Root Grapple?

[Rhinorider]

Just wondering who out there in TBN land has a root grapple? What brand and pro's and con's on each? I'm in the market for one real soon. Oh BTW I have a Kioti DK45 HST.

 

[IslandTractor]

Just wondering who out there in TBN land has a root grapple? What brand and pro's and con's on each? I'm in the market for one real soon. Oh BTW I have a Kioti DK45 HST.

What do you mean by root grapple? I ask because the term is used in a variety of ways. I have a "root grapple" (see icon photo) that is also referred to as a "standard grapple" or open bottom grapple. It is able to snag roots but the normal orientation of the grapple has the bottom tines pointed forward and parallel to the ground. A different type of grapple, sometimes called root grapple and sometimes claw grapple, has the "bottom" tines vertically oriented.

True Root grapples or root rakes are mounted on bulldozers. The short stubby arms of the bulldozer are appropriate for powering the grapple through the ground. The long skinny arms of a tractor are really not engineered or built to do serious "root grappling" when driving. They are designed more to drive up to a bush, stop, dig the grapple under the bush, lift, clamp and drive forwards or backwards to finish removing the root/stump.

Sorry if that is unclear. A picture is worth a thousand words though so look at a bulldozer mounted grapple rake and you will see what I mean.

I have a Kioti DK40se and the same grapple you see mounted on my old CK20 is on the DK. Excellent match. Don't spend more than $700-1000 bucks delivered. Check out Wildkat or Gator. Lots of folks here have them and they do a fine job.

 

[Ken45101]

I agree with Island Tractor.

What job do you want to do with the grapple? I have one for the skid steer, with the typical upturn on the ends of the tines. It's not very good a digging roots, it has to be stood on end. It's not very good for raking up debris, the upturn rides over everything. It's not ideal for grabbing a pile of debris because the clamps are in the way. It's poor for grabbing logs on the ground to pick up and carry, again because of the upturned ends.

If I had it to do over again, I would get something that has the ends of the tines at ground level. Most "root grapples" do no.

Yes, mine works and is useful, but not nearly as much as I expected. It might be even more difficult on a tractor where you can't really see the ends of the tines.

Ken

 

[IslandTractor]

It's not very good a digging roots, it has to be stood on end. It's not very good for raking up debris, the upturn rides over everything. It's not ideal for grabbing a pile of debris because the clamps are in the way. It's poor for grabbing logs on the ground to pick up and carry, again because of the upturned ends.

If I had it to do over again, I would get something that has the ends of the tines at ground level. Most "root grapples" do no.

Yes, mine works and is useful, but not nearly as much as I expected. It might be even more difficult on a tractor where you can't really see the ends of the tines.

Ken

I guess I have to disagree with some of your points. Photos follow.

Grabbing logs is duck soup for virtually any type of grapple other than a bucket grapple and even that works OK. The type of grapple I have easily picks up a full load of logs. There are two ways to load it though. You can try to slip the bottom tines under the log and then clamp it but even easier is to open the grapple full and then tilt it so the open jaws are pointed down at the log pile. Then just drop the thing onto the logs and clamp. I have a photo doing that with loose woody debris.

The grapples are also pretty good at digging out roots. You just don't do it while moving. Drive up to the stump or bush or small tree. Push on the tree/bush to reveal where the main supporting roots are (they will bulge beneath the turf). Next just insert the bottom tines under the root and curl/lift the grapple. Depending on the size of the root/bush you will either pop the whole thing out or for larger trees/stumps you will rip that root and then work your way around the tree until it is unstable and can be pushed over. That technique works up to about a 5 or 6 inch diameter trunk and works with any size bush. The OP has the same loader I do so I know it has the power to rip roots up to about 3 inches in a single curl. Bigger roots sometimes need to be dug up a little further from the stump to rip them.

Brush is very easy to pick up with a grapple but is best done by using the grapple first to push it all into a pile. You then use the open grapple face down approach to squash the pile down before closing the jaws. I can get so much brush in one bite that I cannot see where I am driving!

I think Ken seems to be looking for a bulldozer type root rake rather than root grapple. Trouble is that while the clamshell type grapples do allow easier raking while moving, I still think it is a mistake to use a tractor FEL as a bulldozer. Just not engineered for the strain of hitting an immovable object like a big rock or buried stump while the 5000lb tractor with all its momentum is moving forward. It is especially dangerous if the immovable object is off centerline as that can twist the FEL arms. Tractor FELs are loading devices and are engineered to lift. Bulldozer "FEL" arms are stout, short and much more heavily built just for the purpose of absorbing those types of shock forces.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

A grapple is used to grab and carry; not to rip with.

Sure, a grapple works great if you need it. And cost effective if you need it a lot.

I usually throw a logging chain around the stump or sapling, and hook it to the tow bar to pull out and drag to the pile.

I'll wrap the chain around a bundle of brush and tow it the same way.

 

[Rhinorider]

Actually my main purpose is to use it to pick up brush, tree limbs, and to tear out the roots of saplings. I have about 8 acres of woods I am clearing all the under brush out, there is a ton of Autum Olive bushes, dead trees, etc. I also built a pig pole that mounts to my FEL that I can reach 20 feet with and about 8 feet out in front of the FEL mounting plate. I am going to mount a hydraulic chain saw to it and drop the low hanging branches. The grapple will be the berries for picking up all of the debris. I saw one I liked on everything attachments, but a bit pricey at $1800. If I can't find anything at a more reasonable price I 'll build one. A 4 x 8 x 3/8 sheet of Hardox 400 is $547 and I have the rest of the steel, I would have to get a couple short cylinders also.

 

[IslandTractor]

Actually my main purpose is to use it to pick up brush, tree limbs, and to tear out the roots of saplings. I have about 8 acres of woods I am clearing all the under brush out, there is a ton of Autum Olive bushes, dead trees, etc. I also built a pig pole that mounts to my FEL that I can reach 20 feet with and about 8 feet out in front of the FEL mounting plate. I am going to mount a hydraulic chain saw to it and drop the low hanging branches. The grapple will be the berries for picking up all of the debris. I saw one I liked on everything attachments, but a bit pricey at $1800. If I can't find anything at a more reasonable price I 'll build one. A 4 x 8 x 3/8 sheet of Hardox 400 is $547 and I have the rest of the steel, I would have to get a couple short cylinders also.

How does $500 plus shipping sound? Call Wildkat and ask about their economy 48" grapple.

By the way, spending money on high strength steel is just throwing it away. 3/8" mild steel is perfectly adequate for CUT grapples. I don't believe anyone on TBN has managed to destroy one yet. My 3/8" Millonzi which is very similar to the Wildkat is in it's seventh season and going strong.

 

[JPCjr]

I have very similar needs, about 10 acres of woods with lots of Autumn Olive and dead trees. I want to clean up the dead trees and get rid of the Autumn Olives. We plan on building a house out there in about a year. I may try to clear the driveway and home site also. I have a Bobcat CT450 and after a lot of research I decided on this grapple:

60" Root Grapple Rake $1375.00 | Grapple Bucket Attachments | 60" Grapple Rake | palletforks.com

I think that design will be more efficient for what I'm trying to do. We'll see, it'll be here next week.

 

[Ken45101]

I have very similar needs, about 10 acres of woods with lots of Autumn Olive and dead trees. I want to clean up the dead trees and get rid of the Autumn Olives. We plan on building a house out there in about a year. I may try to clear the driveway and home site also. I have a Bobcat CT450 and after a lot of research I decided on this grapple:

60" Root Grapple Rake $1375.00 | Grapple Bucket Attachments | 60" Grapple Rake | palletforks.com

I think that design will be more efficient for what I'm trying to do. We'll see, it'll be here next week.

If I were to do it over again, I think that may be the design that I would want to try.

As has been said earlier, "root grapple" is a very vague term with many different designs.

 

[HCJtractor]

Listen to Island Tractor!! Everything he said is gospel! I also bought a 48" grapple from Markham (like the Wildcat, I think) and it is awesome. Mounted on a 70 horse Kubota, it is a beast for clearing land, moving debris, uprooting trees (up to 6" diameter). Don't get one wider than 48" and one hydraulic "thumb" on top is plenty. All of his pictures say it all. It works flawlessly. I have used my countless hours and made mountains of debris piles.