Abstract: The arm and bucket of a backhoe loader have a first configuration in which a pair of stabilizer pads, which are attached to the bucket, are below a plane tangent to the four tires. However, the bottom of the bucket is mostly above that plane. This configuration corresponds to when the front wheels are elevated to stabilize the backhoe for digging operations. The arm and bucket have a second configuration, such as during loading or grading, in which the bottom of the bucket is in the plane of the tires, but the stabilizer pads are above that plane. The stabilizer pads are preferably serviceable in that they are removeably attached to the bucket. Accessory kits can also be utilized to retro-fit existing loader buckets.