Gar-Bro 481-SL Super-Lightweight Laydown Bucket – 3 CY Capacity with 16" Clamshell Gate
The Gar-Bro 481-SL is a 3 cubic yard SL-Series Super-Lightweight laydown concrete bucket engineered for crane-placed concrete pours where minimizing dead weight without sacrificing structural integrity is critical. Designed for contractors and concrete placement crews working on slabs, flatwork, and laydown applications, this bucket delivers reliable, controlled discharge through its 16-inch diameter clamshell gate. Built to meet or exceed ASME standards, the 481-SL reflects over a century of American-engineered construction equipment expertise from Gar-Bro Manufacturing, in production since 1923.
Compared to standard-weight laydown buckets, the SL-Series designation means a significantly reduced empty weight of 1,350 lbs., easing crane load requirements and improving cycle times on the job site. The 16-inch diameter clamshell gate offers a different discharge profile than the rectangular clamshell gates found on G-Series and LP-Series buckets, making it well-suited for applications requiring a more focused pour stream. Additional sizes are available upon request, including the 4108-SL at 4 cubic yards.
Key Features & Benefits
SL-Series Super-Lightweight Construction
The SL-Series designation indicates a purpose-built lightweight frame and body that reduces the empty weight to 1,350 lbs. for the 3 CY model. This directly translates to lower crane load demands, allowing contractors to maximize the concrete payload within crane capacity limits and improve pour efficiency across long shifts.
16-Inch Diameter Clamshell Gate
The 16-inch diameter clamshell gate provides controlled, clean discharge of concrete during laydown pours. The clamshell design allows precise gate opening modulation, giving operators better control over flow rate and placement accuracy compared to larger or fixed-opening gates.
Laydown Bucket Profile
The laydown configuration features an overall length of 143 inches and an overall width of 70 inches, creating a low-profile footprint optimized for horizontal concrete placement on slabs and flatwork. This geometry keeps the pour point close to the deck surface, reducing splatter and improving concrete distribution uniformity.
Compatible with Optional Side Chute (Item 427-SC)
The 481-SL accepts the optional Item 427-SC Side Chute, enabling lateral discharge placement for reaching areas not directly beneath the crane hook. This accessory extends the versatility of the bucket without requiring repositioning of the crane on every pour.
Compatible with Optional Accordion Hoppers
Optional Accordion Hoppers can be fitted to the 481-SL to help guide and direct concrete flow during discharge, reducing overspray and improving placement precision. This is particularly useful on elevated decks or in confined pours where mess control matters.
ASME-Compliant Design
All Gar-Bro buckets are designed to meet or exceed ASME standards, giving contractors confidence that the equipment is built to recognized industry safety and performance benchmarks. This is a critical consideration for job sites with strict equipment compliance requirements.
Common Applications
Elevated Slab Pours
The 481-SL is ideal for crane-lifted concrete placement on elevated decks and structural slabs where pump access is limited or impractical. The laydown bucket profile keeps the discharge close to the work surface for efficient coverage.
Flatwork and Ground-Level Slab Construction
For large flatwork projects, the 3 CY capacity and low-profile laydown design allow rapid, controlled distribution of concrete across wide slab areas with minimal repositioning.
Parking Structures
Multi-level parking garage decks benefit from the 481-SL's lightweight construction, which reduces crane load cycles and keeps the operation within crane capacity on decks with structural load limitations.
Bridge Deck Pours
Bridge deck placements requiring precise, directed concrete discharge are well-served by the clamshell gate's controllable flow and the optional side chute accessory for lateral reach.
High-Rise Concrete Placement
On high-rise construction sites where tower cranes are the primary means of material movement, the super-lightweight design of the 481-SL maximizes usable payload capacity within crane lift ratings.
Commercial and Industrial Foundation Work
The bucket's 43-inch loading height and 160-inch suspended height make it compatible with standard ready-mix truck chute loading and typical crane rigging configurations encountered in commercial and industrial foundation pours.
Compatible Materials
- Ready-mix concrete
- Standard slump concrete mixes
- Fiber-reinforced concrete
- Structural concrete for elevated slabs
- Flatwork and slab-on-grade concrete
- Bridge deck concrete mixes
- Commercial and industrial foundation concrete
Product Documents
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Item Number | 481-SL |
| Series | SL-Series Super-Lightweight |
| Rated Capacity | 3 cu. yds. |
| Gate Type | 16-Inch Diameter Clamshell |
| Loading Height | 43 in. |
| Overall Length | 143 in. |
| Suspended Height | 160 in. |
| Overall Width | 70 in. |
| Empty Weight | 1,350 lbs. |
| Optional Accessory | Item 427-SC Side Chute |
| Optional Accessory | Accordion Hoppers |
| Compliance | Meets or exceeds ASME standards |
| Additional Sizes Available | 4108-SL (4 cu. yds.) and others upon request |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does the "SL-Series Super-Lightweight" designation mean?
A: The SL-Series designation indicates that the bucket is engineered with a lightweight frame and body construction specifically to reduce empty weight compared to standard-duty laydown buckets, allowing contractors to maximize concrete payload within crane capacity limits.
Q: What is the empty weight of the 481-SL?
A: The 481-SL has an empty weight of 1,350 lbs., making it one of the lighter options in the 3 cubic yard laydown bucket category.
Q: Can the 481-SL be used with a side chute?
A: Yes. The 481-SL accepts the optional Item 427-SC Side Chute, which enables lateral concrete discharge for reaching areas offset from the crane hook position.
Q: Are Accordion Hoppers compatible with the 481-SL?
A: Yes. Optional Accordion Hoppers are compatible with the 481-SL and can be added to help direct and control concrete flow during discharge.
Q: Is the 481-SL available in other sizes?
A: Yes. The SL-Series includes the 4108-SL at 4 cubic yards, and other sizes are available upon request by contacting the factory.
Q: Does the 481-SL meet industry safety standards?
A: Yes. All Gar-Bro buckets, including the 481-SL, are designed to meet or exceed ASME standards for concrete placement equipment, consistent with Gar-Bro's manufacturing practices since 1923.