granite grapple

[RK55guy]

any opinions on the granite grapple from rural king. i recently bought the rk55s and am considering a grapple. i dont know anything about a grapple and have never used one. i have been watching videos on youtube and think it would be very hany when cutting firewood. thanks in advance for the insight

 

[oosik]

I bought a very heavy duty grapple from Land Pride - SGC1560 - 60" wide, 820 pounds. About 50% of my use is picking, moving and placing LARGE boulders. So far, after five years of use, I've only been able to chip some of the powder coat paint off the tines.

There are basically two types of grapples - rock and root with shorter, thicker tines and brush grapple with its longer tines. Then there is the single top lid or double top lid types. Mine is the single lid - rock & root type. Consider what you plan on doing with the grapple and choose accordingly.

Oh, then there is the discussion of - - how wide should the grapple be. At 60" inches wide - mine is just about as wide as my front tires.

The grapple is an amazingly useful implement. So far I've never taken the grapple off and put the bucket back on.

 

[RK55guy]

thanks oosik. very helpful info. if i end up buying a grapple, 99.9% of its use will be lifting logs and cleaning up the brushy stuff.

 

[uptaker73]

I purchased the grapple with my 37. It is by far my favorite addition to my tractor. I have moved brush, logs and even piles of leaves. Leaves can be moved easily if you gently close the grapple.

 

[RTBee]

Just waiting for my tax refund. I'll be adding a grapple and a thumb for the backhoe. Have only heard great things from using a grapple and the one Rural King offers is just right for us. I'll be doing a lot of logs/brush, but also stone and rocks.

 

[oosik]

It is simply amazing what I do with my grapple. I'm almost 100% sure some of the tasks I do were never considered by Land Pride. A list:

pick, move, place large rock

backdrag with top lid to collect & gather most anything on the surface of the ground - leaves, gravel, sticks & twigs, rocks etc

backdrag with either top or bottom lid to smooth & spread dirt and anything else ( cow poo )

pick, move, place chunks of log ( my lifting capacity is a tad above 3000 pounds )

dig holes in the ground OR simply grab great bites of ground and move to an appropriate location

grab most anything of "appropriate" size and RIP it out of the ground

use as a tool of "intimidation" to move stubborn cows - grapple a couple feet off the ground, jaws half way open - tends to startle and move cows along

AND the really neat thing - - I'm finding new tasks to accomplish with the grapple almost every day

Ok RK55guy - - a last suggestion - if you do get a grapple - STRONGLY consider adding a form of shielding to your grill guard Sticks, stobs, limbs etc will find the most God-awful way of causing damage to your grill or radiator or battery. The added shielding might just save your day.View attachment 581259View attachment 581260View attachment 581261

 

[RK55guy]

thanks everybody. as rtbee said, as long as the mrs. hasnt made plans for the tax return, i see a grapple on the front of my rk55.

 

[Polkchop]

I purchased the granite grapple with my 55, and it has by far exceeded my expectations. I used it to tear down and crush an old shed then load it in my dump trailer, then used it to break up the concrete slab as well. I was not expecting it to work as well as it did being it is made for a compact tractor and not a loader or skid. The only complaint I have with my grapple is it seems the teeth are welded to the bar on the top half of the grapple, and some how I managed to bend one while picking up some logs at my house. Not a big issue, just frustrating, but I can bend it back, and will be welding in some bracing in the near future. I'd still say it is well worth the money, and if you can do it, buy one.

 

[heavy hammer]

A grapple is the best attachment you can have for a tractor. I use mine for cutting, hauling etc. processing firewood. I never put the bucket on, I use the grapple for everything clearing the woods taking down trees. It is the first thing I purchased after my tractor and I don't regret it.

 

[dbchaplin03]

I purchased the granite grapple with my 55, and it has by far exceeded my expectations. I used it to tear down and crush an old shed then load it in my dump trailer, then used it to break up the concrete slab as well. I was not expecting it to work as well as it did being it is made for a compact tractor and not a loader or skid. The only complaint I have with my grapple is it seems the teeth are welded to the bar on the top half of the grapple, and some how I managed to bend one while picking up some logs at my house. Not a big issue, just frustrating, but I can bend it back, and will be welding in some bracing in the near future. I'd still say it is well worth the money, and if you can do it, buy one.

Polkchop, its been a couple of years since you posted this, can you give me the long term review of how this has held up? I really like the design of the bottom tines compared to most others Ive looked at. Unlike most people Ive owned several different grapple buckets over the years for various pieces of equipment. Ive owned one from EA which was great, another from a company out of Minnesota that was awesome but so heavy it gobbled up most of my skid steers lift capacity, and Ive also owned a couple of cheap ones from Titan (pallet forks .com).

Im looking at either the 60in or 72in for a new Kubota L6060 I ordered. Was planning on buying a Wicked from EA but stumbled on these doing my research and like that i can have it in just a few days by ordering through the store.

 

[Yallwatchthis]

RK55guy, I initially purchased the Granite Grapple with my RK24 & have nothing but good things to report on its use. I, like you, primarily use it for cutting firewood & it has worked perfectly. Hopefully, I can get the image to upload correctly(not the most tech savvy individual here) but the pic shows a 4' section of red oak that's basically 22" in diameter. As I lifted the tree section with the grapple, the RK24 didn't even "grunt." Hope this helps!https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/asset.php?fid=556478&uid=347838&d=1580438402

 

[heavy hammer]

Pic's didn't work. Would love to see your new grapple.

 

[Yallwatchthis]

Hopefully this works!

 

[dbchaplin03]

Id love to hear from someone in the 50-75 hp range to see how its held up. They sure do save you a lot of time and work. Ive had them in the past on 30 hp tractors and 2 skid steers. Wouldnt own a machine without one thats for sure. I just want to make sure i spend my money on the right one is all.

 

[ParisKy]

DBChaplin03, I have a RK55SC with the 72" Granite Grapple. I have only had it for 6 months, and it is my most used Tool. I love this thing, and it has held up very well for me after moving 40 or so downed trees. I have used it to pull many shrubs, wild briar bushes, etc. I don't think you can go wrong with it. I hope this helps.

 

[gunny0628]

I have the 55Hydro Cab and the grapple. It has exceeded my expectations significantly. I will say that the hydraulics are very strong and touchy. Small movements are very jerky. But, that doesn’t matter much to me because the thing is a beast.

 

[markie61]

I have the same as Gunny - the grapple is great. Has picked up and held onto just about everything I've asked of it.
Reached it's "pucker factor" capacity with this oak round 7+ft across.
Sorry for the sideways-ness...

 

[dbchaplin03]

Markie and Gunny,

Do you guys have the 60” or 72”? Also, have you done a whole lot of back raking with the grapple tines? Here in Ohio we have honey suckle that is invasive and grows like 100’ per year i swear. I have to constantly clear it from the fence lines. I have a Titan Tree and Post puller that works phenomenal to pull trees and bushes out of the ground by the roots but for the new growth, pencil sized up to 1” or so it is very tedious. I’m hoping i can use the grapple and back rake it out of the fence lines and then start spraying them.

The 72” would end up being the same price as the EA Wicked 60” grapple and there are hundreds of people out there with them and very few negative comments. The 60” Granite grapple would end up being about $400 cheaper than the EA.

I wish RK had 10% off coupons like Tractor Supply sends me all the time.. I got one i need to use up before the 27th from TSP.

 

[markie61]

Markie...Do you guys have the 60” or 72”?

I have the 72" - it doesn't weigh or cost that much more that the 60", plus I like having my implements as wide as my back tires.

Also, have you done a whole lot of back raking with the grapple tines?

I have tried using the upper/lid tines like "fingers" to pull stuff out with mixed sucess. It really depends on the tangle of what you're pulling; if it's loose, you almost "comb" in out - but if it's all an interwoven mess, it rips it out by the roots fine (assuming the soil is moist). My best technique for vines is to drive forward with the lower teeth slightly below grade to loosen the roots, close the lid, and back out. For some other growth, the rear edge of the grapple's bottom has triangular "rippers" the catch and tear out vines when back-dragging too.

I wish RK had 10% off coupons like Tractor Supply sends me all the time.

I think you can get 5% off everyday if you get an RK credit card...I do not know if there are exceptions for tractors and/or implements though...

 

[dbchaplin03]

One more question, in the YouTube videos I watched, it looks like the grapple is very slow. Have you guys had any complaints on that? I had an EA attachments grapple years ago that I thought the dual lid grapple was really slow on it also. I assume they used restrictor fittings or maybe just small diameter hoses or something. My other 3 grapples have been very fast and i much prefer that. I often feed fresh cleared overgrowth and trees to a constant burning fire and it’s nice to get in there, dump it, and get out quickly.