Grapple Which type of grapple is best suited for...

[Dingo Man]

Just an FYI in reference to the WildKat 48" Economy Grapple. I called Wildkat Today and was advise they are still using the .125 (1/8") steel tubing :thumbdown: Between that and the likely hood the SSQA will have to be tinkered on before it fits snug on my loader I think I am going to pass on the Wildkat grapple. I know they are a good price and but even for that much dough they should have address these problems by now.

 

[Dingo Man]

So, I just got off the phone with Stella at North American Implement. For those of you that do not know I believe what used to be Markham Welding changed to Gator, changed to North American Implements. I had recieved a quote from her last week for a 48" LD grapple for $1,000 plus $145 to ship it to my dealer ($230 to ship it to my house).

I advised her my only hitch with their 48" LD grapple was it only had five bottom tines. I explained to her their competition had seven bottom tines on there 48" grapples making them IMHO more versitile for carrying fire wood and smaller bush, sticks, etc. I asked her if they could build me a 48" with seven tines as opposed to five. She stated they could and told me it would be an extra $20 a tine. I told her for $40 you got it:thumbsup:.

It is hard to tell from photos but it appears their grapples are built much better than Wildkat. The order has been placed so I guess we will find out. :cool2: Hopefully this passes the Island Tractor scrutiny :laughing:

Just a heads up, if anyone gets on their website and clicks on LD duty grapple, the grapple photographed is the 60" not 48"

 

[IslandTractor]

So, I just got off the phone with Stella at North American Implement. For those of you that do not know I believe what used to be Markham Welding changed to Gator, changed to North American Implements. I had recieved a quote from her last week for a 48" LD grapple for $1,000 plus $145 to ship it to my dealer ($230 to ship it to my house).

I advised her my only hitch with their 48" LD grapple was it only had five bottom tines. I explained to her their competition had seven bottom tines on there 48" grapples making them IMHO more versitile for carrying fire wood and smaller bush, sticks, etc. I asked her if they could build me a 48" with seven tines as opposed to five. She stated they could and told me it would be an extra $20 a tine. I told her for $40 you got it:thumbsup:.

It is hard to tell from photos but it appears their grapples are built much better than Wildkat. The order has been placed so I guess we will find out. :cool2: Hopefully this passes the Island Tractor scrutiny :laughing:

Just a heads up, if anyone gets on their website and clicks on LD duty grapple, the grapple photographed is the 60" not 48"

Sounds like a good deal. Another way of dealing with the firewood gap issue is to have them put 3 intermediate filler tines between the gaps of the 5 main tines. These can be lighter duty and inset slightly so they do not take the main load when digging and just keep rocks and wood from falling through. Not a big deal especially as they are charging so little for the extra tines but it might save a little weight.

 

[rbtjr]

Just an FYI in reference to the WildKat 48" Economy Grapple. I called Wildkat Today and was advise they are still using the .125 (1/8") steel tubing :thumbdown: Between that and the likely hood the SSQA will have to be tinkered on before it fits snug on my loader I think I am going to pass on the Wildkat grapple. I know they are a good price and but even for that much dough they should have address these problems by now.

fyi, I bought a Wildkat 48" economy grapple last fall. Before I bought the grapple, I called the Wildkat folks twice to ask specifically about the thickness of the tubing on the top. I did this because I had read on TBN some complaints about the thickness of this tubing. I was told that the tubing had been changed and was 1/4". I really like the grapple and consider it to be a good buy even if the top tubing is 1/8". I have not had any issues with the SSQA (so far). But I should add that I have not thus far put the grapple to any really rigorous use that would cause an issue with either the strength of the top tubing or the SSQA.

 

[sd455dan]

So, I just got off the phone with Stella at North American Implement. For those of you that do not know I believe what used to be Markham Welding changed to Gator, changed to North American Implements. I had recieved a quote from her last week for a 48" LD grapple for $1,000 plus $145 to ship it to my dealer ($230 to ship it to my house).

I advised her my only hitch with their 48" LD grapple was it only had five bottom tines. I explained to her their competition had seven bottom tines on there 48" grapples making them IMHO more versitile for carrying fire wood and smaller bush, sticks, etc. I asked her if they could build me a 48" with seven tines as opposed to five. She stated they could and told me it would be an extra $20 a tine. I told her for $40 you got it:thumbsup:.

It is hard to tell from photos but it appears their grapples are built much better than Wildkat. The order has been placed so I guess we will find out. :cool2: Hopefully this passes the Island Tractor scrutiny :laughing:

Just a heads up, if anyone gets on their website and clicks on LD duty grapple, the grapple photographed is the 60" not 48"

Congrats on the new grapple:thumbsup: that was a good idea on the extra tines to keep the wood stable.. If you heat with wood and move the split wood sometimes with the the grapple more tines will really help even with 9, I have to get a little creative with the stacking, but my wood stove likes 16 inch pieces.

Working out your tines/width you should be at 8" spacing just like mine, should work great especially if you cut the wood a little longer...

 

[IslandTractor]

fyi, I bought a Wildkat 48" economy grapple last fall. Before I bought the grapple, I called the Wildkat folks twice to ask specifically about the thickness of the tubing on the top. I did this because I had read on TBN some complaints about the thickness of this tubing. I was told that the tubing had been changed and was 1/4". I really like the grapple and consider it to be a good buy even if the top tubing is 1/8". I have not had any issues with the SSQA (so far). But I should add that I have not thus far put the grapple to any really rigorous use that would cause an issue with either the strength of the top tubing or the SSQA.

I suspect the only time you'd have trouble is if you do something like push against a tree with the top open so the top arm puts a lot of leverage force on it's base. Just be careful. No one tries to do that on purpose but it happens.

I don't know why Wildkat doesn't just use 1/4" tube though. Probably only another $15 in material and it would make for a much stronger grapple.

 

[mangus580]

My grapple arrived today (well I had to go to the terminal to get it due to several shipping snags) I am happy with how it looks so far. I do wish I had opted for one that had more tines on the upper lid, but I figure I can always make something to bolt to it (for 'back raking').

 

[Dingo Man]

Sounds like a good deal. Another way of dealing with the firewood gap issue is to have them put 3 intermediate filler tines between the gaps of the 5 main tines. These can be lighter duty and inset slightly so they do not take the main load when digging and just keep rocks and wood from falling through. Not a big deal especially as they are charging so little for the extra tines but it might save a little weight.

I actually forgot to ask about overall weight. I assume it will be in the 400# range, and I am sure the two extra tines won't make much difference. For me it was piece of mind. I know a lot of guys have the wildkats and love them. I now I am paying a little more than I would have for the wildcat but I am hoping to eliminate the worry of strength and ssqa headaches. We shall see.

 

[Dingo Man]

My grapple arrived today (well I had to go to the terminal to get it due to several shipping snags) I am happy with how it looks so far. I do wish I had opted for one that had more tines on the upper lid, but I figure I can always make something to bolt to it (for 'back raking').

View attachment 315613

What grapple did you end up with?

 

[IslandTractor]

My grapple arrived today (well I had to go to the terminal to get it due to several shipping snags) I am happy with how it looks so far. I do wish I had opted for one that had more tines on the upper lid, but I figure I can always make something to bolt to it (for 'back raking').

View attachment 315613

Those gussets on the upper arm tines look strong enough to bolt something to each side to cover the middle gap.

I don't think you will be back raking with the upper jaw tines. Try tilting the open grapple to full dump position, I am guessing that your bottom tines will touch the ground before or about the same time you can get the upper tines to make contact. The upper jaws are not designed for that type of work. Instead, just "rake" backwards with the bottom tines. I do it all the time. Also, the bottom tines are designed for that sort of punishment. I would worry about twisting the upper jaw if you tried to rake with it. The upper grapple arm is really just for clamping a load in place. All the strength is in the bottom tines.