Bucket Hook(s) Placement

[Snapper Head]

I have rapidly discovered that I am always needing/wanting to lift things, and it is certainly convenient to do it with the bucket, rather than hook up/unhookup the boom pole. I am talking about fairly lightweight stuff, less than 200-ish pounds.

So I wrap a log chain around the bucket, and well, you guys know the drill. So having some hooks welded on the bucket would be of great benefit here. My question is - where, how many, and what type (chain hooks, open hooks, schackles, etc)?

There must be some locations that are more advantageous than others.

Has anyone built a hook bar? Like a tooth bar, but mount it on the top lip of the bucket, and it would have various hooks? Crazy, dumb, or did I just give away my retirement plan.


Big Al

 

[dex3361]

I have rapidly discovered that I am always needing/wanting to lift things, and it is certainly convenient to do it with the bucket, rather than hook up/unhookup the boom pole. I am talking about fairly lightweight stuff, less than 200-ish pounds.

So I wrap a log chain around the bucket, and well, you guys know the drill. So having some hooks welded on the bucket would be of great benefit here. My question is - where, how many, and what type (chain hooks, open hooks, schackles, etc)?

There must be some locations that are more advantageous than others.

Has anyone built a hook bar? Like a tooth bar, but mount it on the top lip of the bucket, and it would have various hooks? Crazy, dumb, or did I just give away my retirement plan.


Big Al

Do a search on bucket hooks and you will see a ton of different ways to put hooks on the bucket.

 

[beenthere]

Just put them where there is reinforcement and where the bucket attaches to the FEL hitch. A pic of your bucket and we could point you to those places if not obvious to you. That is not intended to be an insult in any way.

And a search will bring up many pics and discussions to help. Grab hooks are great to have.

 

[foggy1111]

Coupla ideas on hooks. The hooks located at the bucket mounts are pretty well re-enforced....and I like the receiver to hook a chain to, or to move trailers. :thumbsup:

And.....yes, some folks have put slots into a piece of angle and bolted to the top of the bucket.....don't count on retiring any time soon. :laughing:

Lotsa threads on hooks....mine are gleaned from what I liked best.

 

[foggy1111]

OH....and my bucket has a full-length 1/4" plate running under the top lip to create a box...or "tube". This serves to re-enforce the receiver. Its hard to see from pics. (Noted so that one does not bend their bucket in the middle with the receiver shown.)

 

[JIGBUILDER]

I use lifting rings that I mounted on my bucket with 5/8" grade #5 bolts. There 15k-18k lbs rated which is overkill. The company I worked for was scrapping a 35000 lb bond jig along with eight of the lifting lugs. I salvaged them and gave all of them away but the three on my bucket. I mounted one in the center on top and one in each cornor inside the bucket.

The lugs are like the one on Gemplers catalog part #162227. I use nylon and steel cable slings along with 5/16" and 3/8" chain so those big rings sure are handy. I drilled the hole by hand. Having 3 and 4 fluted core drills makes drilling large diameter much easier.

 

[Deadman]

I boxed in a piece of heavy angle iron across top of my bucket and then put 1 hook in middle, and one hook in front of arms on each side.

 

[EastTexFrank]

I boxed in a piece of heavy angle iron across top of my bucket and then put 1 hook in middle, and one hook in front of arms on each side.

That's how I did it.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Same here, center the hook with the FEL arms. Caution though, if lifting heavy load sling the load from both hooks to the center of the load like a Y. This way the load is balanced and wont tend to tip your tractor to the side which could really spoil your day. Also I have found that care is needed to make sure a bulky load doesnt swing around and get into your tractors grill. The higher you lift the closer it comes to the tractor, so be careful.

 

[PILOON]

Safest is center of the bucket.
Weld the hook to a 1/4" or so plate stock, say 4" X 4" and then weld that plate to top of bucket.
That'll work if the bucket has a folded angle on the top edge and if no edge you would need longer backing or as mentioned complete angle added to upper lip.

Careful lifting loads as your center of gravity changes rapidly the higher you lift.
Good technique is to keep your hand on the valve ready for a 'fast dump/decent'

 

[Snapper Head]

Thanks folks. I did use the search function, and as with most high traffic websites, information overload is the result. Of course, this thread just added to that overload....

I really like the receiver idea, as I have several different trailers that I have to move with some regularity.


Big Al

 

[ovrszd]

These threads are much more fun with pics..... But for some reason I don't have any pics of my hooks....

I have a Rhino loader which has a heavy C shaped beam across the top of the bucket. I welded a link hook at each end of the bucket on top with the open end of the hook rearward. I welded a slip hook in the center facing the same way. Sorry I couldn't give you a picture. I use all three of my hooks frequently.

My Brother recently bought a new L3240. I told him he needed to get some hooks welded on it including one in the center. His Kubota L514 bucket doesn't have a strong piece across the top. He said that didn't matter because he wouldn't use a center hook anyway. That was a month ago. He's bringing his tractor to my shop Saturday so we can add a C channel across the top of the bucket and weld on a center hook.

As for "search", if everyone searched, this website would be extremely boring.

 

[ovrszd]

Hey, I found a picture showing my hooks and a couple that displays the variety of uses for such hooks!!! :laughing:

 

[J_J]

You might consider this. install two hooks in front of each of the bucket two lift points, one hook facing to the front, and the other hook facing aft. Install two hooks in center, one facing fwd, and one facing aft. Why two hooks? You can lift more weight off the back of the bucket, and you don't bend the lip on the bucket. The hook facing aft will let you lift from the front, over the lip and get more reach, but will lift less weight.

 

[bayoubowhunter69]

Welded mine on like Foggy's, so that when the bucket is rolled down, you are in the lifting postion.

 

[bayoubowhunter69]

Love the receiver hitch addition, gonna be my next thing done....thx

 

[J_J]

ovrszd,

Just curious why you did not install the hooks in front of the bucket lift points? If you lift a load from one end only, you stand a good chance of tweaking the loader arms, and possibility tipping over.

 

[ovrszd]

ovrszd,

Just curious why you did not install the hooks in front of the bucket lift points? If you lift a load from one end only, you stand a good chance of tweaking the loader arms, and possibility tipping over.

I wanted the hooks as far apart as possible for balance if carrying something wide. I use the center hook to offset the imbalance when carrying something narrow.

Lifting with hooks will definitely tweak the loarder arms. But then, so will digging with a single bucket corner.

As for tipping over, that risk is present anytime you hook anything to the bucket or simply load the bucket and carry a load. So you must always be aware of that risk.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have never seen anyone with a hook welded in the center that didnt have a bent lip on the bucket unless you spend lots of money and time to add doubler plates to either the underside or top side. The middle is the weakest point on the bucket from either the top lip or the cutting edge and is the most likely to bend if you load it up. Most CUT buckets are about an 1/8" thick on the top lip at most and smaller ones are even thinner. Even attaching them to the center of the lift arms needs to have a 1/4" or thicker plate of about 4" minimum width by about 1" less that the distance from front lip to back lip to allow for welding all around. Then weld the hook to it. I would even cut a 3/4 or 1" hole in the center and plug weld it so the middle of the plate is also welded to the bucket. That makes it work more like one solid piece. Every chain I have ever seen has 2 ends so why just use one hook. Just my opinion

 

[Snapper Head]

Thanks for the continued input guys. The pics are valuable because I can be very spatially challenged at times.

JJ - I like the way you think about the loading.

I have a standard Kubota 72 in squareback bucket, and can see where it could easily be bent with improper loading. Minor dings and small bends are no big deal to me, after all, this is work tool.

Maybe I need to find a second, used, bucket, and trick it out with all of the hooks, receiver, and whatever else I can think of........


Big Al