Rock/Skeleton grapple vs Skelton Bucket+Root Grapple?

[future_vision]

I was originally going down the path is a rock/skeleton grapple to soft all the debris on it if the loam as I clear land but I am second guessing that idea. I'm starting to think having specialized equipment might be more efficient. That's why I'm now considering just buying a rock/skeleton bucket and a root grapple instead. To me it seems having the sifting capability built into a grapple limits it's abilities to some degree. With a dedicated sitting bucket I get all that functionality and with the root grapple I gain the ability to dig/ rake. Is that thinking off? Also now I plan on seeding afterwards so I was considering renting a power rake. Maybe that makes the rock/skelton bucket a 'nice to have' than a 'must have' implement. Then again is I can do a pretty good job with the bucket I might not need the power rake?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated for this first time tractor owner/land clearer/future hobby/homestead farmer.

 

[oosik]

Welcome to TBN - future_vision. You might want to do what I did when I first bought my tractor. I knew I needed the FEL and a bucket. I also needed a 3-point rear blade to clear snow.

Beyond that - I drove around and looked at what others had for implements. How were they using them and what did they have to say about what they had.

You will find that updating your profile with your location will help members make more meaningful recommendations.

 

[mikester]

What exactly are you trying to do? I have both a skeleton bucket and a root grapple, each has its uses.

 

[future_vision]

What exactly are you trying to do? I have both a skeleton bucket and a root grapple, each has its uses.

I'm clearing land. This would be moving brush piles, logs for milling on a potable band-saw mill(14-16 footers mainly but possibly up to 20 ft). Removing rocks, twigs and roots from loam. Moving some large rocks/boulders. The short term goal is prep for fields/grass and shortly after that, or even in parallel to that, would be to dig out hillside for a walkout basement, dig a septic field and trench for electrical, pipes etc.

 

[Xfaxman]

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated for this first time tractor owner/land clearer/future hobby/homestead farmer.

Evidently your tractor has SSQA (Skid Steer Quick Attach).

This is a sifting bucket that is on my wish list: https://www.starindustries.com/product/versa-rake/

And the bar spacing is adjustable:

And the 3 point version:

The video:

 

[future_vision]

Evidently your tractor has SSQA (Skid Steer Quick Attach).

This is a sifting bucket that is on my wish list: https://www.starindustries.com/product/versa-rake/

View attachment 750992View attachment 750994
View attachment 750996

And the bar spacing is adjustable:
View attachment 750997

And the 3 point version:
View attachment 750995

The video:

Well, this is the first time I've seen something like this with the ability to adjust the slat size. Pretty smart. Looks a little flimsy from the pictures but the weight seems to say otherwise. Lots of steel for sure. Know how much they cost? Probably go for the 60" if I were to go this route.

 

[Xfaxman]

Well I am also considering the 60" so I called the manufacturer, he said have to buy from a dealer. I said who is dealer in my area? He said rental companies.

 

[future_vision]

Well I am also considering the 60" so I called the manufacturer, he said have to buy from a dealer. I said who is dealer in my area? He said rental companies.

Well, that was helpful of them wasn't it? I did a Google search and came up with a price tag around $5k. That's a bit much for something like this in my opinion. Here's one of the sites

Skid Steer Versa Rake | Star Industries

This unique skid steer attachment is a rock bucket, land plane, and screening bucket all in one. For simplicity and results, go with Versa Rake!

www.skidsteersolutions.com

 

[rScotty]

I use my rock/skeleton buckets a lot - we have sevearl. Used mostly for sorting the rocks out of dirt. Our land is old creek bottom and has lots of stones. For such a simple implement, it took a surprisingly long time to get really good at using it for sorting. But now after a few hours one pile becomes two - we have pile of dirt and a separate pile of stones.

There is a trick to using the rock bucket - pick up a little bit of dirt and rock with the teeth in the front and then tilt the bucket so that that small amount slides back.....sorting as it does. A bucket used this way tends to be longer front to back than side to side. And the necessity to slide it back does limit how much can be picked and sorted in one bucket load, but nothing works better. At first we tried picking up a full bucket and shaking it, but the load just sits there. Maybe some dirt dribbles out the bottom but not much.

Slat shape and spacing counts for a lot too. Also, the bucket needs to be able to tilt up quite a bit more than most do. So you will need some protection at the top of the back of the bucket to prevent dumping a load on the hood or in your lap.

I've written on this before, but we ended up buying several different configurations of rock bucket before figuring out what worked for our soil and sorting. My first buckets had flat laser cut bottom slats which looked fancy and aggresive - but worked poorly. The one that worked best has round tines with a bend in the front and it definitely longer front to back

Looks can fool with ground-engaging implements and buckets. The versa-bucket I see in the posts right before this one doesn't look like it would work for us. But you can't tell until using one.
rScotty

 

[future_vision]

I use my rock/skeleton buckets a lot - we have sevearl. Used mostly for sorting the rocks out of dirt. Our land is old creek bottom and has lots of stones. For such a simple implement, it took a surprisingly long time to get really good at using it for sorting. But now after a few hours one pile becomes two - we have pile of dirt and a separate pile of stones.

There is a trick to using the rock bucket - pick up a little bit of dirt and rock with the teeth in the front and then tilt the bucket so that that small amount slides back.....sorting as it does. A bucket used this way tends to be longer front to back than side to side. And the necessity to slide it back does limit how much can be picked and sorted in one bucket load, but nothing works better. At first we tried picking up a full bucket and shaking it, but the load just sits there. Maybe some dirt dribbles out the bottom but not much.

Slat shape and spacing counts for a lot too. Also, the bucket needs to be able to tilt up quite a bit more than most do. So you will need some protection at the top of the back of the bucket to prevent dumping a load on the hood or in your lap.

I've written on this before, but we ended up buying several different configurations of rock bucket before figuring out what worked for our soil and sorting. My first buckets had flat laser cut bottom slats which looked fancy and aggresive - but worked poorly. The one that worked best has round tines with a bend in the front and it definitely longer front to back

Looks can fool with ground-engaging implements and buckets. The versa-bucket I see in the posts right before this one doesn't look like it would work for us. But you can't tell until using one.
rScotty

Which bucket did you find works the best and is it a dedicated rock/skeleton bucket or does it include a grapple?