Would appreciate your suggestions

I have never owned or operated a tractor with a front-end loader, nor have I been around one being operated. Until now I have never felt enough of a need to justify getting one. I would consider getting one, but I think the odds of finding one in my area that would fit my '69 Ford 4000, that would be sold separately from a tractor, and for a price that I could afford, would be kinda slim. I have no hay to move around, I have no manure to shovel, and I have no dirt to relocate. My only need would be for something to bunch up brush and move it to a burn pile. I'm getting too old to do much of this by hand any more, so if I expect to keep up my 15 wooded acres I'm going to need help from my equipment.

I'm now thinking that for the occasional brush pushing and bunching that I would need to do, I could do it just as well using the three-point on the rear of the tractor. Have any of you bought or engineered/fabricated something along these lines? I'm thinking that some kind of a fork, with tines that would ride the ground and push up under logs and brush, maybe even grasp it with a thumb of some sort on the top, would work. It might be slow and awkward, but that's OK for no more than I would have to do.

Any ideas will be appreciated.

A Ford 711 model loader is a one arm style that is going to do what you need to do. Pushing backwards into brush is less safe, and more uncertain (and uncomfortable) than moving in a direction you can see. Fabricating a brush blade for the rear would cost as much as a used loader. I also believe you will find 30 things to do with a loader that just seem perfectly suited. Jim

Your right loaders are handy but I've used a regular blade for years to push in brush. It's a lot harder looking back and I've replaced a few lights I've also used it to push in a burn pile but a loader is better.

I believe Gnuse made 3 point buckets like you are thinking of. Dad has had one for years and it's handy if you don't want to tie up a tractor with a loader. Not as handy to use as a front end loader but much better than a shovel.

I would keep looking. It is amazing what I use my loader for. I'm a 71 year old skinny weakling and the loader is my everything from a ladder to a fork lift.

Guess it depends on how popular Ford is in your part of the country. Bought my 3000 with the loader already on it but have seen a few on craigslist that came off Fords. Around here it will add about $1000.00 to the value of the tractor.

In my opinion once you get a loader, you will wonder why you waited so long. I would never be without one, and like you I don't have a lot for it to do. But when I do....boy is it handy. good luck finding one. gobble

You might think ABOUT A 3 PT CARRYALL. I have an older one. You can haul a lot of limbs on it. A loader has its place. It will keep you away from some things do to the extra in front. Often thought I need one but I bought an older skid loader about 10 yeARS AGO. Best piece of equipment I ever bought. just 40 horsepower but great for snow removal, cleaning up brush and dead trees. From what your wanting t do I really thing a set of 3 pt forks or carry all would do you fine. just my 3 cents worth.

You would be amazed at what all you would use a loader for once you has it. You'l wonder how you got along all those years without it. Can throw the wheel-barrow away. You can pretty much make any loader fit any tractor with a little creativity. Drill some different holes, fit in a couple spacer blocks and like the Jonny Cash song --a little help from an adapter kit.

Just one small lifting project will make you wonder how you ever got along without a loader. I live on a 1/2 acre lakeshore property & won't give mine up.
Here are a few things that I use mine for-
clear snow from driveway, also for 3 neighbors
smooth out the ridge of gravel that the township grader leaves at end of driveway
lift air conditioner to bedroom window, instead of carrying A/C unit about 50 feet through the house,down a narrow hall way
while re roofing the house, capture old shingles & carry to dumpster, rather than throw on ground & later clean up by hand
lift new shingles, tools etc to roof, rather than carry up a ladder.
load firewood logs for neighbor, to be cut & split at his shop when weather permits.
while re building storage shed, set up pre-built wall panels, lift roof trusses, decking & shingles.
the list goes on.
Once you show your SWMBO how a loader saves wear & tear on your back, or asking her to help you, you will find more excuses to play (or reasons to work) with your toy (tractor).

Willie

I will gladly second all the positive remarks about having a loader. To push piles of cut brush into larger bunches with a 3-point, how about a round bale carrier fork. I've done that several times.

My suggestion is if you use a back'em up system use caution as can bend lift arms.
I picked up a 3 pt rake, that I drag forward as have a FEL on my lil 2N, that can be swiveled around for a back'em up rake.
A carry-all like another suggested is something that's makeable for very little $$.
If you go with another tractor with FEL already installed stay away from a N series.
Power steering sucks unless your Arnold Swarts (however it's spelled)

Get a loader, handiest thing ever! Install two spikes / beams / steel bars out of the bottom of the bucket, from some small holes in the rear of the bucket, and clamp them down sp they stick out 4' or 5' or so. Voila', you have something to stack brush on, limbs, fence posts, poles, hay bales for the garden/./// handiest thing ever. You will use the loader to pick up things you were not going to, before.

I would highly recommend finding a loader for your tractor. Find one with a hydraulic bucket instead of a trip bucket and you will have a very usefull tool you will wonder how you got along with out! I have a M farmall with a paulson loader and the hydraulic dump material bucket. I added a couple of grab hooks to the bucket to have a easy place to hook chains to and this unit has saved my back countless times.
Your Ford should be a nice rig with a loader on it. With most loaders you can take the bucket and lifting arms off with out much trouble and leave the sub frame on the tractor if you want to take some weight off of the tractor when you don't need the loader.
On the farm we had a 8N Ford with a superior trip bucket loader. When we needed the tractor for haying and would not need the bucket for a while we had a block and tackle hanging from a beam in the shed and just drove the tractor in, hooked a sling to the main arm and bucket assembly near the pivot pins and pulled the pins that held it to the main frame and hung the arm assembly in place. We pulled the pins in the upper end of the lift cylinders and pivoted them upright and tied them to the sub frame on the tractor. When it was time to use the loader again it took maybe 5 minutes to put it back on.

If you can find a loader you will find yourself doing jobs easier than you ever thought possible. I went many years without a front loader and now I have them on all my tractors but 1. I've got a westendorph WL21 on my 4630 Ford that is my light duty tractor. It's basically the same as your 4000, I use it for everything from pushing snow to feeding hay.
If your not used to a loader you need to do a little reading on proper use. They can be dangerous if you don't pay attention to your conditions. Like most equipment common sense goes a long way.

Thanks for your comments, guys. I'll figure it out intime.

Lots of times you can buy a machine with just a loader cheaper than you can buy a loader to install on a tractor especially if you have to pay someone to install it.

Start calling around to the wreckers. They often have a row of good loaders pulled off dead tractors.