Prime attachments grapple

   / Prime attachments grapple #1  

OFarrell

Bronze Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2008
Messages
57
Tractor
NH Workmaster 60
Anyone have experience with Prime attachments? I'm considering buying their 74" Heavy duty rock and root grapple.


I've looked at a few grapples locally but they have been too light for my tractor (NH WM60) and I'm worried it will twist them up if I load it up. I'm mainly going to use it to move firewood, logs to my sawmill, flitches and brush.
 
   / Prime attachments grapple #2  
That is a nice Grapple ! I like the music in the Video on the Website . Goes well with there demonstration :)
 
   / Prime attachments grapple #3  
1643155594152.png


I have the Titan Dual cylinder . So far so good !
 
   / Prime attachments grapple #4  
Whats the weight on the Prime Grapple?

Also do you want a rock grapple or a brush grapple? The brush grapple has wider spacing so debris falls through like DGZRT posted. A rock grapple will have narrower spacing to allow dirt to fall through but retain rocks. The removable sides, along with the higher fixed sides hold rocks in place. For what you mention a brush grapple with wider spacing would let the dirt, sod and rocks fall out keeping the mill, and fire cleaner.

I also like grapples that do not have sides on them, the plates on the edge follow the same contour as the plates on the inside. It allows the logs to settle further back helping with lift capacity.
I have a Stout grapple and like it. It has many of the features I like in a brush grapple.
There are many good manufactures of grapples out there, there are also some poor designs. The Prime looks like it is well built.

Some features I like in a grapple whether rock, root, or rake. The lid should have large gussets so the tines resist bending and any flexing is spread out. Reinforcing on the lid mast to prevent it from breaking off the top beam on the grapple. The tines on the grapple should be one piece making up the back and floor with the lower and front cross brace penetrating the tines with full length welds for strength. In the photo of the Titan units above the dual lid uses two pieces one for the back tine and one for the floor tine, whereas the single cylinder uses a one piece tine.

Your lift capacity is 1750 lbs at 20" to full height. Don't take it all up with super heavy grapple. Logs on a sawmill might be better done with pallet forks, they weigh less giving you more lift capacity.
 
   / Prime attachments grapple
  • Thread Starter
#5  
I have a 621TL loader. It's rated to do 2204 to full height at 20" and 3880lbs at the pins to 60"high. I have been using pallet forks logs but I think the grapple would really help picking junk logs and smaller stuff that will end up getting split for firewood. I was after a rock grapple for two reasons. 1st it's flat and will be easier to slide under logs and firewood rather than having to tip 45 degrees to get a brush grapple under. 2nd the close spacing will keep the firewood from falling though the grapple. This one has removable sides which I think would be useful.

The 74" HD prime grapple is 965lbs. My tractor with forks and box blade is right at 9300 lbs. I don't think the grapple will be to heavy for it and it's rare I go to full height with it at max capacity. Most of the logs I deal with are 10-24" and 16' or less. I do occasionally run into 40" monsters but they have to get halved before going on the mill anyway.

I was also getting ready to ask about the Stout HD grapple. It's also on my list. It's a few lbs lighter, around 920, I think. They don't spec what grade steel their stuff is made with on the website. I need to call and ask.

Guys with wide spaced tine brush grapples, does firewood easily fall out of it?
 
   / Prime attachments grapple #6  
I have a 650# root grapple intended for heavy skid steer use. When it's on my compact tractor, you can really feel that weight on rough ground, hanging that far out beyond the front wheels. It gallops so you have to slow down quite a bit. Yours is a bigger tractor but also a heavier grapple so you might have the same problem.

Brush grapples are coarser but once clamped, any leakage woulda have to have been lined up with the slots almost perfectly.
 
   / Prime attachments grapple #7  
I have a 621TL loader. It's rated to do 2204 to full height at 20" and 3880lbs at the pins to 60"high. I have been using pallet forks logs but I think the grapple would really help picking junk logs and smaller stuff that will end up getting split for firewood. I was after a rock grapple for two reasons. 1st it's flat and will be easier to slide under logs and firewood rather than having to tip 45 degrees to get a brush grapple under. 2nd the close spacing will keep the firewood from falling though the grapple. This one has removable sides which I think would be useful.

The 74" HD prime grapple is 965lbs. My tractor with forks and box blade is right at 9300 lbs. I don't think the grapple will be to heavy for it and it's rare I go to full height with it at max capacity. Most of the logs I deal with are 10-24" and 16' or less. I do occasionally run into 40" monsters but they have to get halved before going on the mill anyway.

I was also getting ready to ask about the Stout HD grapple. It's also on my list. It's a few lbs lighter, around 920, I think. They don't spec what grade steel their stuff is made with on the website. I need to call and ask.

Guys with wide spaced tine brush grapples, does firewood easily fall out of it?
We have a Stout HD Grapple in the extended family mounted to a T-250 Bobcat skid steer. Has been great No problems other than when it got lent out and the hydraulic lines got ripped out by not paying attention "twice..."
 
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   / Prime attachments grapple #8  
The triangle endplates on that Prime grapple are no good for log hauling. EA Wicked is my pick.
1643237011441.png
 
   / Prime attachments grapple #9  
If your using it to move firewood and rocks on occasion I would buy exactly what you picked out ! You are right the wide tines can let things fall through . If moving large diameter logs just remove the outside corners for extra depth.

I picked out what the dealer had in stock and am very happy with it but your model is more versatile and can used for more things .
I say go for it !
 
   / Prime attachments grapple
  • Thread Starter
#10  
The side plates are removable on both the Stout and Prime which makes them appealing for loading split firewood. I can take them off for logs.

EA makes a construction grapple but the side plates aren't removable. It's also $1500 more. I could buy a grapple and a 84 or 96" firewood bucket for that price. I like EA, their stuff is top notch but I don't think I can justify the cost.
 
 

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