Grapple Which type of grapple is best suited for...

[TSO]

... all around grapple work?

I'm in the "serious" stage of grapple shopping now, moving past the "oooh that's cool" and "I should get one someday" to "about ready to pull the trigger. :thumbsup:

There seem to be several different main designs. There is the "Rock Grapple," the "Root Grapple," the "Bucket Grapple", etc etc etc. Some have longer/skinnier bottom tines, some have shorter/stouter (and more) bottom tines, some have a solid bottom bucket, and then there is the dual vs single upper arm. I can understand the theory and philosophy between the different designs, especially having dual upper arms for uneven loads. However, in real-life application, are they really a big advantage?

I'm sure each design has it's special niche, but if I'm looking for the "jack of all trades" grapple bucket, which design will best fit "all around" use, including roots, brush piles, logging, boulders, etc?

Also, for size, I'm considering going no bigger than 60", since it's less weight, and smaller (so it fits better into places). Is there anything else I should consider in regards to width, as it relates to the different grapple designs?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Guesseral]

I got the rake grapple this one
http://stores.palletforks.com/-strse-37/60"-Root-Grapple-Rake/Detail.bok
I got it for two reasons
1. Because I want it to do brush clearing and I assumed that this style would be better for brush because of the closer fingers top and bottom. 2. Because it was way less expensive than other similar units, and if I wanted grapple bucket (see below) I could also buy one of them also and only have as much in the pair of them as one more expensive unit.
http://stores.palletforks.com/-strse-30/60"-Root-Grapple-Bucket/Detail.bok
I have the rake grapple now and I am in the process of doing the plumbing, but other things in life have gotten in the way so I am not moving along very quickly. The rake grapple I have is really stout and build IMHO very well, it is heavy I think the listing said 600 lbs so it will cut down on the loader capasity but such is life and they all will. But I do plan on getting a grapple bucket in the future because I know it will do a much better job of lifting logs. In your case the grapple bucket is probably the most versatile option, but it my world I will have two different attachments!:cool2:

 

[EverythingAttachments]

Wicked Grapple all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
60" weighing in at only 382 pounds yet plenty strong for compact tractors. Your tractor will love you for it!
I know you're familiar with it but I couldn't resist!
Travis

 

[murphy1244]

Try MIE, I did and am quite happy with it Michigan Iron and Equipment, Kioti Tractors, Kioti Implements, Kodiak Attachments, Befco, Hound Dog Attachments, Dk Series Tractors, Central Michigan

 

[TSO]

Guesseral, have you found any tasks that your particular grapple design was poorly suited for?

Travis, are the dual arms better suited for all around work than the single arm? Do the 2 cylinders splitting the hydraulic flow give more squeezing power than a single cylinder at full flow?

 

[Furu]

It is always a trade off of feature designs and strength vs weight. Only you can tell what will work best for you. Everyone has an opinion and the sellers have an agenda that supports the product they sell. If you go to tines that are really thin then you have to use gussets and frame parts to add support to keep it from bending. That is fine unless those supports restrict the tines insertion and reduce effectiveness. All trade offs. The only design that will give me full functionality for what I want will restrict someone else and their preferred design you could not give me that grapple. Weight is always a consideration but the center of mass distance forward of the pivot point is often overlooked as heavier closer to pivot point can give more lift capability than lighter further out from pivot point. Simple physics. Do not fall for marketing garbage. Analyze your needs, look at what is out there and slowly make a decision. There are ranges of CUT and their capabilities. Many folks have a CUT that will do fine with a light duty grapple of any design but do not believe that that light duty grapple will not be destroyed by a larger frame CUT.
As I said you could not give me 90% of the grapples that are out there but many folks would not take my grapple if given to them either. Analyze your needs not what someone tells you you needs are.

 

[Herkypilot]

Hey TSO - you copied my picture! I want royalties... (Just kidding!). Mine is the one sitting on a pallet on a trailer. I used it last weekend to clean up a bunch of brush to put on my burn pile. Couldn't be happier with it. Works as advertised. I'm just needing more seat time to get all the work done that I want. I have the WildKat 66" grapple. I had to weld two 1/4" plates to the lower mounting bracket to take up the slack as it was a bit loose. I don't know if it's a Kubota fitment issue or they weld it too wide, but it's good to go now.

Oh, if I had a do-over, I would have seriously considered Ted's wicked grapple.

HP

 

[TSO]

Hey TSO - you copied my picture! I want royalties...

Definitely! I'll check with Google ;-)

Oh, if I had a do-over, I would have seriously considered Ted's wicked grapple.

HP

Any particular reason?

Are all the designs capable of all the applications above, like logs, boulders, heavy stuff like that?

 

[DT86]

The first, third and last ones you pictured would be the best all around type of grapple in my opinion.

The ones with the solid bottom would hold dirt and probably wouldn't be ideal for rooting out bushes. The ones with tines in the bottom just let the dirt and small rocks sift on through.

The fifth one is made for stumps.
The sixth one is probably for logs and could be used for brush as well.

 

[Rustyiron]

TSO, your original question to what type..... depends on what your main usage will be. I went through just about all the types until I found my root take. This was about 10 years ago, and I was shopping for a skid steer not a tractor. My use was (mainly) cleaning/clearing up the woods. But I started with a 4 in 1 bucket, a fine tool for some clean up jobs, but not what I was looking for. Then got a flat bottom "scrap" type grapple. This was better for than the 1st. but still, not ideal for my tasks. It was a smooth edge with no raking ability and the solid bottom had no visibility and carried a bunch of dirt and unwanted stuff. Finally I found the root rake that I have now, excelent "grubbing" ability, great with logs & brush, and handy moving rocks. All the other's have been sold or traded. I'd acess your chores that you want this bucket to do (mostly) and base your decision on that. For the $$, you'd be suprised at what a bolt on tooth bar and a add on grapple will do. (with your std bucket) Not the greatest at any one job, but it'll do them all and for not much $$.
ps See the cyl. guard on the "wildcat" stump bucket? Look at the guarding on the cyl. ... you want that, not so much for the cyl itself. but the fragile 90* fittings on the hyd lines. In the woods/brush, those cyl. fittings are out there in the danger zone and very veunerable.

 

[TSO]

TSO, your original question to what type..... depends on what your main usage will be. I went through just about all the types until I found my root take. This was about 10 years ago, and I was shopping for a skid steer not a tractor. My use was (mainly) cleaning/clearing up the woods. But I started with a 4 in 1 bucket, a fine tool for some clean up jobs, but not what I was looking for. Then got a flat bottom "scrap" type grapple. This was better for than the 1st. but still, not ideal for my tasks. It was a smooth edge with no raking ability and the solid bottom had no visibility and carried a bunch of dirt and unwanted stuff. Finally I found the root rake that I have now, excelent "grubbing" ability, great with logs & brush, and handy moving rocks. All the other's have been sold or traded. I'd acess your chores that you want this bucket to do (mostly) and base your decision on that. For the $$, you'd be suprised at what a bolt on tooth bar and a add on grapple will do. (with your std bucket) Not the greatest at any one job, but it'll do them all and for not much $$.

I appreciate that... I have thought about adding the components onto my bucket like you mentioned, but in truth, I find the 72" bucket to be too wide for alot of the areas I want to get into. What I would really like to have is an 84" bucket just for moving loose materials, a 60"-66" skid steer style with teeth for digging & adding chain hooks to that one, and then the grapple. I already have QA forks, and so far I use them just as much as the bucket, and I got them at auction for like $325 ;-)

I really like having separate buckets for stuff

 

[Rustyiron]

I'll second you on the second (& 3rd...) bucket(s).

 

[GManBart]

I'm planning on a 66" Wicked Grapple from EA!

 

[Guesseral]

Guesseral, have you found any tasks that your particular grapple design was poorly suited for?

Travis, are the dual arms better suited for all around work than the single arm? Do the 2 cylinders splitting the hydraulic flow give more squeezing power than a single cylinder at full flow?

Like I said I am still plumbing. It's not summer yet.

 

[EverythingAttachments]

Guesseral, have you found any tasks that your particular grapple design was poorly suited for?

Travis, are the dual arms better suited for all around work than the single arm? Do the 2 cylinders splitting the hydraulic flow give more squeezing power than a single cylinder at full flow?

You'll get MANY opinions on rake style single lid design vs. L style dual lids but we sell MANY more dual lid grapples than single and that was the case even before our Wicked Grapple arrived on the scene. IMO the dual lid design is more versatile because you'll get a tighter grip on loads that are not uniform and the L shaped design will allow you to cradle logs/debris. Our tines are designed to penetrate the ground easily and minimize turf damage.(see pic below)
The squeezing power will be the same either way. The flow goes to the cylinder with the least resistance until it is closed tightly and is then it is transferred to the other one until the same is accomplished.
Travis

 

[4734]

For a grapple go with the open bottom style to allow the dirt and small rocks to fall through the tines and as others have said get the dual lids for odd shaped loads.
I have looked at several brands and decided on the 72" Wicked Grapple from EA. It arrived last week and man the pictures do not do it justice. The teeth are sharp and should hold the brush/logs tight, and built in USA!
It is one mean grapple, built tougher than most and much lighter than all. I have not had a chance to use it yet, but hopefully I will be able to this weekend.
EA thanks for a great product.

Greg

 

[Herkypilot]

Definitely! I'll check with Google ;-)

Any particular reason?

Are all the designs capable of all the applications above, like logs, boulders, heavy stuff like that?

That's why Google stock is so high...

Ted put a lot of thought into designing their grapple and it is build to last. Seems like pretty high quality to me. I bought the Wildkat grapple before they released their design. The top pic you had is also a WildKat design and I didn't like the hyd cylinders positioned to the outside of the two jaws. I would apply uneven clamping force and eventual result in bent up jaws. The EA design is better.

 

[TomSeller]

Guesseral, have you found any tasks that your particular grapple design was poorly suited for?

Travis, are the dual arms better suited for all around work than the single arm? Do the 2 cylinders splitting the hydraulic flow give more squeezing power than a single cylinder at full flow?

I have the 72" version of what Guesseral has. It does not pick up logs very well due to small lower teeth. It is a rake grapple that does better at exactly that, raking. I would not consider it a multi purpose grapple. It is very stout, mine was built when they were making it out of T1 steel and the tines are a full 1/2" thick. I have mine on a large tractor so weight is not an issue and it does well for raking and back raking. You will not be able to back rake with a typical L grapple effectively since they usually have only 2 or 4 teeth on the lid. If I had to pick a multi purpose grapple it likely would be Wildcat's Extreme Root Rake Grapple or Anbo's GR series.

 

[Tim13]

Great post TSO. I'm in a similar situation so I can't help you with what I bought but maybe can help with how I'm making my choice.

I planned to purchase this spring and had every intention of buying the Wildkat Econo 48" Grapple. Most everyone on TBN was happy with their choice and the price. Over the winter, I started reading about the Wicked Root Grapple. I like the fact that I can move up to a 60" grapple and still drop nearly 40 pounds. Having two upper hydraulic arms will help with uneven loads which will be great as I'm clearing a lot of cut brush and debris. Yes, the price is higher but I feel that the quality of the product and reputation of Everything Attachments supports the cost.

My last bit of research is regarding the Hound Dog Grapple from Michigan Iron which was mentioned in an earlier post. Price is similar to the Wicked grapple but I couldn't find the weight. The metal mesh is a nice option but that could also be added to most any other grapple.

I hope your choice goes well and once I've made a decision and ordered I'll be sure to post.

 

[sd455dan]

I prefer the tined open bottom style (manure?) any of the type that tie the tines together near the front defeat much of the purpose.
The first time a person tries to - clean a barn stall the tie bars will push the entire compressed( floor) up like carpet now u can still tilt the grapple after opening it up and drag it back and grab it but it still acts like a standard bucket with a grapple, and hopefully the wall didn't get pushed out in the process. i do like the double separate hinges .. the open bottom works better for brush to imo.
and it's
still plenty strong to grab a piece of wood I would recommend it but have no idea who manufactured this unit, but many manufacturers offer something similar- just saw the ATI brush fork that looks good to..
almost forgot, the avatar picture is also the same grapple, that was a simple stab and grab- out of a large refuse pile left from excavating the ground for our house, don't believe a tied bar style can get that mouth full in one try because the bar will push the material instead of penetrating it, this style allows the largest amount of material to be grappled...my 02 cents