Xfaxman
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2013
- Messages
- 12,926
- Location
- Guthrie, OK
- Tractor
- Toolcat 5610 G - Bobcat V417 - TORO+Loader
I would buy the Wildkat if and only if they have switched from 4x4x0.125 to 4x4x0.25 for the top tube. 3/8" mild steel is all you need for the bottom tines and upper arm. I think that is currently the best bang for the buck but that top tube issue needs to be fixed. Curved bottom time tips would be my preference but I haven't heard anyone with straight bottom tines complain.
If the price was acceptable from a dealer I would happily own a WRLong 48" OBG2. I would not personally want an RBG style as I think the clamshell style grapples are not as versatile as well as being more expensive.
I haven't seen much about the Titan 48 but it looks fine. If EA made a 48 I would have confidence in that one too. Gator used to make a good 48 too but I don't know if they are in business anymore.
The Wildkat was my first choice initially but it sounded as though they have some SSQA issues. I will have to call them and ask about the top tube.
2) does anyone know if Wildkat changed the gauge of 4x4 tubing used from 0.125" to 0.25"?
I went with the NAI 48" Light Duty Root Grapple.
My main decision factors were:
> Tractor is a Kubota L3540 w/ bigger loader (i.e. not too big)
> Maximize lifting capacity for moving logs
> Decent design & build quality
> Reasonable Price
It was $820 plus shipping (which was a decent chunk to Calif). I don't recall the weight, but it's one of the lightest. It has greaseable pins for all of the pivots.
I first used it to move brush to the burn pile and it worked great. I have also used it to move large oak logs and it lifts more than I expected. Like all other grapple owners, I'm very happy with it. :thumbsup:
I went with the NAI 48" Light Duty Root Grapple.
My main decision factors were:
> Tractor is a Kubota L3540 w/ bigger loader (i.e. not too big)
> Maximize lifting capacity for moving logs
> Decent design & build quality
> Reasonable Price
It was $820 plus shipping (which was a decent chunk to Calif). I don't recall the weight, but it's one of the lightest. It has greaseable pins for all of the pivots.
I first used it to move brush to the burn pile and it worked great. I have also used it to move large oak logs and it lifts more than I expected. Like all other grapple owners, I'm very happy with it. :thumbsup:
I know a little bit about what goes into a grapple. It is a heck of a lot of work to build one. I don't see how some of these companies are selling them so cheap. They have to be cutting some corners. Where are they if you have a problem with it?
Good question. However, unless you buy a WRLong from a local dealer, you pretty much have to deal with repairs with local resources yourself. Nearly every grapple manufacturer is hundreds of miles away and getting anyone to help is pretty difficult. Shipping costs, especially returns, are prohibitive as the grapple needs to be palleted and picked up. On the good side, not much goes wrong once you get them set up as they are pretty simple devices and a local hydraulic shop plus a local welder can do pretty much anything the original manufacturer can do. I would imagine that even WRLong just has the local dealer make any necessary repairs. When I bent the tips of my upper jaw tines on a big rock, I just took the upper jaw off, threw it in the back of the car and took it to a local gas station to have them straighten and reinforce the tips.