Need help deciding on a grapple

[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]

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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.