I tried digging with the stock loader bucket on the tractor and didn’t get great results. It’s possible, but starting is the hardest part with the stock bucket. I also wanted something that would “hold on” to the trees better so I could utilize hydraulics to remove the smaller stuff instead of a chainsaw, pole saw, and stump grinder.
My research led me to the Piranha bar. The internet claims it’s a “game changer” for a tractor loader bucket, so I bought one. Yup, it’s a game-changer for sure. I’ve used it for around 10 hours now, and I’m really glad I bought it.
Digging is really easy with it. Move it the same way you would use a normal shovel with your foot: push it down, wiggle it front to back, push it down again if needed, rotate the forward end up, and lift it. It’s the same motion as a normal shovel. With the bar installed, starting a hole is incredibly easy.
But the main reason I got it was for smaller trees. I’ve seen several videos of people using it to clear trees, and I thought it would be a good investment for our property. It was a GREAT investment. I’ve found that the smaller 1″ or so saplings are easy to go low and drive forward, spearing or wedging the base of the trunk between two teeth, and just drive forward.
For 2-4″ diameter trees, I’ve found the best method is to start higher and use the bucket to lay the tree flat. This usually pops the roots up in front. Then, back up, level the bucket, spear the roots with the tooth bar, and drive forward. Once you have the bar piercing the roots, the forward movement of the entire tractor is much more effective at uprooting than the bucket’s lifting and/or curling motion. For reference, this tractor is the Bad Boy 4035h, which has a loader lifting capacity of 2,200 lbs and a loader breakout force of 3,660 lbs.
Link to the Piranha bar. (Not an affiliate link)
https://www.bxpanded.com/piranha-toothbar
I see your quick hitch on the back. I started with that style, and found that it didn’t work with all of my equipment due to spacing differences and that the top link was often a pain to use, not being flexible to move left right to hook up, and the Y attachment thingy for the top didn’t always fit where it needed to go. The rigid top was also often in the way while trying to hook up the PTO. I switched to the Pat’s quick hitch which is just hooks at the end of the bottom bars. For hooking up you sometimes need to use the spreader bar, but it’s not needed 90% of the time. You manually hook up the top link normally. The only headache I have with the Pats system is with side to side movement and the 3 point bars rubbing into the tires… you have to be a bit more diligent with adjusting the sway chains to keep that from happening when switching between implements with different widths, but that is the only downside I found with the pats quick hitch system
Dude, I really hate to say this to you, but you are not gonna be happy until you have a D4C…
I use my tractor bucket with the Piranha bar like a dozer. I think you’re right. Unfortunately, my bank account is not on the same page.