15714 Universal Dump Bucket

I bought this bucket to use on a 2012 Polaris RZR 800 UTV. Let me preface this by saying that I only have 1 arm and work alone. This is relevant to the install and operation of this item. The install was really not very difficult once I got the universal mounting kit installed . My first job with this item was to move 21 tons of granite stone to refresh my driveway . I have moved 2/3 of the stone and it has worked very well. I run into the stones with enough force to fill the bucket and then use the winch to lift the load and then back out. The weight has been no problem. To dump the load you pull the rope that you can see in the picture, this can be a heavy pull especially with a full load of stone. I fixed this problem by slipping a 1 1/2" piece of PVC pipe about 30" long over the handle with the release rope coming out of the top of the pipe. Works great....much easier release. After release you simply let out the winch while backing, the bucket will re-latch and you're ready for another load. When you dump the rocks the next step is to hire the neighbors teenager to rake them out....good luck on that one. If used properly this is a great labor saver that I would strongly recommend for the occasional user. Takes a little mechanical skill to put together and mount but if you can keep things working around a house you can do this.

This review is for the Swisher 15714 dump bucket and Swisher 2646 Universal ATV Mounting Kit attached to a 2005 Yamaha Prairie 360. Pro: Well built, easy to assemble. I've used it to push loose road gravel back to the center to fill washboards etc, haul rock, firewood and dirt. Con: The item came in a damaged box with lots of parts loose inside, some of which had escaped. I've experienced this with all of Swisher's products and they simply need to put the loose stuff in a tough poly bag in a box in the crate. Con: The ATV has an aftermarket trailer hitch that is makes the hitch higher than stock. I had to have a tab welded to it to match up to the mounting kit. Not a fault of the kit, just an added adventure. Con: The bucket is so light it skims over gravel until it begins to fill. As it adds weight it takes a bite and really begins to fill fast. AT the same time the lightweight front suspension of the Prairie 360 sags and it becomes a challenge to moderate fill, winch height and suspension height. Eventually the bucket sits flat with a full load and does a good job of pushing without digging. Filling the tires to their max capacity helped too. Since I'm essentially using the bucket as a plow I guess this doesn't count against the bucket, but just so ya know. The fix is probably stiffer springs or air struts on the ATV. In lieu of that I ran the winch cable to two pulleys tied with nylon rope to the top of the ATV carrier rack and two pulleys on the bucket. That cut winch cable speed way down - probably too slow - but it allowed surgical height adjustment. A set of skids like on a plow might also fix this. Amazingly, 1/4" nylon rope run thru caribiners attached to the pulley brackets proved strong enough to lift loads and carry it across rough terrain. Con: The front of the Swisher 2646 Universal ATV Mounting Kit is so low that it bangs against stuff loaded or unloaded. I've gotten it hung up and had to dump the load to get free. This also rearranges the mounting hardware of the universal mount. Con: Swisher 2646 Universal ATV Mounting Kit attaches to the trailer hitch which sounds like a way to absorb thrust loads. Not in my case. The U-channel that runs from the hitch to the front is a two-piece channel with pinch bolts. Hit the front against something and the channels just slide together while the front leaf springs do funny things in their supports. It all goes out of alignment and then the bucket leans one way or the other. Easy to fix by taking it all apart and re-aligning it, but a hassle. The fix is to get the U-channel length needed and have them welded together, or drill and install bolts so it cannot slide. Con: It is not a digger, it's a scooper, so it just slides over settled dirt piles. I had dirt that I piled the year before that needed moving. Even with the scarifier teeth this proved useless. (The dirt is a mix of rock, clay and mineral soil). The fix might be to 'fluff' the dirt with a trencher and see if the bucket can move it. But if I do that I'll use a wagon. Summary: Despite the many cons, this one plus outweighs them so far: I have a bucket on an ATV that can move loose stuff rather easily. I have heavy duty springs to put on the front of the ATV, and plan to weld the mounting kit so it holds it's shape better. I also got the plow blade and adapter kit: It appears they might be more appropriate for what I need to do.

Works, but the bucket latch is weak. Only able to use it a couple hours before it bent. Replacement cost is close to $50. The ATV adapter is poorly designed.

I bought this bucket (and an ATV to go with it!) based on user reviews online. I have a lot of loose soil to move, a limited budget, and a long time to do the work. The ATV was just a 300cc machine, and was a model that required additional mounts (make sure to check) beyond the universal mount. I was able to get the mounting system attached within an hour, and shortly thereafter I was moving material. Quick and easy. When the bucket bizarrely started warping on me, I called Swisher and they sent out a new bucket, even throwing in the scarifier teeth as an apology for the uncommon issue. My advice: - Make sure you don't need additional mounts for your rig. Most don't, but you can call Swisher and ask. - Take small bites. This thing doesn't make your ATV into a skid-loader, but it's a hell of a lot better than shovels and wheelbarrows. Well worth the expense. - You need a good winch to work this thing. Make sure it has a brake or it might just unspool on you under load. I followed some online advice in this department and used a pulley on the lift point, running the cable back to the bike. This gives me more control and reduces the load on the winch. Good product, good service. I recommend this accessory if you have small projects to work on.

We got this dump bucket with the idea of ussing it on wildlife habitat management and minor dirt road maintenance in de Desert of Baja Sur Mexico, it works ok... it's a convenient accesory to get sand or lose gravel from arroyos and dumping it on ditches on the roads. It's not intended to do digging, unless is on very lose ground. I would use it for hauling arround dirt or loose rock for landscaping jobs or land use change/vegetation restoration projects... It's sturdy enough to be comercially used. One word of caution..... YOU NEED TO GET YOUR MECHANICH TO REDUCE THE SPEED OF YOUR WINCH TO BE REALLY EFICIENT WITH THIS IMPLEMENT.... a fast winch makes this accesory really hard to use.

I was hoping for a light duty bucket for moving some gravel and dirt. After using it for about an hour, I had enough of getting off the quad every time I wanted to re-engage the bucket latch! Its a poor design and flimsy at best. You pull the rope to release the bucket and drop the load, but re-engaging the bucket rarely works without getting off the quad and physically pushing it all back into place. Sadly, its going back.

Just about the best thing I have bought this year! The main reason I got this Dump Bucket, is the many things I can use it for. Since I am disabled, with nerve damage to both my legs, its getting harder for me to do stuff and walk. So I bought a ATV with the Swisher Universal Dump Bucket in mind. I have had it about two weeks now, it was easy to install, with the mounting kit, took about an hour. The mounting system is great, how they use a leaf spring across your front control arms to help with weight and handling. I have so far used it to move 2 tons of pea gravel, from the front of my yard to the rear, then I used it to move and spread out top soil about 4 yards. It is just what I needed. It is holding up to what my needs are. I also used it to lift and haul paving blocks to. I think for the winter time, it will do a great job on moving my snow off my driveway to. You have to have a rear hitch on your ATV for this set up, I did have one, but I redesigned mine, so I have it hooked up to a two inch receiver, then I also have my two inch ball to, so I can move my camper or trailer around. I used a double 2 inch receiver set up, just turned it upside down, to be able to mount the.mounting kit to, then I have the other 2 inch tube to use to. On a 2002 Yamaha Kodiak 400 4x4

I have had this now for a few months and can honestly say I love the idea of it. but the spring for the release is already rusted causing it not to reset. the winch hook mount point easily bent first use. hasn't broken yet but will probably need rewelded soon. I've only had a chance to use this a handful of times and is easy to put on and remove but just is of cheap quality.

Nice little bucket. Paint doesn't hold very good. Bucket will twist if you push too hard on one side. Had to weld another plate on the arm to retain bucket up.