Loader as excavator???

Raul-02 · Feb 1, 2022

Anyone used a ripper to break soil so as to use the loader as an excavator?
Multiple ripper passes to break the soil then turn around and dig in with FTL??

Xfaxman · Feb 1, 2022

With teeth on the bucket I don't have to use a ripper here in the hard red clay:

seville009 · Feb 1, 2022

I used to use my tiller to break up the grass/soil, then scoop it up. The tiller not only cut into the dirt, but made it nice and loose. No big dirt chunks.

gstrom99 · Feb 1, 2022

A tiller works great. A box blade works pretty well too.

3gunr · Feb 1, 2022

a toothbar like the pirahna makes digging much easier, Some on here say you cant dig with a tractor but i have dug and moved tons of dirt with mine,

sea2summit · Feb 1, 2022

I'd box blade it to a pile then scoop it. Geometry get's funky/high stress with the loader once the pins get below the bottom of the tires.

Raul-02 · Feb 1, 2022

I have the ripper no box blade, & no teeth, It's a nice big ripper. Makes a real mess of the lawn ;-0
got a Tiller too, hadn't thought of using that. .

oldnslo · Feb 1, 2022

I have used my 3PH mount tandem disc to work up the soil and then use the FEL to haul it away. Disc also acts as counterweight while doing this also.

Joel/ak · Mar 25, 2022

Old post but I use a ripper for our food plots to turn the land then til. If I need to dig, I grab the mini, pile it up and then tractor to move it if needed.

Joel/ak · Mar 25, 2022

Less than $200 and I can use anything that goes into a 2" receiver...

skipmarcy · Mar 26, 2022

I used one of the rippers from TSC to get the ground started, then just used my plain 6' bucket to dig many projects over the years. This was for my storm shelter build about 10 years ago. Ours is a lot of red clay and layers of chert rock - with a few really big rocks peppered thru. Only had to hire a backhoe to do my footer and utility and french drain trenching. I've used and abused my little 4110 over the years but it has done a BUNCH of work for me.

wisconsitom · Mar 26, 2022

sea2summit said:
I'd box blade it to a pile then scoop it. Geometry get's funky/high stress with the loader once the pins get below the bottom of the tires.

How's about stripping topsoil for a gravel pad build? Probably going down 12". I'd like to do so this spring with my Bobcat 2025. Regular FL7 loader, no teeth. I have done some such stripping already with machine. Didn't seem to struggle. Don't want to stress hydro system though.

Locoweed · Mar 26, 2022

My guestimate is that I dug out over 100 yds with my B2620 with nothing but what you see here.

bindian · Mar 27, 2022

I dug two ponds with the loader bucket with no tooth bar. Angle the bucket right and the right size tractor will doze right thru clay. This bucket is 7 foot wide.

hugs, Brandi

Wagtail · Mar 27, 2022

seville009 said:
I used to use my tiller to break up the grass/soil, then scoop it up. The tiller not only cut into the dirt, but made it nice and loose. No big dirt chunks.

That's how I've done it in the past. The FEL is not an 'excavator'... scoop and lift. It's how I levelled for the pad of my 5-bay shed.

My tiller has also been used to 'turn in' (mix) mulch and I'm very popular with the local Community Garden for breaking new ground for their garden beds. It's been a versatile implement.

Mind you, you use what implements that you have, I suppose.