Grapple 4 in 1 bucket , root grapple, or stump grapple ?

[alchemysa]

Hello all. I am looking for the best attachment for pulling out old overgrown shrubbery and loading to haul it off.

You've got at least 3 options.

1, A dedicated grapple with tines on the bottom and teeth at the top.
2, A grapple attachment on a standard bucket.
3, A 4in1.

It think it all depends how much brush you have to move. I dont have a grapple but I have a heavy 4in1 on a 20hp tractor... and i love it.
It can take about 4 times as many trips to move the same amount of bulky brush with a 4in1 compared to a dedicated grapple, but unless you have a lot of brush to move a considerable distance then thats no big deal. In my opinion a dedicated grapple would be overkill unless you have a lot of brush.

A grapple attachment fitted to your standard bucket is the cheapest option. Good versatility (I imagine) but I dont know how convenient it would be for pulling out stumps because how do you see when the grapple tooth has the stump in its grip?

A 4in1 is great for pulling up brush and small trees. You just drive up to the stump until it hits it, then close the clam. You dont have to be able to see the stump as i imagine you would need to do with a grapple attachment. A 4in1 probably has a much stronger grip on a stump too than a grapple attachment. If its a tough stump you just rock back and forwards a few times till it breaks out. A 4in1 really wins when youve got rubbish cleanup and finishing work around a home site. Large rocks, concrete rubble, and dirt with grass etc is usually pretty easy to pick up. I use the dozer function a lot. As for size, I would suggest you don't go wider than a few inches wider than your tractor.

I dont find the reduction in lift capacity a problem. My little tractor can still lift any amount of dirt I can fit in the 4in1. 4in1 buckets usually have smaller volume capacity anyway.

Another consideration is whether you have quick attachments. I don't, so the all round versatility of a 4in1 bucket that I never remove is priceless.

 

[CurlyDave]

The 4-n-1 will pull up saplings better than almost anything. And will cause the least earth disturbance around the shrubs former spot.

Brush takes learning some touch, to clamp on the brush hard enough, but not pinch it off. Once you pinch it off, a dedicated grapple with tines is the best to get it out.

Grapple is good for carrying brush, but not so good for pulling it out.

 

[IslandTractor]

Grapple is good for carrying brush, but not so good for pulling it out.

I cannot agree with that. I have both the 4n1 and a grapple and have cleared about six or seven acres of brush over the past three years. I have the grapple mounted 95% of the time.

I would agree that if you are trying to pull out one bush or one sapling from a lawn that the 4n1 is better as you can clamp that single item and surgically remove it. However, when faced with a wall of brush it is much more efficient to stick grapple tines under the bush and lift or drive forwards then carry it away once you've got a grapple full. I can use the 4n1 in bulldozer mode to do a similar job but it just piles stuff up after dozing it out of the ground and it is difficult to pick up a lot of loose brush with the 4n1.