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

   / Which type of grapple is best suited for... #81  
hmm, seems like the most comparable thing today is the 48" Wildkat economy. I have to see how wide that opens. As your one pic shows, I want to be able to pick up big diameter logs and rounds to split up for firewood. Regarding large rounds, I have a question. Say I have a 36" diameter round that is cut to a 20" length. If the round is set on it's side, so cut sides facing out, is it possible to pick the round up clamping on the cut ends? So tilt the grapple to full dump position, and clamp and pick up by lowering grapple onto the round from above. Reason I ask is I want to be able to work large rounds onto the log splitter like this. Hopefully this makes sense.

Picking up a 20"x36" log in the manner you plan would be easy with most any grapple. Every grapple opens more than the 20" you would need. You'd just need to have adequate vision to judge where the bottom and top grapple tines are which can be a little tricky but you could rig a temporary mirror to help if necessary.
 
   / Which type of grapple is best suited for... #82  
Thanks for the replies guys, I want to make sure such an expensive tool will save my back and enable me to get these large rounds into the splitter. I need to make sure I can get as much utility as possible out of the grapple I choose.
 
   / Which type of grapple is best suited for... #83  
TSO, for what it is worth I, like apparently everyone else on here am in the grapple market to. I just finished installing a WR Long 3rd function valve and will be buying a grapple here soon. For what it is worth back two years ago Island Tractor stated his case about the smaller grapples over on the Kioti forum and he convinced me. I am going with a 48" single, but have yet to figure out which one. I am leaning toward the NAI or Wildcat econo.
 
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   / Which type of grapple is best suited for... #85  
Has anyone heard of or have any experience with these? HLA Attachments - ROOT RAKE C/W GRAPPLE

That is a very heavy clam shell style grapple. Good for brush and raking debris and roots on the ground but because there is essentially no horizontal component to the bottom tines, it depends entirely on hydraulic force to keep the load secure. It also is limited the same way a 4n1 bucket is by the nature of the top hinge. If you load a large log first, you cannot pick up any smaller logs in the same load. Contrast that with the 'standard' non clamshell style grapple which has a long horizontal component to the bottom tines so gravity holds the load in place and the top tines just keep the load from falling forwards. With a standard grapple you just cram as much in as you can then lower the upper jaw to hold it in place. Clamshell grapples are more expensive and heavier for a given size too.
 
   / Which type of grapple is best suited for... #86  
I will admit that I do not have a lot of grapple experience, but that is what common sense was telling me as well. I am leaning toward something like this for my own use OBG1 I was hoping for something I can use to move as much debris at a time as possible. I just worry about the ones with the long horizontal tines being able to get under and uproot things.
 
   / Which type of grapple is best suited for... #87  
I will admit that I do not have a lot of grapple experience, but that is what common sense was telling me as well. I am leaning toward something like this for my own use OBG1 I was hoping for something I can use to move as much debris at a time as possible. I just worry about the ones with the long horizontal tines being able to get under and uproot things.

The grapples with long horizontal bottom tines are actually better to get bigger roots. The clamshell probably is more efficient for raking smaller roots but cannot get under the deeper thicker roots as well and cannot use the advantage of leverage like the long bottom tine OBG type can. Clamshells rake, OBG types lever. Both do well with roots generally based on TBN experiences.
 
   / Which type of grapple is best suited for... #88  
I bought this Thumb grapple 36" and installed it on my bucked. I've been pleased with it.While not what I would call a true grapple.For what I've used it for, I have been pleased & it has served me well
 
   / Which type of grapple is best suited for... #89  
I bought this Thumb grapple 36" and installed it on my bucked. I've been pleased with it.While not what I would call a true grapple.For what I've used it for, I have been pleased & it has served me well

Those bucket grapples are a great bang for the buck and are very useful for dealing with brush.
 
   / Which type of grapple is best suited for...
  • Thread Starter
#90  
Those bucket grapples are a great bang for the buck and are very useful for dealing with brush.
If I had an extra 60" bucket... OR a rock bucket... I would consider adding the thumb, especially due to the price. However, I don't think that adding that onto my 72" bucket, without adding a tooth-bar, would be anywhere near as capable as a dedicated grapple bucket. I have a feeling that I'll probably use the grapple bucket more than any of my other front-attach stuff. I already probably use my Forks vs Bucket in a near 50/50 split, I would guess I'll probably use the Grapple 50% of the time, and the other 2 will split the remainder.
 
 
 
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