Hi Doug...
<font color=blue>You put yours on the front, with no apparent reinforcement. I'd appreciate learning why you decided on that placement and how it's worked for you.</font color=blue>
This is a heavy duty JD bucket that appeared to me to be more HD than in name only. In other words, it's very well built. I just didn't think I needed the extra reinforcement and when I brought this issue up with my dealer, he concurred. I've used the hooks a few times to chain down heavy, over-sized fieldstone I'm re-locating from some hedgerows I'm working on. I've experienced no problems with the chaining, the durability of the hooks, or structural integrity of the bucket (ie., the front bucket lip remains intact with no bending).
<font color=blue>Also, what disadvantages do you see with placing hooks as I suggested?</font color=blue>
I've seen this type of placement before. There's likely nothing wrong with it. Some dealers I've visited actually prefer to reinforce the bucket lip where the hooks are placed and to place the hooks further back on the bucket to increase integrity. Apart from the chain 'rubbing' on the front bucket lip during transport, I can't see any major disadvantages. One caveat though....if you're carrying a heavy load, the 'downward' pressure of the chain on the bucket edge may place undue stress on the edge causing it to bend. The only way I can see the chain breaking is if you're moving an extremely heavy load that's placing maximum tension on some of the chain links.
....Bob