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

[mangus580]

What grapple did you end up with?

It's a Titan, from palletforks.com

 

[mangus580]

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.

Makes sense.

Can't wait to play with it. Need to finish the plumbing. Tomorrow I need to locate some quick couplers.

 

[TomSeller]

It's a Titan, from palletforks.com

Could you measure the opening to the upper tips with the lid wide open? They list 34".

 

[TSO]

Cool... looking forward to new reviews from both your new Titan, and the North American Imp... grapples. :thumbsup:

 

[Dingo Man]

Cool... looking forward to new reviews from both your new Titan, and the North American Imp... grapples. :thumbsup:

Ah, your holding out to see how the lab rats make out, probably a good move.

 

[Guesseral]

Makes sense.

Can't wait to play with it. Need to finish the plumbing. Tomorrow I need to locate some quick couplers.

You could have gotten the flat faced couplers right from pallet forks. No big deal surpluss supply has em also

https://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?catname=hydraulic&item=9-8288

These should work. Oh you do have the flat faced ones right?

 

[TSO]

Ah, your holding out to see how the lab rats make out, probably a good move.

LOL... Exactly. I'm still waiting for my "toy fund" to fill back up anyhow (almost there). You guys beat me to the punch, so I might as well sit back and be a spectator while I'm waiting.

 

[CJONE]

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.

I agree, it was no big deal for me to fix mine but it should not need it. I ripped my top tube carrying logs longways. Tough to get a 10' log through a 7' gap any other way!

 

[mangus580]

I have the flat faced ones, but nothing to plug them into yet. Plus I need a set for the other end.

You could have gotten the flat faced couplers right from pallet forks. No big deal surpluss supply has em also

https://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?catname=hydraulic&item=9-8288

These should work. Oh you do have the flat faced ones right?

 

[Herkypilot]

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.

My experience with Wildkat is the same. Just to test it out, I smacked the top support tube with a 2# sled hammer - no dents - The 1/8" steel would have dented. They are using 1/4" steel tubing in the top support now.