Tazza hit all the high points, and I'll add a few more things to consider. I have a couple of 4 in1 buckets and a pan grapple. Grapples and 4 in1 buckets are designed to perform different tasks. I have used my 4 in 1 to pull lots of brush and pine stumps over 10 inches in diameter. The bigger stumps I pull in the Spring when the soil is saturated.
4 in 1 buckets are probably the most versitle attachment available. The one issue is their weight (700 - 950 lbs). Compared with a standard bucket, you can loose anywhere from 300-500 lbs of capacity. They usually have a shorter pan and less capacity in the bucket. You are trading capacity for versatility.
When you grab smaller objects grab them in the center of the bucket. This keeps the closing force evenly spread across the pan. If you grab an object at the far left of the bucket the right cylinder is not pushing against anything and can twist the pan of the bucket. If you have to grab something at the edge, use just enough force to hold it.
If you are going to use the bucket for a lot of dozing, or if you are working in abrasive materials you should consider a bucket with three bolt on cutting edges. Most 4 in 1's have all the cutting edges welded in with the option of a bolt on cutting edge on the front of the bucket.
Vernig Manufacturing is one of the few that make a 4 in 1 with bolt on edges at the rear of the pan and the dozing edge.
Here are just some of the uses. The example for Backdrag below also works in forward and allows you to make a small cut without diving into the grade. The excess material gathers in the bucket and will fill in the low spots as you pass over them.
