96" buckets with inner width enough to carry plywood?

jjp8182 · Mar 31, 2021

Just me, but if the bucket was only going to be used for leaves and light debris I think I'd consider building a simple bucket out of plywood to strap/chain to the pallet forks ....maybe bolt a steel cutting edge to it just to protect the edge and make it last a little longer.

Not exactly an unprecedented endeavor as I'm pretty sure I've seen some pics here of wooden buckets/bucket extensions for moving leaves, and there are steel buckets specifically designed for sliding over forks as well ..... so the concept has been done.

Just something to consider since those dedicated buckets are also going to be priced accordingly for the amount of steel that required and worked into shape to handle heavier/denser materials.

Bullwinkle123 · Apr 2, 2021

jjp8182 said:
Just me, but if the bucket was only going to be used for leaves and light debris I think I'd consider building a simple bucket out of plywood to strap/chain to the pallet forks ....maybe bolt a steel cutting edge to it just to protect the edge and make it last a little longer.

Not exactly an unprecedented endeavor as I'm pretty sure I've seen some pics here of wooden buckets/bucket extensions for moving leaves, and there are steel buckets specifically designed for sliding over forks as well ..... so the concept has been done.

Just something to consider since those dedicated buckets are also going to be priced accordingly for the amount of steel that required and worked into shape to handle heavier/denser materials.

Other people in the thread suggested that, and I've seen the builds. I definitely thought about it, but for multiple reasons I have rejected it. It isn't going to weather well outside, I don't have room for it inside, and whatever I build will be a sloppy (if functional) mess.

I'm still debating my decision. Turns out the LM2596 is 94.xx inches inner width, not long enough for 8' plywood, so I'm mostly debating the Titan 84" attachment.

I'm also debating whether I should just get a Billy Goat (or competitor) walk behind blower and whether that might make my life easier, they're as expensive (or more) as the buckets. Don't intend to buy both! If only my property didn't have so many tractor inaccessible areas and it wasn't such a pain to get the garden & leaf debris to the compost piles in the woods. Too many tight areas not initially designed for machine access. It's like they were designed to make my back cringe.

Williy · Apr 3, 2021

on your forks use a 2x4 strapped upright to the back of your forks and put a 2x6 on the forks and stand the plywood up and tie it to the forks maybe ????????

willy

Bullwinkle123 · Apr 3, 2021

I think I'm going to order the 84" titan. I was out there today raking rocks out of the grass (because the guy who plows my driveway makes my life hell - something I'll fix someday), and my heavy duty (but tiny!) bucket was full with grass and rock in no time. Too tiny. Definitely want a big bucket. I'll follow up on my threads with whether it's a satisfactory purchase or not, since I wouldn't able to find anybody who has one, though there's a review on palletforks.com for the 72" titan with a picture of it on his 50 hp tractor and next to his regular bucket. Guy says he loves it.

jjp8182 · Apr 5, 2021

The other thing you may want to check out then (if you haven't already) is W.R. Long as they make a variety of buckets .... pick an end profile, width, and a few other things and they make the bucket: W.R. Long, Inc. | Standard Bucket

Got a 72" version of their 1.885 style bucket a few years ago to get a larger capacity (and a round back) for digging lighter materials.

If you don't have a local dealer that carries their stuff I think Everything Attachments also has some of the W.R. Long line as well. The buckets aren't the cheapest priced, but from the one I received I wouldn't say they are cheaply made either.. ....and being able to get a bucket to fit your specific needs/wants is (in my opinion) worth a bit more than saving a few hundred bucks on a compromise bucket.

Which means if I were handling more mulch than I do now, I'd probably get one of their 3.522 buckets in a 72" since it has a capacity of ~1 cubic yard.

I suspect one of the 2.392 buckets in a 98" to 100" width should very likely fit a sheet of plywood in it pretty comfortably (not sure a 96" would)

Bullwinkle123 · Apr 5, 2021

Turns out my tractor dealer is listed as a dealer for W.R. Long, interesting that he didn't mention their products while we were talking about HLA and LandPride buckets.
I'll probably stick with the Titan at this point, in fact I'm hoping to order it today. The struck capacity of the Titan 84" is 35+ cubic feet. (Note that the W.R.Long diagram is for heaped capacities only if you're comparing). Couldn't find any 84" specs on their site, and of course I'd probably have to call my dealer for a quote.

Those W.R.Long specs have a nice depth at 42 inches for the 6.593. I may have to ask about that

They'd do themselves a service if they published more specs, like weight & struck capacity. Of course ordering through my dealer means all the middleman fees.

jjp8182 · Apr 5, 2021

I'd wager the dealer was a bit like mine (who was also my tractor dealer) in that they don't usually deal with W.R. Long's full line of products. The local dealer had really only used them for 3rd function kits and other small accessories until I ordered a bucket through them... which in the end turned out to be fairly similar to EA's pricing of W.R. Long buckets. So still went with the local dealer since it's long-time family-owned dealership and salesman I worked with was an older/middle part of the family still involved with running the business. Wasn't the first time I'd ordered something through them that they didn't/don't usually sell (actually at this point I wouldn't be surprised they find my coming in to be a source of entertainment just to see what I'll be getting next

).

I fully agree the would do themself a service by publishing more specs, but between the capacities they list on their own site along with the ones listed on the EA website it was enough for me. Particularly since I'm a bit of a sucker for curved-back buckets as they seem to make the material roll a bit easier than the square or angled back buckets (the later do the job, but.....) -- and curved-back buckets just look sleeker to me too

....... though when it's all said and done they're all still "just buckets" (which is why I suspect so few manufacturer's really bother providing much information) and why so many more make the more economical square/angled-back designs.