4 in 1 / clamshell buckets..pictures please...

[IslandTractor]

I have about 150 very diverse acres from fields, swamp land, hardwoods, etc.

I have 15 acres of Christmas trees to mow around, need to clear more brush/trees/stumps/rocks and prep soil for more christmas trees.

I also have about 100 acres of hardwoods that I need to pull tree tops & logs out. I need to move a lot of large rocks/creek run to fix rutts/etc. in logging roads....Oh and most importantly I need to make food plots for my dear friends....I mean my deer friends...lolo

Steve

I agree with Dangerdoc. You will be much better served by a grapple doing this sort of work. No ifs, ands or buts about it. A grapple would be a dramatic difference improvement in efficiency compared to attempting this sort of work with a 4n1. The grapple, even a light duty one, will also take much more abuse and is easy to repair. 4n1 buckets can be knocked out of true pretty easily when dealing with rocks. If you already have the 4n1 as a general purpose tool, you will find soon that another $1000 for a 48 inch light duty grapple will be money very well spent.

 

[USMC2531]

Thanks for the information. Well I know the Frontier grapple was around $2400?

I'm hearing what you & Dangerdoc are say'in and from your pictures I think I should own one. Would you happen to have a link where I could buy a decent light duty 48" grapple for around $1000.00 that would hook up to my 400cx loader?

I think from researching old threads the grapple you use is no longer produced?

Thanks,
Steve

I agree with Dangerdoc. You will be much better served by a grapple doing this sort of work. No ifs, ands or buts about it. A grapple would be a dramatic difference improvement in efficiency compared to attempting this sort of work with a 4n1. The grapple, even a light duty one, will also take much more abuse and is easy to repair. 4n1 buckets can be knocked out of true pretty easily when dealing with rocks. If you already have the 4n1 as a general purpose tool, you will find soon that another $1000 for a 48 inch light duty grapple will be money very well spent.

 

[dangerdoc]

Thanks for the information. Well I know the Frontier grapple was around $2400?

I'm hearing what you & Dangerdoc are say'in and from your pictures I think I should own one. Would you happen to have a link where I could buy a decent light duty 48" grapple for around $1000.00 that would hook up to my 400cx loader?

I think from researching old threads the grapple you use is no longer produced?

Thanks,
Steve

This is what I use.
Markham Welding - Extreme Gator Mini Rake

This is similar to what IslandTractor uses.
Markham Welding - Light Duty Grapple Rake


You would probably be better served by the lighter wider version but both are about $1000

If you don't have a skid steer connection, you will need an adapter but it is a good investment.

 

[IslandTractor]

I agree that a 48 inch grapple from Markham would be the way to go. I have a similar style/weight grapple on my DK40se which has a 2700lbs lift capacity which must be close to that of the 400cx. The grapple does fine and you really don't need a heavier, larger or more expensive grapple for the sort of work you are describing. I'd suggest reading some of the threads on the Markham grapples before you order, you will want to specifiy pioneer hydraulic couplers rather than the more expensive flat type and you may want to opt for intermediate bottom tines to keep small brush and rocks from falling through. Again, spend a while reviewing previous posts on either the Markham or Millonzi grapple and you will get a good feel for what these tools can do.

 

[USMC2531]

Thanks for the web links and additional information! ~ Very much appreciated.

~S

 

[Charlesaf3]

as per Island Tractor I have the small millonzi. I use it on the 59hp tractor with no real issues (bent tines, don't care about that).

I've not bought the grapple from markham, but have bought enough stuff there that I'd have no hesitation doing so.

And I'm with dangerdoc on the d*** deer. No need for foodplots - they regard my whole yard as a food plot. I've had to chase them just about off the porch at midday.

 

[USMC2531]

Hello,

Just looking for a little more information in regards to the Markham grapple. I have a 400cx loader on my John Deere so I would need the Markham 48" grapple that would go on a skid steer then buy a conversion kit or something so it would fit on my 400 cx? All in all any idea of price with the grapple and conversion kit/etc. Also is the kit/parts hard to install? Thanks for the help all new to me.............

Thanks,
Steve

 

[Ductape]

Hello,

Just looking for a little more information in regards to the Markham grapple. I have a 400cx loader on my John Deere so I would need the Markham 48" grapple that would go on a skid steer then buy a conversion kit or something so it would fit on my 400 cx? All in all any idea of price with the grapple and conversion kit/etc. Also is the kit/parts hard to install? Thanks for the help all new to me.............

Thanks,
Steve

I do believe they will build you a grapple with the JD style connection. Last I priced one they were a grand-ish. Then, obviously you will need a hydraulic circuit of some sort plumbed to the loader arms to operate it.

 

[Ductape]

Looking at their site I see they most definitely do make them with a JD style connection.

 

[USMC2531]

Excellent..thanks ! Sounds like it should be an easy hook up.

~S

Looking at their site I see they most definitely do make them with a JD style connection.

 

[USMC2531]

Contacted Markham Welding and they really have very reasonable prices and reply very fast to answer emails.

~S

 

[Kevin Elkin]

I'm really interested in as much info as folks can provide regarding grapple rakes. I have a tree service in northern NY and just bought a NH 2310 for the business. I had the dealership install and run plumbing for a third function valve, in anticipation of a grapple rake. There seems to be a huge price diff. in them though. I've looked at the bradco 72" grapple rake and like it really well. It goes for about $2,500.00 though. Virnig offers one for $1,500 in the 72" configuration, but I don't like it as well as the bradco. Any input would be great. I'm primarily looking to haul logs and big piles of brush with it, loading them into my dump trailer. Thanks for your time.

 

[IslandTractor]

I'm really interested in as much info as folks can provide regarding grapple rakes. I have a tree service in northern NY and just bought a NH 2310 for the business. I had the dealership install and run plumbing for a third function valve, in anticipation of a grapple rake. There seems to be a huge price diff. in them though. I've looked at the bradco 72" grapple rake and like it really well. It goes for about $2,500.00 though. Virnig offers one for $1,500 in the 72" configuration, but I don't like it as well as the bradco. Any input would be great. I'm primarily looking to haul logs and big piles of brush with it, loading them into my dump trailer. Thanks for your time.

You should read through the many grapple threads on TBN. Do a search. To begin to answer your question though let me give you some things to think about. First, do not make the common mistake of buying a grapple rake that is the same width as your loader. Mistake. Expensive and heavy mistake. You will get more productive work done and save money with a smaller grapple. You have a 40hp tractor. So do I. I have a 48 inch light duty rake on a loader with 3700lb breakout and 2700lift capacity. No problem. Works great. Costs about a grand and weighs half of what a Bradco does. The big grapples are built for skid steers not CUTs. CUTs need light duty grapples. Markham seems to be the most popular these days on TBN but check out WRLong for comparison. And again, remember that the grapple market is mostly aimed at skidsteers so don't be bamboozled. Small is beautiful.

 

[Ken45101]

Island,

Impressive pictures and good information. Thanks.

That rock is impressive!

Your first picture would be good for Halloween. Think of kids ringing the doorbell "trick or treat" and the tractor with open grapple comes rolling out looking for them

Ken

 

[IslandTractor]

Your first picture would be good for Halloween. Think of kids ringing the doorbell "trick or treat" and the tractor with open grapple comes rolling out looking for them

Ken

I was thinking of painting some green blood drops on the grapple jaws and carrying around a JD mower for halloween.

 

[USMC2531]

FYI.....I was quoted $980.00 for a Markham 48" light duty grapple and $92.00 shipping to upstate New York. Thought that was a super price compared to other quotes/prices.

Actually, priced out a couple other attachments and those prices were really good too !

~S

 

[jenkinsph]

I think that is a very fair price for a good grapple, talked me into buying one too.

Currently have a 72" HD bucket, 48" rail pallet forks, 66" rock bucket so this will be a good addition for the 110tlb. Also would like a PA30 planetary phd but much harder to justify.

Just can't see much use for the 4 in 1 bucket though, maybe if I had it I would feel differently.


Steve