Grapple heavier grapple or not

G man466 · Nov 30, 2010

Hello guys! i'm a greenhorn here. i've recently purschased a new kubota M5140 4wd it has 51 hp with a weight of 4675lbs FEL 1153 lift capacity of 2320 lbs center of bucket and WR long 3rd function valve. looking at going with the LD 48'' grapple from markham or beef it up to 1/2 stock. i'm leaning heavily towards the lighter one unless i missed something in one of the many previous post here. Any input will be appreciated.

jake98 · Nov 30, 2010

I'd go with a wider one. Rootgrapple.com is where I got mine.
Welcome to TBN!

foggy1111 · Nov 30, 2010

G man466 said:
Hello guys! i'm a greenhorn here. i've recently purschased a new kubota M5140 4wd it has 51 hp with a weight of 4675lbs FEL 1153 lift capacity of 2320 lbs center of bucket and WR long 3rd function valve. looking at going with the LD 48'' grapple from markham or beef it up to 1/2 stock. i'm leaning heavily towards the lighter one unless i missed something in one of the many previous post here. Any input will be appreciated.

I have a Markham / Gator LD48" grapple......and I have very limited experience using mine so far. But, from what I have seen and read.....if I had your tractor, I would go for the 1/2" steel (at least on the outside tines and perhaps in the middle too).

I don't think you will need a wider grapple....and the tines are quite long....so the size should be fine...but you have lots more tractor weight and power than many others with this size grapple....so I would consider the thicker steel...and maybe some gussets in the corners to beef things up too.

I'm betting someone with a similar size tractor will chime in for you.

jake98 · Nov 30, 2010

What are you gonna use it for G man?

jake98 · Nov 30, 2010

check these out:
Skid Steer loader Root Grapple Heavy Duty
the dual grapples are a definate advantage, so is the width.
they'll make them in quick attach or pin-on, whatever you want.
they also have the lighter duty, that's what I bought, it wont get bent..

G man466 · Nov 30, 2010

hey guys sorry for the lack of info....i'll be using the grapple to clean up 25 acres 5 years after hurricane Katrina took over 100 trees down still counting

jake98 · Nov 30, 2010

well, you definately need one, you narrowed that down..

foggy1111 · Nov 30, 2010

jake98 said:
check these out:
Skid Steer loader Root Grapple Heavy Duty
the dual grapples are a definate advantage, so is the width.
they'll make them in quick attach or pin-on, whatever you want.
they also have the lighter duty, that's what I bought, it wont get bent..

There are a few folks on this site that would present a different view on grapple width and size than that given above. Some have allot of hours under their belt.

Check some of the posts by Island Tractor. He has lots to say on grapple sizes and lots of experience to back his viewpoint. All grapples are good.....some are just better.

I'm pretty new at grapples to have definite opinions.....but I did remove about 25 trees from a windstorm in about an hour with mine. So far a root rake grapple like the 48" LD Markham are pretty slick.

:thumbsup:

G man466 · Nov 30, 2010

jake98 said:
well, you definately need one, you narrowed that down..

lol jake....i've been telling my wife that for a year now and figured it out in 5 mins

G man466 · Nov 30, 2010

foggy1111 said:
There are a few folks on this site that would present a different view on grapple width and size than that given above. Some have allot of hours under their belt.

Check some of the posts by Island Tractor. He has lots to say on grapple sizes and lots of experience to back his viewpoint. All grapples are good.....some are just better. I'm pretty new at grapples to have definite opinions.....but I did remove about 25 trees from a windstorm in about an hour with mine. So far a root rake grapple like the 48" LD Markham are pretty slick. :thumbsup:

wow! you may have just sold me on the LD 48"

kennyd · Nov 30, 2010

G man466 said:
wow! you may have just sold me on the LD 48"

I think that would be a good choice, but I would upgrade the sides to 1/2" because of your heavy machine. Mine has never disappointed me...and I have a much smaller machine

jake98 · Nov 30, 2010

foggy1111 said:
Check some of the posts by Island Tractor. He has lots to say on grapple sizes and lots of experience to back his viewpoint. All grapples are good.....some are just better.

With all due respect to Island Tractor, he's only had the 48" Markham, and I've only had the 63" Unlimited Fabrication.
I would think you'd want one that clears at least as wide as your wheel path, if not more.
I've used mine quite a bit, and when moving piles of brush stuff always falls out even with the dual grapples.

G man466 · Nov 30, 2010

kennyd said:
I think that would be a good choice, but I would upgrade the sides to 1/2" because of your heavy machine. Mine has never disappointed me...and I have a much smaller machine

thinking about 1/2'' stock for entire grapple....i know its going to add about1/3 to the weight but i don't see a major problem with that ...about 550lbs

G man466 · Nov 30, 2010

jake98 said:
With all due respect to Island Tractor, he's only had the 48" Markham, and I've only had the 63" Unlimited Fabrication.
I would think you'd want one that clears at least as wide as your wheel path, if not more.
I've used mine quite a bit, and when moving piles of brush stuff always falls out even with the dual grapples.

tks for the link....i see your point. i'm going to check them out..will they custom build one with?

kennyd · Nov 30, 2010

jake98 said:
With all due respect to Island Tractor, he's only had the 48" Markham, and I've only had the 63" Unlimited Fabrication.
I would think you'd want one that clears at least as wide as your wheel path, if not more.
I've used mine quite a bit, and when moving piles of brush stuff always falls out even with the dual grapples.

Actually, he has the Millonzi which is no longer made-they went out of business.

Aren't you trying to sell yours because it's to big and heavy?

jake98 · Nov 30, 2010

kennyd said:
Aren't you trying to sell yours because it's to big and heavy?

That's what I thought when I first bought it. After using it for about 3 years now I see that it's not an issue. I was worried about the weight of it subtracting from the load I could carry, and now I don't even think about that anymore. I'm not moving 3' dia. oak trunks, but if I was I'd just cut them a little shorter. The 12-14" dia. ash and maple trunks I move stick off each side by ten feet. That becomes your limiting factor, getting them between everything else, and not tipping on the slope..

kennyd · Nov 30, 2010

jake98 said:
That's what I thought when I first bought it. After using it for about 3 years now I see that it's not an issue. I was worried about the weight of it subtracting from the load I could carry, and now I don't even think about that anymore. I'm not moving 3' dia. oak trunks, but if I was I'd just cut them a little shorter. The 12-14" dia. ash and maple trunks I move stick off each side by ten feet. That becomes your limiting factor, getting them between everything else, and not tipping on the slope..

I apologize...I confused you for someone in the for sale section sell a grapple that they found out was much to big and heavy.

foggy1111 · Nov 30, 2010

G man466 said:
wow! you may have just sold me on the LD 48"

I'd buy the very same size grapple again. I added extra bottom tines between the main tines (like in the bottom of the bucket) to keep the small stuff from falling through. I also plan to add some 3/8" x 2" bars to the back of the "bucket" to prevent branches from poking my tractor in the hydraulic connections, sheet metal or grille guard. (I'm a big believer in guards in the brush.....lesson learned.

)

Most of this size info was just covered extensively about 60 days ago in a grapple thread under this same topic. Flip back a few pages for another grapple thread. Many of the same players...same views....with most going for the 48" size grapple. :thumbsup: (I think the same arguments are made over and over :laughing

jake98 · Nov 30, 2010

kennyd said:
I apologize...I confused you for someone in the for sale section sell a grapple that they found out was much to big and heavy.

I was the guy that was thinking of torching off a bunch of steel..

kennyd · Nov 30, 2010

foggy1111 said:
(I think the same arguments are made over and over :laughing

That's for sure! That is why searching older threads is so important and useful.

The "what size" is the same as asking:

Ford/Chevy
Gear/HST
What oil?
and the list goes on forever.