Best/reasonably priced grapple?

[sbronemann]

Looking at buying a grapple for my 4520C. Will probably just run a longer hose to the rear remote rather than having a separate SCV added up front. Or....kind of looking at the Westendorf Brush Crusher. Anybody have any insight on the Westendorf?

 

[ovrszd]

If it matches Westendorf standards it'll be great. I've never saw one. I'll hafta Google them. Post pics if you get one.

You're gonna really enjoy having a Grapple. Adds tremendously to the usefulness of a loader.

Welcome to TBN neighbor. I can see the Iowa border from my back deck.

 

[sbronemann]

I really like the idea of not having any hydraulics on the Westendorf.....with that being said though-you'd think they would be a bit cheaper. However....they definitely are about the same price as one with hydraulics.

 

[ericm979]

I can't tell, are they SSQA? It's really handy to be able to switch from the grapple to the forks or bucket.
I push or scoop up brush or tree parts with the long bottom tines of my EA grapple. For me just having two narrow sets of tines would be limiting.
The EA grapple is not cheap but it's well made.

 

[LouNY]

One thing to watch on the grapples is what is your primary use;
the ones with long bottom tines,
Titan Attachments 72" Rock Bucket Grapple Skeleton Loader w/ Teeth Skid Steer
similar to this make it hard to pick up logs or brush that you can not get the lower tines under,
you have to tilt way down and curl the tines under for the clamp to be able to get close to the ground and under a log.

6" V2 Root Grapple Rake Clamshell Attachment bucket skid steer rock bobcat
this style will grab a single log or brush you can't get under

Both styles have there places, I have the first and often I would rather have the second,
if I had the second I don't know how often I'd want the first.

 

[sbronemann]

They do make a universal skid-steer Brush Crusher. I priced one at my local JD dealer that sells Westendorf accessories as well and they quoted me at $1875 for it. That seems quite steep for an attachment with no hydraulics. Unfortunate!

 

[ericm979]

I think the long bottom tine type is the most versatile. It'll pick up logs, big wads of brush, or even 3' diameter rounds. Having to curl the grapple down so you can 'pinch' a log from both sides has not been a problem for me.

The other day I picked up two 3' 16" thick rounds of Madrone that were on their sides by lining them up and gripping them from above with the grapple curled down. It worked but my loader was not strong enough to curl them up. With the long tines and the way I picked them up they're farther from the pins. But the grip of the lids was strong enough to hold them. So I hauled them like that to by wood processing area.

I think the short tine root rake type which keeps the logs a little closer to the pins would have a bit more curl and lift capacity as a result. And it'd be better for raking.

 

[THEPARTYHOUND]

I'm in the same boat you are. Looking for a quality grapple, but don't necessarily require the best of the best. These guys seem to sell a quality American made grapple, grade 50 hardened steel (granted, its not AR450 like EA's wicked grapple series) but should hold up well to anything I'd be able to throw at it. This came in at about 33% less cost than the comparable EA grapple, but I suspect that it will hold up just as well for my purposes.

Brush Grapple Skid Steer Attachment | Thunderstruck Ag Equipment

 

[ericm979]

Wow those are heavy! 1200 lbs for a 66" That's going to take a lot out of the payload capacity.

One other advange to the root rake type grapple over the rake style is the jaws can open wider. However with my 2100lb loader capacity I can't pick up even a short log that's larger than the jaws on my wicked grapple will open.

 

[THEPARTYHOUND]

That one I was looking at is for a bigger tractor. My loader is rated for almost 4k lbs, and will actually lift a fair bit more. The link was mostly provided as a link to the company.

 

[thekkfan]

I'm convinced this is the best general use grapple for the price. Has greasable lid joints, one piece tines, along with hidden hoses. I have one and have used it several times removing everything from stumps, trees, to just brush and has worked flawless for me. I'm sure others will chime in on how the units they paid 3x as much for are better, but unless you're doing commercial work, most people will be fine with one of these. I've seen lesser quality for much more price, so be sure to look at the details.

These are $999 in different widths and colors freight included to your door...... 219 MTL HD Root Grapple Buckets - $999 Special — MTL Attachments

 

[TractorGuy]

MTL makes some decent stuff for the money. I think all their stuff is made in the USA too. I just bought the 60" RK5 rock/root grapple with JD quick connect for $1200 to my door. Ordered on the weekend and had it on Thursday.

Attachments — MTL Attachments

 

[JonnyRed]

I bought this one MTL Attachments Compact Tractor Skid Steer 48 Root Rake Grapple Bucket-Free Ship | eBay for $890 shipped to my office. I have been happy with it. It weighs approx. 350 lbs which leaves a good bit of lift left on my BL25R Loader. I paired it with the Ultimate Diverter Valve kit from Ken Ken's Bolt on Grab Hooks <<Hydraulics>>

 

[52wej]

I have a set of the Westendorf grapples. They work great, especially for moving and piling brush. But to honest, they require a fair amount of time to install,(30-40 minutes). So you want to plan your work when you will have a lot of use for them. They are much lighter in weight than a set of forks with a grapple. And they do allow you to crush the brush to reduce the pile sizes. It is amazing how much they will pick up. If you are doing a lot of trimming of trees and clearing the edges of fields, they are very useful and compact. W. Jones

 

[GMIslander]

I've had one of these for three years and wouldn't want anything else for my DK45. It's light, strong and on and off in minutes. If you want pretty this is probably not the one but functional is what it is.
48" Single Cylinder Root Grapple Bucket Attachment - Skid Steer Attachment Depot

 

[HCJtractor]

I'm convinced this is the best general use grapple for the price. Has greasable lid joints, one piece tines, along with hidden hoses. I have one and have used it several times removing everything from stumps, trees, to just brush and has worked flawless for me. I'm sure others will chime in on how the units they paid 3x as much for are better, but unless you're doing commercial work, most people will be fine with one of these. I've seen lesser quality for much more price, so be sure to look at the details.

These are $999 in different widths and colors freight included to your door...... 219 MTL HD Root Grapple Buckets - $999 Special — MTL Attachments

I looked at that online. I agree it looks like a very good choice. It has all the features I like at a good price. I would go with the narrow one.

 

[SirMaxwell]

I really like the idea of not having any hydraulics on the Westendorf.....with that being said though-you'd think they would be a bit cheaper. However....they definitely are about the same price as one with hydraulics.

I think you will find that they do have hydraulics. Likely a built in splitter instead of true 3rd Remote.

Careful about 'cheap' grapples. That bad boy is gonna work hard, in the front lines and thickets all day. Scraping roots and rocks, yanking trees and limbs, picking up crazy logs and brush piles, and even used as a 'fist' on occasion (so I've heard). That said, there are 'cheap' versions available, I'm sure someone will chime in.

 

[THEPARTYHOUND]

I'm convinced this is the best general use grapple for the price. Has greasable lid joints, one piece tines, along with hidden hoses. I have one and have used it several times removing everything from stumps, trees, to just brush and has worked flawless for me. I'm sure others will chime in on how the units they paid 3x as much for are better, but unless you're doing commercial work, most people will be fine with one of these. I've seen lesser quality for much more price, so be sure to look at the details.

These are $999 in different widths and colors freight included to your door...... 219 MTL HD Root Grapple Buckets - $999 Special — MTL Attachments

This does seem like it could be a good grapple, plus its made here in the US. I wonder what kind of steel it is made from. I could find no mention of it anywhere on their website. If it is a good quality hardened steel, that would seem to be a pretty good deal!

 

[sbronemann]

I bought this one MTL Attachments Compact Tractor Skid Steer 48 Root Rake Grapple Bucket-Free Ship | eBay for $890 shipped to my office. I have been happy with it. It weighs approx. 350 lbs which leaves a good bit of lift left on my BL25R Loader. I paired it with the Ultimate Diverter Valve kit from Ken Ken's Bolt on Grab Hooks <<Hydraulics>>
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I have not seen the MTL grapples prior to that. That price looks very reasonable and they look pretty well built. May have to order one and have some hoses made to go to the rear scv.

 

[TomIre]

I've had one of these for three years and wouldn't want anything else for my DK45. It's light, strong and on and off in minutes. If you want pretty this is probably not the one but functional is what it is.
48" Single Cylinder Root Grapple Bucket Attachment - Skid Steer Attachment Depot

Don't mean to hijack the thread but this one does look like a good bargain and close enough I could go pick it up and save freight.
I'd use it mostly for picking up, moving and placing rocks. Any reservations about that kind of use?