Grapple Grapples Galore

[1bush2hog]

Mtnview -

I could not get your link to work

 

[RFB]

glowplug,

One thing you might want to do is to check your hydro pressure with a gauge (installed on a QC) clicked onto one of your loaders QC's.

When I checked my 5030 upon delivery, it was substantially lower (hundreds of pounds) than facory spec. Shims placed into the relief valve assembly will enable one to adjust the pressure up to factory specifications, which gives/restores full FEL lift capability. And they will lift (real world) quite a bit more than they say.

 

[Glowplug]

glowplug,

One thing you might want to do is to check your hydro pressure with a gauge (installed on a QC) clicked onto one of your loaders QC's.

When I checked my 5030 upon delivery, it was substantially lower (hundreds of pounds) than facory spec. Shims placed into the relief valve assembly will enable one to adjust the pressure up to factory specifications, which gives/restores full FEL lift capability. And they will lift (real world) quite a bit more than they say.

Thanks. I'll have to try that. I was digging up an outside riding arena last night with my FEL. When I had a full bucket the rate of lifting was very slow. Now, that was wet, coarse, heavy sand-like material. But it had my loader lift capacity maxed out.

Thanks to everyone who have replied thus far. I couldn't get the link for Unlimited Fabrication that MtnViewRanch had posted to work on my home computer last night either. But it worked fine on my computer at work today. I don't know why.

I think I am narrowing it down to the WR Long grapple, because there are so many good things said about it and the Markhamwelding grapple. Part of the reason I like the Markham welding grapple is that if I order it and my tooth bar at the same type I would get a bit of a discount. I still have Millonzi on the short-list too. I just can't see spending over $3,000 on those other grapples. It doesn't seem like they would do any better and are not worth it.

 

[MrJimi]

Mountainview's link
Skid Steer loader attachments
Yes, its the right one, it takes you to rootgrapple.com

 

[pdsrms]

I also have an Unlimited Fabrications standard root grapple 63" on a L39, (2200 lbs. max height lift at bucket center). It is a great piece of equipment. Paid $1,500 delivered. Be wary of the extra weight. Mine ways 600 lbs and I have had to switch back to a regular bucket (with chain on bucket hook)when lifting large root balls. Sometimes that loss of a few hundred pounds lifting capacity makes a difference.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Sorry for any problems that any of you had with my link, I don't know why there are any problems, it works fine at my end.( home & work )

 

[IslandTractor]

. Be wary of the extra weight. Mine ways 600 lbs and I have had to switch back to a regular bucket (with chain on bucket hook)when lifting large root balls. Sometimes that loss of a few hundred pounds lifting capacity makes a difference.

I agree. Smaller is better when it comes to grapples for brush, trees and root balls. The bigger grapples come to their own when collecting construction debris etc or if you have a truly large skid steer.

I have posted a few more photos of the "naked" Millonzi 48" Light duty root grapple. Wt. 280lbs. These show some of the positions you can put the grapple in to pick up material. I think a straight bottomed grapple might not work as well with what I term the "pick up" mode rather than "scoop up" which all grapples and grapple buckets should do well. While I use the scoop mode quite often, when it comes to picking up a small brush pile it is more efficient and less messy to come down over the top of the pile and "pick up" the pile rather than pushing it along the ground to scoop it up. I will actually come down on the pile at a slight angle to get the bottom grapple jaw under the pile then slowly drive forwards while rotating the top grapple over the pile. I find that increases the amount I can get in by rolling the pile into the grapple jaws. Once the top jaw has rolled over I just close it and I have a nice big bite of brush. The same is true for positioning the grapple to pull out small rootballs/stumps as you can come down over the top of the stump and use the grapple jaws to dig under the stump and then curl and pull it out in one step.

 

[ScottOkla]

I have the Unlimited Fabrications grapple (rootgrapple.com) like a few others on this thread. I love it. $ for $, it is the best value of any attachment I bought. It is VERY sim ilar to the Markham one. Same city even.

I use it on my L5030, with my large Cammond BB on the back (same as one of the Texas posters). I can still lift the back tires off the ground if I am not careful. I am now a believer that narrower (which I have) is better, but the light-duty one might be even better for my tractor/uses than the heavy-duty one I have.

My typical use is to move very old and very large trees to burn piles. I can clamp down on them from the top fairly well, but maybe not as well as other designs do. On the other hand, the dual upper parts allow me to pick up and keep things in the grapple that others may not.

 

[m7040]

With Thumb on the bucket I can do about the same things that Islandtractor can pick up for a lot less cost

 

[SOS]

Here is a bolt on one. ($1,200)

 

[Haoleguy]

I have been using the 77" Worksaver grapple on my JD5325 for close to two years now with no major issues. It is built strong and is weighty at nearly 1000 lbs. I have moved some very large trees and rocks with this grappler......I use my BH as the rear ballast. The weblink is the following Worksaver Split Grapple for Skid Steer and Front Loader

 

[pdsrms]

A complete root grapple with continuous welds for $1300
Skid Steer Root Grapple
I too believe this is the best implement $ for $ I have bought.

 

[milkman]

Here's one that works well and is similar to several others shown here, can pick up a pile of brush or one stick of wood at a time and move to the splitter. Found it on EBay.

 

[Smithla]

I just ordered one from Home and price was very reasonable. I'll take a picture and post it when installed. Its called the "Big Arm", 32" and cost $435 shipping included.

Regards,

 

[Glowplug]

I just ordered one from Home and price was very reasonable. I'll take a picture and post it when installed. Its called the "Big Arm", 32" and cost $435 shipping included.

"The Big Arm" looks a lot like "The Thumb" from Greens Machine Shop on ebay that a lot of people have purchased, only a bit more expensive. That is, unless that price included the hydraulic hoses.

But what I'm talking about is a stand-alone grapple rake or root grapple, not an attachable grapple to my regular bucket.

 

[IslandTractor]

"The Big Arm" looks a lot like "The Thumb" from Greens Machine Shop on ebay that a lot of people have purchased, only a bit more expensive. That is, unless that price included the hydraulic hoses.

But what I'm talking about is a stand-alone grapple rake or root grapple, not an attachable grapple to my regular bucket.

Actually the link was to Dehner Welding which has expanded and now has a pretty full line of grapple related implements. They now even have a 48" version of a root grapple at about the same price as Millonzi. I prefer the design of the Millonzi as I don't see any advantage to the straight bottom jaw tines for anything other than trash pickup.

The price quoted by Smithla for the "big arm" grapple for a bucket grapple set up must include a hefty shipping charge as it is substantially higher than the prices quoted on the website.

 

[IslandTractor]

With Thumb on the bucket I can do about the same things that Islandtractor can pick up for a lot less cost

A would agree that a grapple added to a bucket enhances the performance of the bucket a great deal. I don't agree that it makes it the equivalent of a true grapple however. The bucket sides interfere with getting a big load of brush and would not provide as stable control of a big log as a true grapple. The true grapple allows the load to rest on the back of the grapple whereas the bucket grapple would just hold the log out further against the sides of the bucket. That would reduce lifting capacity and stability while moving. Also, I can see straight through my grapple while I am manuvering it, you cannot see through the back of a bucket which limits effectiveness.

Even though I think a regular grapple is superior, I would certainly put a grapple on a bucket if I could not justify the extra $$ for a separate grapple. I don't think the savings are that tremendous however especially if you already have a QA adapter. If you buy a bucket grapple kit from ATI it will cost about $600 which is almost as much as I paid for my full 48" grapple from Millonzi. The small lightweight root grapples can be had for less than $700 which is an amazing deal IMHO. That might be twice the price of the cheapest bucket grapple attachments but as a dedicated implement it will do more than the bucket attachment and, you don't have to weld or spend time installing the bucket grapple. To be fair if you don't already have one you do need a QA adapter for the FEL which can cost an additional $600 or so from ATI or Horst Welding but that is useful in other ways too.

Bottom line is that a bucket grapple is an excellent addition for a CUT with FEL but is still a compromise. A stand alone grapple is the more versatile tool and so long as people don't buy the big heavy duty versions designed for big skid steers, they can be quite economical too. At $700 these things are a whole lot of bang for the buck.

 

[Oleozz]

Here is a pic of some brush picked up by Dehner's Big Arm. I would have preferred the grapple bucket but total cost for my setup last spring, including hoses and fittings run from the rear remotes was $520.

 

[Glowplug]

Bottom line is that a bucket grapple is an excellent addition for a CUT with FEL but is still a compromise. A stand alone grapple is the more versatile tool and so long as people don't buy the big heavy duty versions designed for big skid steers, they can be quite economical too. At $700 these things are a whole lot of bang for the buck.

IslandTractor, you have said it all. A bucket with a toothbar is better than a plain bucket. A bucket with a toothbar and grapple is better than a bucket with just a toothbar. A standalone grapple is better than a bucket with toothbar and grapple attachment. At least as far as moving brush goes. You've still got to have a bucket for material handling and digging.

 

[m7040]

When looking for a grapple it is important to ask yourself what you will use it for the most. If you have a long stone fence line to clean out then you look at the rock buckets with grapples, if you are looking to pull up fence posts without getting off the tractor you look at something that can clamp on the post and pull it up, if you want to clean up mainly brush then look at the many multipurpose grapples, and if construction clean up is you there are grapples for that too, if you mainly want to play than buy one of each.

The point is you need to think about your use of it and make the selection based on that.