Should I hack the back end of this sucker off, or no?

[GeneV]

Cool, good enough reason to keep it on the loader then, I guess just the back end of it will come off.

Yeh, thanks everybody, for the feedback.

 

[GeneV]

I woulds weld a reinforcement strap around the corner of the bucket top, then cut off the tube behind the strap.

View attachment 657009

Bruce

That's a good idea, thanks! Actually, I saw pic, somebody else did that too.

Along those lines, I was thinking about hooks, sorry totally different subject but you maybe have some thoughts on it. Should I be reinforcing the top of the bucket if I'm putting on hooks? It's just a scut, I can't imagine being able to even lift anything heavy enough that would damage the bucket as is, but I dunno.

 

[MossRoad]

Why weld on hooks? Use your 2" receiver.

 

[Gary Fowler]

If you are going to leave it on, please put a decent weld on it. That one looks really bad.

 

[bcp]

Ideas from long ago on TBN, I think.

Bruce

 

[fried1765]

---------------------
Or try this.

That is what I have, and bolted on.
It is basically worthless, because the ball is too low to be seen when approaching the coupler.
For trailer positioning I now have a ball attachment that slips over one fork instead.
Much more convenient using forks with a ball, instead of bucket with the ball out of vision.

 

[Big Barn]

I wouldn’t shorten it. Just cut the welds off. Much neater..

 

[WranglerX]

Maybe shorten it up a bit, but I would keep it... IT may be useful...

And you may not need bucket hooks....

Dale

 

[duramaxsky]

I have one in my fork attachment. I keep my trailers in enclosures my truck can't put them in due to lack of room infront of them. The tractor dose it easy. I have a canopy for my truck that I only use when the RV trailer is in use. I made a tool that plugs in it to lift it on and off easy. I would leave at least some of it there.

 

[California]

If you've never moved a trailer by pushing it ... It's much easier than moving it behind you. I used to tow aircraft for a living. All sizes, from little 2 seaters to 727's. We always faced the load. So much nicer.

Here's what I put on the smaller Yanmar. It's ideal for parking the little utility trailer in its tight barn stall. Looking forward is more precise than backing!

This is low enough to go under the parked trailer. And it's convenient, remaining attached. A version on a crossbar could be created for heavier trailers.


Or, a different basis for a project: HF sells a couple of short receivers (for adding to a utility bumper) and a $12 light one for ATV's.

 

[rScotty]

Since it's already there, I'd keep it, but cut it shorter. Guy that did it probably just had that tube laying around or bought it and didn't want to bother cutting it down.

Personally, I have a 2" receiver on an attachment plate that I can pop on my little machine. I use it quite a bit to move our car hauler trailer around into places where the Suburban can't get into or I don't want to bother hooking up the Suburban. If you've never moved a trailer by pushing it like that, you're in for a treat. It's much easier than moving it behind you. I used to tow aircraft for a living. All sizes, from little 2 seaters to 727's. We always faced the load. So much nicer.

I also use it with a ring hitch to hang chains or straps from. :thumbsup:

Agree. If you've ever had to push a long skinny trailer - like a boat trailer - into a small space it is so much easier to push it facing forward.
It makes a tricky job into an easy one. Storage yards almost always push the load.
In fact, putting a trailer ball receiver on the front bumper of a pickup truck is not a bad idea too.
rScotty

 

[fruitcakesa]

I went this route and agree it is mounted a bit high but a drop hitch remedies that issue and it is rarely used, like accessing a difficult location.
Plus, I have a rear mount receiver for any serious towing.

 

[GeneV]

If you are going to leave it on, please put a decent weld on it. That one looks really bad.

That is some ugly welding, I agree. Guy could have at least cleaned it up a little with a grinder before painting.

 

[GeneV]

Mossroad and Dale, I like those ideas lots. Actually I'm thinking now a d-ring on each side of bucket, and with the hook on the receiver, that would work out real good for me.

 

[GeneV]

Ideas from long ago on TBN, I think.

View attachment 657056


Bruce

Nice, thanks.

 

[TractorGuy]

Cut it off and weld on some hooks. I use my hooks all the time.

 

[WranglerX]

Agree. If you've ever had to push a long skinny trailer - like a boat trailer - into a small space it is so much easier to push it facing forward.
It makes a tricky job into an easy one. Storage yards almost always push the load.
In fact, putting a trailer ball receiver on the front bumper of a pickup truck is not a bad idea too.
rScotty

Watched many people do this with boat trailer at boat ramps on summer vacations....

Actually have receiver on front of Jeep bumper, works great for pushing trailer up to "disabled vehicle" and can use winch to pull vehicle on trailer....

Dale

 

[Big Barn]

We never had FELs on our farm tractors. The Fordson Dextas and Ford 3000s all were equipped with FORD equipped front bumpers with a tongue for a ball or clevice and pin style trailer hitch.

 

[FTG-05]

Since it's already there, I'd keep it, but cut it shorter. Guy that did it probably just had that tube laying around or bought it and didn't want to bother cutting it down.

Personally, I have a 2" receiver on an attachment plate that I can pop on my little machine. I use it quite a bit to move our car hauler trailer around into places where the Suburban can't get into or I don't want to bother hooking up the Suburban. If you've never moved a trailer by pushing it like that, you're in for a treat. It's much easier than moving it behind you. I used to tow aircraft for a living. All sizes, from little 2 seaters to 727's. We always faced the load. So much nicer.

I also use it with a ring hitch to hang chains or straps from. :thumbsup:

I agree. I have one on my tractor bucket and have only used it once to move a trailer. By far the use I have for it is to shorten chain while picking things up. In fact, had I known how useful this was, I wouldn't have installed chain hooks on my trailer, just stake pockets. Far more useful IMO.

 

[zzvyb6]

I have one on my bucket. Worthless for trailer moving because you need about a 24" drop hitch to reach the tongue. It is VERY useful for me when I turn the hitch bar sideways (need a new hole) so that the axis of the hole is horizontal. I made up a hydraulic post hole digger from scrap and my formerly used rear digger. I use the curl circuit for running the motor. Don't need a 3rd function for it. It runs off the curl control in both directions as necessary.

It serves me as a boom pole holder, too for small objects going up high. I put a complete vintage windmill fan on the side of the barn for an ornament with it no problem.