Grapple Which type of grapple is best suited for...

IslandTractor · Jul 9, 2013

Xfaxman said:
Found the DigiWeigh DWP-5000C2X Crane Scale on eBay in March for $310, looks like the price has gone up.

Amazon has it for $360 including shipping. Nice toy. Given that it is something that only needs to be done a few times however it is a bit pricey just to satisfy curiosity. Maybe one of us should buy one and "rent" it out to others for $50/week. I'll put my name on the "want to rent" list.:thumbsup:

Xfaxman · Jul 9, 2013

IslandTractor said:
Amazon has it for $360 including shipping. Nice toy. Given that it is something that only needs to be done a few times however it is a bit pricey just to satisfy curiosity. Maybe one of us should buy one and "rent" it out to others for $50/week. I'll put my name on the "want to rent" list.:thumbsup:

I had a platform scale that went to 1000 lbs like this one, but wanted something bigger.

I looked at digital platform scales like these,

but realized to weigh anything heavy, I would have to pick it up with the loader, so I got the crane scale.

Xfaxman · Jul 11, 2013

Since breaking concrete with the Gorilla Grapple was mentioned earlier in this thread, here's more pictures.

Used the V417 to remove this broken wood post that had been set in concrete.
Grabbed it lightly, with the center tines, being careful not to break it,

Put it in a little gully to slow down the erosion.

First squeeze.

View from the seat.

Now it will be low enough to run the brush hog over when the dirt fills in.

TomSeller · Jul 11, 2013

Envy.

Xfaxman · Jul 12, 2013

TomSeller said:
Envy.

Yep, I know the feeling, been there, done that.

Took off the grapple today, put on the tree puller.

More info here: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/277824-tree-puller.html

Midniteoyl · Jul 12, 2013

TomSeller said:
Envy.

Redbug · Jul 12, 2013

Yup..."Grapple Envy". His is bigger than mine...

Xfaxman · Jul 12, 2013

Redbug said:
Yup..."Grapple Envy". His is bigger than mine...

Actually my grapple at 44 inches wide, and 6 tines, is the smallest that I have seen on TBN! :laughing:

I know about "full floater" rear axles on trucks, but this is the first Full Floater no axle trailer that I have seen!

Midniteoyl · Jul 12, 2013

LOL! Noticed that too.. Star Wars!

TomSeller · Jul 12, 2013

Size Matters

Redbug · Jul 13, 2013

The rest of the hovering trailer...

Furu · Jul 13, 2013

Those axles seem to be set very far back. (Maybe it just looks that way) What kind of tongue weight do you regularly see.

Midniteoyl · Jul 13, 2013

That is a nice trailer! :thumbsup:

I feel that 'envy' thing coming on again... :silly:

johnnyvol · Jul 13, 2013

Redbug said:
The rest of the hovering trailer...

Not to hijack the thread, but I want to know more about this trailer. Info please, or it's own thread would be OK too.:thumbsup:

Redbug · Jul 14, 2013

johnnyvol said:
Not to hijack the thread, but I want to know more about this trailer. Info please, or it's own thread would be OK too.:thumbsup:

I don't want to hijack this thread, either. I will start another thread about it in the Trailers section. It may take a day or two to get around to it. I will post a few pics, also.

Furu...Yes, it does have a heavy tongue weight. The only thing I don't like about it, but I guess you learn to deal with it. The axles need to be further back because of the weight shift when dumping. It's 20' long. For normal loads, (like a load of firewood or debris), I don't need a weight control hitch. For dirt or gravel, I keep the load in the back two thirds, and use my weight control hitch. And use common sense. When I have the tractor loaded with attachments on, etc. , I do use a weight control hitch. I have a hitch on my box blade as well as a small 3 point hitch attachment that has ball mounts for hooking it up to the tractor. Very maneuverable that way. Then I can load and move the trailer with the tractor only and not have to use the truck and worry about getting it stuck out in the woods.

Furu · Jul 14, 2013

Redbug said:
Furu...Yes, it does have a heavy tongue weight. The only thing I don't like about it, but I guess you learn to deal with it. The axles need to be further back because of the weight shift when dumping. It's 20' long.

That makes sense now. Thanks for the clarification.

TomSeller · Jul 14, 2013

I was going to get a 4in1 bucket once but never did. Do you find it useful? I don't move much dirt and was going to use it grab things but then grapples came more available/known.

IslandTractor · Jul 14, 2013

TomSeller said:
I was going to get a 4in1 bucket once but never did. Do you find it useful? I don't move much dirt and was going to use it grab things but then grapples came more available/known.

I have both grapple and 4n1. The grapple is far more useful and gets used more often. The 4n1 is a great tool for a contractor who has multiple jobs away from a home base to store other implements but it is literally a Swiss Army knife...capable of many jobs but great at none of them. Picking up brush is frustrating as the scissor clamping means that you cannot get much long brush or tree limb material into the open bucket and then clamp. Whatever is smaller than the first object to contact both clamping surfaces will fall out. On the other hand, I do mount it when I am using the backhoe to dig as it is very convenient to be able to grasp one stump at a time and also push dirt back into the hole.

Xfaxman · Jul 21, 2013

TSO said:
... all around grapple work?

I'm in the "serious" stage of grapple shopping now, moving past the "oooh that's cool" and "I should get one someday" to "about ready to pull the trigger. :thumbsup:

There seem to be several different main designs. There is the "Rock Grapple," the "Root Grapple," the "Bucket Grapple", etc etc etc. Some have longer/skinnier bottom tines, some have shorter/stouter (and more) bottom tines, some have a solid bottom bucket, and then there is the dual vs single upper arm. I can understand the theory and philosophy between the different designs, especially having dual upper arms for uneven loads. However, in real-life application, are they really a big advantage?

I'm sure each design has it's special niche, but if I'm looking for the "jack of all trades" grapple bucket, which design will best fit "all around" use, including roots, brush piles, logging, boulders, etc?

Also, for size, I'm considering going no bigger than 60", since it's less weight, and smaller (so it fits better into places). Is there anything else I should consider in regards to width, as it relates to the different grapple designs?

Thanks in advance.