Grapple questions about choice of root grapple

[Piston]

Randy, have you plumbed in the 3rd function valve yet?
We're all anxious for you to get that baby together!

Why don't big excavators have grapples bigger than 48"?

Because they don't carry things long distances. Comparing a compact tractor to an excavator is not apples to apples.
Excavators are built to dig, grapples aren't.

Ever seen a 48" grapple on a skidsteer? (much more of a realistic comparison)

[Rockgod]

Why don't big excavators have grapples bigger than 48"?

Give it a rest.

I know you think your the grapple guru and all but there are others out here with some grapple experience too. The guy asked a question and I gave him my answer. Let him make up his own mind. You've made your case now get off your high horse.

[JoeBuyer]

Give it a rest.

I know you think your the grapple guru and all but there are others out here with some grapple experience too. The guy asked a question and I gave him my answer. Let him make up his own mind. You've made your case now get off your high horse.

I would agree that the size of grapple needed depends on the size and nature of what is being grappled plus the size and type of tractor/Skidsteer it will be used on. To say that only small grapples are any good is like saying only small buckets are any good. If I am moving gravel I attach a small bucket. Would I attach that same small bucket if I am moving sawdust? Of course not. Would I want a 36" root grapple with two small teeth on top when back raking loose hay off the barn floor? No, I would use my 72" rake grapple. I even consider that too small for certain uses on 85hp and 100hp machines. At the same time I would like a 48" or smaller root grapple for different uses. So it all depends....

[rwork]

Randy, have you plumbed in the 3rd function valve yet?
We're all anxious for you to get that baby together!




Because they don't carry things long distances. Comparing a compact tractor to an excavator is not apples to apples.
Excavators are built to dig, grapples aren't.

Ever seen a 48" grapple on a skidsteer? (much more of a realistic comparison)

No Piston,
I haven't even had a chance to get this thing out of the crate yet. Got to get out the grinder, and cut this steel crate off of it. But I'm just running lines from my rear remotes. Whenever I get my rear hydraulics for my box blade, then I'll have to look at other options.
I just hope I don't get rained out this weekend, cause I was sure looking to do some grapplin' !
Randy

[rwork]

I had considered getting a 60" grapple, but I have a lot of smaller trees that I'm working around, so I figured the 48" would allow me to get into tighter areas.

Randy

[IslandTractor]

Give it a rest.

I know you think your the grapple guru and all but there are others out here with some grapple experience too. The guy asked a question and I gave him my answer. Let him make up his own mind. You've made your case now get off your high horse.

Have you every used a 48" grapple and compared it to a larger one? I'll give it a rest when you report on your experiences with the smaller grapple and have something useful to say. I've used both and base my recommendations on 7 years of satisfaction with a 48", 300lb, $500 grapple.

There are situations with a skidsteer cleaning up construction debris for example where a wider grapple makes a lot of sense. Skidsteers are generally construction machines and do different tasks. Big skidsteers used in brush clearing have much more powerful loaders than any CUT. The vast majority of CUT owners however are not doing construction work but rather field/brush/bale work. The wider grapples are heavier, less maneuverable and really don't carry more stuff unless you have some extremely specific task like moving small pieces of firewood. There are a lot of misconceptions by folks who haven't used 48" grapples regarding what they can hold and concerns that one grapple arm would not be as good as two. These myths are easily dispelled however by using a smaller grapple or just looking at all the photos people have posted. Why doesn't the human hand have two thumbs? Simple, because one works just fine. Closing a single grapple arm on a log or debris compresses the load against the bottom which really is more like a triangular vice than a pincer. The load is very stable. Both outside edges of the bottom and the top grapple compress the load. It isn't going anywhere.

The bottom line with 48 vs larger is that there are only a very small number of tasks that a larger grapple can do better than a 48 (short firewood or sticks, construction debris) but there are at least as many tasks that a 48 does better than a larger grapple (digging, maneuvering, net lift weight capacity, etc). Any given loader can lift and transport a bigger tree, rock or load of brush with the 48 than with a heavier grapple. Do the math. And, 48's typically cost at least $400-600 less than the larger grapples. Finally, people with 48's don't complain about lack of width or dual arms.

[Piston]

Have you every used a 48" grapple and compared it to a larger one? I'll give it a rest when you report on your experiences with the smaller grapple and have something useful to say. I've used both and base my recommendations on 7 years of satisfaction with a 48", 300lb, $500 grapple.

There are situations with a skidsteer cleaning up construction debris for example where a wider grapple makes a lot of sense. Skidsteers are generally construction machines and do different tasks. Big skidsteers used in brush clearing have much more powerful loaders than any CUT. The vast majority of CUT owners however are not doing construction work but rather field/brush/bale work. The wider grapples are heavier, less maneuverable and really don't carry more stuff unless you have some extremely specific task like moving small pieces of firewood. There are a lot of misconceptions by folks who haven't used 48" grapples regarding what they can hold and concerns that one grapple arm would not be as good as two. These myths are easily dispelled however by using a smaller grapple or just looking at all the photos people have posted. Why doesn't the human hand have two thumbs? Simple, because one works just fine. Closing a single grapple arm on a log or debris compresses the load against the bottom which really is more like a triangular vice than a pincer. The load is very stable. Both outside edges of the bottom and the top grapple compress the load. It isn't going anywhere.

The bottom line with 48 vs larger is that there are only a very small number of tasks that a larger grapple can do better than a 48 (short firewood or sticks, construction debris) but there are at least as many tasks that a 48 does better than a larger grapple (digging, maneuvering, net lift weight capacity, etc). Any given loader can lift and transport a bigger tree, rock or load of brush with the 48 than with a heavier grapple. Do the math. And, 48's typically cost at least $400-600 less than the larger grapples. Finally, people with 48's don't complain about lack of width or dual arms.

I.T. I'm gonna respectively agree to disagree. We all have our opinions and you make very valid (and some very true points) and I believe I do as well. Maybe next time your on the mainland we should grab some beers somewhere and have a good grapple argument in person! I'll buy.

[IslandTractor]

I.T. I'm gonna respectively agree to disagree. We all have our opinions and you make very valid (and some very true points) and I believe I do as well. Maybe next time your on the mainland we should grab some beers somewhere and have a good grapple argument in person! I'll buy.

Deal. I certainly recognize that a larger grapple may be best for some uses but i keep pointing out the virtues of the lightweight grapples for CUTs because new prospective buyers almost always make the simple and understandable error of aiming to duplicate the standard bucket width. CUT dealers often are not experienced with grapples and revert to skidsteer standards. My "crusade" is really just aimed at getting prospective buyers to think through the choice rather than assume larger is better or to rely on dealer advice which is too often naive or profit motivated.

I'm sure we could resolve the matter over a few pitchers of draft though.

[vwnotrunning]

We don't need you to resolve this through beers. We need a head to head video!! That way we can have the beer and learn.

[Rockgod]

I would agree that the size of grapple needed depends on the size and nature of what is being grappled plus the size and type of tractor/Skidsteer it will be used on. To say that only small grapples are any good is like saying only small buckets are any good. If I am moving gravel I attach a small bucket. Would I attach that same small bucket if I am moving sawdust? Of course not. Would I want a 36" root grapple with two small teeth on top when back raking loose hay off the barn floor? No, I would use my 72" rake grapple. I even consider that too small for certain uses on 85hp and 100hp machines. At the same time I would like a 48" or smaller root grapple for different uses. So it all depends....

I'd even take it a step further and say there are times when I wish I had a wider grapple. On many occasions I've had to take a load of brush 1/4 mile to the burn pile. Even at 66" wide branches still fall out the sides. Or root raking a half acre area this spring. For my uses smaller is not better. It all depends...