Whether you're levelling surfaces, shaping slopes or carving out landscapes, the right tool can make all the difference. The tilt bucket, also known as a tilting bucket, rotator bucket or tilt grading bucket, is a versatile excavator attachment that transforms your digger into a highly adaptable machine, capable of tackling complex shaping tasks.
The tilt bucket is a landscapers must-have digger attachment, providing a solution for grading on an angle. Offering a 90 degree tilt range (45 degrees left and right), the tilting bucket makes shaping complex areas faster and easier, allowing you to work without continuously repositioning your excavator. Using a tilt bucket offers greater control and flexibility compared to standard grading or ditching buckets. An excavator tilt bucket is usually mounted to your digger in the same way as a standard bucket, either via 2-pins or a quick hitch.
The tilting action of a tilt bucket is powered by hydraulic cylinders and typically supported by a single or double ram (depending on the size of your digger and bucket). This allows you to achieve precise angles and contours without repositioning your entire machine.
Tilt grading buckets are incredibly versatile, making them ideal for a wide range of applications. Some of the best uses include:
Yes, you can use a quick hitch with your tilt grading bucket. Quick hitches are designed to work seamlessly with a variety of attachments, including tilt buckets, allowing for quick and easy changes between different tools. However, it's essential to ensure compatibility between the hitch and the bucket to maintain safe operation.
Using a bolt-on blade or cutting edge on your tilt grading bucket is highly recommended. A bolt-on cutting edge protects the bucket's primary edge from wear and tear, extending the life of your bucket. It also makes replacing the edge more straightforward and cost-effective, as you won't need to replace the entire bucket or perform extensive repairs. Adding a bolt-on blade protects the edge of your bucket from harsh construction environments and drastically increases the lifetime of your bucket - which therefore saves you money! Learn more.
When comparing a tilt bucket to a tilting hitch for your mini digger or excavator, it ultimately comes down to the specific needs of your project. Both tools offer distinct advantages: a tilting bucket provides easier fitting and maintenance, while a tilting hitch adds versatility for using various attachments. Understanding the pros and cons of each can help you choose the right tool to maximise efficiency and performance on-site. Check out our detailed comparison to see which option best suits your projects.
1) Heavy Duty Construction - Rhinox tilt grading buckets are engineered for exceptional durability and long-term performance, even in the harshest conditions. Built with high-strength steel, each bucket features wear plates, centre support fins, and reinforced leading edges as standard. These components, along with a lifetime guarantee on all welds, ensure that your bucket is ready for all your landscaping projects..
2) 1 or 2 Hydraulic Rams - Our tilting buckets are equipped with one or two powerful hydraulic rams, depending on the bucket size, allowing for reliable and precise tilting up to 45 degrees in either direction (90 degrees total). This versatile tilting capability makes them ideal for levelling, profiling, and finishing complex surfaces at various angles.
3) 1.5 Metre Hydraulic Hoses - The Rhinox tilt bucket is designed for quick and easy attachment, connecting directly to your excavators auxiliary or hammer hydraulics. They come with 1.5 metre hoses and 1/2" BSP flat face couplings, prefilled with hydraulic oil and tested before dispatch to ensure they are ready for use. While the standard hoses are suitable for most machines, some setups may require longer, or shorter, hoses. If additional or reduced length is needed, we recommend consulting your local hydraulics specialist for the appropriate solution.
4) Angled Rear Shell - To achieve a precise and level finish, we have designed our tilt buckets with an angled rear shell. This design modification is specifically intended to prevent the bucket's shell from digging into or disrupting the graded surface. By reducing the likelihood of surface damage, this feature helps ensure that your grading projects result in a clean, professional finish every time.
5) Drilled Lip Plate - We recommend fitting a bolt-on blade to your tilt bucket to protect the exposed lip plate / cutting edge from wear and damage. This addition not only safeguards the lip plate but also enhances the bucket's strength and durability by also protecting the leading edge. Our predrilled lip plate simplifies the installation of a bolt-on cutting edge, offering both increased versatility and protection for your bucket.
Rhinox tilt grading buckets are designed for mini diggers and excavators ranging from 1.5 to 9 tons, with widths from 36" for 1.5 ton mini diggers to 60" for 9 ton excavators. Rhinox tilt buckets are compatible with the most popular digger makes and models, such as Takeuchi, Bobcat and Kubota. We can also manufacture tilt buckets to suit various custom quick hitches, including the Harford safelock and Martin hitch. As mentioned above, Rhinox tilting buckets are also available with an optional bolt-on blade for added protection. We provide replacement parts, including rams, hoses, and pins where required. For assistance with parts or any other inquiries, get in touch with us today!
A Rhinox Tilt Grading Bucket is more than just an attachment; it's a powerful tool that can significantly enhance the capabilities of your excavator. Whether you're involved in landscaping, grading or any other earthmoving task, a tilt bucket will provide the precision and flexibility you need to get the job done right. Consider investing in a Rhinox tilt grading bucket today to take your projects to the next level! Do you want to buy your own Tilt Grading Bucket? Shop online today.