Grapple width

[PeteN]

I've been looking to get a grapple (which isn't easy with the backorder situation) for my LS MT3 tractor and have been pondering the pros and cons of the width I should buy. I'm looking at getting a rake grapple and have mostly looked at grapples between 60-72". My tractor front tire track width is 72". I'm also trying to keep the weight of the grapple down so I can actually lift more. I'm thinking a 66" would work OK. Is there some advantage on going wider?

 

[M59]

PeteN,

Based on experience , you want a grapple that is as wide as your tractor's widest wheel width so you pick up everything in the path as you move forward.

 

[lman]

I picked this one up at the factory about 10 miles from my residence a few years ago. It's on my 40 hp tractor. It's 66" and works good for picking up brush and logs. You probably wouldn't have to wait if you wanted to make a trip around the lake.

Tomahawk Two-Cylinder Brush Grapple

Save time and effort when clearing brush with the Tomahawk 66” Two-Cylinder Brush Grapple. Constructed from 3/8” steel, this brush grapple makes an easy meal out of troublesome debris. The dual top clamps make the Tomahawk 66” Two-Cylinder Brush Grapple the perfect skid steer attachment for moving…

tomahawkattachments.com

 

[oosik]

I have a Land Pride SGC1560. It's 60" wide. My front wheels on my M6040 are right at 65" wide. It's never been a problem either picking up or raking stuff.

This grapple weighs - 820 pounds. I didn't go to the 72" because of the added weight AND I saw no advantages in a wider grapple. Limbs are limbs and can be gathered and picked up with most any width grapple.

I use the grapple mainly for large rocks and chunks of pine tree trunk. Don't forget to do something to your grill guard. It protects your grill, battery and radiator from sticks, stobs and branches.

 

[EverythingAttachments]

IF you're planning ahead, and want to absolutely maximize your tractor's ability and agility, nothing comes close to our 400 pound Wicked 60 Root Rake Grapple. Click that link for several vids and 245 customer reviews.
Travis

This guy has made a few videos of his, as well as his Wicked Toothbar in action!

 

[nyone]

I have a 73in wide tractor(and bucket) I have a 66in wide grapple. I haven't had any issues having a skinny grapple. The few Inches on each side dont matter because anything that's only a few inches long isnt going to stay in the grapple anyway.

Express steel and tomahawlk both make grapples in the US and are priced better than most big name sites. My tractor came with a tomahawlk and I'm happy with it.

 

[TractorTYMe]

My 72'' Homestead Implements Pinnacle root grapple is 366#, I have been so happy with it. It is made with Hardox 450 steel.

 

[PeteN]

IF you're planning ahead, and want to absolutely maximize your tractor's ability and agility, nothing comes close to our 400 pound Wicked 60 Root Rake Grapple. Click that link for several vids and 245 customer reviews.
Travis

View attachment 762427

This guy has made a few videos of his, as well as his Wicked Toothbar in action!

I was interested in your grapples but the 4 month wait has me looking elsewhere. Looks like your company makes really sturdy implements.

 

[oosik]

I've had several implements out here and a few were too light and failed. One of the reasons for the HD Land Pride grapple - I knew exactly what it would be used for and that it would have to be built heavy to do the work. I've had it nine plus years and never a moments problems.

The only thing I would suggest as an improvement. Paint it with a quality automotive paint. I DO NOT like the powder coat( electrostatic ) paint that was used. Most has flaked off the tine tips. I touch it up with rattle can black.

Peter - remember - a quality implement properly maintained and used will last a lifetime. A four month wait may not, really, be so very long. I'm not pushing any brand - but when purchasing a fairly costly implement - look to the future. You should never have to purchase a second grapple.

 

[Rockbadchild]

the only disadvantage I could see if you don't go wide enough you might have trouble to see where the rake bars are while you are working with it...

I have the 72'' on my MF 2706E, yes its feels heavy at the beginning but it works well and I don't have any problem lifting what I want to lift with it, I don't think the width is much of a
advantage other the easily seeing the side while working within, also don't see the weight being a disadvantage and more as a advantage for leverage and tractions...

I am really impress with this grappler works better then I imaging it would.

 

[EverythingAttachments]

I was interested in your grapples but the 4 month wait has me looking elsewhere. Looks like your company makes really sturdy implements.

I understand that some can't wait.

Our new factory expansion should help remedy it, but that can't happen overnight, either.

Wicked Toothbar is another great addition to enhance your bucket's strength and ability. Those have been shipping within 3ish weeks or so, and there's a very nice sale price right now!
Travis

 

[M59]

To me time is money so the initial cost of the implement is a very small part of the cost of using the implement over its lifetime. The faster I can get the work done the more I can get done. I run a 72" root rake which is as wide as the tractor's wheels so everything in the path of the tractor gets cleaned each pass. I expect this grapple/ root rake to work hard for the life of the tractor and still be in great shape. After six years of use and clearing several acres of brush, trees, and rocks, it looks and works great. The only issue I had was bees liked to nest in the steel tubes where the hydraulic hoses run to protect the hoses. A can of insulating foam solved that problem.

 

[2manyrocks]

I agree with oosik that you will be picking up material that will stick out both sides of the grapple anyway. The grapple needs to be wide enough to cover your loader arms, but not necessarily as wide as the wheel width.

The added weight of a wider grapple might not be what you actually want. The local city government bought a grapple that was too heavy and ended up chopping off both ends.

 

[Smokeydog]

Like a narrower than tractor grapple in the woods. Had a 72” grapple on 84” wide tractor that worked just fine. 30 year old grapple still working on a smaller M59. Buy once cry once enjoy a lifetime. The labor its’ saved is tremendous. Best hand I ever hired!

 

[sd455dan]

I've been looking to get a grapple (which isn't easy with the backorder situation) for my LS MT3 tractor and have been pondering the pros and cons of the width I should buy. I'm looking at getting a rake grapple and have mostly looked at grapples between 60-72". My tractor front tire track width is 72". I'm also trying to keep the weight of the grapple down so I can actually lift more. I'm thinking a 66" would work OK. Is there some advantage on going wider?

On the width No I don't think so, a bit narrower really has no drawbacks imo. Run a 66 inch L type on my 76" wide tractor and It is about right, but if it had been a few inches narrower it would have been fine as well.


I see LS sells grapples- maybe they have what you want in stock? Or is that what you were referring to with back orders?
Right now seems availability is the main problem I have run into as well with all kinds of things.

I think you will be happy with most any grapple versus none. I know mine made me wonder how I got along without it and I liked it so much that when I bought a Ford backhoe recently, one of my first purchases was a heavy duty thumb for it as well.

Here is hoping you can source one in the near future. they really are a game changer for any tractor.

 

[Sportsman762]

Width depends on how you use it.
Wide as tractor
- can grab more volume of brush
- good if used as a rake as it cleans up the width of the tractor.

Narrower
- uses less of loader rating you can carry heavier loads
- more maneuverable in the woods
- can grab a branch / log that is at more of an angle without hitting the open lid
- penetrates into brush piles easier

I have a 66" grapple on a 78" tractor. For me I have never had a need for a wider grapple. They are sure nice to have.

 

[dlctcg]

So our grapple is only 48" wide... It is not the heaviest of duty unit, but it fit our needs. I think it really depends on what you are going to use it for. We use ours for moving brush pile, moving rocks, moving stumps that have been removed, & moving logs. We don't do a lot of ground engagement work with ours & no one abuses it (well I might but...). I like that it is narrow as it gets into places I can not get the bucket into... It weighs less, which means we can lift more. There has been a lot of great info given on this thread... but you really need to decide how you are going to use the grapple / what for to know what is right for you.

Size & weight were a concern for us due to our tractor lift capacities... We are happy with a smaller width grapple.

 

[drumminj]

I have a 55" grapple for my L4701. Works great - I can see what I need to, and while I could see maybe preferring the 60", the extra 5" wouldn't affect function nor my ability to see where it is/how it's grabbing things.

One thing I took into consideration and didn't see mentioned (maybe I missed it) is the tine spacing. I went with the 55" over the 60" initially because the tine spacing was closer, so I knew it'd work better for smaller brush. And as others have said, it maximizes lift capacity and makes it more manuverable in tight spaces/amongst the tress

 

[LoneStarLandMan]

I tried a cheap - $1800 -grapple & it folded like tinfoil picking up RR timbers; so I took it apart and just use if for a rock rake/bucket
Then I bought and waited 14weeks- for my EA Wicked Root grapple 60" Dual lids & this sucker is sturdy and highly capable....Certainly worth the wait. W Antifreeze&water in the rear tires, it lifted a 30'x24" cedar to the burn pile, and is great for downing & moving trees in the woods up to 12"+.
I would suggest going with the width of your tractor or one size narrower for mobility in tighter spaces....Would not recommend going any wider than your tractor- totally unnecessary

 

[JWR]

On the width No I don't think so, a bit narrower really has no drawbacks imo. Run a 66 inch L type on my 76" wide tractor and It is about right, but if it had been a few inches narrower it would have been fine as well.


I see LS sells grapples- maybe they have what you want in stock? Or is that what you were referring to with back orders?
Right now seems availability is the main problem I have run into as well with all kinds of things.

I think you will be happy with most any grapple versus none. I know mine made me wonder how I got along without it and I liked it so much that when I bought a Ford backhoe recently, one of my first purchases was a heavy duty thumb for it as well.

Here is hoping you can source one in the near future. they really are a game changer for any tractor.

Grapples are stocked at many places. Many of them are good and stout and I would not pay all that much attention to brand. Do some searching within a couple hours drive and then go look at the actual grapple in person. About width: I have found that nearly all the time I am picking up limbs and tree trunks, etc. and rarely would a wider grapple be of any help. The narrower grapple is noticeably more maneuverable. Only if you are scraping a wide area would the wider one be better -- even then if you have a lot of scraping to do use a landscaping rake.

I bought my Wildcat model at Auctions Done Right! - McGrew Equipment in PA. They seem to stock a lot of these. Not just an auction place. I have to think there are similar places within a couple hour drive of you there in Wis that stock grapples. I found a quick pickup truck trip does the trick (they fit in the bed OK) and I like seeing what I am getting before buying it.