Buckets to Breakers: Cool Attachments We Recommend for the 2024 Summer Work Season

Wielding hydraulic tools like a breaker, backhoe, bucket or broom, a tool carrier can be the ultimate do-everything machine on a project site, but a tool carrier is nothing without its attachments. Compact Equipment is a magazine dedicated to tool carriers, machines like skid steers, track loaders, wheel loaders, mini excavators, telehandlers, utility vehicles and beyond, so that means we’re constantly covering the hydraulic- and PTO-powered attachments these machines utilize (from tree spades to silt fence installers). With the summer work season ahead, we thought you might be looking for a few new attachments to add to your arsenal. We highly suggest these…

Cat Tree Scoop Bucket

Paired with a compact track loader or wheel loader, the Cat tree scoop bucket allows you to dig a tree hole with a depth of 38.7 in. with a 45.2-in. width. With welded gussets and thick plates, the tree scoop bucket allows increased durability to dig through multiple different ground types. The welded gussets and thicket plates coupled with a flattened tip offer customers the ability to cut roots for easier removal of trees and shrubs. With safety always top of mind, the serrated step design allows operators to safely ingress and egress into the cab. The tree scoop bucket does not only allow for seamless removal of shrubbery and small trees but also allows operators to transport them easily within the bucket. For more info, visit cat.com.

Loftness PTO-Driven Battle Ax

Loftness recently introduced a new Battle Ax attachment for compact tractors with a 540-rpm PTO and approximately 36 to 70 PTO horsepower. The versatile new model allows customers to bring proven mulching performance to tractors they already own. It provides an excellent cost-effective option for mulching material up to 6 in. in diameter as well as mowing. The Battle Ax rotor includes built-in depth gauges, which function similarly to raker teeth on chain saws to prevent the attachment from engaging too much material at one time. Three cutting teeth options are available, and they are mounted to the rotor with a single bolt, allowing them to be easily reversed or replaced. For more info, visit loftness.com.

EZG Fence Hog Chain Link Dispensers

EZG Mfg. developed the Fence Hog attachment with input from professional fence builders and designed it to effortlessly handle cumbersome rolls of chain link fence. Powered by the hydraulics of a skid steer loader, its uniquely designed cage mechanism opens and tilts to retrieve fence rolls from the ground. No more unrolling by hand or requiring extra manpower to stand it up. Choose from three models: the 36- and 24-in. Fence Hog for larger projects and the compact Mini Fence Hog for residential fences. Attachments and accessories are also available, ensuring seamless customization for any project. Say goodbye to manual labor and hello to efficiency with chain link dispensers. For more info, visit ezgmfg.com/attachments.

Trimble Siteworks Machine Guidance Module

The Trimble Siteworks Machine Guidance Module extends the capabilities of Trimble Siteworks Software from surveying and layout to support on-machine excavator guidance and operator assistance. With the addition of the new software module, contractors can use the same rugged Site Positioning Systems hardware and software to perform a variety of tasks on the jobsite, including surveying, machine guidance, in-field design and reporting. Designed specifically for small site and utility contractors, the Siteworks Machine Guidance module gives users the ability to move the system between multiple excavators and jobsites as an accessible and entry-level combination machine guidance and construction surveying solution. For more info, visit heavyindustry.trimble.com.

Worksaver SARG (Sweep Action Rock Grapple)

Worksaver is revolutionizing material handling with its innovative SARG (Sweep Action Rock Grapple). More than just your average grapple, the SARG sets a new standard in efficiency and versatility. Designed to handle rocks and various debris effortlessly, this patented technology streamlines operations and minimizes ownership costs. Unlike traditional grapples, the SARG employs a unique hydraulic system and spring-and-hinge mechanism in its front grapples. This configuration facilitates a sweeping action that efficiently gathers rocks and debris into the unit. With the front sweep rakes held open by springs until the rear section of the grapple is lowered, materials are then securely pulled into the bucket. For more info, visit worksaver.com.

Ignite Stump Bucket Grapple

With an overall weight of just 513 lbs, the stump bucket grapple from Ignite Attachments provides the perfect balance of weight and strength. The attachment pairs the company’s robust stump bucket with a reliable grapple feature and is compatible with compact equipment up to 100 hp. The bucket’s compact depth maximizes loader breakout force for removing stubborn stumps or concrete slabs, and it features a 12x8x1-in. Borax 500 cutting edge. The grapple component offers a 41.7-in. jaw opening. Laser-cut and robot-welded construction, heavy-duty cylinder protection, full nylon hose sleeves and greaseable pins ensure dependability and long service life. For more info, visit igniteattachments.com.

Case Hammers

Case Construction Equipment hammers deliver exceptional impact energy while minimizing operator fatigue and environmental impact. A simple and efficient design with only two moving parts — the long-stroke piston and the control valve — means less maintenance, while dual retainer pins guarantee correct tool alignment and even wear for longer life. The cushion chamber ensures that every blow is isolated from the equipment and operator, and energy is recycled and used for the next blow via the long-stroke piston. Durable Case hydraulic hammers are ideal for multiple applications including construction, hardscaping and demolition, rental and mining and quarrying. For more info, visit mycnhstore.com.

JLG Trash Hopper

Fork-mounted trash hoppers are another specialty attachment for telehandlers, equipped with a feature that allows the operator to empty the hopper’s contents without leaving the comfort of the telehandler cab. The JLG Trash Hopper attachment can increase jobsite efficiency by reducing the time and personnel required to move trash and other debris to and from elevated sites. Once the bar under the hopper is placed on the trash bin and pressure is applied, the hopper can be tilted forward and the door will open to allow trash to fall out. To latch the door again, simply tilt the hopper back. The exclusive JLG design of the bar mechanism does not allow the door to open when no pressure has been applied. For more info, visit jlg.com.

Auger Torque Cone Crusher Bucket

Promising to save time, money and hassle, Auger Torque has developed the Cone Crusher Bucket. Suitable for excavators (2.5 to 8 metric tons), skid steers, backhoes and telehandlers, it provides a simple, efficient and cost-effective way to reprocess and/or recycle small volume construction rubble into useable aggregate. With an output of 3 to 10 tons per hour, the bucket ensures you save on transport costs of removing onsite waste, save on material costs of importing hardcore to site and minimize site traffic, delays and hassle. From general clay construction brick through to concrete pavers and asphalt, the Cone Crusher Buckets can crush to an output material size of up to 70 mm. For more info, visit augertorqueusa.com.

Mecalac MR50 and MR60 Tiltrotators

Mecalac now offers its MR50 and MR60 tiltrotators to the North American market. The MR50 tiltrotator is available for the 9MWR and 11MWR wheeled excavators and the 10MCR crawler-skid excavator. The MR60 tiltrotator is available for the 15MWR wheeled excavator and 15MC crawler excavator. Both tiltrotators come equipped with the twin Connect coupling system for the utmost compatibility with other Mecalac work tools. The Mecalac MR50 and MR60 tiltrotators allow for 360-degree rotation in both directions as well as a 40-degree tilt left and right for various attachments, including hydromechanical tools such as grapples. For more info, visit mecalac.com/en.

Avant Tecno High Pressure Washer

The Avant Tecno high pressure washer combines low water consumption and high water flow and pressure. This attachment washes dust, sand and debris out of asphalt, concrete and similar surfaces. Low water consumption makes it possible to clean larger areas with a single pass. The washer series features three models with different water tank volumes: 73 gal on model S, 147 gal on model M and 221 gal on model L. All washers are equipped with both an angling nozzle bar for street cleaning and a handheld wand with a 65-ft retractable hose reel. Max water flow and pressure on models S and M are as high as 7 gpm and 2,900 psi, and the largest model L has a 13 gpm max water flow and 3,190 psi pressure rating. For more info, visit avanttecno.com/us.

Keith Gribbins is publisher of Compact Equipment.