Help with decision on Grapple

[zman8537]

Hello, Getting ready to pull the trigger on a grapple and trying to decide between a couple different manufacturers and models. First I should start with telling you what I am putting it on, I have a Kubota MX5100. I have been reading reviews on this site as well as just doing random searches and I just get a little more confused or undecided. The ones that I have been looking at are the Construction attachments Compact X-Treme Duty 66", the EA Wicked Root Grapple and the W.R. Long OBG2 in 64". I like the fact that the W.R.L opens wider than the others bot not sure that it would be worth the extra $300. And I can save $200. by purchasing the CAL grapple over the EA Grapple. Watching the videos on EA about both grapples it makes it a tough decision even tougher. I like some of the mods that Ted has designed into the EA Grapple and I am looking for some extra input to sway me in a direction, one way or the other. It will be used mainly for moving brush, trees, rocks and misc other items and also for clearing roots. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance !! Ron

 

[teg]

The cost, over the life of the grapple, is not going to matter too much but if you can't eat next week, that will matter. I wish mine opened more, to be able to take a bigger bite but you can always take another load.

Everyone will have pros and cons, ANY grapple is better then none... flip a coin

 

[Industrial Toys]

I considered building a grapple and got all freaked out over high strength steel and such matters. In the end, I needed one in a hurry and found one cheap bought at a Richie Bros sale for resale. I thought it was kind of junky and some of the welding looked like a fist time attempt. But it has been amazing and I have not manage to destroy or even damage it. It has a single top clam with two cylinders and I just wish it had two independent top clams to better handle irregular loads whish is just about everything it seems.

 

[Beaux Duke]

I don't know if they're still in business but I got my grapple for a lot less including shipping than the EA WRG from a firm called Markham. I had mine made totally of 1/2" with reinforcing between the tines. Take a look at my profile picture. You will see that I have only 1 lid but it's never been a problem for me. If I can clamp down on it and if the FEL can lift it, I've never lost a load because of only 1 lid. I don't live in rocky country so maybe 2 lids would be better in that situation. I'll say this, there's no another attachment that I enjoy using more than the grapple. And backing up when you have a big load of brush or vines is a GREAT idea.

 

[txdon]

It will be used mainly for moving brush, trees, rocks and misc other items and also for clearing roots. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance !! Ron

Just about any grapple is great for moving brush, trees and rocks, but when it comes to roots it depends how deep the root are. Down here in Texas we have mesquite and they have very deep roots thats why I choose a grapple with long unrestricted bottom tines to get the deep roots.

 

[TomSeller]

Just about any grapple is great for moving brush, trees and rocks, but when it comes to roots it depends how deep the root are. Down here in Texas we have mesquite and they have very deep roots thats why I choose a grapple with long unrestricted bottom tines to get the deep roots.

Very Nice.

 

[zman8537]

Very Nice.

At this point I am thinking that it is between the Construction Attachments X-Treme or the EA Wicked Grapple. I like the weight savings of the EA, that is a pro for sure. Just have to make a final decision I guess!! Decisions decisions!!!

 

[EverythingAttachments]

At this point I am thinking that it is between the Construction Attachments X-Treme or the EA Wicked Grapple. I like the weight savings of the EA, that is a pro for sure. Just have to make a final decision I guess!! Decisions decisions!!!

Would a pic of the Wicked Grapple in the buff help sway your decision? She's a beauty!
Travis

 

[EverythingAttachments]

Notice the laminated tines with no bulky gussets to prevent you from running the tines through the ground to grub roots/rocks. The rounded tube serves as a gauge to prevent excessive ground penetration that would hinder traction.
Travis

Here is a better look at the tines:

 

[Cord]

Doesn't really answer your question, and it might be a bit overkill for your tractor, but I have a Faver grapple and just love it. I've really thrown some abuse at this thing and have no damage to report.

 

[zman8537]

Notice the laminated tines with no bulky gussets to prevent you from running the tines through the ground to grub roots/rocks. The rounded tube serves as a gauge to prevent excessive ground penetration that would hinder traction.
Travis


Here is a better look at the tines:
View attachment 419210

I do like the looks and engineering that went into it but is it $200.00 worth??? I don't know. Any more thoughts???

 

[EverythingAttachments]

I do like the looks and engineering that went into it but is it $200.00 worth???

Yes, more than $200 IMO. If you saw them side by side, you'd agree in a hurry.
The photos on our website are good, but it's even more impressive in person.
I think that the Wicked Grapple owners are reluctant to chime in, maybe because they don't wanna brag or something.
Travis

 

[zman8537]

Yes, more than $200 IMO. If you saw them side by side, you'd agree in a hurry.
The photos on our website are good, but it's even more impressive in person.
I think that the Wicked Grapple owners are reluctant to chime in, maybe because they don't wanna brag or something.
Travis

It is actually almost $300 but with tax on the CAL the savings drops down to a $200 savings. But I am still weighing them out!

 

[EverythingAttachments]

If you're weighing them, we'll win that battle also!!

You can't go wrong with either one. Ted's Wicked Grapple is basically a tweaked/improved/enhanced version of the CA grapple that his brother makes.
If they were side by side in person, 10 customers out of 10 would choose the Wicked Grapple!

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

My personal opinion is that so long as you buy a good quality grapple, it will be strong enough. You will probably tweak your loader before bending the grapple.

If I was choosing between the two you're considering, I'd go with the EA grapple mainly for the weight savings.

 

[SBA]

I have been really happy with my EA wicked grapple.
I only have a B2920, so I was concerned about the actual weight. My fel does not lift much anyway so I did not want to loose capacity any further. The grapple itself is an well thought out design with nice welds and fabrication/alignment).
I have used it for boulders, felling small trees, digging roots, using the tines to scrape up ground debris while clearing out wooded areas. While I have bent/tweaked some of the lower tines by carrying trees and rootballs ( I know I am always pushing the limitations of my equipment), I would not trade the lighter weight for more steel.
Potential improvements: Wider opening and factory pin-on brackets for Kubota.

 

[1026mrg]

Hello, Getting ready to pull the trigger on a grapple and trying to decide between a couple different manufacturers and models. First I should start with telling you what I am putting it on, I have a Kubota MX5100. I have been reading reviews on this site as well as just doing random searches and I just get a little more confused or undecided. ...It will be used mainly for moving brush, trees, rocks and misc other items and also for clearing roots. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance !! Ron

Check out HLA Attachments. If the intended use is for brush, trees, AND rocks, you may want to go with a stone fork equipped with grapple closure.
The stone fork will pick up all debris as well as rocks, both large & small. Some grapples have their tines spaced farther apart and smaller stones will fall through.
A stone fork with split tine grapples will handle everything well.

We have a root grapple as well as a stone fork with grapple. Started out with the root grapple and ended up adding a stone fork because it does much better job with stones, particularly smaller ones. We are very happy with both attachments. But if you want to save $$ and/or storage space, a stone fork with split tine grapple does double duty very, very well. Just my $0.02.

HLA Attachments - Stone Forks

 

[zman8537]

Check out HLA Attachments. If the intended use is for brush, trees, AND rocks, you may want to go with a stone fork equipped with grapple closure.
The stone fork will pick up all debris as well as rocks, both large & small. Some grapples have their tines spaced farther apart and smaller stones will fall through.
A stone fork with split tine grapples will handle everything well.




We have a root grapple as well as a stone fork with grapple. Started out with the root grapple and ended up adding a stone fork because it does much better job with stones, particularly smaller ones. We are very happy with both attachments. But if you want to save $$ and/or storage space, a stone fork with split tine grapple does double duty very, very well. Just my $0.02.

HLA Attachments - Stone Forks

I think that would use up a lot of my lift capacity in the event that I did want to lift something heavier than brush and smaller rock. But a nice design !!

 

[1026mrg]

I think that would use up a lot of my lift capacity in the event that I did want to lift something heavier than brush and smaller rock. But a nice design !!

argghhh, you are right. There are lighter models but they will still push 1,000 pounds. I just looked at the Everything Attachments grapples & Wicked Root Grapple.
I did not realize that they were so comparatively light.

Good luck, the search is always fun as well.