4-in-1 I need 4-in-1 Feedback

[bobsphotos]

I have a JD 3320 CUT and had made the decision to purchase a Long 4-in-1 bucket in the spring and now it appears that I am having second thoughts. I will try to outline what my tractor / land goals are and I will appreciate any and all opinions.
I own 30 acres of wooded property in Central Maine and my plans areas follows:

1. 
   Harvest 4 cords of firewood per year
   Maintain and improve 1 mile of woodroads
   Build another 1/2 mile of road
   Clear approximately 3 acres
   I anticipate using the new bucket for tasks such as:
   1. 
      Moving small tree stumps
      moving rocks
      picking up piles of debris that cannot be scooped up with a regular bucket
      Part of my dilemma is that, unless I am mistaken, once I put the new bucket on, I cannot ever imagine needing or using the original bucket. That leaves me with a useless attatchment. The new bucket will be about $2100, so I need some advice. So, all that being said, any and all, please chime in.

 

[leonz]

You will have to decide if its something you really need.

Most of what you want to do can be done with a small
tracked excavator by renting it on occasion and determining
how much work you have to do the lobs you want to do.

You can use the excavator faster and more efficiently than
you can the tractor for the stumps and rocks and youy can
easily bury the brush with it easily.

An dont forget you need to dig ditches for the roads for
drainage otherwise the road building is a waste of time.


You will make better use of the original bucket following
the excavator.

 

[bobsphotos]

You will make better use of the original bucket following
the excavator.[/QUOTE]

I did forget to add that I have an 8' backhoe on my 3320.

 

[Glen Watkins]

I never thought much of a 4n1 bucket. Think about a grapple.

 

[Ductape]

I would use the search function here for plenty of reading on 4 in 1 buckets. Some love em........ some, not so much (considering the price).

 

[CurlyDave]

The 4-n-1 is not a good substitute for a grapple. Picking up and carrying large rocks is really a job for a grapple. It is fairly easy to ding up the mating edges on the 4-n-1 if you clamp down too hard on a rock.

I have a 4-n-1, and I think it is a lot more useful than a standard bucket, but I don't have a standard bucket.

The only task where a standard bucket is better is carrying water or concrete.

If you have the cash, consider having teeth welded on your standard bucket. That way you can use it for digging as a complement to the backhoe.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Are you planning on using any 3pt implements to work and build your roads?

 

[bobsphotos]

After cutting the roads and chipping all the brush I then dig out and bury any large stumps. I use a bush hog to keep things tidy.

 

[jpm]

i have a 4n1 and grapple also. the 4n1 does things the grapple can't ,the grapple picks up trees and brush better.the 4n1 picks up only 1 tree at a time but you can feather out sand or small stone better than a std bucket.also if you have to sand your drive in the winter the 4n1 work very good.if you think the blade part of the 4n1 will work like a dozer it won't but it will push/flatting loose stuff ok gook luck with your decison

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

I've been wanting a 4in1 for my 3320 for several years. The Long version is as good as any I looked at. I feel the same way about the standard bucket hanging around. My idea was to buy a slightly larger 4in1. Some manufactures make 66" buckets. I have a grapple and find plenty of situations where the 4in1 would be a huge asset.

Matt