"Tumble Bug" Dirt Scraper

[gwpoky]

I have an opportunity to purchase a tumble bug scraper in good condition and good price, I think it could be handy. Does anyone here have any tips, suggestions, or experience with these?

Thank You

[Andy Carson]

hi George,
Some people call what I call a slip scoop a tumblebug, some people are refering to a different tool altogether… If you are refering to what I call a slip scoop (see pics), I have used one a quite a bit. It’s a tricky tool to use, but once you and your horse get the hang of it, it works pretty well. The “trick” to it is that you have to use the handles to gently guide the nose into whatever you are scooping (manure in my case) at just the right angle. If you are too aggressive with the angle, the nose digs into the ground, it will flip the rig (and maybe you) over. If the angle is too shallow, the scoop slides over the top of the manure without loading completely. For me, I was most successful going with a pretty shallow angle, which loads about 1/2 to 2/3 of the scoop, and then I filled the rest of it up by hand with a fork. You have to resist the urge to force the handles and the scoop into a specific position, and let the “feel” of the ground/manure inform how you angle the handles. If it feels “easy” you can go deeper (within reason), if it feels hard, you have to go with a shallower angle (and you will have to do this very fast). The most essential thing is that your horse and you learn to stop immediately when the nose catches hard. This took a little training for my horse, because she is usually the type that likes to go when the going gets tough. The other thing is to hold onto the handles in a way that if the hose dives (and the scoop flips), you don’t get “launched” into space and you don’t loose your reins. After you get the hang of it you can purposely lift the scoop handles and the let thing flip to unload, but make sure you have good control of you horse when you try this as it makes a loud “flopping” sound that you horse might not be used to. Overall, it’s a good tool when you have room to get aroundthe pile you are trying the move. I moved manure but driving my horse through the pile and slip scooping behind. I have tried backing the horse and scoop into less accessable corners with manure, and this works OK, but a shovel and a wheelbarrow are more time efficient in tight spots. I hope this helps, good luck!

PS. I wouldn’t rely on this tool to do much digging in harder soil, it is best used as a mover of material that is pretty soft already.

[Iron Rose]

Hi George

What Andy is using is what I always called a slip scraper, a tumble bug scraper is cylinderical with a trip lever to dump the load or set the cut. There are stops on the outside edge that can be set for the amount of cut you want. Use it a few times and i’m sure you will figure it out. I’ve got one that I converted so I can use it on my three wheel cart real handy for getting into tight spots or corners.

Good Luck
Dan Rasmussen
SE MN

[gwpoky]

Hi Dan,

Yep, that’s what I am looking at, the cylindrical scraper type. Looks pretty simple and handy.
Hope things are good in your neck of the woods.

Thanks

[Anonymous]

I have seen tumblebugs at different lengths. Mine is around 4 ft. I fdont think id want one no wider than 3 for a single horse

When mom got us to dig out under the house, when we finally got under it dad got a horse and we would bring horse and slip to dirt ramp leading in under the house. When we had pulled it down to where we were digging, and had it filled, we would back the horse to it and Beauty would pull it out. When we had got pretty well in underneith the house, she would come in, turn herself around and stand till we had filled it. We would click her up and out she would go. Shed get ahead of us but stop where she had been stopping before and wait for us to dump her. Then she would go ahead, make a figure 8 and come back under the house. The rains were tied to the hame on her side. Never had a problem.

[Anonymous]

I also, when I was a kid had a fresno. That also comes in different lengths. I again think mine was 4ft. It had a long iron handle comeing out the back in the middle with a ring on the end. That rignwas for a length of rope to pull the handle back after one had raised it up and over to dump the load. It had 2 runners that, when the load was dumped would hold the barrel up around 8in so that the load would fall out from top to ground. Then pull the rope to bring the handle back and scoop into loading position

[Author]

Posts