In General Attachments - What to rent vs. buy and New vs Used?

[dstig1]

Don,

Are the bucket attached grapples good enough?

The BC dealer told me a grapple weighs 1,000, and there is only 2,600 lift, so you lose too much of your lift capability, plus they are expensive.

I imagine you don't find many used ones...

David

Your dealer is making a classic mistake in looking at grapples built for skid steers. Yes, they are way too heavy for a CUT. There are lighter ones available that work, but you need to look for them. I got mine from Gator attachments and it is a little under 400 lbs, but nothing I have done would ever bend it. I hesitate to fully recommend them as there were some issues I had with it not correctly fitting the Kubota SSQA, but I have been able to fix it and make it work. WRLong is another good company that people have lots of good things to say about and they have light ones too.
OBG2

Trust me - the grapple will be your #1 used attachment. You will never find a light grapple used, so buy that new and then keep a look out for used forks. Avoid your dealer for it unless he comes around to finding something reasonable weight.

Per Rod's point - it sounded like a loader was already assumed to be in there...

Most of the modern log winches have an integrated blade that acts as a frame/guard/anchor and can be used as a rear blade for pushing some things.

 

[k0ua]

UPDATE!!!

I've been quoted the following my one of the 2 dealers I am considering...

Canopy $400
2nd remote $349
2 welded hooks $ 14
Labor $ 95

Woods PF4048s $695
W.R. Long Valve $800 (I think this is a new knob w/control button and 3rd hyd to front)

Is this about right?
Just curious...

Yes, about right or even a good deal on some of it. I assume the $800 for the W.R. Long valve is installed with hoses and connectors ready to go. So if so, then Yes.

James K0UA

 

[2458n]

When buying used equipment from an individual,ask if you could rent it first with the rent being applied towards the purchase. I never did this for most of my purchases. Now that I have started doing this I have less regretable purchases. You do not get to do this unless you ask. Many advantages to this method.

 

[RoyJackson]

When buying used equipment from an individual,ask if you could rent it first with the rent being applied towards the purchase. I never did this for most of my purchases. Now that I have started doing this I have less regretable purchases. You do not get to do this unless you ask. Many advantages to this method.

I doubt too many sellers would rent to buy...what if the implement was damaged and the renter walks away?
However, your post does bring up a point I've written about before...when considering a used PTO driven implement, it's advisable to have the seller demo it for you. When I bought my chipper(used) we ran a few branches through it so I could see how well it worked.
When I sold my big (84") Befco RFM, I had it rigged to the 4400 when the buyer came to look at it.

 

[sweep]

I doubt too many sellers would rent to buy...what if the implement was damaged and the renter walks away?
.

Agreed, I would be dam**d to let a stranger use my equipment.

 

[crazyal]

I would rent anything I could. Before you commit to spending money on an attachment that you are not 100% sure of I would see if a local rental company has one you could try out. For example people may say you'll want a box blade but you may find that it's difficult to use and a grading scrapper fits your needs better.

Secondly I would buy one at a time and do research into them. By doing a simple search you'll get plenty of answers and you'll probably find questions you never thought to ask.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

I would rent anything I could. Before you commit to spending money on an attachment that you are not 100% sure of I would see if a local rental company has one you could try out. For example people may say you'll want a box blade but you may find that it's difficult to use and a grading scrapper fits your needs better.

Secondly I would buy one at a time and do research into them. By doing a simple search you'll get plenty of answers and you'll probably find questions you never thought to ask.

Crazyal,

I just saw a grading scraper last night and I was just now going to ask about it. The dealer I was speaking with thought it might work MUCH better for me than a box blade.

So... Can anyone share their experience with a grading scraper?

I'm looking at adding the following to my tractor right away...
Canopy
2nd rear remote
cutting edge & teeth for the bucket
2 hooks for the bucket.

I think I will get the 6' bush-hog first as I think I can use it immediately and often so buying new makes sense. I want medium duty 1.5" or more cutting capability to knock down the seedlings and brambles.

Any recomendations on this?

I will start shopping for used pallet forks.

I am debating the grading scraper vs. box blade and will look for used.

I will rent PHD.

I plan to potentially add the Tilt and maybe the Top hydraulics.

I think I want bucket grapples and will route the hyd from the rear vs the &$800 WR Long electric setup.

I saw something at Tractor Supply that looked like a lifting attachment for the 3 point (so I could chain up something like an engine block, lift it and transport it) What is that? Is it useful?

I think that is my current plans.

David

 

[k0ua]

I saw something at Tractor Supply that looked like a lifting attachment for the 3 point (so I could chain up something like an engine block, lift it and transport it) What is that? Is it useful?


Its called a Boom Pole, David, a lot of guys have one as they are pretty cheap, and will lift a big hunk of iron or something to move it around, Some use them to move their implements around also. Some guys build a boom pole for their front bucket or make up one attached onto a Quick Attach plate so they can put it on and off quickly, using their SSQA. The advantage of a front boom pole is you can lift much higher like to lift trusses up or some other kind of high work. The advantages of a rear 3pt boom pole is it can usually lift more weight , and is cheap to purchase.

James K0UA

 

[sweep]

I saw something at Tractor Supply that looked like a lifting attachment for the 3 point (so I could chain up something like an engine block, lift it and transport it) What is that? Is it useful?

David

Dave, you should go to some old farm equipment auctions-maybe some local farms going belly up or farmers retiring or a death. We have them often in my area..Going to one tonight btw.

I have seen those boom poles go for as low as $25, rusty albeit but still good to use.

Try not to buy from a dealer if you can help it-too much markup in used equipment. Private owners are best or auctions. I was at one auction and a dealer bought a mint, New Holland 450 sickle bar mower for $485 and several weeks later it was on his website for $2800..and it sold a week later. I have seen 2 bottom plows go for $75-100 and guys paint them with a brush and turn around and sell them for $300-400. Big markup in auction stuff.

Also put a want ad in your local freebee newspaper. Guys may be kicking around those items but just never got around to selling it and they make good deals..they just want it off their property.

The farm section on your local Craigs list is also a good source.

Since you new to this if I was you I would buy all used attachments to make sure you like them and they fit your purpose. You can always clean them up an paint them and probably sell for a profit down the road and upgrade your purchase.

I would never buy a new attachment unless you know exactly that is what you want and now it it will do the job for you.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

I would buy all used attachments to make sure you like them and they fit your purpose. You can always clean them up an paint them and probably sell for a profit down the road and upgrade your purchase.

My wife LOVES this idea.

Where do I find out about auctions like you describe?

Thanks,
David