Grapple Piranha or Millonzi Root Grapple?

[Slippy]

Pretty much got my choices down to the Millonzi or the Piranha root grapple. Neither of these are the clam style, more like root rock rake. Thinking 60" to use on my 60 hp and 40hp tractors. Piranha weighs in at 620 lbs. Not sure about the Millonzi. Anyone looked at both of these and done a comparison? I like the tooth design on these. Looks like they would work the best on cleaning up lose and busted hay compared to other designs. The Piranha is $1400. I think the Millonzi is a little more.
Also looking for the electronic buttons to add to loader for both my tractors. I think it is W. Long that sells them. Any thoughts on their products or others? My 60 hp is a Mahindra and the 40 is a New Holland.
Thanks.

 

[flINTLOCK]

I was personally drawn to the Millonzi 48" grapple. Their lighter duty model saved some weight for my lift capacity. However, I decided a clamshell configuration would be best for my diverse applications that include brush cleanup, rock removal, back raking and firewood crossbucking. Since I needed to close down on logs as small in diameter as 5 or 6 inches and backrake, the clamshell seemed like better but more expensive option. I chose the Anbo 6 footer to maximize backraking. If the hay debris is rather bulky, either the P or the M would work, although I liked the specs on the M and Joe M is a member of our forum. Good people to work with. I spoke with John Kennedy at Millonzi products international. He was very helpful. Island tractor has a M 48" that he likes a lot. See his posts.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Slippy, I have an 81" heavy duty one of these, from Unlimited Fabrication. Very pleased with it. They have both lighter & heaver ones available, very reasonably priced I think.

Good luck with which ever one you decide on. Skid Steer Root Grapple

 

[Slippy]

I keep going back and forth between clam and root type. Unlimited does have a hay spear and forks I really like. Thinking about picking up all three at this point. Possibly could get better deal with all three. I like unlimited's grapple. I also like the $65 bolt on sheild for the cylinder arms. The QA bail spear has a high back on it that I like. The forks are 1 1/2" thick. Some I have seen are 1 3/8".

I also like the ANBO, but I keep thinking that it is pretty heavy. Although in the past there was a poster that posted some picks of an ANBO on his Dad's TC40, which is the size of my New Holland.

I have been on about 13 diff web sites and read tons of posts where both of you have given pretty helpful information. I am really thinking a 60" which should be big enough for the Mahindra, but not too big for the New Holland. So...hopefully I am by that decision.

I was thinking that with the clam shell type, if I open it up and let the loader float and close the shell over debris or hay, it will scarf the ground, but not tear it up. With the root type, I am now thinking I will be tying to slide the bottom under the hay, and keep pushing untill I have a glob and then close the arms and snag. I am a little concerned I will run the tips into the ground and take a chunk out of the top soil. I do this occassionaly with my tooth bar when I think I am flat but due to being wrong or the ground is uneven, I end up taking the sod. I suppose it does not matter if it is hay, small debris, etc. However, I see both types really doing very well on the bigger logs and tree balls.

 

[flINTLOCK]

The clamshell type will readily allow you to push debris into a pile or backrake into pile. And allow you to close on smaller piles. I like those options. They probably won't allow as big a bite per load, though.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Slippy, when you talk to Unlimited, ask them about a deal, I am certain that they would help you out. One other thing, it seams that most people think that you need a clam shell type grapple to grab stuff from the top. Not so, a root grapple can grab from the top also. May not be as efficient as a clam shell type do to the independent grapples, ^^, but it sill works. As far as getting a little dirt, the ends of the tines are bent upwards a little to help with that, but most any dirt will fall between the tines anyway. The root grapples work very good to run the tips through the dirt at 6-8" below the surface to sift the dirt and gather up debris. I have done this at 300' runs at a time. You end up with a full grapple and have sifted dirt as a left over.

Later

 

[North GA]

My son and I bought a pallet load of eqt. ( grapple, pallet forks, tree boom, hay spear) from Piranha a couple of weeks ago. The eqt is very well made and is heavy duty at a reasonable price. I bought a 48" grapple for my L3130. It works very well for cleaning up brush on a land clean up project. My dealer installed the Long 12v valve assy. on the loader joystick. It operates the jaws of the grapple.

The only problem I had was the fit of the Piranha eqt. on my Kubota skid steer qa system. I had to weld spacers on the latch plate so the wedge pins would fit properly. The same Piranha eqt fit my son's new M9540 Kubota FEL QA perfectly. I would say that Kubota has a problem not Piranha. In fact my dealer says he has ordered a new qa assy for my L3130. We will see if that corrects my problem

You could not pry the grapple from me now. It is probably the best piece of eqt I have ever owned. I don't see how anyone that is cleaning up a piece of land could be without one. It saves so much work.

 

[Slippy]

Well, I have spent a few more hours today reviewing more info. I am now leaning toward the Umlimited and Piranha. Major reason is the design of the tines at the ends. These two have more of a diamond shape at the end that I am guessing would be helpful for moving small objects without going through, such as my hay clean up. Plan to call them both tomorrow and get price on 60 or 63 inch root grapple, hay spear, and pallet forks. Will also call Millonzi and see what they say. They are in northern Ohio which will probably mean less for freight, especially if I picked it up.

North GA, did Piranha give you much price cut on buying all three products? Did you get the 48" pallet forks? What did the valve and set up run?

MtnViewRanch, as usual you have good thoughts. Did not think about using it the way you mentioned, another check on the side of the root type.

FLINTLOCK, I hate to say how much time I have spent reading all the posts, including Island tractor. I know he is a big advocate that smaller is better with grapple. He has posted some pretty compelling statements and pictures to back them up. However, with my 60 hp tractor, its weight, etc, I am concerned it just will not hold up over time knowing the things I get into. The issue about not holding as much is important to me. I know I have some big piles of tree tops to move and move them some distance. If I could carry more volume it would me helpful.

So, those are my thoughts on this Sunday evening. Anyone got any more suggestions, please let me know. Hopefully tomorrow at this time I will have made my decision and will be posting that they are on their way. Will unload the forks first, that way I can use them to unload the rest. How bout that for thinking ahead.

 

[North GA]

Slippy,

Piranha basically paid the freight. For example We bought 2 48" pallet forks for 450 each. Regular price is 500 each.

Long valve kit was 800 installed which I thought was high but after checking several other threads on the valve it seems to be in the ball park.

If I could not get another grapple and valve, I would not sell for 3X what I paid. The grapple and valve kit has saved me untold trips and labor. My land is not level and it is an effort to carry brush up or down hills.

 

[SCDolphin]

North Ga.

I am debating between a WR long Grapple and regular HD bucket vs a WR Long 4n1 bucket like Redbug just got. How did you decide which way to go. A couple of years ago we had a bad ice storm at my farm and I have lots of limbs to pick up. Some say can do it all c the 4n1 and can bend teeth on the grapple......any thoughts.

Thanks