The Pro-Bagger

How it Works:

The Pro-Bagger is a unique skid-steer attachment that is a sandbagging machine. This skid-steer bucket allows the operator to fill standard 14in x 26in poly or burlap sandbags, filling 12 sandbags at a time. Simply attach the bags, scoop the sand (or other material), tilt the bucket back up which fills all twelve bags; drive to your desired location, tilt the bucket and release the hydraulics and the bags are placed standing.

Operating the Pro-Bagger requires a skid-steer loader and operator and 1 or 2 workers (preferably 2). The Pro-Bagger is essentially a specialized bucket that holds, fills, transports, and releases 12 sandbags with each scoop and release. The Pro-Bagger performs these actions by operating in this cycle:

1st – The skid-steer operator first moves the Pro-Bagger into the upright loading position. This is done by lifting the loader’s boom and tilting back the bucket into an upright position with the bag holder paddles at about chest height of the workers who are loading sandbags. The operator then cuts the engine turning off the loader.

2nd – The 2 workers very quickly and easily load empty sandbags on the 12 spring loaded paddles of the bag holders. In this manner, the Pro-Bagger is loaded with sandbags in seconds!

3rd – Actuate the hydraulic cylinder (powered by the auxiliary hydraulics of the loader) locking the bags firmly. This causes all 12 hydraulic paddles, opposite the spring paddles on the bag holders, to firmly hold the bags for filling.

One can test whether the bag tensioning needs adjusting by, at this stage (with loader turned off for safety), testing whether the bags are firmly held by the bag holders by grasping with hands and tugging on bags. Bags are tensioned correctly when they are not easily pulled off by tugging nor are being damaged by severe tension. The Pro-Bagger has a hydraulic cylinder run-out stop to limit and adjust the tension of all the bags simultaneously as well as 12 threaded bolt paddle stops to adjust individual paddle and bag tension. Thus, all 12 bag holders can simply and easily be adjusted prior to a session of sandbagging so bags do not fall off or are damaged and so as to accommodate any change in size or quality of sandbags being used. (For best results, we recommend using one homogenous size/variety of bag on all 12 bag holders at a time before switching to another size/variety rather than using a combo of more than one size/variety at once).

4th – After both workers step away from the machine to a safe distance and have indicated they are clear, the operator again turns the ignition starting the loader. The skid-loader operator lowers and drives the bucket into the sand pile and lifts straight up so as to let the excess sand fall back into the pile to achieve ideal half-filled bags at about 40-50lbs. (In the event 100% full bags are needed, before operating, remove the 2 bucket full-guides and then simply operate with full-guides removed. Full-guides are easily installed/uninstalled and are fastened by bolts).

5th – Drive to desired sandbag destination.

6th – Actuate the hydraulic cylinder so as to release the bags from their bag holders. And then tilt the bucket to a 45-degree angle near but above the ground (or surface upon which bags are to be left) thus opening the gravity activated spring actuated bag door releasing the sandbags from the Pro-Bagger at the desired location.

And repeat.

In this manner, with each cycle, and commonly less than 2 minutes per cycle, 12 sandbags are filled and set in reach of their final destination for placing stacked in a barrier.  Easily and with minimal effort and fatigue sandbag production rate of 400 sandbags/hr has been achieved for extended periods of time. (For maximum efficiency place sand piles close to where sandbag barrier is to be built with room to work safely).

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