Grapple Grapple research and tentative conclusion what may be best for me; what do YOU think?

[Missouri Pioneer]

I've read what I could find on this forum on grapples. My primary use would be picking up brush and downed trees and piling them up for burning. From time to time, I also foresee needing to move large rocks.

My tractor is a 55 hp LS U5030C, 4WD diesel. Lift capacity is supposedly about 2,900 lbs.

I've read Island Tractor's advocacy of 48" light duty grapples. I talked to Nelson at WR Long, and he made sense to me about matching the grapple to the tractor.

There are grapples with long lower jaws, there are ones with short lower jaws. I'm told the short ones are better able to uproot trees and close tight on single trees, but those with the longer jaws can carry more, but cannot close tightly.

One member described Anbo as the "Lexus" of grapples, but expensive. I looked at their GR-S
ANBO Manufacturing - Rock, Root & Tree Grapple GR-S
and for the 5' model was quoted $3520 delivered. 660 lbs, AR-400 steel, 1 yr. warranty, opens 51".

I compared it to a what appeared to be a very similar 5' Titan grapple
60" Root Grapple Bucket Skid Steer Attachment bobcat | eBay
600 lbs, opens 48", T-1 steel, 5 year warranty, and the best part, $1375 delivered.

I read that " AR400 is tougher, harder, and more wear resistant than most any plate used in the attachment industry. AR400 is 38% stronger and 46% harder than T-1. AR400 steel costs 30% more than T-1".

Nevertheless, I'm strongly leaning toward purchase of the Titan. Does anyone here have experience with this Titan model? Comments welcome. Thanks.

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

As I'm sure you read, your cut isn't going to work a grapple like a skid steer would. And although I agree with Island on the width, I don't feel thats set in stone. I don't believe you need ar400 steel at all. But getting it certainly won't hurt either. Anbo's are well made but heavy, there have been quite a few owners who bought them for cuts only to sell them due to weight.

Matt

 

[Combustix]

Have an Anbo 54" GR-M for my K B2710. Yes they are pricey but the thing is built like a battleship. Construction quality is excellent and has two 3000psi hyd cylinders for the top jaw. So far all I can say for it is awesome. For clean up of trees roots rocks brush it works great. Have picked up some 30"x10' cotton wood trunks and can place them perfectly. As I'm building backstops for 100 and 200 yards as well as a few more. I looked around and since I live in wa I decided go with the local manufacture. It's fairly easy to go from bucket to grapple with one person though j need to add quick pins for locking the pins in. I do know that a grapple adds a whole new dimension to using your tractor. Good luck and enjoy when you get one

 

[Glen Watkins]

No experience with this style grapple but while I was looking at your link on ebay this one also showed up on there for $1000.00!

GRAPPLE FOR SKID STEER LOADER | eBay

 

[kubotakid USA]

I've read what I could find on this forum on grapples. My primary use would be picking up brush and downed trees and piling them up for burning. From time to time, I also foresee needing to move large rocks.

My tractor is a 55 hp LS U5030C, 4WD diesel. Lift capacity is supposedly about 2,900 lbs.

I've read Island Tractor's advocacy of 48" light duty grapples. I talked to Nelson at WR Long, and he made sense to me about matching the grapple to the tractor.

There are grapples with long lower jaws, there are ones with short lower jaws. I'm told the short ones are better able to uproot trees and close tight on single trees, but those with the longer jaws can carry more, but cannot close tightly.

One member described Anbo as the "Lexus" of grapples, but expensive. I looked at their GR-S
ANBO Manufacturing - Rock, Root & Tree Grapple GR-S
and for the 5' model was quoted $3520 delivered. 660 lbs, AR-400 steel, 1 yr. warranty, opens 51".

I compared it to a what appeared to be a very similar 5' Titan grapple
60" Root Grapple Bucket Skid Steer Attachment bobcat | eBay
600 lbs, opens 48", T-1 steel, 5 year warranty, and the best part, $1375 delivered.

I read that " AR400 is tougher, harder, and more wear resistant than most any plate used in the attachment industry. AR400 is 38% stronger and 46% harder than T-1. AR400 steel costs 30% more than T-1".

Nevertheless, I'm strongly leaning toward purchase of the Titan. Does anyone here have experience with this Titan model? Comments welcome. Thanks.

The titan root graple looks good as a root grapple only, the short lower, teeth are too short for general clean up work, especially on a cut, Most grapples no matter what the design, will close completly Eric

 

[RJJR]

Here's another from EBAY that doesn't look bad for a grand.

48" SKID STEER/COMPACT TRACTOR LOADER GRAPPLE ROOT RAKE | eBay

 

[IslandTractor]

Here's another from EBAY that doesn't look bad for a grand.

48" SKID STEER/COMPACT TRACTOR LOADER GRAPPLE ROOT RAKE | eBay

I agree, looks pretty nice. I'd prefer an extra middle top tine just because the upper jaw is pretty wide but that could be added later if it is an issue.

Nelson Long gave good advice in pointing out that you need to choose between capacity and precision. The term root grapple is used vaguely and often to describe both types. I prefer to distinguish them on a simple functional basis: how do they hold their load. The pinch style grapple (one full length upper jaw) does great with single items but has limited ability to pick up a big load of logs for example. If you have one fat log then you cannot grapple anything smaller. The gravity style grapples (like the ebay one) are better for stuffing lots of material into and can even carry the load without closing the upper grapple (hence my gravity appellation) but they are not as efficient with a single small item as the upper jaw doesn't compress as much as it cages the objects unless the load is nearly full.

I do take issue with Nelson Long's vague statement about choosing the right size grapple for the tractor though. If you look at his website almost anyone with a tractor over 30hp would be advised to get a much heavier duty model than has been shown to be necessary. There is a ton of experience on TBN with guys using large tractors and light duty grapples. There are very few complaints and to my knowledge no one has reported they managed to destroy a light duty grapple. I don't believe I recall anyone "upgrading" their light duty grapple either. Many of us started with smaller tractors and just kept the same grapple when we upgraded. Indeed, the grapple is one of only two implements I did not upgrade when I got a much bigger tractor.

I am well known for my bias in favor of the narrow light duty gravity style but that does to some extent reflect the way I use my grapple which is for gross land clearing. If I were cruising around my manicured estate picking up the odd fallen branch then the pinch or clamshell style would be an advantage. I still would look for the lightest version I could though as net lift capacity is a large part of the equation.

Regarding fancy versus mild steel: why pay extra for something that just makes it harder to fix? Mild steel works fine. You can heat it, bend it, weld it as needed. The fancy steels are not as easy to work. If I were buying a grapple for a monster skidsteer or loader I'd think about the fancy steel as a way of cutting weight but our CUTs, even 50+ HP with 3000lb lift capacity loaders do not in any way overwhelm the simplest light duty mild steel grapple. If a grapple is used correctly, which is to say not twisted, then 3/8 inch mild steel is perfectly up to the task. Think about plows, those are never made of even 3/8 steel and they survive for years. If you twist a grapple (better chance of doing that with a wide grapple btw) then you can pretty easily bend even fancy steel "heavy duty" grapples. Use it correctly and a basic light duty grapple will last as long as any other implement.

Keep it simple and cheap. Watch out you don't fall prey to "upgradeitis". The Anbo grapple you were quoted is gross overkill IMO. The GR M for light duty compact tractors is a nice grapple and at 300lbs or so will do just fine. WRLong makes a nice clamshell too if that is the style you like. They also make a gravity type which they call OBG I think for open bottom grapple. Those are well made too as are the Markham/Gator and the ebay one noted above.

 

[jake98]

Those clamshell grapples (the ones with the vertical tines) almost seem like they belong on a dozer.

 

[kennyd]

No experience with this style grapple but while I was looking at your link on ebay this one also showed up on there for $1000.00!

GRAPPLE FOR SKID STEER LOADER | eBay

That is from Gator Attachments (formally Markham Welding) How do I know?...because three of the pictures are mine! I sent them to Mellisa years ago.

 

[IslandTractor]

That is from Gator Attachments (formally Markham Welding) How do I know?...because three of the pictures are mine! I sent them to Mellisa years ago.

The one you linked to does not look like any Markham/Gator grapple I've ever seen. It is a used clamshell. Did you mean to link to the other ebay item that RJJR posted? That one does look like a Markham/Gator.