Grapple Best Root Grapple for 75hp Tractor?

[fivepoint]

Looking for advice and expertise from the community.

I have a new 2015 New Holland T4.75 (75hp FWA) tractor and I'm looking to invest in a high quality grapple bucket.

My primary uses will be picking up and moving trees as well as scraping roots from ground.

Want to make sure whatever model I choose has dual hydraulic arms for variably sized loads (to prevent bending) but could really use some advice on which brand has the highest quality bucket. To me, these types of buckets get a ton of use/abuse so build quality is paramount.

Here are a few I've been looking at:

Heavy Duty Root Grapple For Skid Steer
Skid Steer Root Grapple | Severe Duty | Blue Diamond Attachments


Any advice on brands would be useful, and maybe features/comparisons I should be on the look out for on each model.

Thanks!

 

[MtnViewRanch]

This is the one that I have. The 81" unit. They did not have the extreme duty unit 10 years ago. The heavy duty unit has worked fine for me and my tractor is 12,000lbs and has a lift capacity of 3900lbs to full height. If I remember correctly, the grapple weighs about 900-1000lbs.

Many people say to go with a narrow unit, my thinking is that it really depends on what you are doing and of course the capability of the machine that it is going on.

I've cleared roots from several acres by moving along with the tips in the dirt about 8" down.

They all seem to work pretty good, but prices are at a very wide range.

Good luck with your final decision.

 

[TomSeller]

For that size tractor, I would talk to the people at the Rake Shop.

www.TheRakeShop.com / Root Rakes Grapples Attachments & Skid Steers

They have the different ranges and will custom make you what you need. They lower tine design is superior to many in my opinion.

 

[fivepoint]

This is the one that I have. The 81" unit. They did not have the extreme duty unit 10 years ago. The heavy duty unit has worked fine for me and my tractor is 12,000lbs and has a lift capacity of 3900lbs to full height. If I remember correctly, the grapple weighs about 900-1000lbs.

I had originally planned on going with a bucket slightly more narrow (72-74") than my tractor (82"), just because the larger bucket seemed like it might be harder to get into narrow spots in the woods, etc. It looks like most of your work happens in more wide-open areas which to me makes a wider bucket a no-brainer!

My tractor stats:
Width: 82"
Weight: 6,172 lbs
Lift Capacity: 2,315 lbs
Lift Height: 128"

For that size tractor, I would talk to the people at the Rake Shop.

www.TheRakeShop.com / Root Rakes Grapples Attachments & Skid Steers

They have the different ranges and will custom make you what you need. They lower tine design is superior to many in my opinion.

I like that design! Seems super well built and the lack of a horizontal front bar holding the tines together is interesting. I suppose the argument for the front bar would be that it prevents the bucket from diving too deep when digging roots while driving forward. Then again the curve of the tines on this model might also prevent this diving tendancy? Thanks for the link!

 

[Utopia Texas]

My farm has a large Pecan tree orchard where I move hundreds of downed large limbs to burn piles and I also move a lot on pallets so I opted not to get a root grapple. Instead I bought a combo adjustable pallet fork with hydraulic hand. This way I can move tree limbs and many items on pallets with the same unit. A root grapple for me would not be useful. In the pictures below the unit is on a Boomer 3050 but I have since sold it and now use these forks on a T4.75. The unit weighs in at around 650 pounds empty.

 

[oosik]

I have a Land Pride SGC 1560. Its 60" wide and weighs 820 lbs. I got this very heavy duty grapple because I have a history of being able to break an anvil with a feather. So far its done everything I want and I've caused no damage to it.View attachment 415786 I went with the "theory" of a narrow grapple - - I use the grapple to pick & move large rocks and cut sections of large pine trees. It will never be used to pick or move brush as I have very little on my property.

 

[Xfaxman]

Bought this in January of 2011, a 44" wide, 31.5" opening, 946 pound Gorilla Grapple from: Heavy Duty Grapples - 6 tine, 10 tine and 10 tine wide attachments for skid steers - Sidney Manufacturing

I use it on trees.

And concrete.

Pulling cedar stumps.

 

[jcummins]

NAI light duty beefed up with extra steel plus going to 1/2 steel. On M7040. Has single lid.


BTW ADMINS..... The app crashed twice posting this... using Samsung S4.

 

[TomSeller]

Width: 82"
Weight: 6,172 lbs
Lift Capacity: 2,315 lbs
Lift Height: 128"
!

Lift of 2,315 lbs is very nice, but less than I earlier thought. You might want to checkout the new Everything Attachments large grapple. I would hate to see you put a 1000 lb grapple on it and lose nearly half or more of your lift depending on how far out your load is.

 

[Northcountryboy]

Here is my wicked root grapple by EA. They have since increased they lid opening height. If you buy one make sure you get the new one.

 

[fivepoint]

Lift of 2,315 lbs is very nice, but less than I earlier thought. You might want to checkout the new Everything Attachments large grapple. I would hate to see you put a 1000 lb grapple on it and lose nearly half or more of your lift depending on how far out your load is.

Tom, can you verify if the everthingattachments.com grapple you're talking about is the one I linked to in my original post? If so, I did notice that the 73" version has a weight of 950+ lbs.

I did talk to everythingattachments.com about their new Wicked Grapple and they said it was too lightweight for my tractor and were afraid it'd bend with heavy use... they suggested the one I linked to in the OP.

 

[EverythingAttachments]

Tom, can you verify if the everthingattachments.com grapple you're talking about is the one I linked to in my original post? If so, I did notice that the 73" version has a weight of 950+ lbs.

I did talk to everythingattachments.com about their new Wicked Grapple and they said it was too lightweight for my tractor and were afraid it'd bend with heavy use... they suggested the one I linked to in the OP.

I agree with the suggestion. The CA Xtreme Grapple would be perfect for your tractor. It has a 43" opening and is beefy enough to withstand anything your tractor can throw at it.
Travis

 

[HCJtractor]

I agree with the suggestion. The CA Xtreme Grapple would be perfect for your tractor. It has a 43" opening and is beefy enough to withstand anything your tractor can throw at it. Travis

I second that. It's an awesome grapple.

 

[fivepoint]

The biggest difference I can see between the Everything Attachments CA Xtreme Grapple and the Rake Shop version appears to be the front tines.

The Everything Attachments grapple has a horizontal cylindrical bar which ties all of the tines together. To me, this would be good for limiting depth for digging up roots, but if I'm correct, it would also limit functionality when attempting to dig up rocks or something that requires more depth. The Rake Shop version would seem to offer more usage flexibility assuming the tines would not bend (they sure look strong, but hard to say).

I like the idea of buying from the larger company to get what is sure to be good warranty coverage, etc. and I haven't talked to the folks from Rake Shop yet to get stats on weight, cost, etc. yet.

Thoughts from the experts here?

 

[HCJtractor]

The biggest difference I can see between the Everything Attachments CA Xtreme Grapple and the Rake Shop version appears to be the front tines. The Everything Attachments grapple has a horizontal cylindrical bar which ties all of the tines together. To me, this would be good for limiting depth for digging up roots, but if I'm correct, it would also limit functionality when attempting to dig up rocks or something that requires more depth. The Rake Shop version would seem to offer more usage flexibility assuming the tines would not bend (they sure look strong, but hard to say). I like the idea of buying from the larger company to get what is sure to be good warranty coverage, etc. and I haven't talked to the folks from Rake Shop yet to get stats on weight, cost, etc. yet. Thoughts from the experts here?

I looked at the rake shops online. The light duty ones look very weak to me. I know how I use mine, and I guarantee that I would bend those long unsupported tines. Their trash grapple version looks better. As far as digging, I really don't think having tines connected really limits depth, as frankly, about a foot or so deep is all you're going to get with a tractor, each pass. But having them splinted together really adds strength. I would also be afraid of wedging a log or limb between those tines, requiring a lot of work to pull it or cut it out. That's just my opinion. Never seen in person, but that EA X treme looks like a Mac daddy grapple.

 

[HCJtractor]

I looked at the rake shops online. The light duty ones look very weak to me. I know how I use mine, and I guarantee that I would bend those long unsupported tines. Their trash grapple version looks better. As far as digging, I really don't think having tines connected really limits depth, as frankly, about a foot or so deep is all you're going to get with a tractor, each pass. But having them splinted together really adds strength. I would also be afraid of wedging a log or limb between those tines, requiring a lot of work to pull it or cut it out. That's just my opinion. Never seen in person, but that EA X treme looks like a Mac daddy grapple.

I also have a 70 horse Kubota and use my grapple a tremendous amount , clearing trees and brush,uprooting, moving downed trees, cleaning up chain saw debris, some digging, and even food plot "plowing" in a pinch. I have a 48" fairly heavy duty, one thumb version. It works great. I would not get one wider than 60" but that my start an argument. Two thumbs to me are not necessary unless you have a wide grapple, say over 5 feet. I contend a narrower one digs and uproots better than a wide one. A wide one may "rake" better, but my narrow one works fine. Usually when picking up limbs, you don't need to get under the whole width to pick them up. Just like a pitchfork can pick up a wide mass of intertwined limbs . The narrow one is easier to maneuver, lighter, cheaper, and digs better. I don't think you lose anything going narrow, say 48" to 60" max

 

[txdon]

. . . Then again the curve of the tines on this model might also prevent this diving tendancy? . . .

That would be correct.

 

[TomSeller]

I have not heard of the Rake Shop grapple tines bending. I have a different brand with long tines and have not had a problem. I like the penetrating ability into tree branches, etc. That dang cross tube stops the tines from penetrating.

 

[woodchipper]

Here are two models of root/debris rakes, with excellent durability. Built tuff. You could work day in, day out with those.
MDG 37"
Rock, Root & Tree Grapples GR-S for 45-85 hp machines

I personally use a Martach root rake with my back hoe. The primary use, is to move full length trees. It is 72" wide, with double lid. Very safe, and the tree trunck gets a good tight grip all the time. Very important if you travel on uneven surfaces. It excells more at back raking than forward digging. You need way more tractor weight if you go down a fair bit. Tine spacing for forward travel is best around 10". Otherwise it acts way too much like a bulldozer.
For back dragging, 6" to 8" spacing is best. You get way more control by going backward, and get a more thorough job at cleaning and leveling.
As for multiple logs and brush picking you will be better off with the longer and flatter bottom tines. These models can carry much more, volume wise. Less trips to the pit or burn pile.
For the width, I would recommend you get something about 60"-62". Not more, as you will limit your manoeuvering ability in the woods. It will also fare better at rock picking. Backracking/leveling will suffer a bit...
Hydraulic hoses and cylinders must be protected. Mandatory!!
I wish you good luck in your search!!

 

[HCJtractor]

That would be correct.

Just curious. I use mine a lot to push over trees. Sometimes up to 6 or 7" diameter. I would be afraid to do that with those bottom tines. Seems either I would bend them of wedge the trunk in between them. Maybe that's not a problem. The penetration issue never has been an issue to me. I usually scoop under piles of debris easily. Not wanting to start an argument. Like I've said before, any grapple is a great tool, and the operator skill means a lot.