Texas Grapple Shootout

[IslandTractor]

i have actually moved the most brush on my pallet forks and homemade plate vs. my grapple View attachment 375873

Don't take any sharp turns!

 

[IslandTractor]

But it looks like you loaded it by hand.

Here is a load of brush that I stayed in the seat to load on the 4' long brush fork.

Load brush by hand???? That is uncivilized!

 

[k0ua]

Load brush by hand???? That is uncivilized!

I know, but that is what I used to do all the time.. (until I got a grapple) :laughing::laughing:

 

[bindian]

How much more brush could you get into a "wide" grapple than into a 48? Keep in mind that wider grapples are heavier so the net load capacity actually falls. And, as is often pointed out, digging is less effective with a wider grapple as it is hard to concentrate force. Just for comparison sake, I can do this with my 48:

I, myself, don't worry about how much my 72 inch grapple can get into it over a narrower one. I worry enough about logs and sharp limbs getting around the end and poking or crushing ( or bending) something vital when your attention is elsewhere. My bucket is 84 inches, so my grapple already lets more "stuff" slide by.
hugs, Brandi

 

[IslandTractor]

I, myself, don't worry about how much my 72 inch grapple can get into it over a narrower one. I worry enough about logs and sharp limbs getting around the end and poking or crushing ( or bending) something vital when your attention is elsewhere. My bucket is 84 inches, so my grapple already lets more "stuff" slide by.
hugs, Brandi

The only thing that ever "poked" my tractor while pushing into brush was a stick that came right up the middle between the grapple tines and dented the grill. Never had an issue with stuff coming around the edges.

 

[Cord]

As previously requested, I shot a video showing how effective the small grapple is at grubbing out "small" Richfield potatoes.

http://youtu.be/MGslzYfoWzY

 

[k0ua]

As previously requested, I shot a video showing how effective the small grapple is at grubbing out "small" Richfield potatoes!

http://youtu.be/MGslzYfoWzY

You have to wonder how far that boulder travelled in the original glacier that brought it to your place.

 

[Cord]

We have a mix of limestone and granite boulders around here. I dug up a limestone boulder that was twice this size, but it didn't weigh nearly as much. Another granite boulder that was maybe half this one. That one I can just barely lift. I'd guess this rock is in the 7,000lb range. The limestone rocks come from a band of rock that forms Door County and then runs over to Niagra Falls. That's about 40 miles north of us. The granite, I don't know where it came from. This dark blue gray color like this one is pretty common, but we also get some bright reds. I can only think of the UP of Michigan as a source.

 

[Xfaxman]

As previously requested, I shot a video showing how effective the small grapple is at grubbing out "small" Richfield potatoes.

http://youtu.be/MGslzYfoWzY

Great video. :thumbsup:

But watching the skid steer bounce around really made me appreciate using my Versahandler.

Here is my 44 inch wide grapple pulling a 10 inch cedar stump.


Maximum lift.


I put the rear end back on the ground and twisted the stump forward and back, until it popped out.

 

[TractorLegend]

I ordered a Rake Shop grapple (light- but not light in the worlds terms) based on txdons glowing testing.
It's 72", for my Kioti DK45HST SE and with an extra tooth bar and the guard plates on the back. I have a customized grill guard, so hopefully no spare radiators will be necessary.
Its coming in the correct orange color.
If it sucks i'm going to Texas and sweat this out over a few beers...lol

 

[TractorLegend]

I ordered a Rake Shop grapple (light- but not light in the worlds terms) based on txdons glowing testing.
It's 72", for my Kioti DK45HST SE and with an extra tooth bar and the guard plates on the back. I have a customized grill guard with the void areas filled w/ expanded metal, so hopefully no spare radiators will be necessary.
Its coming in the correct orange color.
If it sucks i'm going to Texas and sweat this out over a few beers...lol

 

[txdon]

I ordered a Rake Shop grapple (light- but not light in the worlds terms) based on txdons glowing testing.
It's 72", for my Kioti DK45HST SE and with an extra tooth bar and the guard plates on the back. I have a customized grill guard, so hopefully no spare radiators will be necessary.
Its coming in the correct orange color.
If it sucks i'm going to Texas and sweat this out over a few beers...lol

ORANGE!!! I did not know I could get it in orange. Oh well, the bottom part of the tractor is grey - so it's all good. Pics when you start working it!

 

[TractorLegend]

The loader bucket comes black on the Kioti so maybe grey or black would be a great contrast.
Or maybe orange and black looks like a Halloween decoration :~}

 

[IslandTractor]

ORANGE!!! I did not know I could get it in orange. Oh well, the bottom part of the tractor is grey - so it's all good. Pics when you start working it!

If he uses the grapple properly there won't be much paint left after the first few weeks anyways. I just saw a photo of my grapple, new when I picked it up, and it had safety decals all over it. Nary a one is left. Not much paint on the bottom tines either. A few stumps will take care of that. Frame still pretty much covered in paint though!

 

[TractorLegend]

ORANGE!!! I did not know I could get it in orange. Oh well, the bottom part of the tractor is grey - so it's all good. Pics when you start working it!

/Users/markheadley/Pictures/iPhoto Library.photolibrary/Masters/2014/10/12/20141012-200215/IMG_1789./Users/markheadley/Pictures/iPhoto Library.photolibrary/Masters/2014/10/12/20141012-200215/IMG_1789.JPG

 

[TractorLegend]

I'll try posting this again....Apple computer lol and old guy using it :~} The fresh dirt in front of the tractor is where a ton of Scotch Broom used to live...

 

[txdon]

TractorLegend, I cannot view the pictures the link does not work. Please try again.

 

[TractorLegend]

TractorLegend, I cannot view the pictures the link does not work. Please try again.

I gave it another whirl....see above

 

[TomSeller]

I gave it another whirl....see above

You have the most interesting occupation I have ever seen on TBN. PLEASE tell us more. I always wanted to be an auctioneer, but carnival barker sounds fun too.

 

[TractorLegend]

You have the most interesting occupation I have ever seen on TBN. PLEASE tell us more. I always wanted to be an auctioneer, but carnival barker sounds fun too.

Haha! I guess I just got overly sensitive about my hoity-toity neighbors when we first met- their first question was "What do you do for a living??"
I think to see if I was fit to be seen in their presence :~}
Actually I own a mechanic shop in Burien WA. Been fixing vehicles for 30ish years professionally.
And all that goes along with ownership, you know, sleeping in, long golf trips and...um yeah LOL