Wicked 55 root rake grapple on a 25HP compact?

[MapleLeafFarmer]

I had a EA 50" on a Kubota B2601 for many years.
Super quality. still have the grapple but since wore out that tractor.
Worked very well but for sure felt big on that little tractor.
For moving brush piles worked great.
Placing 12' long trunks (600 pounds plus grapple weight) on a flat deck worked well as well but clearly at the tractors max. Care was needed and mistakes could be costly and easy to make for uncareful.

my woodlot is in soft sandy soil with lots of 8"-14" diameter pine trees and that root grapple / 26HP tractor would have been useless to dig out stumps. Maybe if stump was 5 years old and partly rotten but not fresh ones.

 

[2manyrocks]

I have a 48" MTL grapple on my Kubota L2501 25hp tractor. It is awesome for picking up the top of a small tree and being able to crush/compact limbs. Within reason of the weight handling capacity of my loader, it is good for picking up short sections of tree trunk.

I sometimes pull the roots of small saplings in the Spring when the soil is soft using a chain attached to my drawbar, but I wouldn't attempt to pull stumps with my L2501 using any grapple.

If you are willing to take your time to dig, you can dig out some pretty sizeable stumps with a backhoe bucket. My 20 hp Terramite is a much better tool for digging out stumps.

 

[Darryl N]

Weeds to saplings , big trees . Use backhoe for stumps, and take my time. Got it.

 

[jonsstihl]

here is the link to the thread, post 75 on page 8 I can't take credit for the idea. another member k0ua came up with it and I just copied it.

My Wicked Grapple bush grabber attachment

I knew there were some a bit narrower, but the plate itself is about 48 inches right? The plate is 44 inches, same width as the SSQA plate: Heavy Duty Grapples for Skid Steers - Gorilla Grapples

www.tractorbynet.com

It is very useful and it is surprising how big a "sapling" it can pull especially if the ground is soft

 

[K5lwq]

I have the EA wicked 55” and have used it some for removing small trees and a few Crape Myrtles for my neighbor using the Kioti LK2554. Worked really well for that but I would not be removing stumps with it. That is a job for a backhoe.

 

[PJRAM]

I have the Homestead Implements Sub Compact Independence Series grapple on a Massey GC1723. It only weighs 190 lbs. and the specifications are almost identical to the Wicked 55 from EA. The price was better and so was the lead time on the Homestead. Shipping was also free. I have pulled small trees and honeysuckle bushes with it, and moved brush and decent sized logs, but I would NOT try to pull stumps with it. I use my backhoe for them.

 

[Darryl N]

That's a cute little MF. As I posted earlier in this tread, I have looked at the Homestead unit online. Since my Kioti is a little bigger and heavier (5500 lbs), I wondered if a grapple specifically designed for a sub-compact might not go the distance.

 

[2manyrocks]

Depends on how hard you use the grapple. But if you push a grapple so hard that you start bending tines, maybe that is a warning sign to back off before you damage your loader or tractor hydraulics?

My MTL attachments 48" weighs 350 lbs. I was concerned about putting that much weight on a L2501, but it has been fine. The metal is thick enough that I don't worry about bending things although I don't use my grapple to pull. I use my drawbar and a chain for pulling. Compact Tractor 48"-54"-60" HD Root Grapple Hydraulic - quick attach — MTL Attachments

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I’m not worried about the grapple, as much as I am the tractor. The loader and cylinders are not really designed to dig stumps. I’ve seen folks using stump buckets who have destroyed cylinders. Arguably they were using a tool made for stumps.

 

[Darryl N]

I’m not worried about the grapple, as much as I am the tractor. The loader and cylinders are not really designed to dig stumps. I’ve seen folks using stump buckets who have destroyed cylinders. Arguably they were using a tool made for stumps.

Ok, well, that settles it, I'm gonna go buy a $50k mini-excavator so I can dig up stumps. Others have said and I agree, that a compact with backhoe is perfectly capable of digging stumps, just have to take your time and conservatively work within the limits of the machine.