Loader bucket for extra ballast, hauling wood etc.

Marky

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L2502dt
Oct 24, 2024
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Georgia
I’m a newbie. Waiting on a L2502 to be delivered tomorrow. I’m wondering if I can use a 3pt to SSQA adapter to carry my loader bucket on the rear while using My grapple? That way I can keep it with the tractor, use it to haul wood, for extra ballast etc.. It’s a 60in bucket. Anybody done it?
 
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Mrlunchbox

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Haven't seen it done but see no reason why its not possible. Give it a shot! And take pics lol
 
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TheOldHokie

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I’m a newbie. Waiting on a L2502 to be delivered tomorrow. I’m wondering if I can use a 3pt to SSQA adapter to carry my loader bucket on the rear while using My grapple? That way I can keep it with the tractor, use it to haul wood, for extra ballast etc.. It’s a 60in bucket. Anybody done it?
Sure but an empty bucket wont be much ballast.

Dan
 
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RCW

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I agree with both of the responses.

An empty bucket on the back won’t weigh much empty. Maybe 250 pounds + ?

I think you want something in the 600-800 pound range for FEL work.
 
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rc51stierhoff

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Good day. I agree with the others above. Only thing I would add is that I have put forks on the rear of my B like that. I don’t see why it would not work for a bucket. 🥃
 
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jimh406

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I use one of my implements on the back. Did you buy anything for the 3 pt?
 
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Marky

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L2502dt
Oct 24, 2024
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Georgia
Sure but an empty bucket wont be much ballast.

Dan
Yeah, I would fill it with something if needed for ballast. My priority is having an easy place to store and carry it. I don’t want to leave it behind if I am going a half mile down my trails grappling and cutting firewood, I want it with me to haul the firewood back. I can mount it, or the grapple, on the rear and swap them out on the trail. It could come in handy when I trailer it too….grapple on the front, bucket on the rear, and drive it on the trailer. I probably worded the title wrong. my tires are loaded so extra ballast may not be needed.
 
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Marky

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Georgia
I use one of my implements on the back. Did you buy anything for the 3 pt?
I have a box blade that I rarely use, and a 5ft bush hog that I keep on my Ford 3000. I’m wanting to use this one mainly for clearing trails with the grapple, and for hauling firewood. The rear tires are filled.
 
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MOOTS

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I’m a newbie. Waiting on a L2502 to be delivered tomorrow. I’m wondering if I can use a 3pt to SSQA adapter to carry my loader bucket on the rear while using My grapple? That way I can keep it with the tractor, use it to haul wood, for extra ballast etc.. It’s a 60in bucket. Anybody done it?
Are you having rear remotes added for top and tilt on the 3 point? Knowing how I have to roll my ssqa into my bucket would be very challenging with turnbuckles on the 3 point.

If I need my bucket and grapple together, I mount the grapple and pickup the bucket and go on my way.
 
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rc51stierhoff

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Maybe? But I really don’t know. Looking at the pic with measurements I did not see the measurements for the SSQA…only general dimensions. Maybe I missed something. if it really matches your tractor it might work…I am hesitant to say as I don’t dabble in chinesium. (I’ve had good luck with titan oil on several purchases). I’d make sure how returns work. YMMV
 
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Marky

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L2502dt
Oct 24, 2024
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Georgia
Are you having rear remotes added for top and tilt on the 3 point? Knowing how I have to roll my ssqa into my bucket would be very challenging with turnbuckles on the 3 point.

If I need my bucket and grapple together, I mount the grapple and pickup the bucket and go on my way.
No. I will rarely use the 3-point. I was hoping I could adjust the top link so that the angle was right to connect to the bucket when it was resting on the ground. Tractor is being delivered tomorrow so I will be able to see how it all lines up. Heck it may be that whatever I put in that mounted bucket would just roll out on the ground. ☺
 
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Marky

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L2502dt
Oct 24, 2024
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38
13
Georgia
Maybe a carryall would be a good idea.
I’ll investigate. Thanks! I guess I’m really trying to use my front bucket as a carryall anyway. I could probably buy a carryall for the price of the 3-pt adapter.
 
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rc51stierhoff

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Good day (again).

I realize this is not what you asked, but is your intention to keep the bucket with you just to carry wood back?

If so I would politely recommend consider a carry all in the back. You can carry all your kit plus load it with wood for ballast. You would be able to carry more weight on the back with a carry all than a bucket and save yourself switching attachments IMO. Likewise you could haul a lot more weight in wood that way. If you put a hitch on it then you could bring a trailer/wagon and carry even more. Just something to think about. I know you did not ask that. Just a thought.

Another would be if you have a ballast box with a hitch you could also bring a trailer/wagon along and avoid changing implements.

Again I realize that not what you asked I am just offering some other ideas. YMMV. Good luck. 🥃

 

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Marky

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L2502dt
Oct 24, 2024
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Georgia
My thought was that I would store the bucket on the rear so that it was available for use no matter where I was. I have 97 acres of timber and trails. I will be clearing brush, cutting firewood, leveling trails, moving a little dirt. It’s just much easier if I keep them both with the tractor and available to use when I head out a half mile into the woods for the day. I could carry either the grapple, or the bucket on the rear while I use the other one.
The bucket on the rear could also serve as a carryall for saws and tools, haul wood, or be loaded for ballast if needed. When loading the tractor onto my trailer I would just drive on without have to use the grapple to carry the bucket around with me…. I also like the custom carryall option. I’m going to have to think it over more when the tractor arrives tomorrow. I may be overthinking this. 🤔
 
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rc51stierhoff

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My thought was that I would store the bucket on the rear so that it was available for use no matter where I was. I have 97 acres of timber and trails. I will be clearing brush, cutting firewood, leveling trails, moving a little dirt. It’s just much easier if I keep them both with the tractor and available to use when I head out a half mile into the woods for the day. I could carry either the grapple, or the bucket on the rear while I use the other one.
The bucket on the rear could also serve as a carryall for saws and tools, haul wood, or be loaded for ballast if needed. When loading the tractor onto my trailer I would just drive on without have to use the grapple to carry the bucket around with me…. I also like the custom carryall option. I’m going to have to think it over more when the tractor arrives tomorrow. I may be overthinking this. 🤔
Well only thing I would mention is just remember on the rear end, you will be very limited how much you can roll the bucket back, basically very little…that means you may have to stop and / or turn around to go get what fell out. I’d suggest about how the bucket will be oriented on the 3 pt. It would be like leaving your saw on the tailgate if you truck and driving down the road. It may be better than that it should have a slight backward tilt but I don’t think the same as when on the loader curled back. Maybe I am wrong.
 

Marky

Member

Equipment
L2502dt
Oct 24, 2024
16
38
13
Georgia
Well only thing I would mention is just remember on the rear end, you will be very limited how much you can roll the bucket back, basically very little…that means you may have to stop and / or turn around to go get what fell out. I’d suggest about how the bucket will be oriented on the 3 pt. It would be like leaving your saw on the tailgate if you truck and driving down the road. It may be better than that it should have a slight backward tilt but I don’t think the same as when on the loader curled back. Maybe I am wrong.
Yeah, that’s my concern. I won’t know until I look at the angles and see how much I can adjust the top link to tilt the bucket. I expect I will need to rig up some sort of cargo net to keep things secure.
 
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North Idaho Wolfman

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It doesn't work, or not very well!
This is from experience.
Most three point setups will not go down low enough to attach to a bucket sitting on the ground.
You would need at least top (of the top and tilt) to hook it up.
Lengthening the top link manually might work to get the top lip hooked up but it's going to be a huge pain to roll it back up to get the latches to latch.

Get a good counter weight with a hitch, and tow a small trailer or wagon with the extra implements on it.
 
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