Grapple width

[foggy1111]

I think I will be buying a used 3320 this week.....and I plan to add a dedicated root grapple to the FEL (not a bucket grapple). I have my eye on the Markham light duty set up.

I am unsure how wide of set up to put on this tractor. I beleive I see KennyD's listed as a 48".....but that would not cover the tire width....which seems mandatory. I want to keep the width down to about 60....I think. Any comments or suggestions before I call Melissa?

 

[kennyd]

Mine is indeed 48". I do not believe you need to cover tire width at all, that just adds weight. Search post's by user IslandTractor , he has written volumes on this very issue.

 

[jinman]

I think wide grapples are a disadvantage. I would prefer a 48" grapple. I don't understand why wheel width would have anything to do with grapple width. I believe the ability to get into small confined areas is a big plus. Often with wide grapples, one side is digging in while the other is not even touching the ground on uneven terrain. Narrow width also gives you an ability to "pick" big rocks with the grapple without disturbing too much dirt. My vote is solidly on the side of the 48" grapple.:thumbsup:

 

[KRBrouwer]

I think I will be buying a used 3320 this week.....and I plan to add a dedicated root grapple to the FEL (not a bucket grapple). I have my eye on the Markham light duty set up.

I am unsure how wide of set up to put on this tractor. I beleive I see KennyD's listed as a 48".....but that would not cover the tire width....which seems mandatory. I want to keep the width down to about 60....I think. Any comments or suggestions before I call Melissa?

I have the Markham 48" grapple with the narrow (18") upper on my 35HP T2220 New Holland. It is a good combination of width and weight, especially when picking up larger rocks one at a time. In my opinion it is overbuild for what my tractor can pick up. There is no way I will ever bend anything on it.

Ken

 

[foggy1111]

Thanks for the info. Those pics of KennyD's and others are a bit deceiving. The grapples sure LOOK wider than 48".....as the camera is closer to the grapple....so I needed to clear that up. It's funny how you can read this stuff.....but still need to clear-up some issues when its time to get out your wallet.

Just did a re-read of the many posts on grapples. LOTS of good info posted on this topic. The tractor I'm going to have a look at already has the JD flex and hard lines from the tractor and along the loader frame to the front. :thumbsup: The guy evidently had planned for a grapple one day....but never used the lines.

 

[magicheater]

I think wide grapples are a disadvantage. I would prefer a 48" grapple. I don't understand why wheel width would have anything to do with grapple width. I believe the ability to get into small confined areas is a big plus. Often with wide grapples, one side is digging in while the other is not even touching the ground on uneven terrain. Narrow width also gives you an ability to "pick" big rocks with the grapple without disturbing too much dirt. My vote is solidly on the side of the 48" grapple.:thumbsup:

This can apply to bucket widths as well. Glad to see this mindset.:thumbsup:
60" Bucket with 66" front track

 

[davey4000]

Before Millonzi went out of business I ordered a 66" grapple from them. They mistakenly shipped a 60". Although very happy with the 60" I wish I had opted for the 48" for the reasons already stated.

 

[radman1]

I will go against what others have recommended. I would get a grapple at least as wide as the tractor. You want to remove any potential brush, roots, sticks, rocks ect that are in the path of the tractor. The additional weight is minor but occassionally not having enough width is major. Why have the tractor run over anything remaining because of a narrow grapple? I have tine grapple and construction grapple for CUT and skid steer. Large grapple on my ag tractor. Never once, did I wish for a narrower grapple to save a few pounds of weight.

 

[Goodluck w/ That]

I too thought the grapple should be about the same size as the bucket. After reading several posts here, I went with the 48" LD from Gator for my Kubota L39. I'm glad I did, it is stout & even though only 48", I have yet to have any problem picking brush up. Brush is so bushy that with the clamping action crushing it together, it doesn't fall out. I have even moved some tree stumps that the tractor couldn't lift, I pulled up, got under, clamped, & drove backwards with the front of the grapple skiding across the ground. When I got the woods I had to try to keep rolling the stump to get it back in the woods. I generally don't like being that hard on my equipment but had no other way to move them.

 

[JHTFarmer]

I'll join radman as a contrarian;

Went with a WR Long RBG grapple that is as wide as my tractor (Case DX40). In my case a more narrow grapple would have been a disadvantage. Its width (tractor wide) and height (operators level when open) are a necessity when pushing into and effeciently clearing a thicket of brush, underbrush, and saplings without risking damage to the tractor.
On the other hand, if the majority of work is going to be moving felled trees and random debris, a narrow grapple would be just fine.

 

[yekrut]

I have a 48" grapple on a Kubota L39. 450+ hrs and going strong. Brought a portable sawmill guy in this weekend. Sawed about 30 cherry logs - about 2000 bf. Made the prep of position logs and loading and stacking wood a heck of alot easier. I'll bet it reduced manual work by 70% and sped the operation up by 50%. I have never had a need for anything wider.

 

[powerstroke444e]

I made mine 54" so the cylinders would fit and be coverd? Its on a b26 kubota and have loaded/moved over 30 acres of small trees with it and would not want anything other than a grapple on my bigger tractor next time.

 

[dangerdoc]

Mine is indeed 48". I do not believe you need to cover tire width at all, that just adds weight. Search post's by user IslandTractor , he has written volumes on this very issue.

When you are grabbing brush, a narrow bucket will clear a path wider than your tractor. When you are grubbing rocks and roots, a narrow bucket works better. When you are getting firewood, it is easier navigating between the trees with a narrow buck. The narrow bucket is also lighter increasing the weight of material you can pickup.


The only time I can see where a wide grapple would be beneficial is if you were trying to rake trash with it.

 

[kennyd]

When you are grabbing brush, a narrow bucket will clear a path wider than your tractor. When you are grubbing rocks and roots, a narrow bucket works better. When you are getting firewood, it is easier navigating between the trees with a narrow buck. The narrow bucket is also lighter increasing the weight of material you can pickup.


The only time I can see where a wide grapple would be beneficial is if you were trying to rake trash with it.

:thumbsup: I agree 110%

Some pictures of mine in action:

 

[MtnViewRanch]

It seems to me that typically in these threads the guys with the smaller tractors prefer the smaller grapples and the guys with the bigger tractors like them a bit bigger. Do ya think that there is a correlation there? Maybe, just maybe the bigger ones get used a bit differently since the bigger machines have different capabilities.

 

[AKfish]

I've got a 66" double cylinder grapple on my JD 110. I wish I had a 60". Heavy, heavy... I've used it on a Bobcat T250 and beat that Bobcat to it's knees!!

Unless it's on the front end of a dozer - you don't need anything more than a 48" - IMO.

AKfish

 

[jinman]

My grapple is mounted on a 5' wide rock bucket instead of a root rake. It's really nothing more than a thumb for holding odd materials inside the bucket. Here are a couple of pictures of the grapple in use. In the case of the pole, it was too wide to carry cross-wise through the trees, so I grabbed the end of it and clamped down, making my tractor look like it was an olympic pole vaulter. In the second photo, I'm gathering big rocks to use in landscaping. Just having a tiny thumb type grapple worked great.

 

[Redbug]

Hey Jim...what do you think that rock weighed?

 

[pitt_md]

It seems to me that typically in these threads the guys with the smaller tractors prefer the smaller grapples and the guys with the bigger tractors like them a bit bigger. Do ya think that there is a correlation there? Maybe, just maybe the bigger ones get used a bit differently since the bigger machines have different capabilities.

Amen! It all depends on what you use it for. I also believe that very few grapple users have had the chance to test wider V narrow in a side by side.
If you want the real low down on what works best for what call up the makers of the grapples and ask them.

 

[jimmysisson]

I had to order mine 5' wide so it would mate with the proprietary Ford quick-attach system, which sticks out wider than the loader frame. I'm pleased I did because I can see the edge of the thing for picking up individual rocks, logs, etc. Forward vision is limited with my loader, tough with forks and grapple. More modern units might be easier to see around.
Mine has two clamps, and is a Millonzi LD60. I'm very happy with it but have no experience with any others.