Looking at a grapple- right size for my tractor?

oosik · May 26, 2020

View attachment 657343. This is my Kubota M6040 with a Land Pride 1560 grapple. It's 60" wide - 820#. The tractor with FEL/grapple - RimGuard loaded rear tires - Rhino rear blade - - weighs 10,010#. It's a very HD rock/root grapple.

Look carefully at the grapple you are considering. If it's too heavy - can you actually chop a foot off each side. What you are looking for - are the hydraulics in the center of the grapple. If so - chopping will be easy. If they are on the edges - it could be a problem.

I can lift a tad over 3000#. I NEVER lift a heavy load more than 6" off the ground.

Pete O · May 26, 2020

I went and inspected the grapple yesterday, it appears very well built and does not seem to be oversized for the tractor, actually looks like exactly what I have been on the lookout for. The width is 4" outside the front tyres of my tractor each side, 4" inside the rears so not unreasonable I think. It's a single full-width lid with a hydraulic cylinder at each end, the mechanism is right at the ends so cutting it down is not an option, or not without a lot of work. The work I want the grapple for is mostly picking up and carrying piles of branches from felled trees, rather than logs, and I think it is ideal for that. The load will not be much weight, just bulky. It has one bid at present, auction ends in 8 hours, I'll be bidding on it and will let you guys know if I end up with it.

FTG-05 · May 26, 2020

When I went to buy my SSQA grapple, I thought I wanted a 60". Fortunately for me the tractor gods knew more than I did and they were all out of 60" grapples. All they had was 72" and up and some 48"s. I bought the 48". I will never regret it!

There has never been a time when I regretted not having the extra width but there has been a crap-ton of times I'm **** glad had the extra lift capacity that would have been eaten up with something +48"!

Just a thought.

Good luck!

Pete O · May 27, 2020

Here's an update. I put in an autobid up to $10 less than my budget; got up from the TV and told my wife I'd be a few minutes while the auction ends went to the study to make sure I got the final bid in- she started watching a movie on her iPad and crashed our internet. I couldn't load the page and the grapple went for right on what I had told myself I was prepared to spend! I'm trying to remain calm. I've been looking our for one of these things for about 2 years! Guess I'll be building one after all! :0

kthompson · May 27, 2020

Pete, sorry about that. But there was a reason for that to happen...maybe a better option pops in next few days...first thank you wife and explain you must expand the hunt. Ever planned a grapple hunt vacation?

Pete O · May 27, 2020

kthompson said:
Pete, sorry about that. But there was a reason for that to happen...maybe a better option pops in next few days...first thank you wife and explain you must expand the hunt. Ever planned a grapple hunt vacation?

Yep, we are on the same page, I fully agree, there was a reason so I am ok with it. If nothing else, it's given me an opportunity to be gracious to my wife! Wish I hadn't spent half a day going to check the thing out though!

oosik · May 27, 2020

As long as you & the wifey are OK - all is well and the search continues.

Your situation there in Australia is very similar to what I've heard from many TBNers in Europe. The smaller homeowner grapple is not a common item. If you do decide to build your own - send me a personal message. My Owners Manual for my grapple has diagrams, showing of all the dimensions. Could be a fair starting point.

shaeff · May 27, 2020

Pete O said:
including adding a double-link system to increase the roll back / forward angle.

Pete, this is a touch off topic from grapples, but do you think you could post some pics of your linkage upgrade to increase roll-back/dump angles?

Xfaxman · May 27, 2020

Pete O said:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The work I want the grapple for is mostly picking up and carrying piles of branches from felled trees, rather than logs, and I think it is ideal for that. The load will not be much weight, just bulky.------------------------------------------------------.

I am surprised you would choose a clamshell style root grapple for that job. My first grapple was a clamshell style with two lids. did not pick up bulky piles well, a lot would fall out the bottom: https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...ying-new-grapple-post4622699.html#post4622699

I now have a two lid 72" flat bottom and six tine 44" that move brush, limbs, trees and rocks very well.

Pete O · May 28, 2020

oosik said:
As long as you & the wifey are OK - all is well and the search continues.

Your situation there in Australia is very similar to what I've heard from many TBNers in Europe. The smaller homeowner grapple is not a common item. If you do decide to build your own - send me a personal message. My Owners Manual for my grapple has diagrams, showing of all the dimensions. Could be a fair starting point.

That's a very kind offer, thanks heaps, I think I'll PM you soon and take you up on that, it might be a while before i get around to building something (the loader rebuild is taking a long while) but it would be great to have the information handy when I start planning.