what's this?

[Anonymous Poster]

what\'s this?

I borrowed (okay, stole) this picture off the forum from Cchoate (thanks!). It's a dirt scoop. It looks as if it could be used in place of a FEL. I know, a FEL would be a lot more versatile. But if I'm on a budget and I'd be a lot better off paying $12,000 instead of $15,000, AND I don't have a lot of digging to do, wouldn't this be a pretty good substitute for a FEL? Just curious.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: what\'s this?

Second question -- can it be mounted on the front?

 

[Anonymous Poster]

sorry, here\'s the picture

I guess my CRS is acting up again. Here's the picture.

 

[Tractor_Barn]

Re: what\'s this?

You can get a brand new tractor/loader for under $10K

 

[Thomas]

Re: what\'s this?

I soft soil etc..you should be fine,but the hard stuff..rocks etc..I would be gentle,for you don't want to damage the 3 pth etc..backing up to fast while loading.

You may also want to consider some front weights.

 

[chim]

Re: what\'s this?

I have a scoop like that, and it has been very useful. I used one to dig a 300' long swale along one side of our property. They can be mounted to FACE front or rear, but not ON the front or rear. It would be easier to get a FEL than adapt the scoop to the front.

The scoop has limitations. It has very limited lift, gravity dump, no down pressure, doesn't "curl" and is difficult to excavate (evenly) a width greater than the scoop width.

All I had to work with for a long time was a scoop on my Ford, and I moved a lot of dirt. It was far far better than a shovel and wheelbarrow. I got the 'Bota w/FEL last year, and have been surprised at how much easier it is to do small projects around the property. Spreading stone, light digging, gathering up big storm-damaged limbs, transporting heavy things, picking heavy loads off (and onto) the pickup, piling snow, etc have made the FEL one of my most appreciated attachments...................chim

 

[cchoate]

Re: what\'s this?

That dirt scoop has been great for the jobs it's been used for. In 4 months I have:
- edged around my pond
- dug a big overflow for my pond (30'x20'x4'deep)
- moved and spread 3 big hills of road fill
- leveled off some rough ground
- carried rocks, bricks, ect...

Yes, a fel does more, but the dirt scoop was $260 at TSC and the fel is $2800. Check out the picture of just dug pond "muck".

 

[RobertN]

Re: what\'s this?

I had a scoop before I got my loader. For $300, you can do a lot of stuff. For 1/10 the cost of a loader, it'll work just fine while you save up for the $3000+ loader.

There was a guy on this forum a few years back that built his own rear loader. It was effectively a wider scoop. He added a "tip" cylinder/valve and could then "curl" the scoop. His scoop was pretty much the same size as a loader bucket for his sized tractor. He made it all at home for cheap. In fact, before I got my loader, I emailed with him; he made a couple more for his buddies.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: what\'s this?

We sell a lot of these new material scoops (in various widths) to customers that cant justify the FEL dollars. They are not as handy as a FEL-- however a New $260 material scoop seems to be a resonable alternative for your situation! --Ken Sweet

 

[frank_f15]

Re: what\'s this?

NOPE! can't be used in place of a fel, can u dig with it? can u lift and move dirt with it? can u back drag with it? the scoop is a nice implement, but won't take the place of a fel.