Grapple grapple size

[k8m]

Wanted to share my experience with my new 48" gator grapple I used on my farm in wva. The 48" is the perfect size if you have uneven terrain and rocks. A wider grapple would be better on flat terrain but with the smaller grapple it is easier to get it flat to the ground and under your logs and brush piles. I am a long time reader but have never posted, I have learned alot from all the threads. Thanks everybody for posting their opinions its helped make tractor and attachment buying easier.

 

[Code54]

Im down in Hurricane WV and was thinking of getting a grapple and was looking at a 60" model but you just said something that is now making me rethink that idea - that is a really good point! Thanks for the info!

 

[Glen Watkins]

Code I wouldn't get to hung up on the size. I have a 60" and like the fact that I can see the outside tines and see the angle but to each his own I guess!

 

[IslandTractor]

I'm a firm believer in 48 inch grapples myself. The key question to ask is "what can a larger grapple do that a 48 inch grapple cannot?". You will have a hard time identifying tasks that cannot be done by a 48 inch grapple but there are definitely tasks that a 48 can do that a larger grapple would have trouble with due to unnecessary and unwieldy size or excessive weight. A 48 allows you to put more force into a smaller area when digging too.

Everyone loves whatever grapple they buy but that should actually favor the 48 as these are less expensive, weigh less and are more manuverable.

 

[k8m]

Island tractor, your the reason I went with the 48" grapple, you made alot of good points in your posts. You are right about the digging part we have a bunch of old locust stumps that were still solid as a rock. I dug some out with the bucket but had to dig a big hole to be able to get under the roots to pop them out. With the 48' root grapple I was able to drive it under the roots and lift them up took about half the time and did not disturb the surrounding ground as much, heck a 36" grapple would have even been better, the smaller grapple keeps all the lifting forces between the loader arms. As far as being able to see the outside tines this grapple sticks out about 38" from the loader arms and I can see them. Like a said before a bigger grapple would be great on flat ground but with all the rocks and uneven terrain it's hard get the 48" to lay flat on the ground. As far as capacity I can grap enough to make the rearend come off the ground even with a heavy duty BB as counter balance.