Building a boom for your tractor bucket

[koamfps]

I own a food plot business in Michigan. I drive all over the state with my equipment and decided it was time to move up to some bigger equipment. I bought a TN70 NH and some attachments.

The problem is I cannot drive my tractor and attachments I bought up on my deck over trailer so I now have to lift the equipment on and off using my tractor bucket. It's a Pain in the A##

My thoughts are to weld a 2 inch receiver 6 inches long on the bucket and buy 2 inch square stock approximately 4 to 5 feet in length to slide in and out of the receiver when needed.
Next;
Weld an I- bolt on one end of the square stock and place 4 lengths of chain to the I-bolt with hooks on opposite ends of the chain for lifting equipment on and off the trailer.

I can't see why it wouldn't work. Any thought or in put would be great.

Most of the equipment is at or just over a 1000 pounds.

 

[R_Walter]

Don't know the fel lift capacity on a TN70, but at 5 feet out from your bucket with 1,000 lbs hanging there, it may very well tip you forward.

 

[koamfps]

R_Walter. really don't know. It would seem that if you could lift equipment off of the ground with a bucket it wouldn't matter. Usually I put the bucket under one side of the equipment then chain the other side on the bucket and lift it up... Not very safe though worried about hurting someone or myself.

I was thinking by making a lift pole that I could firmly secure to the equipment prior to lifiting on/off my trailer and be eaiser to move.

 

[kf4uda]

If I read your plan correctly, I believe that a user named TSO just completed what you described.

DIY - Boom / Lift pole (with pics) for around $100 - TractorByNet.com

 

[Ductape]

This has certainly been done a bunch of times here over the years. You will probably want to reinforce the top of your bucket. Unfortunately, I'm not sure what the best terms to punch into the search to find a short list. Perhaps 'bucket boom pole' or similar words.

 

[stagelines]

I can't see why it wouldn't work. Any thought or in put would be great.

Most of the equipment is at or just over a 1000 pounds.

That is a tremendous amount of leverage on one spot. Investigate the receiver hitch solutions designed for towing with a large camper. These are dealing with tongue weights comparable to your load with something like a maximum of 3 1/2' extension.

Google

Now here is the way I would do it.

Buy a used receiver hitch that mounts flat to a frame. Drill holes in the bottom of your bucket and bolt it in place. Then use chains as guys from the end of your extension to the top corners of your bucket, or to hooks in line with your loader arms. Use gussets and reinforcements at all attachment points.

Ballast on the back end and be very careful, especially if the ground is not level.

 

[Groo]

5000ft-lbs is a whole lot of bending force. Think that 2" tube can take that?

I also figure you are going to cut your lifting capacity close to in half, thanks to the longer leverage on the load.

 

[koamfps]

Groo the Square tube is double wall or 1/4" and at 3 to 4 ft it should work. I'm a bit confused at the 5000 ft pound comment. (is that what a 1000 pounds piece of equip would equates to?) I get the lifting capacity but by half that seems like a lot.

I'm definitely not a mathematician so you could well be right. If that was the case it seems I might be wasting my time.

 

[bcp]

If you want strength with light weight, use lighter material and fully triangulate it. The top could even be a chain, a cable, or a cable on a winch.

Bruce

 

[tessiers]

mine has a 2" wide channel that slips over the cutting edge with a chain that hooks into the hook on the top of the bucket. very similar to this

CountyLine Loader Bucket Mounted Hay Spike - 2120000 | Tractor Supply Company