eddie

 

[MadReferee]

They will not turn your tractor into a bulldozer. With the clam open it's more like having a front blade on the FEL. You will be limited by the strength of the loader arms. What 4n1's are good for are picking things up and spreading material. I have one on my TD6 dozer and it's a great help clearing land.

 

[m7040]

I have ordered a 4 in one bucket to be delivered in January. Decided to get also a thumb for the regular bucket which just was delivered today. Welded it to the bucket this afternoon and will go get hoses tomorrow to try it out. I dont have a lot of stone hedges to clean out where a claw would best so for my purposes I think the 4inone and std bucket with a tumb is ideal. Will let you all know how it works out.

 

[Wesbo]

Neighbor got tired of looking at my crappy driveway so he came over with a JD 5510 with a 4in1. REALLY useful if you have a good touch on the controls. It excels at spreading materials, picking up and carrying brush and trash, and dressing driveways... VERY useful.

W

 

[BobRip]

One of my favorite features of a 4 in 1 is you can load it going backward or forward. Which means you can always load it going down hill (or flat worst case). On a small tractor like mine this is a big help.

 

[ddonnell]

BobRip'

Could you explain this loading backwards thing with the 4 in 1 bucket?

 

[BobRip]

BobRip'

Could you explain this loading backwards thing with the 4 in 1 bucket?

When going forward you have the bucket closed and push the front lip into the material, just like a normal bucket.

When going backward you have the bucket partially open and the back bottom edge of the front part of the bucket digs into your material. When it is full you simultaneously close the bucket and tilt it upward. Works pretty well on a Power Trac 422.

 

[IslandTractor]

I'd think that a 4n1 would be more useful than a regular bucket with some penalty in weight and of course price. For someone with a full grapple already you lose the other main argument in favor of the 4n1 as the grapple will be MUCH more effective at grasping and clamping on brush/logs/rocks etc. An interesting place to research this question is on the PowerTrac forum as those guys have a choice of 4n1 and grapple bucket from the factory and a lot of the owners have one and some have both.

 

[CurlyDave]

I'm wondering whether to get a 4n1 bucket with it?

One of the reasons I am really happy with my JD 110 TLB is that the dealer only stocked ones with the 4-n-1 bucket, so that is what I got. And, I didnt have to pay for a standard bucket & then replace it.

While it is never going to be a true bulldozer, I can use the blade for spreading material and for bulldozing small amounts of dirt.

All in all, I would definitely get the 4-n-1, and subtract the standard bucket from your order.