Homemade Brush Hauler

[ulflyer]

Last week I began my annual trimming/pruning of shrubs and small trees around the house. The worse part has been the loading in my truck and unloading down near a gully and having to then toss everything into the gully.

This year the thought came to me that it would be easy to rig up something on my new Ck30 using the front loader minus the bucket. As you can see in the pic, I trimmed a couple 2 x 4's, drilled a hole for a bolt to hold them on, and screwed on a piece of wallboard to haul the trimmings. Worked really well and if one were to use metal instead of 2 x 4's, and stronger plywood instead of the wallboard, it could be used to haul fairly heavy stuff.

With 4 wheel drive I was able to get down into the gully area that I couldn't get near with my truck. Made the work much easier.

 

[dourobob]

Very interesting idea - and inexpensive!

Any risk of damage to the actual loader mount with heavier weight on the plywood platform?

 

[ulflyer]

Bob, not much risk that I can see. If its made of wood, its not going to be able to hold a really heavy load. The stuff I was hauling was shrub and bush trimmings which didn't weigh much; just bulky. If it were constructed of stronger materials, I'd guess it would be about as safe as a light load of dirt in the bucket. Maybe some of the more experienced will weigh in here. I'd like to know more too since I'm thinking of making one perhaps using angle iron or oak 2 x's and plywood.
One side snapped at the bolt, not from the load but from be shaking the thing to get all the limbs off and apparently snapped it too hard. I find the
front loader too fast for my needs and too easy to whip it up and down unless i'm really concentrating on it. I think thats due to the long control handle. My old tractor had a short handle that seemed to offer more control.

 

[JoelD]

The quick loader is likely the result of a good sized pump putting out serious gpm

I don't have that "problem" with my lk.

You could slow it down with restrictors which is what I did with the swing cyls on a backhoe I used to own

Joel

 

[ulflyer]

Joel............restrictors? Sounds interesting. :thumbsup: Is this something easy to do?

I admit, I have no idea how to go about it, or where one would find the parts needed. Can you amplify?

 

[chopped]

try https://www.surpluscenter.com/
zi think a restrictor is a small insert inside a hose connection with a smaller hole in it to reduce the flow of oil. Im sure some will chime in..

 

[mx5guy]

Why not just lower the RPM thats what i do to make backhoe less jerky when using it