4n1 buckets - useful?

[jmc]

In my hands, the "dozer" mode is no more useful for grading than a regular bucket. Unless your ground is flat, you need it to tilt up or down and it won't.

And they don't hold water, like if you are mixing cement in the bucket.

Everything else is great:

They are nice to pluck small stumps and trees out of the ground.

If you can slightly open the jaw and adjust the curl position just so, they peel up an even layer of dirt when you float the bucket.

To paraphrase CurlyDave, if you can afford the extra weight, just get the 4 in 1.

John

 

[BobRip]

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.

I have both for my 422 and love them both, but for different uses. The 4 in 1 is a poor brush mover. The grapple bucket will move an unbelieveable amount of brush and branches. The grapple is fair at dirt moving, the 4 in 1 is much better. Attachment change is so easy (under 30 seconds) on the PT and this encourages getting a lot of attachments. Having a nice wife helps too.

 

[IslandTractor]

I have both for my 422 and love them both, but for different uses. The 4 in 1 is a poor brush mover. The grapple bucket will move an unbelieveable amount of brush and branches. The grapple is fair at dirt moving, the 4 in 1 is much better. Attachment change is so easy (under 30 seconds) on the PT and this encourages getting a lot of attachments. Having a nice wife helps too.

I guess the question, for someone who already owns a standard root grapple, is whether a 4n1 adds any important function over a standard bucket. It would seem the only thing you could not do easily with grapple plus standard bucket would be the mini dozer function and perhaps the back scraping function you get with a 4n1. Those functions could easily be provided by a rear blade or rake however. It might be nice to have a 4n1 as an all purpose tool even if the individual functions could be done better by separate implelments. Or so I tell myself. I looked long and hard for a 4n1 that would make sense for my smaller tractor but with the cheapest alternative costing around $2000 plus shipping, it did not make sense (except emotionally). I'd still love one and might some day, against my own argument, buy one in a moment of weakness (or clarity ).

By the way, for what it is worth, the least expensive 4n1 I found was the JD. Several hundred $$ less than ATI or WR Long or many of the much heavier skid steer versions. I even looked into modifying a PT 4n1 mount but that would also be more money considering transport and professional cutting and welding as PT won't make the modification for you.

 

[MarkV]

I remember someone saying they used a 4in1 bucket to trim tree limbs along their fence line. Thought that was an interesting application.

MarkV

PS. WR Long 68" 4in1 plus front hydraulics = $3500 + shipping

 

[bebster]

I have a 4n1 and am glad I got it. But one caution is to watch out for the hydraulic hose that operates the clamshell jaws. Mine connects to the bucket in the center near the rear top, and is tied onto the front loader. It has a small loop of hose that is needed so when the bucket curls down the hose has enough play. Problem is when backdragging the bucket, that hose hangs down pretty near the ground. Once while backdragging, I got it caught on a rock and ripped a hole in one of the hoses. Now I have a small bungy cord that keeps the hose up yet can stretch when the bucket curls. So far so good.

 

[Turkeyman]

It is very useful for everything. Can trim small pine(2") branches in the jaws and yet clamp 8" gum trees for exact placement in a pond. Also, grabs dirt when I can not scoop. Only problem is that they have smaller capacities and weight almost double what a reg bucket weighs. My first WR long 4 in 1 had a spill guard installed to increase capacity.

 

[m7040]

Waiting for the Bradco 4-in-one bucket to be delivered. It is 72 inch and weighs near 900 lbs. Also ordered a a three point to quick attach so i can use the pallet forks in the rear of tractor. Total cost about 35oo dollars

 

[Glowplug]

Waiting for the Bradco 4-in-one bucket to be delivered. It is 72 inch and weighs near 900 lbs. Also ordered a a three point to quick attach so i can use the pallet forks in the rear of tractor. Total cost about 35oo dollars

You really do make me jealous. I'm going to have to start living vicariously through you!

 

[pdsrms]

I have a 72" 4 in 1 and a 63" Unlimited Fabrications root grapple.
I find the 4 in 1 to have limited application. As a grapple device, you can't open it enough to get much in it. Logs ok, sink size rocks are not easy, forget about brush. As a bucket they are pretty small volume. It's best application, in my opinion, is in grading/back blading maneuvers.

 

[IslandTractor]

Waiting for the Bradco 4-in-one bucket to be delivered. It is 72 inch and weighs near 900 lbs.

Even with your big tractor that seems like it would take quite a bite out of your lift capacity. Is that your primary bucket or just for special applications? Why not use a lighter weight version?