Need help with Grapple 101...

[HIGH ALTITUDE]

I just bought the same GL5740 rops w/ r4's with a horst welding 72" Scrap Grapple bucket Ive had some trouble with the breakout force of the loader frame even with the reg material bucket had reliefs adjusted once and frankly id like a little more. My grapple weighs 850 empty. As some have said it sounds heavy but the machine specs show it should handle it. I operate with loaded rear tires and a timber winch my main job with this is firewood

 

[Piston]

I just bought the same GL5740 rops w/ r4's with a horst welding 72" Scrap Grapple bucket Ive had some trouble with the breakout force of the loader frame even with the reg material bucket had reliefs adjusted once and frankly id like a little more. My grapple weighs 850 empty. As some have said it sounds heavy but the machine specs show it should handle it. I operate with loaded rear tires and a timber winch my main job with this is firewood

Your tractor will absolutely "handle" the weight of the grapple, just not a whole lot more. If your only picking up brush it should be fine, but a 72" 850lb grapple, is too much for a tractor our size. You may take a hit, but I'd suggest selling that grapple and buying a lighter duty one if your doing much more than lifting lightweight/bulky objects. Either that, or it's a good excuse for a larger tractor

 

[PapaPerk]

Your tractor will absolutely "handle" the weight of the grapple, just not a whole lot more. If your only picking up brush it should be fine, but a 72" 850lb grapple, is too much for a tractor our size. You may take a hit, but I'd suggest selling that grapple and buying a lighter duty one if your doing much more than lifting lightweight/bulky objects. Either that, or it's a good excuse for a larger tractor

Exactly. A 850 lbs bucket is for heavy duty construction machines like 12,000 lbs Bob Cat skid steers The tractors are just not set-up for heavy buckets like these. All your lift force is going towards moving the bucket.

850 lbs is ALOT of weight for a tractor that weighs around 6,000 lbs. Sell the grapple and buy one that's more in scale with the tractor. You will be happy that you did.

 

[IslandTractor]

Exactly. A 850 lbs bucket is for heavy duty construction machines like 12,000 lbs Bob Cat skid steers The tractors are just not set-up for heavy buckets like these. All your lift force is going towards moving the bucket.

850 lbs is ALOT of weight for a tractor that weighs around 6,000 lbs. Sell the grapple and buy one that's more in scale with the tractor. You will be happy that you did.

Completely agree. To pick up firewood, a light duty 48 or 60 inch grapple is probably your best bet. Or, as firewood in 18" lengths can be tricky for any grapple, consider adding a wide grapple top arm to your standard bucket and just use that. A standard bucket is almost as efficient as a grapple with small items like cut firewood. If you are talking 4-8ft lengths then a 48" grapple will leave you with the greatest net lift power and will be more than adequate to hold a load stable while traveling.

 

[Missouri Pioneer]

850 lbs is ALOT of weight for a tractor that weighs around 6,000 lbs. Sell the grapple and buy one that's more in scale with the tractor. You will be happy that you did.

Get a 48" WildKat, it weighs about 425 lbs. and is more what you need.

 

[MRSDOUGLAS]

We went with a 48" wr long I believe is the manufacturer. We have only had it a couple of weeks but love it so far. Haven't moved any heavy trees rye, just used it to organize some burn piles. It is about 350 lbs which leaves some weight room for lifting bigger stuff than we have so far.

 

[IslandTractor]

I have yet to hear someone with a 48" grapple complain that they should have gotten a heavier, wider, more expensive grapple.

 

[murphy1244]

I have yet to hear someone with a 48" grapple complain that they should have gotten a heavier, wider, more expensive grapple.

Hey Island, Finally bought my 60" grapple from MIE and hose kit. Going to be a fun summer I hope.

 

[IslandTractor]

Hey Island, Finally bought my 60" grapple from MIE and hose kit. Going to be a fun summer I hope.

Grappling stuff that would be a major pain to move otherwise is one of the very best applications for a CUT. I'd rank the grapple right after the mower on a list of best bang for the buck implements.

 

[Missouri Pioneer]

I'd rank the grapple right after the mower on a list of best bang for the buck implements.

As far as bang for the buck, I'd rate it as #1.