Now I Need A Grapple. . .

[LD1]

Wow, 687 for a "economy" grapple is HEAVY.

My tomahawk 66" single lid is only 415. All 3/8" steel. (dont know if mild steel or AR, but assume its just mild steel at the sub-$1000 price).

After having mine and using it, I just cannot see spending 2x as much just to save a few pounds. It wouldn't be 2x more productive. I just dont see the "value". But thats the beauty of capitalism. "Value" is different for everyone.

 

[k0ua]

Why do grapple manufactures make heavy grapples? Because they are afraid you will "wad it up" with a powerful tractor or skid steer. So they beef on the pounds with thicker steel. Every pound you add to a grapple is useless weight and is that much payload you cannot pick up, right up to the point where you would tear it up if it wasn't sturdy enough. How to you make grapples lighter? Use thinner steel. BUT that steel must be stronger than A36 steel. That is why premium grapples use 80,000 psi or better yield strength instead of 36,000 psi steel. That steel costs way more money than A36 steel. It is a balancing act to decide how much the market will bear pricewise, how much will they accept weight wise. One other piece of the puzzle is how wide do we make the grapple. Depends on the kind of work you want to do with the grapple. Mine is 50 inches. I have never ever not even once wanted a wider grapple. I have wished it a couple of inches narrower at times. . When I talked to Travis about putting it on my tractor he warned me that it might be marginal for my heavy tractor. Kioti's are over 1000 lbs heavier than the competing Kubota. Weight in the tractor combined with momentum equals the ability to bend things. BUT in all the years I have owned and abused it, I have never ever bent or broken anything on that grapple.

 

[Bearsixty7]

Why do grapple manufactures make heavy grapples? Because they are afraid you will "wad it up" with a powerful tractor or skid steer. So they beef on the pounds with thicker steel. Every pound you add to a grapple is useless weight and is that much payload you cannot pick up, right up to the point where you would tear it up if it wasn't sturdy enough. How to you make grapples lighter? Use thinner steel. BUT that steel must be stronger than A36 steel. That is why premium grapples use 80,000 psi or better yield strength instead of 36,000 psi steel. That steel costs way more money than A36 steel. It is a balancing act to decide how much the market will bear pricewise, how much will they accept weight wise. One other piece of the puzzle is how wide do we make the grapple. Depends on the kind of work you want to do with the grapple. Mine is 50 inches. I have never ever not even once wanted a wider grapple. I have wished it a couple of inches narrower at times. . When I talked to Travis about putting it on my tractor he warned me that it might be marginal for my heavy tractor. Kioti's are over 1000 lbs heavier than the competing Kubota. Weight in the tractor combined with momentum equals the ability to bend things. BUT in all the years I have owned and abused it, I have never ever bent or broken anything on that grapple.

Do you have any videos using the grapple?

 

[k0ua]

Do you have any videos using the grapple?

No, but "crazy Ted of everthing attachments has a couple using my exact grapple. He is using a smaller Bobcat (white kioti) though. He is a madman when it comes to abusing equipment. He managed to wrench a pretty big limb off of a tree with it.