Skid Steer Grapple on a tractor?

[adventure bob]

New to the tractor thing and was wondering if a bob cat quick tach style grapple will work on a tractor? I know skid steer blowers and hydro-motorized stuff won't due to flow rates, but it would seem that a grapple would function well, since it is a pressure thing, not a flow thing.
The reason I ask is that I bought a new tractor, and for the near future (until I can afford a grapple) would just go rent a grapple at the local skid steer rental place, if it will work.

Thanks.

 

[Coyote machine]

I'd inquire of the skidsteer place and your JD/Kubota tractor dealer- depending on what tractor you plan to use. Do you have rear remotes run up to a QD loader?

 

[xtn]

Well, it would work. But you might encounter the following issues depending on what tractor you've got:

1. Opening and closing might be slower if the flow is less of course.
2. Hydraulic connectors might not match up.
3. The weight may encroach upon the capacity of the tractor's loader substantially.

xtn

 

[94BULLITT]

Yes a skid steer grapple will work if the tractor has skid steer quick attach but they are heavy for a compact tractor. You will not be able to lift much with it. You probably need flat faced couplers to for your 3rd function.

 

[Ken45101]

As for lifting ability, that depends on the tractor. My M5040 can probably lift as much as the skid steer. (Just checked: Lift capacity for the LA1153 is 2,536 lbs. and 2,977 lbs. for the LA1353.)

You will need the proper hydraulic plumbing, of course. One drawback with the larger tractors is visibility: The front of the tractor is in the way and you can't see what the grapple is doing for precise placement for pickup. Visibility is an important feature of skid steers.

 

[CJONE]

Most rental units will weigh in the 700-1k range for the tracked skid steers, so like was stated depending on your lift capabilities it could be good or bad. Your hydraulics will run one with no problem. CJ

 

[Ken45101]

Many people suggest a smaller grapple, you don't really need a full width one. Of course, it varies from user to user. The smaller ones are lighter of course, if that's a concern.

 

[adventure bob]

I was looking a the grapple that rents for the Bobcat mini skids.
50 inches wide 350lbs.

 

[94BULLITT]

I was looking a the grapple that rents for the Bobcat mini skids.
50 inches wide 350lbs.

I believe they have a different quick attach.

Sent from my Samsung SPH-L710 using TractorByNet

 

[Ken45101]

I agree, it's not the same size quick attach.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

Ken45101 mentioned plumbing. Be aware that skid steer attachments will use a flat face hydraulic quick coupler that is different from ag couplers. So, you'll need to run hydraulic hoses to the front of the tractor, and you'll want to make sure you put the right quick connects on them that will mate up with the skid steer flat face couplers. And you'll have to decide whether to run the hydraulic hoses from the rear remotes or add a 3rd function system. I had my dealer change out the flat face couplers on my grapple to regular ag couplers.

But, to answer your general question, yes the skid steer quick attach system used on full size skid steers (not the mini ones) is the same used on tractor front end loaders with a quick attach. I bought a stump grapple made for a skid steer and it works fine on my tractor. As someone mentioned above, the heavy duty ones could weigh 900 pounds or more and could eat up a lot of your lifting capacity. A lighter duty one could weigh as little as 350 pounds but would likely not be as durable, especially on a larger tractor that could overpower it.

 

[Missouri Pioneer]

Excellent, sharp pictures, Poopdeck Pappy.

 

[terryknight]

as everyone else has said yes. ag couple are not that expensive i think i got 2 for $24 out the door and i replaced the flat faced ones with them. you could do the same or not. i run mine off the rear remotes and it's plenty fast for me.





my root rake weighs in around 700lbs, lift capacity is 3100 at the pins. i still have plenty left over to move mostly brush and logs

 

[eddie48]

Where did you get the grapple, Pappy? That's just what I need.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

Wildkat Attachments

WILDKAT ATTACHMENTS by Mid-State Equipment Buckets, Grapples, mowers, augers, and more for your Bobcat, John Deere, and others!

If you click on "Buy Now", it takes you to their ebay store. When I called them for a shipping quote, they knocked a few bucks off the price shown on ebay. So be sure to ask. It was shipped the same day and my experience with them was very satisfactory.

I haven't used it enough to comment on it much, but it certainly seems to be well built and strong enough. Mine is the regular one shown at $695. They show a heavier duty one on their website, but I think that one would have been a waste of money and lifting capacity for my needs.

One thing I've learned from using it, though, is that I wish the back plate (where it mounts to the FEL) wasn't solid so I could see through it and perhaps see what I'm doing.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

Eddie: One other thing I'd do differently next time is mount the quick connects on the TOP of the FEL cross bar instead of the bottom. When the bucket is tilted all the way back, it can contact the hoses at the quick connect. If the quick connects were on top, that wouldn't happen.

I'm gonna have the dealer make that change when I take the tractor in for the 50 hour service.

 

[terryknight]

wildkat makes some decent stuff. no sure i agree on the solid plate though. it would be nice to see but brush or in your case roots coming through the opening could be a hazard. as for mounting the quick connect couplers any reason you didn't do it on one of the loader arms itself?

 

[Coyote machine]

Eddie: One other thing I'd do differently next time is mount the quick connects on the TOP of the FEL cross bar instead of the bottom. When the bucket is tilted all the way back, it can contact the hoses at the quick connect. If the quick connects were on top, that wouldn't happen.

I'm gonna have the dealer make that change when I take the tractor in for the 50 hour service.

My Kioti dealer put a piece of light duty angle iron across the cover for the FEL lines, between the loader arms. It uses the factory bolts to hold the piece and then the QDs are attached to the angle, thus raised up a little off the crossbar. It works for my log grapple, in my avatar, and my snowplow.
I'd add a colored cable tie to one female and one male QD to make for easy hookup with no guessing to your rig.
Nice tractor and grapple!:thumbsup:

 

[94BULLITT]

My Kioti dealer put a piece of light duty angle iron across the cover for the FEL lines, between the loader arms. It uses the factory bolts to hold the piece and then the QDs are attached to the angle, thus raised up a little off the crossbar. It works for my log grapple, in my avatar, and my snowplow.
I'd add a colored cable tie to one female and one male QD to make for easy hookup with no guessing to your rig.
Nice tractor and grapple!:thumbsup:

You should have a male and a female for the third function on the the tractor.

Sent from my Samsung SPH-L710 using TractorByNet

 

[Coyote machine]

You should have a male and a female for the third function on the the tractor.

Sent from my Samsung SPH-L710 using TractorByNet

It's not a third function; I have a diverter valve and the hose ends are two female on the loader and two males on the grapple/snowplow. Both rear remotes are two female at the valve also.