Grapple What Size Grapple Do I Want?

[NonTypicalCPA]

I have a Kubota L3940 (40 hp) with the LA 724 loader which is rated at around 1600 lbs at bucket center and around 1900 at pivot pin. This will be the first grapple that I've owned so I'm looking to shorten the learning curve from you more experienced grapple owners. My main use will be to haul, cut, and load firewood from my woods to be burned in my outdoor boiler.

 

[jake98]

I'm not a 'more experienced' grapple user, but I like the one I bought and I almost exclusively use it for firewood collection. Dual grapples are great and sometimes when you cut to log size in the woods, a larger capacity loading area is good. About half the time I end up throwing the logs on by hand if the tree falls over a ditch or some other place not good for grabbing the whole thing. Mine is 60" wide 3/8" plate, medium duty from Unlimited Fabrication.

 

[IslandTractor]

I have a 48" light duty grapple on a 41hp tractor with a higher capacity FEL than the Kubota. I'd recommend a 48" for general use on any tractor up to about 50hp. If you are really just picking up small short sticks or construction debris then a 60 inch or larger might make sense but there are downsides to larger grapples. Many people make the mistake of thinking that a grapple should be the same width as their loader. Not. Narrower means more manuverable, lighter and allows you to put more force into a single spot.

My grapple was made by Millonzi who appear to be out of business now. WRLong makes and equivalent and Markham has just started making an equivalent too. The Markham looks pretty much like the WRLong but you can buy it direct rather than needing to go through a dealer so it will save you several hundred bucks at least.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Lackender Skid-Loader Backhoe Attachments

What is weird is that it appears Steve is no longer making the grapple I own...

 

[dknarnd]

This is the WR Long 60" (WRGB2) grapple on my TC40 which I imagine is comparable with your tractor. The man purpose I bought this was for gathering firewood and keeping my fields clear of limbs. Works good.

 

[NonTypicalCPA]

Thanks for the help guys! It sounds like I need to stick with the 48". If I can find a Millonzi would you recommend it? Or should I look at the Markham or WR Long?

 

[IslandTractor]

Thanks for the help guys! It sounds like I need to stick with the 48". If I can find a Millonzi would you recommend it? Or should I look at the Markham or WR Long?

I would personally buy another Millonzi in a second if I needed one. There is a dealer in Michigan who apparently still has some in stock. Search Millonzi posts over the past few days and I think you will find the name.

If you cannot find the Millonzi or if the Markham is a better price I wouldn't hesitate to go that route either. WRLong is a superb company...if they sold direct it would make more sense but you'd get the same quality and function for several hundred extra so I'd look there last.

 

[jake98]

Check out Unlimited Fabrication at rootgrapple.com They made mine with pin mounts and the quality is great. I see they now have a single piston grapple that goes the whole width of the unit and is being marketed for CUTs. I think it is available in 4 and 5 foot.

 

[dknarnd]

Thanks for the help guys! It sounds like I need to stick with the 48". If I can find a Millonzi would you recommend it? Or should I look at the Markham or WR Long?

In using my 60" this summer for taking standing dead oak trees out of the woods I have never once said that I should have went with the 48". My method is to drop the trees and skid them full length into a field. Once in the field I cut to length for transport on the wagon and in the grapple. I do use the grapple inside the woods for various tasks of lifting and moving where space is available but even with a 48" grapple you could not bring a log wider than the tractor out thru my trails.

In fairness I am sure that the 48" would work for me just as well, however like I mentioned so far I have never thought to myself that the 60" was to big.

 

[IslandTractor]

In fairness I am sure that the 48" would work for me just as well, however like I mentioned so far I have never thought to myself that the 60" was to big.

I don't think the big issue is 48 vs 60. Although I've always advocated the 48, I'm sure both work very well. You just need to be careful about the extra weight.

The bigger point I keep trying to make is that people should not buy grapples the same size as their standard bucket, especially if that bucket is 72 inches or more.

 

[dknarnd]

I don't think the big issue is 48 vs 60. Although I've always advocated the 48, I'm sure both work very well. You just need to be careful about the extra weight.

The bigger point I keep trying to make is that people should not buy grapples the same size as their standard bucket, especially if that bucket is 72 inches or more.

I agree with that, my bucket is 72" and I have often wished it was only 60" when digging with it. But for general pickup or moving a truck load of stone or such then I am happy with the 72". I can't even imagine how irriatated I would be with myself if I would have gotten a 72" grapple. For picking individual rocks up or digging rootballs out the 48" grapple would be better then the 60", but looking at an overall average use the 60" has been excellent.

 

[debushau]

One benefit to the 60 inch Millonzi is that there are two cylinders and two "jaws". This means that for larger or awkwardly shaped items, it can grip it at two points. Other than that, I would say that 60 inch is as big as you need since longer loads tend to unbalance the tractor.

 

[SteveCornell]

I just ordered a 60" LD from Markham Welding, for $855 delivered I don't see how there is a better value out there, I spoke with a shop in NY that sold Millonzi and he told me he would soon be offering the same product but he quoted me $1850 for a LD 60" model plus shipping, I liked the looks of the WR long but all the dealers I spoke with wanted retail to order me one, if Long sold direct I would probably already have one but now I'm glad I waited, I should have the grapple the first of next week so I'll post my comments however I won't be able to use it right away as I need to add the 3rd function remote yet.

I have a Kubota 3240 with the LA724 and 72" QA HD bucket, my bucket weighs around 450 lbs so I feel the Markham 60 will be a good match.

 

[IslandTractor]

One benefit to the 60 inch Millonzi is that there are two cylinders and two "jaws". This means that for larger or awkwardly shaped items, it can grip it at two points. Other than that, I would say that 60 inch is as big as you need since longer loads tend to unbalance the tractor.

You mean to securely grapple big odd shaped objects like this: (Note 48" single jaw grapple)

 

[IslandTractor]

I just ordered a 60" LD from Markham Welding, for $855 delivered I don't see how there is a better value out there,.

Agree. With Millonzi out of the picture, Markham is the obvious place to get a grapple these days. I'd opt for the 48 with extra spacer tines myself but both the 48 and 60 seem like excellent values.

 

[3RRL]

Holy crap Island,
Looks like you've got an elephant stuck on your grapple!
I don't think you need those extra spacer tines after all?

 

[pitt_md]

I have a 48" light duty grapple on a 41hp tractor with a higher capacity FEL than the Kubota. I'd recommend a 48" for general use on any tractor up to about 50hp. If you are really just picking up small short sticks or construction debris then a 60 inch or larger might make sense but there are downsides to larger grapples. Many people make the mistake of thinking that a grapple should be the same width as their loader. Not. Narrower means more manuverable, lighter and allows you to put more force into a single spot.

My grapple was made by Millonzi who appear to be out of business now. WRLong makes and equivalent and Markham has just started making an equivalent too. The Markham looks pretty much like the WRLong but you can buy it direct rather than needing to go through a dealer so it will save you several hundred bucks at least.

Not so sure about the several hundred bucks savings you mentioned. I went to my dealer that was not a WR Long distributor and had them order me the grapple at no additional cost except a $15 dollar handling fee. Then again the sales people at the dealer eye's light up everytime they see me coming $$$$$

 

[IslandTractor]

Not so sure about the several hundred bucks savings you mentioned. I went to my dealer that was not a WR Long distributor and had them order me the grapple at no additional cost except a $15 dollar handling fee. Then again the sales people at the dealer eye's light up everytime they see me coming $$$$$

The list price for the WRLong is the dealer list price, not what WR Long sold the grapple to the dealer for. Usually there is shipping involved as an extra too. Look at the price Markham is charging for a very similar 60 inch grapple direct to consumer: $900 including shipping. I don't think the WRLong plus dealer cut can come close to that and I presume Markham is making a profit.

 

[pitt_md]

The list price for the WRLong is the dealer list price, not what WR Long sold the grapple to the dealer for. Usually there is shipping involved as an extra too. Look at the price Markham is charging for a very similar 60 inch grapple direct to consumer: $900 including shipping. I don't think the WRLong plus dealer cut can come close to that and I presume Markham is making a profit.

Sorry IT, I thought you ment that the dealer was marking up the unit by several hundred dollars. On the other post about the Markham grapple I said that I bet Markham's new grapple @ $900 is giving WR Long fits.

 

[IslandTractor]

Sorry IT, I thought you ment that the dealer was marking up the unit by several hundred dollars. On the other post about the Markham grapple I said that I bet Markham's new grapple @ $900 is giving WR Long fits.

I saw your other post after answering this one. The WRLong products are superb. The prices are high because of the middle man. In this era of internet savvy consumers however the traditional business model with the dealer in the middle doesn't always work. For someone showing up to buy a new tractor package it certainly makes sense to go through the dealer and for those unwilling or unable to deal with specifications and various purchase arrangements themselves even an aftermarket dealer middle man makes sense. I think however for most people who take initiative to do their own homework (i.e. most folks on TBN), the availability of direct to consumer sales is very appealing. As I recall you went that way initially but had trouble with the Millonzi pin fittings so you reverted to WRLong which mandates the dealer intermediary.

The Markham 900 dollar price is giving more than just WRLong fits. It's giving me fits...I want another. I mean people have more than one mower right?