EA Attachments vs Homestead Implements

[future_vision]

I'm going to throw this out there because I am really curious. What is the differences that would make one better than the other? For example how does the the EA Wicked 60 measure up against the HI Root Grapple Pinnacle series?

EA Wicked 60

https://www.(Temporarily blocked du...ch-Wicked-Root-Rake-Grapple-p/eta-60-wrrg.htm

Homestead Root Grapple Pinnacle Series

Pinnacle Series Root Grapple - Rugged, American-Made Grapples

Discover the Pinnacle Series Root Grapples, perfect for clearing large limbs, dead trees, and boulders. Available in multiple sizes and colors for Cat-1 tractors. Order now for reliable land maintenance.

homesteadimplements.com

The differences I see are:
Weight - HI is lighter
Price - Homestead is cheaper by about $1000
Durability - Not sure here. Hardox teeth on both. Cylinders looks the same from a spec perspective. Maybe the tubing/piping is the difference?
Utility - Openings are about the same.
Build/lead time - 16 weeks for EA and 7-8 for Homestead (this is kind of a big deal)
Shipping - HI ships to home for free (also kind of a big deal)

Is EA, at $1000 more plus double the lead/build time, plus no free home delivery a better purchase in any way?

 

[Cataclysm]

Just checking the listed spec online, the HI is 5/16 material where the EA is 3/8. That probably accounts for the weight difference. The EA is likely stronger.

EA has all the correct points reinforced. HI may or may not.

For full disclosure I have an EA 72" long bottom that I call my Wicked Twin. I'd buy another EA. I probably have close to 1,000 hrs of rocks, concrete and trees on my Wicked Twin with no issues.

For your uses the HI may well be strong enough.

 

[shooterdon]

I have the MTL 60" grapple and have not broken it yet. IIRC I paid $1000 for it three years ago. But all I do is process firewood, move brush and a few large rocks. It weighs 530 lbs.

MTL RG-7 HD Root Grapples 60" or 72" Models Black or Orange Universal quick attach Mount - Skid Steer — MTL Attachments

Brand New Built in the USA Skid Steer Universal Quick Attach RG-7 Root Grapple ***LIMITED 150 PRODUCTION per Month OF RG7 MODELS*** Highest quality Construction - BUILT IN THE USA Only 150 of the RG7 Grapples will be made each Month to be sold- This includes all sizes and Models of the RG7

www.mtlattachments.com

If I was going to do a lot of heavy work, I would buy a better grapple but I only have 20 acres so it will not get a lot of use. It was over twice the cost to get a better grapple and so far I have not regretted going cheap.

In hindsight, I wish I had gone with a stump bucket with a grapple. Picking logs off a pile with a 60" grapple can get tricky. Something like this:

MTL 2020 Model HD Tractor Stump Grapple — MTL Attachments

Brand new Built in the USA MTL ATTACHMENTS Heavy Duty Tooth Stump bucket Grapple John Deere Loader Mount Bucket design gives extra strength for those hard jobs Replaceable Pin on Teeth for digging those hard to get stumps. Compact Tractor through mid size up to 60HP 50" width back plate

www.mtlattachments.com

 

[future_vision]

Just checking the listed spec online, the HI is 5/16 material where the EA is 3/8. That probably accounts for the weight difference. The EA is likely stronger.

EA has all the correct points reinforced. HI may or may not.

For full disclosure I have an EA 72" long bottom that I call my Wicked Twin. I'd buy another EA. I probably have close to 1,000 hrs of rocks, concrete and trees on my Wicked Twin with no issues.

For your uses the HI may well be strong enough.

I don't really doubt in my mind that the EA is stronger. I guess the need to have a grapple now, or at least soon, makes me wonder if the extra 2+ month wait and the extra $1000 and I have to pick it up at a business or terminal is worth what might be a minimally better product. I'll be using the grapple for brush, moving logs around for milling and stones and will be doing this for the foreseeable future on my property. Not sure how much I'll use it as a root rake. At least not in open fields. I can see using the tines on a box blade more for that. That being said I'm doing ok with my poor man's grapple(forks) but really wanting/needing the precision and ability to move larger loads.

 

[tacticalturnip]

I don't really doubt in my mind that the EA is stronger. I guess the need to have a grapple now, or at least soon, makes me wonder if the extra 2+ month wait and the extra $1000 and I have to pick it up at a business or terminal is worth what might be a minimally better product. I'll be using the grapple for brush, moving logs around for milling and stones and will be doing this for the foreseeable future on my property. Not sure how much I'll use it as a root rake. At least not in open fields. I can see using the tines on a box blade more for that. That being said I'm doing ok with my poor man's grapple(forks) but really wanting/needing the precision and ability to move larger loads.

Have you looked into the grapple offered by Kioti? I don't know who the OEM is, but I'm quite liking mine.

 

[JM7500]

Lighter weight can be an advantage for lifting. A 100 lbs can make a difference when lifting logs.

 

[future_vision]

Have you looked into the grapple offered by Kioti? I don't know who the OEM is, but I'm quite liking mine.

I have not considering Kioti attachments as they are often more expensive and not always great quality. That and my Kioti dealer was selling HLA grapples. Does that mean they don't think Kioti grapples are any good or was it just a supply chain issue? Question for me to ask.

 

[future_vision]

I have the MTL 60" grapple and have not broken it yet. IIRC I paid $1000 for it three years ago. But all I do is process firewood, move brush and a few large rocks. It weighs 530 lbs.

MTL RG-7 HD Root Grapples 60" or 72" Models Black or Orange Universal quick attach Mount - Skid Steer — MTL Attachments

Brand New Built in the USA Skid Steer Universal Quick Attach RG-7 Root Grapple ***LIMITED 150 PRODUCTION per Month OF RG7 MODELS*** Highest quality Construction - BUILT IN THE USA Only 150 of the RG7 Grapples will be made each Month to be sold- This includes all sizes and Models of the RG7

www.mtlattachments.com

If I was going to do a lot of heavy work, I would buy a better grapple but I only have 20 acres so it will not get a lot of use. It was over twice the cost to get a better grapple and so far I have not regretted going cheap.

In hindsight, I wish I had gone with a stump bucket with a grapple. Picking logs off a pile with a 60" grapple can get tricky. Something like this:

MTL 2020 Model HD Tractor Stump Grapple — MTL Attachments

Brand new Built in the USA MTL ATTACHMENTS Heavy Duty Tooth Stump bucket Grapple John Deere Loader Mount Bucket design gives extra strength for those hard jobs Replaceable Pin on Teeth for digging those hard to get stumps. Compact Tractor through mid size up to 60HP 50" width back plate

www.mtlattachments.com

I've looked at them and was pretty impressed. Nothing I wanted was in stock though so I moved on. I'll need to check them out again.

 

[future_vision]

Lighter weight can be an advantage for lifting. A 100 lbs can make a difference when lifting logs.

I suppose you could be right. But is that 100lbs in exchange for a weaker attachment? Then that extra 100lbs you could lift might come at the expense of damaging the grapple. Tough call.

 

[tacticalturnip]

I have not considering Kioti attachments as they are often more expensive and not always great quality. That and my Kioti dealer was selling HLA grapples. Does that mean they don't think Kioti grapples are any good or was it just a supply chain issue? Question for me to ask.

That's definitely something to discuss with your dealer; my Kioti dealer sells 3 different grapples brands if I recall correctly.