Two hooks or three??

[Tractor Factor]

Getting some hooks welded on the front end bucket on the BX25 this Monday, prior to delivery Tuesday. I told the salesman I wanted 3 hooks (cause I saw someone's photo here done that way), but he "strongly recommended" 2, at each corner and none in the middle, for reasons I really didn't quite get.

So, what should I do? What are the advantages either way. Thanks guys.

 

[kennyd]

Hardly a Kubota specific question...
But I vote for three

 

[Matt_Jr]

I put three on my BX24. First I welded on 3/16" angle Iron to the bucket. My guess is you'll bend the bucket without reinforcement if you put one in the middle. The hooks are welded to the angle iron and I use all 3 of them. You will too. Trust me.

 

[Tractor Factor]

Three huh...dang, I might have to call him early Monday.

He told me he felt three might be more appropriate on bigger machines, but on the BX25 he said one of each corner would be easier on the frame (I guess he meant using them together). He said that's what their shop usually welds up.

I've seen some guys with bigger machines on some job sites with just one hook in the middle, and that always seemed to work great.

 

[BigD23]

When I bought my BX23 (used) it had no hooks...You can see a slight "wow" to the bucket where the level indicator, right side, must have been used as a hook for pulling purposes...I'm thinking when I add a hook, it's going to as near center as possible.

Don

 

[Gamer1524]

I had three welded on mine (L4400)...and I can tell you I have used all three and do not regret it one it...it only cost me $8.00 per hook...

 

[JoeL4330]

your salesman is quite wrong in urging 2, one at each corner. One (1) in the middle is much better than two. Three (3) is a compromise.

Lifting heavy objects wants to be done in the center if at all possible. If you have good reflexes, a good seatbelt and ROPS, and brown pants, try (slowly) lifting something quite heavy (or immoveable) from either corner, being ready to drop the bucket quickly...now, feel the opposite rear wheel come off the ground.

So, one in the center is best but sometimes impossible, so one at each end, in addition, can make sense for the careful operator.

Just my opinion, of course.

 

[ultrarunner]

I use the one in the middle for heavy lifting because the load is applied equally to the loader.

I use the ones on the end when I have something in the loader that I want to keep from tipping out.

Our BX series loader capacity is quite modest so no need for Grade 70 or better 3/8ths chain when 5/16 will do just fine... only my opinion.

 

[rdsaustintx]

Sorta silly question. Extra hooks just ain't gonna be a problem.

Attached photo is what I did. Sorry about the primer, too lazy to take another shot.

The two at the corners are ideal for chaining stuff into the bucket. Stumps, root balls, hay bales, whatever.

The big one on back I think I got from another TBN guy. That is more unusual and it is perfect for lifting straight up. Used it today to pull an old post fitting. Popped right out.

Note all welding is done onto doublers. The bucket itself is kinda thin.

If was doing it again, might put one on the middle top too, but not missing it enough to matter.

 

[Berniep]

Note all welding is done onto doublers. The bucket itself is kinda thin.

If was doing it again, might put one on the middle top too, but not missing it enough to matter.

I put ONE right in the middle between the braces that come up from the cylinder mount. I have not needed another And I have used it quite a bit.
So I think you should tell him you at least want three, or one, but not one on each end

And I agree with Ultrarunner. I can't see the point in lugging around that huge chain when the lighter chain is way over rated for anything my little tractor can do to it.

 

[EastTexFrank]

I've been down this particular road. I have 3 on the B2400. When we got the M5700 for the farm my S-I-L, being my S-I-L, didn't listen to me about having the dealer put on 3 hooks and went with his advice to put on 2. What a mistake. I think that the only reason he recommended 2 was that to put one in the middle would have been a lot more work because he would have to build a bracket or strenghten the lip of the bucket before adding it. With 2 hooks you always have to sling a heavy lift from both hooks. If not, when the back wheels come off the ground and the tractor twists and turns, it'll scare the heck out of you. Dragging downed timber from one hook on the side of the bucket isn't good for the loader either.

On my "new" GL 4740 I have one hook chained on the middle of the grapple and I'll add 3 hooks to the bucket this winter. So, my advice would be to have just one in the middle of the bucket or get 3 put on but never 2.

 

[ronjhall]

I installed a 1/4" angle iron on top of bucket. Then made 3 brackets to mount hooks with. This allowed me to change the type of hook used. Did not take long to bend bucket with center hook. I have since put a piece of tubing under front lip of bucket to reinforce it. Here are a couple of pictures.

 

[ceh007]

i went a little different route. i bolted mine on after welding the hooks to reinforcing brackets. no paint touchup after.

stainless steel bolts.

one on each side of the bucket. i plan to add a grapple and will mount a third hook in the middle of the grapple mount.

and two on the bottom of the bucket.

 

[Reg]

One in the middle is best for HEAVY lifting, but if you are lifting anything HEAVY (relative to your tractor) loaded rear tires will matter more than where the hook is.
One each side can be very useful, I have loops on mine which allow me to use ropes, straps, or anchor shackles, which I can then use to go to chain or chain grab hooks.
If you go for the one in the middle think ahead - sure you don't think you want/need a bucket grapple any time in the near, mid or far future, but have that middle hook NOT welded on the top edge anyway, just in case.
According to your specific bucket it might be possible to have the hook on the top of the back face, leaving the top edge clear.

I would go for 3 loops and a clear top edge - or two if I was planning for a bucket grapple in the near or mid future. The middle hook would be a bit redundant with a grapple

 

[FrogLick]

Of course there's always the BXpanded.com option. More expensive than welding but not permanent either.

 

[Riptide23]

I'm with froglick - I'd spring for the bxpanded hooks. Then you can put them wherever you want.

Quick On Bucket Hooks

If I didn't already have hooks welded to my BX23, I definitely would have done this. That way, you can put as many hooks as you want, or none at all. I have the pallet forks they offer, and because I have welded hooks and reinforcing plates, which prevents me from putting the forks there. One time, you guessed it, I wanted to put the pallet forks exactly where my chain hooks were.

The attachment method is pretty clever, and super secure.

Good stuff...

 

[Volfandt]

Going on 4 yrs of lifting w/3 hooks on a BX23 FEL, so far so good.....
Go for the 3.

 

[N80]

The 2 vs 3 argument does seem a little silly. What about 3 vs 4, 1 on each corner, two in the middle, or 4 vs 5, one on each corner, two inboard of the arms, one in the middle?

Seriously, three does seem like the best option.

But, I still opted for two. But I used HD d-rings (rated at something like 5 or 10,000 pounds) instead of hooks and put them just inboard of the loader arms. The advantages of these are 1) cheap, 2) no welding (I can't weld) 3) out of the way 4) will take straps, chains and hooks. Used grade 8 bolts. Weakest link is probably the bucket itself but hooks and bolts far exceed lifting capacity of loader.

Also, remember that just because you only have two hooks doesn't mean you have to use just one. To center the load use both! You get less stress on any one hook and load is still properly distributed.

 

[Reg]

I'm with froglick - I'd spring for the bxpanded hooks. Then you can put them wherever you want.

Quick On Bucket Hooks

If I didn't already have hooks welded to my BX23, I definitely would have done this. That way, you can put as many hooks as you want, or none at all. I have the pallet forks they offer, and because I have welded hooks and reinforcing plates, which prevents me from putting the forks there. One time, you guessed it, I wanted to put the pallet forks exactly where my chain hooks were.

The attachment method is pretty clever, and super secure.

Good stuff...

It isn't clear to me that there is significant clamping force with those, lack of which could translate to load side slip - and once going.....
They rely on friction in a "paint on paint" situation, which I think might be a problem - especially for those folk who wax their buckets, see other thread re; waxing rims.

Yeah, I know; lifting is lifting, is lifting, is vertical - but unless I absolutely KNOW that there is not going to be a horizontal force component or that there is significant clamping force I would be reluctant to trust a clamp on solution. One front wheel going over a bump might produce the sort of horizontal force component that I would be concerned about.

BTW, I have used a heavy load strap with a hook by tying the strap around the loader torque tube.
Done PROPERLY it is self tightening with load and does not bind.
For some lifting it is very nice to have the hook hanging below the bucket where it can be seen, or to take the bucket off entirely and just use the strap & hook.

It will probably be my back-up center solution if/when I grind the existing hook off and put a bucket grapple on - if I even need one once I have a grapple.