Grapple What Size Grapple Do I Want?

   / What Size Grapple Do I Want? #1  

NonTypicalCPA

Silver Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2007
Messages
136
Location
SW Michigan
Tractor
Kubota L3940
I have a Kubota L3940 (40 hp) with the LA 724 loader which is rated at around 1600 lbs at bucket center and around 1900 at pivot pin. This will be the first grapple that I've owned so I'm looking to shorten the learning curve from you more experienced grapple owners. My main use will be to haul, cut, and load firewood from my woods to be burned in my outdoor boiler.
 
   / What Size Grapple Do I Want? #2  
I'm not a 'more experienced' grapple user, but I like the one I bought and I almost exclusively use it for firewood collection. Dual grapples are great and sometimes when you cut to log size in the woods, a larger capacity loading area is good. About half the time I end up throwing the logs on by hand if the tree falls over a ditch or some other place not good for grabbing the whole thing. Mine is 60" wide 3/8" plate, medium duty from Unlimited Fabrication.
 
   / What Size Grapple Do I Want? #3  
I have a 48" light duty grapple on a 41hp tractor with a higher capacity FEL than the Kubota. I'd recommend a 48" for general use on any tractor up to about 50hp. If you are really just picking up small short sticks or construction debris then a 60 inch or larger might make sense but there are downsides to larger grapples. Many people make the mistake of thinking that a grapple should be the same width as their loader. Not. Narrower means more manuverable, lighter and allows you to put more force into a single spot.

My grapple was made by Millonzi who appear to be out of business now. WRLong makes and equivalent and Markham has just started making an equivalent too. The Markham looks pretty much like the WRLong but you can buy it direct rather than needing to go through a dealer so it will save you several hundred bucks at least.
 

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   / What Size Grapple Do I Want? #5  
This is the WR Long 60" (WRGB2) grapple on my TC40 which I imagine is comparable with your tractor. The man purpose I bought this was for gathering firewood and keeping my fields clear of limbs. Works good.
 

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   / What Size Grapple Do I Want?
  • Thread Starter
#6  
Thanks for the help guys! It sounds like I need to stick with the 48". If I can find a Millonzi would you recommend it? Or should I look at the Markham or WR Long?
 
   / What Size Grapple Do I Want? #7  
Thanks for the help guys! It sounds like I need to stick with the 48". If I can find a Millonzi would you recommend it? Or should I look at the Markham or WR Long?

I would personally buy another Millonzi in a second if I needed one. There is a dealer in Michigan who apparently still has some in stock. Search Millonzi posts over the past few days and I think you will find the name.

If you cannot find the Millonzi or if the Markham is a better price I wouldn't hesitate to go that route either. WRLong is a superb company...if they sold direct it would make more sense but you'd get the same quality and function for several hundred extra so I'd look there last.
 
   / What Size Grapple Do I Want? #8  
Check out Unlimited Fabrication at rootgrapple.com They made mine with pin mounts and the quality is great. I see they now have a single piston grapple that goes the whole width of the unit and is being marketed for CUTs. I think it is available in 4 and 5 foot.
 
   / What Size Grapple Do I Want? #9  
Thanks for the help guys! It sounds like I need to stick with the 48". If I can find a Millonzi would you recommend it? Or should I look at the Markham or WR Long?

In using my 60" this summer for taking standing dead oak trees out of the woods I have never once said that I should have went with the 48". My method is to drop the trees and skid them full length into a field. Once in the field I cut to length for transport on the wagon and in the grapple. I do use the grapple inside the woods for various tasks of lifting and moving where space is available but even with a 48" grapple you could not bring a log wider than the tractor out thru my trails.

In fairness I am sure that the 48" would work for me just as well, however like I mentioned so far I have never thought to myself that the 60" was to big.
 
   / What Size Grapple Do I Want? #10  
In fairness I am sure that the 48" would work for me just as well, however like I mentioned so far I have never thought to myself that the 60" was to big.

I don't think the big issue is 48 vs 60. Although I've always advocated the 48, I'm sure both work very well. You just need to be careful about the extra weight.

The bigger point I keep trying to make is that people should not buy grapples the same size as their standard bucket, especially if that bucket is 72 inches or more.
 
 
 
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