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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Earthwerks Unlimited" data-source="post: 13052" data-attributes="member: 1300"><p>More than just deciding if you can justify it, you need to consdier if your machine is up to the task; a good bucket can weigh twice the weight of a dirt bucket which reduces your usable lifting ability. Then there's quality and durability versus cost. I have 6' Bobcat-brand tthat I bout three years ago for cleaning up Hurricane Katrina. I paid twice what my buddies paid for theirs, but their cutting edges wore out about 40 hours later which means you can't pick up small, thin things--like sheetmetal. Mine has about 400 hours on it and is barely worn down. And their pivoy points are sloppy and the arms are bent badly---they look like the grinning Chestershire cat. Also, the New Holland dealer tried to get me buy their brand which just doesn't have the "open" capacity the Bobcat one does. I could pick up cars from the side and walk them out to the ditch for pickup. Then there's the type of grapple--root (open, grated bottom) or industrial (flat, closed bottom)? Some guys who worked with me on Katrina brought root grapples and were disappointed that they had to pick up debris that just fell through the grates. As far as using the grapple as a dozer---that's easy! I just grab a downed telephone pole, tree trunk or 8x8 and tip the bucket slightly and run with it. When you get to the end of the run, lift the bucket, and tilt it almost all the way down, lower to the ground and back drag. When I was cleaning up New Orleans or "Naw'lins" as the locals say it, the Army Corp demanded the roads be swept everday or whenever a car passed by the loading dumpster which was every bucket load--those dumba----s. Anyhwo... I would just grab a flooded $2000 King size mattress in the trash for pickup, and use that as a broom. Works really well!</p></blockquote><p></p>

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