QA Buckets: Skidsteer vs. Boomer?

[kloswerkes]

My NH dealer wants to sell me a NH Skidsteer QA bucket instead of the Boomer QA bucket. Are they doing me a favor?

Here is the link to the different Skidsteer buckets - Skid-Steer Loader Attachments

They are thinking either the 72" or 84" Utility/Light Material bucket would work best.

What do you think?

 

[radman1]

I went through the same process last year and looked at CUT buckets vs skid steer buckets. All the skid steer buckets are heavier made in the construction of the bucket and usually the price was the same as or often cheaper than CUT bucket. Tooth bars are readily available for SS buckets. Grapples and attachments are also available for SS buckets.
There are 2 downsides to skid steer bucket. First the vast majority are low profile with a longer front to the bucket. This is better for visibility with a skid steer but you still can't see the front edge when on a CUT. The longer front will mean considerable decrease in the roll back/break out force. Not good for digging in dirt. Look for a skid steer bucket with size measurements close that that of a CUT bucket. Many CUT buckets are around 22-24" in depth and height. Some skid steer companies make a style called a foundry bucket which is similar in size to CUT buckets. JD makes one and I think bobcat. Don't know about NH.
Second, the much better construction means more weight. A similar sized skid steer bucket will wiegh about 150 lbs more. Therefore, less lift capacity for the FEL. Nearly all skid steer buckets, are much more heavy duty than even the HD CUT buckets.
I almost bought a JD 66" foundry bucket but instead bought a 66" Woods bucket for my JD. The standard JD bucket was about 60" and the HD JD CUT bucket was 72". I already had a 66" toothbar from my previous Kubota FEL. The JD foundry bucket weighed at least 150 lbs more and I didn't know if the tooth bar would have worked. They would have had to order the JD bucket and I didn't want to be stuck with it if I didn't like it. The Woods and JD SS bucket were the same price of $550. The standard 60" CUT JD bucket was also near $550 and the 72" HD CUT bucket was $900. The HD CUT bucket was not near as well constructed as the SS bucket.

 

[jinman]

My NH dealer wants to sell me a NH Skidsteer QA bucket instead of the Boomer QA bucket. Are they doing me a favor?

If all you are doing is loading loose material, the skidsteer bucket will work. If you plan to do any digging in native soil or add a toothbar for grubbing roots, forget the skid steer bucket. The HD New Holland bucket is designed for a bolt-on toothbar or cutterbar. You will also have much more digging and curl/breakout force with the tractor bucket. I'd tell your dealer "No thanks!"

 

[EquipmentJunkie]

I'm with jinman. As a general rule, I don't like SSL buckets on compact tractors. I have used SSL attachments on my tractor and felt like the bucket was full even when it was empty. This is just due to the extra weight of SSL attachments.

It depends heavily on the tractor and loader in question, but I still am uncomfortable with SSL buckets on 16LA or 17LA loaders. You will get better loader performance with a bucket designed for a compact tractor.

Regarding the price difference, it is a supply & demand thing. SSL attachments have become like a commodity, compact tractor attachments are sort of like a curiosity.

 

[mikim]

Hold the phone! .... I had a dealer tell me a few weeks ago that NH was going back to a proprietary QA and ditching the universal. So - is this a question of different buckets on the same QA--or are we talking about different styles of QA? I believe the best bet is a universal skid steer type QA with a boomer bucket ...but if getting the boomer bucket means you have to forgo the universal QA ....then go skid steer.

 

[art]

Hold the phone! .... I had a dealer tell me a few weeks ago that NH was going back to a proprietary QA and ditching the universal. So - is this a question of different buckets on the same QA--or are we talking about different styles of QA? I believe the best bet is a universal skid steer type QA with a boomer bucket ...but if getting the boomer bucket means you have to forgo the universal QA ....then go skid steer.

I hadn't heard that but things have been done before just a different application. The skid steer quick attach has come a long way and to me is being over used a bit as some of the 100 horsepower tractors that weigh more then double a skid are also using it and we are seeing some tweaking of different components. The buckets are included in the bending. On the other side to small of compact tractors are getting it and with the extra weight of it and the possible bucket trying to be everything to everybody sacrifices performance from being heavy. The skid steer buckets are normally designed to work with a 6000lb plus machine although some of the generic manufacturers do the best job of sizing and building to application.

 

[jinman]

Hold the phone! .... I had a dealer tell me a few weeks ago that NH was going back to a proprietary QA and ditching the universal. So - is this a question of different buckets on the same QA--or are we talking about different styles of QA? I believe the best bet is a universal skid steer type QA with a boomer bucket ...but if getting the boomer bucket means you have to forgo the universal QA ....then go skid steer.

Good point, Mike. You may have just read between the lines and hit the nail on the head.

 

[froggy]

Here is a thread that discusses the same issue:http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/nh-owning-operating/94410-quick-release-fel.html

 

[VA_Joe]

Hold the phone! .... I had a dealer tell me a few weeks ago that NH was going back to a proprietary QA and ditching the universal. So - is this a question of different buckets on the same QA--or are we talking about different styles of QA? I believe the best bet is a universal skid steer type QA with a boomer bucket ...but if getting the boomer bucket means you have to forgo the universal QA ....then go skid steer.

It makes no sense to me why they would do this. From a competitive standpoint - it would be a step backwards. Do you know if they are doing this across the entire Boomer line or just for the smaller units?

I can safely say that having the universal was a main selling point to me on the NH class II over the Kubota B series. When I was told that I would need to move up to the L series on the Kubota - I started taking a serious look at the NH line. The universal attach combined with enhanced loader capacity and a nearly identical ground footprint moved me from the B3030 to the TC33DA (the 5 yr, 0% financing offered on the Boomer also negated the Kubota price advantage). Although the lift capacity of the class II is limited - the universal QA has been very helpful to me as it opened the door to a much wider range of attachments (i.e. not just lower cost).

On a class III boomer (your profile says TC45D) - given its lift capacity - I see no reason for NH to go proprietary other than to put themselves at competitive disadvantage with their peers.

Have any of the other NH dealers on TBN heard anything?

Joe

 

[VA_Joe]

Here is a thread that discusses the same issue:http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/nh-owning-operating/94410-quick-release-fel.html

Kendall69's post on the other thread makes it sound as if it is already a done deal. In other words - at least as far back as early February - new tractors and accessories are already being shipped with the new mount.

Joe