Grapple questions about choice of root grapple

[gumshu]

Well, I got my new grapple today. Ordered the 48" LW grapple from Palletforks.com yesterday, and it was delivered today.
I know there had been some suspect posts in regards to "TitanSkidsteer" in the past, but this was my experience. Spoke with Todd when ordering yesterday, and he answered all of my questions.

Mine arrived on a pallett with a steel "crate" built around it. (1-1/4"angle iron)
The grapple looks very well built. 3/8" tines, with jaw tines being 1/2". It appears they have modified their design somewhat from the pictures on the website.
Doesn't have the 1/8 plate underneath the cylinder for protection, instead it has a square tube with a channel welded to the top to shield the cylinder.
Tapped on the 3x3 top tube with a bolt and it sounds solid, defineatly not 1/8", plus the cylinder mount is more of a saddle that straddles the top tube.
It has recessed grease fitting on all of the pivots. Haven't had a chance to hook it up to check the fit of the QA, but I'll do that that this weekend. It got dark on me this evening, so all I had time to do was get it unloaded.
Once I get it hooked up, and try it out, I'll report back, and post some detailed pictures.

Hey rwork, you're overdue with those pictures.

 

[JD 4520]

New Question on the topic of grapple choices... background... I have a JD 4520 (55hp) w/ quick disconnect (QD) 400X Loader. My current bucket is 72" wide, wheel base is 66".

Do I want which of the following grapple choices: 66" w/ 2 cylinders (to cover the wheel base and can handle it); 48" single cylinder; other size or configuration?

I am inclined to go with the 48" single cylinder model - why or why not?

 

[IslandTractor]

New Question on the topic of grapple choices... background... I have a JD 4520 (55hp) w/ quick disconnect (QD) 400X Loader. My current bucket is 72" wide, wheel base is 66".

Do I want which of the following grapple choices: 66" w/ 2 cylinders (to cover the wheel base and can handle it); 48" single cylinder; other size or configuration?

I am inclined to go with the 48" single cylinder model - why or why not?

Simple answer: 48" single grapple.

Detailed discussion: use the search function and you will find weeks of reading on the subject here. Bottom line is that people who buy the 48" single are very happy and there is no good reason to spend more money on a heavier, wider or more complicated grapple.

 

[dirt ditch]

I have had a good one.

View attachment 282412

 

[Piston]

New Question on the topic of grapple choices... background... I have a JD 4520 (55hp) w/ quick disconnect (QD) 400X Loader. My current bucket is 72" wide, wheel base is 66".

Do I want which of the following grapple choices: 66" w/ 2 cylinders (to cover the wheel base and can handle it); 48" single cylinder; other size or configuration?

I am inclined to go with the 48" single cylinder model - why or why not?

What Island Tractor said.

 

[pane056]

Wildkat 48!!!!!!

 

[Rockgod]

New Question on the topic of grapple choices... background... I have a JD 4520 (55hp) w/ quick disconnect (QD) 400X Loader. My current bucket is 72" wide, wheel base is 66".

Do I want which of the following grapple choices: 66" w/ 2 cylinders (to cover the wheel base and can handle it); 48" single cylinder; other size or configuration?

I am inclined to go with the 48" single cylinder model - why or why not?

66", you have plenty of hp to do whatever you want with it. The 2 cylinder is a nice option.

I don't buy into "48" for each and every tractor", smaller is not better IMO, if that was the case why not a 40",36"? It really does depend on what you'll be using it for. From my experience I just know that a 48" grapple would just get turned into dust. What about a 60"? kind of a happy medium...

 

[Piston]

66", you have plenty of hp to do whatever you want with it. The 2 cylinder is a nice option.

I don't buy into "48" for each and every tractor", smaller is not better IMO, if that was the case why not a 40",36"? It really does depend on what you'll be using it for. From my experience I just know that a 48" grapple would just get turned into dust. What about a 60"? kind of a happy medium...

Rockgod,
You were going good until that last sentence! I agree with what your saying about the bigger grapple and I truly believe ive been more productive, and quicker with my 64", but a 64" is not going to be any stronger than a 48", it can just carry more.

I'm starting to give up though with the argument of a bigger grapple, not because I don't believe in some cases that it's better, but because god for bid someone recommends anything but a 48".

Your right about the 36" grapple, they are making them now so I wonder if everyone who truly believes smaller is better, is going to go trade their 48" in on a 36"

I have yet to see someone actually post on here that has a 48" AND a larger one.I admit, I do not have any experience with a 48" grapple, however, i have not once found that my 64" grapple cant do everything that people list as an "advantage" of the 64". People talk about digging, torquing the frame, heavier etc and I've never had any issues with any of those.
I think if cost is the main concern, then get a 48". If brush is the only thing you'll be grabbing, then get a 48". However, if you want a more versatile size, get a 64". I find it comical that people with 30 thousand dollars + tractor talk about saving 5 or 6 hundred dollars on the grapple as the big decision maker.

When it comes down to it, a 64" can do everything a 48" can, and a 48" can do everything a 64" can. The only difference is which will do what faster. They both have they're strong points. A narrower one is truly better at some things, and a wider one is truly better at some thing's.

There is no perfect do it all attachment for ANYTHING and grapples are no different. People need to list the uses they have for the grapple in order of priority, and then we can give educated replies. However, it seems like the 48" guys always stick with the 48" grapple, and the 64" stick with the 64". I have told many people that for their uses, a 48" will do everything they need, not just recommended what I have.

With respect to Island tractor, I have also seen him admit (you don't have to admit this IT ) that in some cases a wider one is better.

End of rant.

 

[rwork]

Hey rwork, you're overdue with those pictures.

Gumshu, no one is more anxious than me, to get this think hooked up!
I just got it unloaded wednesday night, and went out to the barn early thursday morning before work, just to stare at it a while! LOL!
Sad thing is, there're calling for about an 80% chance of rain for the weekend.........are you kidding me !?!?!
Might just have to be out there in my rain slicker!!

Randy

 

[IslandTractor]

66", you have plenty of hp to do whatever you want with it. The 2 cylinder is a nice option.

I don't buy into "48" for each and every tractor", smaller is not better IMO, if that was the case why not a 40",36"? It really does depend on what you'll be using it for. From my experience I just know that a 48" grapple would just get turned into dust. What about a 60"? kind of a happy medium...

Why don't big excavators have grapples bigger than 48"?

 

[Piston]

Randy, have you plumbed in the 3rd function valve yet?
We're all anxious for you to get that baby together!

Why don't big excavators have grapples bigger than 48"?

Because they don't carry things long distances. Comparing a compact tractor to an excavator is not apples to apples.
Excavators are built to dig, grapples aren't.

Ever seen a 48" grapple on a skidsteer? (much more of a realistic comparison)

 

[Rockgod]

Why don't big excavators have grapples bigger than 48"?

Give it a rest.

I know you think your the grapple guru and all but there are others out here with some grapple experience too. The guy asked a question and I gave him my answer. Let him make up his own mind. You've made your case now get off your high horse.

 

[JoeBuyer]

Give it a rest.

I know you think your the grapple guru and all but there are others out here with some grapple experience too. The guy asked a question and I gave him my answer. Let him make up his own mind. You've made your case now get off your high horse.

I would agree that the size of grapple needed depends on the size and nature of what is being grappled plus the size and type of tractor/Skidsteer it will be used on. To say that only small grapples are any good is like saying only small buckets are any good. If I am moving gravel I attach a small bucket. Would I attach that same small bucket if I am moving sawdust? Of course not. Would I want a 36" root grapple with two small teeth on top when back raking loose hay off the barn floor? No, I would use my 72" rake grapple. I even consider that too small for certain uses on 85hp and 100hp machines. At the same time I would like a 48" or smaller root grapple for different uses. So it all depends....

 

[rwork]

Randy, have you plumbed in the 3rd function valve yet?
We're all anxious for you to get that baby together!




Because they don't carry things long distances. Comparing a compact tractor to an excavator is not apples to apples.
Excavators are built to dig, grapples aren't.

Ever seen a 48" grapple on a skidsteer? (much more of a realistic comparison)

No Piston,
I haven't even had a chance to get this thing out of the crate yet. Got to get out the grinder, and cut this steel crate off of it. But I'm just running lines from my rear remotes. Whenever I get my rear hydraulics for my box blade, then I'll have to look at other options.
I just hope I don't get rained out this weekend, cause I was sure looking to do some grapplin' !
Randy

 

[rwork]

I had considered getting a 60" grapple, but I have a lot of smaller trees that I'm working around, so I figured the 48" would allow me to get into tighter areas.

Randy

 

[IslandTractor]

Give it a rest.

I know you think your the grapple guru and all but there are others out here with some grapple experience too. The guy asked a question and I gave him my answer. Let him make up his own mind. You've made your case now get off your high horse.

Have you every used a 48" grapple and compared it to a larger one? I'll give it a rest when you report on your experiences with the smaller grapple and have something useful to say. I've used both and base my recommendations on 7 years of satisfaction with a 48", 300lb, $500 grapple.

There are situations with a skidsteer cleaning up construction debris for example where a wider grapple makes a lot of sense. Skidsteers are generally construction machines and do different tasks. Big skidsteers used in brush clearing have much more powerful loaders than any CUT. The vast majority of CUT owners however are not doing construction work but rather field/brush/bale work. The wider grapples are heavier, less maneuverable and really don't carry more stuff unless you have some extremely specific task like moving small pieces of firewood. There are a lot of misconceptions by folks who haven't used 48" grapples regarding what they can hold and concerns that one grapple arm would not be as good as two. These myths are easily dispelled however by using a smaller grapple or just looking at all the photos people have posted. Why doesn't the human hand have two thumbs? Simple, because one works just fine. Closing a single grapple arm on a log or debris compresses the load against the bottom which really is more like a triangular vice than a pincer. The load is very stable. Both outside edges of the bottom and the top grapple compress the load. It isn't going anywhere.

The bottom line with 48 vs larger is that there are only a very small number of tasks that a larger grapple can do better than a 48 (short firewood or sticks, construction debris) but there are at least as many tasks that a 48 does better than a larger grapple (digging, maneuvering, net lift weight capacity, etc). Any given loader can lift and transport a bigger tree, rock or load of brush with the 48 than with a heavier grapple. Do the math. And, 48's typically cost at least $400-600 less than the larger grapples. Finally, people with 48's don't complain about lack of width or dual arms.

 

[Piston]

Have you every used a 48" grapple and compared it to a larger one? I'll give it a rest when you report on your experiences with the smaller grapple and have something useful to say. I've used both and base my recommendations on 7 years of satisfaction with a 48", 300lb, $500 grapple.

There are situations with a skidsteer cleaning up construction debris for example where a wider grapple makes a lot of sense. Skidsteers are generally construction machines and do different tasks. Big skidsteers used in brush clearing have much more powerful loaders than any CUT. The vast majority of CUT owners however are not doing construction work but rather field/brush/bale work. The wider grapples are heavier, less maneuverable and really don't carry more stuff unless you have some extremely specific task like moving small pieces of firewood. There are a lot of misconceptions by folks who haven't used 48" grapples regarding what they can hold and concerns that one grapple arm would not be as good as two. These myths are easily dispelled however by using a smaller grapple or just looking at all the photos people have posted. Why doesn't the human hand have two thumbs? Simple, because one works just fine. Closing a single grapple arm on a log or debris compresses the load against the bottom which really is more like a triangular vice than a pincer. The load is very stable. Both outside edges of the bottom and the top grapple compress the load. It isn't going anywhere.

The bottom line with 48 vs larger is that there are only a very small number of tasks that a larger grapple can do better than a 48 (short firewood or sticks, construction debris) but there are at least as many tasks that a 48 does better than a larger grapple (digging, maneuvering, net lift weight capacity, etc). Any given loader can lift and transport a bigger tree, rock or load of brush with the 48 than with a heavier grapple. Do the math. And, 48's typically cost at least $400-600 less than the larger grapples. Finally, people with 48's don't complain about lack of width or dual arms.

I.T. I'm gonna respectively agree to disagree. We all have our opinions and you make very valid (and some very true points) and I believe I do as well. Maybe next time your on the mainland we should grab some beers somewhere and have a good grapple argument in person! I'll buy. :thumbsup:

 

[IslandTractor]

I.T. I'm gonna respectively agree to disagree. We all have our opinions and you make very valid (and some very true points) and I believe I do as well. Maybe next time your on the mainland we should grab some beers somewhere and have a good grapple argument in person! I'll buy. :thumbsup:

Deal. I certainly recognize that a larger grapple may be best for some uses but i keep pointing out the virtues of the lightweight grapples for CUTs because new prospective buyers almost always make the simple and understandable error of aiming to duplicate the standard bucket width. CUT dealers often are not experienced with grapples and revert to skidsteer standards. My "crusade" is really just aimed at getting prospective buyers to think through the choice rather than assume larger is better or to rely on dealer advice which is too often naive or profit motivated.

I'm sure we could resolve the matter over a few pitchers of draft though.

 

[vwnotrunning]

We don't need you to resolve this through beers. We need a head to head video!! That way we can have the beer and learn.

 

[Rockgod]

I would agree that the size of grapple needed depends on the size and nature of what is being grappled plus the size and type of tractor/Skidsteer it will be used on. To say that only small grapples are any good is like saying only small buckets are any good. If I am moving gravel I attach a small bucket. Would I attach that same small bucket if I am moving sawdust? Of course not. Would I want a 36" root grapple with two small teeth on top when back raking loose hay off the barn floor? No, I would use my 72" rake grapple. I even consider that too small for certain uses on 85hp and 100hp machines. At the same time I would like a 48" or smaller root grapple for different uses. So it all depends....

I'd even take it a step further and say there are times when I wish I had a wider grapple. On many occasions I've had to take a load of brush 1/4 mile to the burn pile. Even at 66" wide branches still fall out the sides. Or root raking a half acre area this spring. For my uses smaller is not better. It all depends...