Need help deciding on a grapple

[EverythingAttachments]

is that what JD refers to as a global carrier?

That's it!

 

[shibaura_4043]

is that what JD refers to as a global carrier?

I think so

i had to wait 4 weeks for my loader because i wanted the SSQA very happy i did. they had by the Global and JD carrier in stock

smart choice.. I didnt have that option as I purchased a used tractor but I will get SSQA's for the tractors sooner or later

 

[IslandTractor]

tree density per acre varies a bit the 6 or 7 acres I pushed over last week averaged 6 to 8 per acre.. nothing too crazy, but the larger pasture is probably close to 20 p/acre. I have another 10 acre section to clear the density is 8 to 10 p/acre.... I will probably purchase a track loader to clear the large tract but I think my loader can manage the smaller sections...the goal it to create better grazing ability for the cows by Spring( I plan to overseed after clearing and brush hogging)... buying the the track loader might be something that happens close to or after spring as finances allow, so anything I can do with my tractor now is a top priority :thumbsup:

That is less dense than I was imagining. I took out over a hundred mesquite size trees using my 40 HP Kioti DK40 and a 300lb light duty grapple. With 50 acres and 500 or so trees to go on your project, I still like John Bud's suggestion of using a heavier piece of equipment to knock the trees over. A light duty grapple is all you'd need to collect all the debris.

How about hiring out the knockdown phase of the project. Maybe some guy with a dozer or track loader could work on it piecemeal during times he didn't have other jobs.

 

[shibaura_4043]

That is less dense than I was imagining. I took out over a hundred mesquite size trees using my 40 HP Kioti DK40 and a 300lb light duty grapple. With 50 acres and 500 or so trees to go on your project, I still like John Bud's suggestion of using a heavier piece of equipment to knock the trees over. A light duty grapple is all you'd need to collect all the debris.

How about hiring out the knockdown phase of the project. Maybe some guy with a dozer or track loader could work on it piecemeal during times he didn't have other jobs.

I had one guy come out but he wouldnt give me a bid by the job only an hourly rate... he wanted me to pay for 10hrs at 130 p/hr to get started... he said I would be amazed at how much he would get accomplished in that 10 hrs, I am a little skeptical so havent decided to go that route yet.. He did have a huge dozer with a 10 or 12' blade. He did finally say the total job couild be upwards of 10,000... after seeing how easy my tractor pushed over those mesquites I feel like he might be able to clear 3 acres per hour if all he does is clear not pile. Is that wishful thinking??

 

[IslandTractor]

I had one guy come out but he wouldnt give me a bid by the job only an hourly rate... he wanted me to pay for 10hrs at 130 p/hr to get started... he said I would be amazed at how much he would get accomplished in that 10 hrs, I am a little skeptical so havent decided to go that route yet.. He did have a huge dozer with a 10 or 12' blade. He did finally say the total job couild be upwards of 10,000... after seeing how easy my tractor pushed over those mesquites I feel like he might be able to clear 3 acres per hour if all he does is clear not pile. Is that wishful thinking??

That seems like a lot of money and estimated time to clear 10 trees per acre. I'd reconsider John Bud's suggestion. Get a good used track loader or dozer, use it for thirty or forty hours and then sell it. Maybe you could even make an arrangement with a dealer to buy a used one from them with an agreed upon buyback depending on hours used.

 

[Guesseral]

implements are not near a prevalent as SS style but you can find them and they do usually fetch a premium, I have plans to set both my tractors up with a SSQA but who knows how long thats going to take me!!

Well palletfork.com has the SSQA units and they aren't that expensive at least not on there site, of course like with most things there is manual work involved!

 

[shibaura_4043]

That seems like a lot of money and estimated time to clear 10 trees per acre. I'd reconsider John Bud's suggestion. Get a good used track loader or dozer, use it for thirty or forty hours and then sell it. Maybe you could even make an arrangement with a dealer to buy a used one from them with an agreed upon buyback depending on hours used.

that estimate was for the 60 acres and 40 of it averaged about 20 p/acre....I will look into the dealer idea thats kinda interesting, but I do agree that is a little pricey to me too. thanks for the suggestions.

 

[xtn]

The grapples that we offer include hoses and quick connects.
One exception is the Bradco grapple rake, but we are making one that is very similar, and less expensive. It should be on the website soon.

I've just had third function installed for an as yet unpurchased grapple. Waiting to see what you guys come up with. Hope you keep the double lid idea from your "L" bottom Wicked, but have a shape similar to the Bradco and tines that pass by each other for tight closure.

xtn

 

[Xfaxman]

That seems like a lot of money and estimated time to clear 10 trees per acre. I'd reconsider John Bud's suggestion. Get a good used track loader or dozer, use it for thirty or forty hours and then sell it. Maybe you could even make an arrangement with a dealer to buy a used one from them with an agreed upon buyback depending on hours used.

Or even better, get a used compact telehandler, like I did back in September 2009.


It will make some serious brush piles!


Can't do this with a tractor, so I kept the V518 and sold my tractor.

 

[terryknight]

OP what about a longer term rental of a larger piece of equipment? backhoe, excavator, dozer etc?

Or even better, get a used compact telehandler, like I did back in September 2009.
Can't do this with a tractor, so I kept the V518 and sold my tractor.

how much does that weigh/how big is your GN?

 

[EverythingAttachments]

I've just had third function installed for an as yet unpurchased grapple. Waiting to see what you guys come up with. Hope you keep the double lid idea from your "L" bottom Wicked, but have a shape similar to the Bradco and tines that pass by each other for tight closure.

xtn

Here is the ETA Grapple Rake Thread. The page should be live on our website, with prices and a video, in the next day or so.

Ted liked the idea of making it with a double lid, but decided against it.

 

[Xfaxman]

-------------------

how much does that weigh/how big is your GN?

Took that load over the scales, 24,940 GCVW. 12,640 on the deck, 3440 on the gooseneck hitch ball, 14,200 on the axles.

The V518 was listed at just under 11,000. The trailer is rated at 14K, so was slightly over loaded!

 

[shibaura_4043]

OP what about a longer term rental of a larger piece of equipment? backhoe, excavator, dozer etc?

Im looking into that option as well... Im considering renting for 2weeks, I was quoted about 2000 for two weeks for a 20k dozer with a 10' blade. I go back in forth on rental for two reasons: 1) theres most likely a learning curve dozing trees and I might not be efficient enough to get the project done in two weeks 2) I have several future projects where a TL would come in very useful, ie... fence row clearing, pond maint, and trails through the heavily wooded areas. I guess I can justify anything.... Im just trying to be as reasonable as possible:thumbsup:

 

[Xfaxman]

OP what about a longer term rental of a larger piece of equipment? backhoe, excavator, dozer etc?

Im looking into that option as well... Im considering renting for 2weeks, I was quoted about 2000 for two weeks for a 20k dozer with a 10' blade. I go back in forth on rental for two reasons: 1) theres most likely a learning curve dozing trees and I might not be efficient enough to get the project done in two weeks 2) I have several future projects where a TL would come in very useful, ie... fence row clearing, pond maint, and trails through the heavily wooded areas. I guess I can justify anything.... Im just trying to be as reasonable as possible:thumbsup:

You can do all of that with a compact telehandler.

Check this post: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...our-technique-removing-trees.html#post3356253

 

[TomSeller]

Goodness gracious... I need a grapple! :laughing: :licking:

You do, It's called Grapple Envy.

 

[jcummins]

Let me make a quick suggestion. Go rent one and try it then you will know what works and what doesn't. I found the narrower L shaped ones do better for what I want to do than the C style ones. If you are carring brush and raking then the wider C style ones work great. But if you are digging and pushing out trees the narrow ones give less stress to the loader and the L shaped ones work great for breaking roots and carrying stuff. I have a friend that wants my 48" econograpple that I modified and when I replace it, I will either build one or buy one that is 48" wide again but that opens wider. That is the only issue I have with the 48" one I have now. I had to beef up the mounting point of the cyl but that is minor to me. CJ

I agree. Had a 48" L style grapple...sold the tractor and grapple 3 years ago in a move. Now, I've bought a replacement tractor, and I intend to get the same style grapple. I rooted trees a lot with it in Texas.

 

[Piston]

I agree. Had a 48" L style grapple...sold the tractor and grapple 3 years ago in a move. Now, I've bought a replacement tractor, and I intend to get the same style grapple. I rooted trees a lot with it in Texas.

will you stick with the 48"?

 

[jcummins]

will you stick with the 48"?

Yes. I had a few reservations at first...but I found in actual use, it worked out great. I did not find anything that I couldn't grab and pick up if the tractor was capable of it.

An example....

 

[IslandTractor]

Yes. I had a few reservations at first...but I found in actual use, it worked out great. I did not find anything that I couldn't grab and pick up if the tractor was capable of it.

An example....

I have been arguing that point for years here. I don't know why people think grapples should be as wide as the standard bucket but in practice there is simply no real benefit and lots of disadvantages. Cost, maneuverability, net lift capacity, safer for the FEL as less risk of torquing, easier digging.....the list goes on. Wide grapples make sense for cleaning up construction debris but 48" is all you really need for most other tasks. Read through the thousands of posts here on TBN and see if you find anyone who complains that they wish they'd bought a wider grapple than 48".

The confusion continues for two simple reasons. Most important is that ANY grapple is better than no grapple so guys with 72" grapples are also happy (though poorer). The second reason is that dealers are still not thinking about the difference between a CUT and a skidsteer when selling grapples. Dealers generally don't have much experience themselves with grapples and so rely on SS standards for grapple size based on horsepower and typical SS commercial usage. Even the few dealers who have come to understand that 48" grapples make a lot more sense for CUTs are still being too conservative with the horsepower issue. Look at ANY light duty 48" grapple construction and then look at ANY standard factory bucket for a CUT. The grapple is made more strongly of thicker steel. Nobody breaks their standard buckets, why are dealers so concerned about light duty grapples on CUTs???

 

[jcummins]

I have been arguing that point for years here. I don't know why people think grapples should be as wide as the standard bucket but in practice there is simply no real benefit and lots of disadvantages. Cost, maneuverability, net lift capacity, safer for the FEL as less risk of torquing, easier digging.....the list goes on. Wide grapples make sense for cleaning up construction debris but 48" is all you really need for most other tasks. Read through the thousands of posts here on TBN and see if you find anyone who complains that they wish they'd bought a wider grapple than 48".

The confusion continues for two simple reasons. Most important is that ANY grapple is better than no grapple so guys with 72" grapples are also happy (though poorer). The second reason is that dealers are still not thinking about the difference between a CUT and a skidsteer when selling grapples. Dealers generally don't have much experience themselves with grapples and so rely on SS standards for grapple size based on horsepower and typical SS commercial usage. Even the few dealers who have come to understand that 48" grapples make a lot more sense for CUTs are still being too conservative with the horsepower issue. Look at ANY light duty 48" grapple construction and then look at ANY standard factory bucket for a CUT. The grapple is made more strongly of thicker steel. Nobody breaks their standard buckets, why are dealers so concerned about light duty grapples on CUTs???

Yep. You among others convince me of that before I bought the first time....about 85% of the way. Once I used, I knew I made the right decision. Thanks for the help back then.

BTW I didn't have a CUT then, nor now, but an M7040. And I worked that grapple hard. Now I do think some of the light duty grapples I see, I would not buy. Look at how the anchor points are on the upper claw, and the cylinder.