55" or 60" Root Grapple EA vs MTL

[kenmac]

Re: 55" or 60" Root Grapple EA vs MTL

I had a cheap grapple and I spent more time welding it back together than I did using it. That’s why I bought a good one the second time around. Even if you don’t break the grapple which isn’t that likely on the OPs smallish tractor the weight savings of the better constructed grapple would make a lot of difference.

Thing is,he's trying to talk this guy into buying a cheap heavy grapple, that will drastically reduce his lift capacity.

Putting a heavy grapple on a 100 hp tractor is much different than putting a heavy grapple on a 30 hp tractor. Two very different lift capacities

 

[Jstpssng]

Re: 55" or 60" Root Grapple EA vs MTL

I can't believe that I just wasted the end of my lunch break reading the last 3 pages of this thread. Come on guys, you've each made your point and the other isn't listening. Why not simmer down now or go sit in a corner.

 

[4570Man]

Re: 55" or 60" Root Grapple EA vs MTL

What grapple is that, if you don’t mind? Thanks

It’s a Favor.

 

[fried1765]

No doubt EA makes great equipment and Travis is a great asset to EA. But as soon as your order is processed by EA you will not hear from them again. So is it worth another thousand (or more) dollars for something you will use for a few years? I would say no. My cows do not care what my grapples look like. They are not as wicked looking but who cares? Make no mistake, if your buy EA you will get a very good product but you will PAY to have Travis answer the phone on the first ring and you will PAY for that fancy new factory. MTL will get you a lower priced grapple that will pick up your brush and wood just as well. You might need to wait for a call back or call twice. Just my :2cents:
.

^^^^^Yep!

 

[Fatboy Flash]

Well I don't know if the OP made up his mind or not but I want to thank all of you for your input, it definitely helped me make up my mind. I have decided to go with the 54" EA grapple. I did talk to Cliff at MTL and I am pretty positive that the MTL grapple would work for my uses and not being a crazy man anymore I doubt that I would break it.

What it came down to in the end was my opinion that the EA design might be more efficient. The way the lid comes down just seems like it would grip much better. The brush guard in the back of the grapple will help save the front of the tractor even though I will probably still add additional protection similar to what another member posted. I also did a LOT of reading on the different grades of steel and the fact of the matter is that the EA steel is a better steel. In the end it is really about the lack of time that I have and my perception that the EA is a better piece of equipment that may improve the amount of work that I get done in a day. The 20% off coupon that Travis gave me didn't hurt either. Thanks again.

 

[Peter 315]

Well I don't know if the OP made up his mind or not but I want to thank all of you for your input, it definitely helped me make up my mind. I have decided to go with the 54" EA grapple. I did talk to Cliff at MTL and I am pretty positive that the MTL grapple would work for my uses and not being a crazy man anymore I doubt that I would break it.

What it came down to in the end was my opinion that the EA design might be more efficient. The way the lid comes down just seems like it would grip much better. The brush guard in the back of the grapple will help save the front of the tractor even though I will probably still add additional protection similar to what another member posted. I also did a LOT of reading on the different grades of steel and the fact of the matter is that the EA steel is a better steel. In the end it is really about the lack of time that I have and my perception that the EA is a better piece of equipment that may improve the amount of work that I get done in a day. The 20% off coupon that Travis gave me didn't hurt either. Thanks again.

I want a 20% coupon also....

 

[Fatboy Flash]

I want a 20% coupon also....

He didn’t really give me a 20% off coupon. I told him I was going to post that though since he wouldn’t give me anything off.

 

[4570Man]

He didn’t really give me a 20% off coupon. I told him I was going to post that though since he wouldn’t give me anything off.

I got $300 off my Favor for being a demo model. It had been used for a few minutes with light scuffs on the paint.

 

[Jstpssng]

Think of how many more they would sell if they did give all of us 20% off... even if they have to raise their prices first to do so.
I do like a business which posts the actual price rather than resorting to gimmicks.
Thank you F Flash for posting the reasons for your choice, it could save somebody else a little research.

 

[kenmac]

Re: 55" or 60" Root Grapple EA vs MTL

I can't believe that I just wasted the end of my lunch break reading the last 3 pages of this thread. Come on guys, you've each made your point and the other isn't listening. Why not simmer down now or go sit in a corner.

well, u got an education on who makes the best grapples....No one made you read it all though

 

[goeduck]

Re: 55" or 60" Root Grapple EA vs MTL

It’s a Favor. View attachment 639150

Favor makes excellent grapples.

 

[kenmac]

Well I don't know if the OP made up his mind or not but I want to thank all of you for your input, it definitely helped me make up my mind. I have decided to go with the 54" EA grapple. I did talk to Cliff at MTL and I am pretty positive that the MTL grapple would work for my uses and not being a crazy man anymore I doubt that I would break it.

What it came down to in the end was my opinion that the EA design might be more efficient. The way the lid comes down just seems like it would grip much better. The brush guard in the back of the grapple will help save the front of the tractor even though I will probably still add additional protection similar to what another member posted. I also did a LOT of reading on the different grades of steel and the fact of the matter is that the EA steel is a better steel. .

I like the way the hyd lines are routed on the EA. They put them behind a steel plate to keep something from snagging them,or getting damaged from when picking up limbs and brush. It also protects them when piling brush on a fire .

 

[Binx]

owned a thumb grapple. It bent several times. I would love to put one of your grapples through the paces of my every day uses.
Only picking up tooth picks now and again and the cheapest grapple on the market should hold up.

Dig up a few of these for a week and post back how well your grapple held up

Looks like your Kubota is a big game hunter and the rocks are its kill!

 

[goeduck]

so now, you call it a bucket grapple, where before it wasn't a grapple ? LOL do you even know what a grapple is ?
Search my post and you will find pics ? :laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing: I'm not going on a witch hunt that never happened.

Money can be saved on many cheap items vs more costly items. Why wast money on cheap, and have to but something that cost more when you break the cheap ?

Perhaps you should go buy an a grapple. Then, you will be able to post pics of you using your grapple:laughing::laughing:

I will not stoop to your level of discourse but here are a few pictures of two of the grapples that you say I do not have. I forget the brands but they were inexpensive and have NEVER failed. Not every TBN member needs to buy an EA grapple. They should worry about weight, cost and lift ratings.

 

[goeduck]

EA makes the linked grapple for smaller tractors under 35 HP. Someone putting a small grapple like this on a 105 HP tractor could easily damage it due to exceeding the rating. Point is a grapple should be use at or under its rating. Any grapple can be damaged so watch the lift rating. The weight of the grapple is important as well and EA has some very light grapples but they are not the only ones. Geometry is important too.

Subcompact Compact Tractor Wicked Root Grapple 50" Single lid

 

[kenmac]

I will not stoop to your level of discourse but here are a few pictures of two of the grapples that you say I do not have. I forget the brands but they were inexpensive and have NEVER failed. Not every TBN member needs to buy an EA grapple. They should worry about weight, cost and lift ratings.

View attachment 639206View attachment 639207View attachment 639208View attachment 639209View attachment 639210View attachment 639211View attachment 639212

well, I see you looked around on the net and found some pics of someone with a grapple. Good try though
You say they should mention about weight when buying a grapple ? Well, did you know EA has the lightest strongest grapples on the planet ?

No, you didn't, or you would have told the guy to purchase the strongest lightest grapple on the planet and been done

 

[4570Man]

EA makes the linked grapple for smaller tractors under 35 HP. Someone putting a small grapple like this on a 105 HP tractor could easily damage it due to exceeding the rating. Point is a grapple should be use at or under its rating. Any grapple can be damaged so watch the lift rating. The weight of the grapple is important as well and EA has some very light grapples but they are not the only ones. Geometry is important too.

Subcompact Compact Tractor Wicked Root Grapple 50" Single lid

That grapple is made for tractors with less than 1,000 pounds lift. Who’s going to think putting it on a 100 hp tractor was even remotely a good idea?

 

[kenmac]

That grapple is made for tractors with less than 1,000 pounds lift. Who’s going to think putting it on a 100 hp tractor was even remotely a good idea?

I sometimes use my wicked on my 105. Just because the 105 is a cabbed tractor with heat and A/C

 

[4570Man]

I sometimes use my wicked on my 105. Just because the 105 is a cabbed tractor with heat and A/C

But it’s not the super light duty version made for B series Kubotas is it?

 

[4570Man]

55" or 60" Root Grapple EA vs MTL

You say they should mention about weight when buying a grapple ? Well, did you know EA has the lightest strongest grapples on the planet ?

My M59 exceeds the EAs recommended size for the second largest grapple by quite a bit. The largest 125 hp tractor one weighs just short of 1000 pounds and cost $4,000. My Favor grapple shares high grade steel construction, weighs 680 pounds and cost just under 3k.