Advice on bucket hooks

[arkydog]

i would also use slotted angle iron. can use from either direction easily.

 

[Sysop]

Hear all sorts of stories of bad dealers that do or won't do all sorts of things. I still don't think liability is the main reason we don't see them shipped with such things, I just don't think it's anything they could do "right" by all customer's standards, so it is something they leave for the customers who want such things to do on their own.

 

[jeff9366]

Hello all,

I am receiving my new LS XJ2025H soon and the first customization I want to do is put a pair of bucket hooks on it. I see a lot of people seem to like Ken's Bolt-on hooks but I would like a more universal style hook like tow hooks that you could use with chains or straps. This route would also be much cheaper by about 75% savings.

The trouble with nylon straps is that they wear. If under tension when a strap separates the two pieces can cause serious injury as the fly at high speed, releasing stored energy.

Chains, in theory, just drop.

So, you have spent X-thousands on a new tractor and now you want to add cheap hooks with untested strength to your bucket for high stress applications? This does not make sense to me.

 

[Sysop]

The trouble with straps is that they wear. If under tension when a strap separates the two pieces can cause serious injury as the fly at high speed, releasing stored energy.

Chains, in theory, just drop.

So, you have spend X-thousands on a new tractor and now you want to add hooks with untested strength on your bucket for high stress applications? This does not make sense to me.

The hooks I used are grade 70 chain grab hooks. They're tested for high stress applications.

Chains pulled to the breaking point do not just drop, they fly too. You should never pull with anything that doesn't have something else attached to it to keep it from flying. Use a slacked rope to tie down a pulling chain or use a slacked chain to weigh down a pulling rope, this keeps things from flying...

 

[JerryK]

Thanks JMC :thumbsup:

Have you seen the new RingSlings we are making now?
View attachment 428458

Heh....!!!! Them thar Ringslings have sling rings on the end...!!!!! Wow....!!!!! [[[ ]]] [ it's a slow day here ... ]

 

[dragoneggs]

I regularly use my clip on hooks from BXpanded. I know, maybe not the load capacity some have but don't laugh they work great for my needs. As far as repositioning them... Never had to, located them between the outside of the FEL arms and side edge of bucket. A third one in the center could be useful but I haven't needed it to date.

 

[SCWOOD]

The Dealer put this style hook on for me.Just another idea.The hole works good for ratchet straps or rope.The hook works for straps.

 

[trowber24]

The trouble with nylon straps is that they wear. If under tension when a strap separates the two pieces can cause serious injury as the fly at high speed, releasing stored energy.

Chains, in theory, just drop.

So, you have spent X-thousands on a new tractor and now you want to add cheap hooks with untested strength to your bucket for high stress applications? This does not make sense to me.

I hear what you are saying but the hooks I am looking at are advertised with a 10,000lb rating. I'm pretty sure they have to be tested to advertise as such. I can see them not being enough in an industrial situation but not me on my property lifting a tree root ball with my tractor that only has a maximum 1,600lb break out force/1,200lb lift capacity. Any real pulling would be done with the rear end.

 

[Baby Grand]

Thanks JMC :thumbsup:

Have you seen the new RingSlings we are making now?
View attachment 428458

Those look really nice.
Bet they'd be great for anything you don't want to gouge up with a chain.

 

[CalG]

i would also use slotted angle iron. can use from either direction easily.

I welded a piece of angle across the top of the loader bucket to reinforce the bucket and to give a sturdy flat surface to weld on a pair of grab hooks.
I WISH I WOULD HAVE FLIPPED THE ANGLE and slotted it! Grab hooks only grab one way, and that has been a problem a couple of times.

Slotted angle just makes so much sense, Standard issue on logging winches to tie in a hitch.
Rings and loops and all sorts of "extras" can be accommodated with short lengths of chain that terminate in the appropriate fitting.

Like I wrote, I wish I would have done the slotted angle. I feel it is the most versatile.