Dirt bucket and a land-leveler, vs 4 in 1 bucket...

[ArmyDoc]

So, I've been looking at attachments for using on a Bobcat v519 telehandler. I need a bucket of some sort - there are several areas where I want to move dirt from one area to a lower area, and where I need to address drainage issues etc. I also need something to maintain the drive way. I was thinking a 4 in 1 bucket would let me do both. But for an 84 inch bucket (to cover the width of the wheels) that's pushing $4500. Also, I read that the 4 in 1 isn't as good as a land levelerd/land plane. So, would I be better off with a regular dirt bucket and buying a land plane? The two would cost about the same as a 4 in 1 bucket.

Looking at this land plane, which comes with a hydraulic scarifier: Land Leveler | CL Fabrication

Thoughts?

 

[bdog]

To me a 4-1 is good for grabbing things like a grapple and dumping into high things when you don’t quite have the reach like loading a dump truck when your bucket barely reaches over the edge. The dozer aspect of it is pretty useless. I have a 6 way dozer blade for my skid steer and it is pretty useless as well.

With a telehandler reaching high and dumping isnt a concern for you and a true grapple would work much better than a 4-1 for that purpose. I would get a regular bucket.

How much leveling do you need to do? You can do a lot with a bucket. Does a telehandler have a float option? With that grader thing you would likely want to run it in float mode.

 

[ArmyDoc]

I'm pretty sure it does have a float mode - it can run a broom or snow blower which are usually used in that mode. I do plan to get grapple, so I wouldn't need a 4n1 for that purpose. I was mainly trying to save money by not having to buy something else for the drive (its about 750-800ft, but there are other roads on the property to maintain too) The more I got to thinking about it the more the land plane / leveler seemed like it would be better.

 

[Redlands Okie]

I have a 4-1 bucket. Really like it. If I had to pick for job requirements you described I would also buy a bucket / leveler combo over just a stand alone 4-1.
I would be tempted to try to buy a used 4-1 bucket and/or a used land plane so i could have both

 

[ArmyDoc]

I have a 4-1 bucket. Really like it. If I had to pick for job requirements you described I would also buy a bucket / leveler combo over just a stand alone 4-1.
I would be tempted to try to buy a used 4-1 bucket and/or a used land plane so i could have both

Thanks! Machine is expensive, attachments are also... I think I'll get the bucket that comes with it rather than upgrading to 4 in 1, and get the leveler later when the rainy day fund replenishes. Maybe they will have one that I can rent...

 

[Rustyiron]

^^^That's what I'd do Doc!
2 totally different tools.

 

[Xfaxman]

Thanks! Machine is expensive, attachments are also... I think I'll get the bucket that comes with it rather than upgrading to 4 in 1, and get the leveler later when the rainy day fund replenishes. Maybe they will have one that I can rent...

Do you have the specifications for the bucket that comes with it? If you can get the part number, you can do a search for availability.

Bobcat made a special bucket (PN A85M000130) for the smaller V417, 1 cubic yard, but only 72 inches wide:

 

[ArmyDoc]

I'll have to ask... Its an 84 inch heavy duty bucket though.

 

[ArmyDoc]

Thank you for putting me onto this. I went to the web site and looked under "telehandler buckets". They have two, the 72" one you mentioned and another 80" one. Interestingly, they are listed as being the same capacity... which makes absolutely zero sense, since the 80" one is larger in every dimension... By my calculation it should be 10% higher capacity.

Anyhow, given the higher capacity, I was thinking about getting the 80" one instead of the 84" inch HD I was looking at. It's actually 80.8 inches wide, which makes it about 1 inch narrower than the wheel width on the v519. Thoughts?

 

[Xfaxman]

I think the capacity being about the same is due to the difference in the shape of the buckets.

Here is what I think is the 80" on a V519:

And the 72" on my V417:

I recommend the 80", my 72" is slightly narrower than the tires, but it hasn't caused any problems filling the bucket: