Piston can give you the pros of his style. Which I would think carrying large stacks of boards would be one of them. The claw style can carry things as well by rolling the grapple back. Both are good and depends a lot on the user and his creativity.
Kytractor hit the nail on the head with that statement!
I've used both styles and ended up buying the "L" style based on the experience I've had with it. A lot of my "extreme satisfaction" from my grapple, comes from the fact that I did a LOT of researching on grapples, and tried a couple different ones out, while keeping my main uses in mind for what I would be using it for. Like many people, I tend to do extensive research on something before pulling the trigger!
FWIW I'm looking for a grapple to clean up logging slash including some logs and also large stumps that were dug out with a dozer or excavator by the previous owner so he could food plots.
This is what I use my grapple for about half the time. I do a lot of "hobby" logging and after dropping and limbing the tree, I use the grapple to clean it all up. I'm working on clearing some land as well, and often times I'll use the grapple to carry more than one stump at a time. This is where the two thumbs operating independently of one another really shine.
But I can't pick up logs very well with it. I can, but I end up re-gripping a few times. Kytractor's Anbo looks like it can pick up logs much better than mine since his lower teeth are longer. The "L" shape lends itself to getting under logs and general debris
With the "L" shape grapple, your not relying on the squeezing power of the grapple to contain the load, your letting gravity help you by holding the load with the lower tines of the grapple, and using the grapple arms more to "secure" the load in place. Typically, you want gravity to work with you, and not have to fight it.
It also makes it easy to use some what like a dozer and get under the roots and pop them as you go.
The root rake style DOES work better for this! Since the tines don't stick out as far, you have a lot more breakout force for lifting and popping roots out. However, (for my situation) I find that if I need to do much "bulldozing" style work to rip roots out, the scarifiers on my box blade are a lot more effective than the root rake style grapple would be.
There are certainly advantages to each type, and although I've used the root rake style, I don't have "extensive" use with it like I do with the "L" style as you are referring to it.
The "L" style is better at carrying items without relying on the "squeezing" pressure of the grapple, as mentioned, I can carry items like boards very effectively. Most people probably don't use the grapple for carrying boards around, but it is an example of the versatility of them.
A DISadvantage of the "L" style that I have, is since the tines are so long, you lose a lot of breakout force. I have noticed this to be an issue when trying to break roots free. This is where the "root rake" style is superior in my opinion, hence the name.
I try to keep an unbiased opinion when recommending grapples, but that is sometimes hard to do! *Ultimately, I chose the grapple I did based on my uses I expected. *I ended up using it for far more things than I ever thought possible. *Since June of 2011, I've only had my bucket on ONE time, as I've found the "L" style grapple can hold just about everything I need to use my tractor for.*
Take a look at this thread if you haven't already seen it, to get a good idea of what I use the grapple for.
Grappling fun - A Picture Thread....
I do think that the "L" style is more versatile over all, but if your needs are mostly for the "raking" action and popping roots, then I think the root rake style may fit you better.
Over the years I have heard many arguments here on TBN on the two different types of Grapples as well as the proper width
I couldn't have said it better myself! At the end of the day, there are indeed advantages and disadvantages of both styles, sizes, weights etc and neither one is really "better" than the other, it depends on your uses and your personal preferences. I have listed some of my opinions, and they are just that, my opinions.
Going from a bucket, to ANY type of grapple, is going to be an amazing increase in efficiency, versatility, and 'fun' factor. I think the details just come down to you and your specific needs.
