Learn About the Different Buckets Available for Mini Skid Steers

Although a mini skid steer can use a variety of attachments, one of the most popular options is the tried-and-true bucket. However, some projects call for buckets that can accommodate specific needs — whether that includes lifting certain materials, sifting through rocky soil or removing snow. Luckily, there’s a wide variety of bucket styles to fit those requirements. Let’s explore a few of those.

Standard/General Purpose

This style is the most commonly used bucket on mini skid steers. Ranging in widths from 36 to 50 in., standard/general purpose buckets excel in a variety of tasks — from grading and light material handling to backfilling and site cleanup. They offer operators a versatile tool thanks to their adequate capacity, strength and visibility.

“This bucket’s design balances digging force and material capacity, making it ideal for everything from moving topsoil to grading,” says Cole Chesnut, Vermeer’s product manager. “It’s the essential starting point for nearly any mini skid steer owner and is used often by landscapers and general contractors. It is also one of the most economical options.”

Heavy-Duty

Operators who need a stronger bucket can upgrade to a heavy-duty model. These buckets are designed to handle rocky, abrasive conditions and are a top choice for crews tackling excavation, site preparation or demolition tasks. Chesnut says they are built with high-strength steel and more extensive reinforcements like side cutters, weld-on teeth or a bolt-on tooth bar. Their more robust construction does cause these buckets to be a more expensive and heavier option.

“Mini skid steers are a little bit more limited with capacity and power,” says Kevin Murphy, inside sales manager at Blue Diamond Attachments. “A lot of people are concerned about the weight of the bucket and not wanting to go too heavy. However, as time goes on and these machines get even more powerful, we may see heavy-duty buckets grow in popularity over the next few years.”

High Volume/Light Material

High volume/light material buckets are made to handle large amounts of low-density materials like mulch, compost or wood chips. These buckets are great choices for landscapers, nurseries, property managers or anyone who needs to move more material in fewer trips. This style of bucket is more suited for hauling loads versus digging.

“These buckets maximize capacity with taller sides and deeper profiles but remain light enough to avoid overloading compact carriers,” says Darin Gronwold, product manager for Ignite Attachments. “Sizes vary by manufacturer, but most mini track loader models fall in the 44- to 50-in. width range.”

4-in-1

A 4-in-1 bucket offers the versatility of many attachments in one, convenient package. It’s the perfect tool for operators working in site preparation, small-scale demolition or landscaping tasks that require multiple jobs.

“It functions as a standard bucket, a grapple for securing logs or debris, a dozer blade for pushing material and a grading tool for leveling ground,” says Chesnut. “This versatility makes it a favorite of landscapers who need to perform multiple tasks without changing attachments. It’s a significant investment, but it can replace two or three separate attachments.”

Gronwold adds that 4-in-1 buckets — also known as combination buckets — achieve their multifunction capability through hydraulic cylinders that allow the bucket to open, close, grapple, doze or backdrag material. They are popular among operators who are looking to maximize efficiency without switching attachments.

“While they can be heavier than standard buckets, many models are designed with compact equipment in mind,” says Gronwold. “These buckets are often favored by rental centers and contractors looking for flexible attachment solutions.”

Grapple

If work calls for grabbing and lifting bulky or irregular-sized objects, then a grapple bucket is the attachment for you. These buckets are designed with one or two independent, hydraulically powered grapples. Crews can easily clear brush, move logs and handle scrap or demolition debris with a grapple bucket.

“For mini skid steers, grapple buckets are typically available in widths ranging from 36 to 50 in., with some models designed for dual-interface mounting to fit various carrier brands,” says Gronwold. “These attachments are popular with landscape contractors, rental centers and acreage owners managing property cleanup.”

Murphy from Blue Diamond Attachments says that the company’s grapple buckets are a popular purchase, especially with landscapers. Buyers can customize a grapple bucket to meet their specific needs.

“Mini skid steer grapple buckets are offered in a variety of styles to fit an end user’s needs, with a solid bottom, a root style with longer tines or a rake style with shorter tines and more vertical clamps,” he says. “We do even offer a version of our solid bottom grapple bucket with bolt-on sides to help with increased capacity.”

Rock

Rock buckets are made for sifting and sorting materials. They’re designed with open slots that allow dirt and smaller debris to fall through while retaining larger materials. Also called skeleton buckets, these attachments are used by operators who consistently work in rocky ground conditions.

“Rock buckets are specialized tools designed to sift and sort rocks from soil, making them essential for site preparation, pasture maintenance or landscaping,” says Gronwold. “They are generally available in the 36- to 50-in. range, with tine spacing designed to match common sorting needs.”

Snow

Property managers, snow removal contractors, homeowners and municipalities can all benefit from a snow bucket and mini skid steer pairing. This specialized, lightweight bucket is designed for moving snow (or other light materials) and typically offers the widest widths for clearing paths. Chesnut says many snow buckets feature optional polymer or rubber cutting edges to prevent damage to pavement or asphalt surfaces. While a snow bucket offers a high-capacity profile, operators shouldn’t try to lift and move more than it can handle.

“These buckets are not designed for digging or heavy material handling, as they lack the reinforcements of heavier-duty models,” says Gronwold. “Snow buckets are often wider — matching or exceeding the width of the carrier — to maximize pass coverage during snow removal.”

Other Bucket Considerations

Aside from the options listed above, here are a couple of unique buckets that are available for mini skid steers.

• Mini Stump Bucket: Murphy says Blue Diamond Attachments’ mini stump bucket acts as a crowbar for a mini skid steer and is capable of prying and popping a stump out of the ground rather than grinding it down. The bucket has reinforced sides and is tapered in the front with three teeth.
  “If you’re trying to remove trees or general debris, it’s a good tool to have in your arsenal,” he says. “It’s not a high-capacity bucket, so it’s not going to hold a lot of dirt, but it will help you remove difficult trees from your property.”
• High Dump Bucket: Vermeer’s UMDP48 high dump bucket attachment increases the vertical dump height (and reach) of Vermeer mini skid steers 27.5 in. above the unit’s hinge pin height. Chesnut explains that the high dump bucket can hold 11.6 cu ft of material, and it excels at loading material into high-sided trucks and helps with dumping more directly in the center of trailers.

Pam Kleineke is managing editor of Compact Equipment.