Quick Attach - Worth It?

[TxSam]

Howdy All!

Got news from my dealer that it would be the end of January before he would be able to get the Quick-Attach fitting for my 16LA loader. My question is now how much use will I get out of the quick attach and is it worth it.

I can see if you are changing attachments back and forth, but I'm starting to think if you only change attachments occasionally it may not be worth the extra money and, in my case, worth the wait.

Opinions???

Sam - Tractorless in Big 'D'

 

[glennmac]

Sam, I dont have one, but I think you've answered your own question. If you (a) have different things to attach and (b) really need or want to do it quickly, then the device is worth getting. If either (a) or (b) is not currently a true statement for you, then I would wait. You can always add it later if your needs change.

 

[TxSam]

Glennmac - That's the logic that makes sense to me. I had been watered up for getting the quick attach but now I'm trying to make myself feel good about not getting it, at least for now. Also, was wanting to make sure I wasn't overlooking any other pros/cons.

Sam - Tractorless in Big 'D'

 

[glennmac]

Well, Sam, I know the position you are in. Toyland. Just trying to help you sort through whether you need it as a practical matter. Whether you want it is another matter; more emotion than reason. I, too, want a detachable bucket so that someday in the remote future I can hook up the hydraulic auger I do not yet own.

 

[TxSam]

Glennmac - You hit the nail on the head! Want vs. Need doesn't always jive. I think for now I will use the money and put it toward a toothbar for the loader bucket instead. It can be classified as both a tool and a toy! Sounds like a win-win for me!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Sam - Tractorless in Big 'D'

 

[radman]

IMHO, I would wait for the quick attach fitting - if the price is not too great. I bought an aftermarket (Kasco) unit for mine about 9 months after I bought my tractor and loader. $750 and it is one of the best choices I made. Quick attachment fitting is generally much cheaper when bought up front then when added later. I find them great, if you plan to use different attachments, ie front blade, pallet forks, post hole digger etc. I assume the quick attach fitting is of the universal "bobcat" type of mounting plate? Sometimes it is just nice to remove the bucket quickly for mowing or doing other work where the width of the bucket is a hinderance and I dont want to remove the whole loader.

 

[Kent]

Other considerations about quick attach

I also have the New Holland 16LA loader and had the dealer put on an ATI quick attach at purchase time. It is really slick. I frequently switch between two buckets (4-in-1 and Rooter), but also like the option of knowing that all those skidsteer attachments are available to me...especially since many are hydraulic and I already have the extra circuit up front for the 4-in-1. Plus, if you want to loose a quick 500 lbs, just pop off the bucket. It is really very fast to remove/reattach. Re-attaching is a little slower in my case due to the 4-in-1 hydraulics taking a few minutes to lose enough pressure to connect. But there are some downsides besides the cost:

- it adds weight (both the quick attach and the bucket), which means you can't pick up as much weight in the bucket
- there is looseness between bucket and the quick attach
- when jammed with dirt, you have to dig out the mud and tap the plungers up to free them (the plunger handles have very whimpy shear keys, as I quickly found out!)
- back-filling using your bucket's back edge isn't so clean because the plungers/bracket hangs down to the ground

But I am glad I had it installed at purchase time, since the decision to go with a quick attach also means that you can't use the standard bucket (unless you do some welding to add the brackets), for which I got a credit (or so I imagined, as the numbers were a bit blurry by the time all the change orders were in place).

 

[TxSam]

Re: Other considerations about quick attach

Kent/Radman,

Thanks for the input! I think for now I'm going to go with the standard pin-on bucket. The dealer said it wouldn't be a problem if I changed my mind later. He's been pretty good on the pricing so far so I'll just wait to see how my usage evolves over the next couple of months.

The ability to use the different skid-steer attachments is the greatest benefit for my use. I doubt that I will actually be changing attachments frequently, but it would be nice to have the option of using those other attachments. We will see how it goes.

Thanks again to everyone for your input!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Sam - Tractorless in Big 'D'

 

[jinman]

Re: Other considerations about quick attach

Sam, I'm tempted to offer you a deal...that is that I will let you have my HD bucket with cutting bar attached right now and I'll wait on your quick-attach bucket. When it comes in, I'll pay the difference in it and the HD bucket and give you $100 bucks to boot. Deal?/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif ...just stirring the pot.

JimI

 

[BeeBop]

I use the system known as " Jiffy Hitch " and I wouldn't operate a 3 point hitch w/out it. I have cussed having to change implements more than any 3 men should have. I landscape and grade on the weekends and some select weekdays w/mine and it is such a timesaver. I have probably 6 implements w/the jiffyhitch installed on them and it makes it a pleasure to operate. The only implement that I don't have it on is this Danuser F-8 holedigger which can't be hooked up to w/quick system.