WildKat 48" Econo Grapple

[houser52]

I've searched and read about grapples so much in the past few day my brain has started to short circuit.

I'm interested in the WildKat 48" Econo because it's within the range of what I want to spend, $900- $1100 and they have had pretty good reviews in the past. The reason I haven't ordered one is because I haven't found any recent (Year-2015) comments on how everyone's is holding up and if WildKat has corrected any breakage problems they have had in the past.

So, if you guys with the WildKat 48" Econo will post how yours is doing I'd like to hear your comments.

 

[CNeubauer]

Don't have an econo grapple but I've got one of their 72" rock buckets with a grapple. The fit and finish on the wildkat is nothing to brag about but it works good and is built strong enough I'm not worried about hurting it with an 85hp skid steer. For the price I think Wildkat builds a very good product, maybe not as nice as a MDS or Midsota but they are half the price and I'll give up a pretty paint job to save a thousand bucks.

 

[rbtjr]

I have a Wildkat 48" econo grapple. I like it a lot. I paid a little over $600 for it two years ago, so obviously prices have gone up--plus I live about 60 miles away from the Wildkat operation and I picked up the grapple to save the freight and get it quickly. I have used the grapple a lot and haven't damaged it yet, although I haven't used it for really heavy-duty work like digging out stumps, etc. Back when I bought my Wildkat grapple, I had ordered a W. R. Long 54" two-cylinder grapple that I was waiting to be delivered, but I wanted to hurry up my project of cleaning up after a pine-forest thinning on some of our land, so I ordered the Wildkat and went to pick it up so I could get it quickly. (It turned out that my logging-clean-up project wasn't practical regardless of which grapple I used--too much land to remove the debris from, and too little benefit from removing the debris.) I still have both. The Wildkat is not as sturdy as the W. R. Long, and the two cylinders and related clamping jaws on the W. R. Long do help when you are picking up an uneven load. But the Long weighs more. Given my experience with both, I would be hard pressed to choose between them, and the Wildkat costs less. One thing I noticed is that the spade-type blades on the front end of the splines on my Wildkat are touching or almost touching--i.e., have little or no distance between them--so that the Wildkat is better than the Long for digging roots out of the ground. My feedback is that you would probably be happy with the Wildkat. If I had only the Wildkat and hadn't also bought the W. R. Long due to my unique circumstances, I definitely wouldn't feel like I had an inadequate grapple.

 

[houser52]

Thanks guys. Sounds like the Wildkat is holding up well for you both.

I have thought about so much stuff I could use a grapple for. Just yesterday another huge tree fell over the fence due to the storm. Last week's tree only fell across a cross fence and can wait a bit but yesterday's tree fell over a perimeter fence. Lots of hand labor ahead and soon.

 

[Red Horse]

Thanks guys. Sounds like the Wildkat is holding up well for you both.

I have thought about so much stuff I could use a grapple for. Just yesterday another huge tree fell over the fence due to the storm. Last week's tree only fell across a cross fence and can wait a bit but yesterday's tree fell over a perimeter fence. Lots of hand labor ahead and soon.

Another satisfied 48" Wildkat owner. I use it on a 4720 Deere (Cab plus loaded R-4's and a 5 or 6 hundred pd weight block so I have traction!) I did manage to damage it by trying to hog out a boulder by hooking the upper jaw on the rock and trying to pull rock out. took me aboput 30 minutes to pull it back into shape with a chainfall and I welded some angle gussets on it. Case closed! Great value! Again damage was my stupidity.

 

[houser52]

Thanks for the reviews. Looks like I'm going to have to order one. Now I have to get to get the hydraulics ready.

 

[houser52]

Update- Just ordered the WildKat 48" grapple and if Connie can get the paperwork done today I'll have it Thursday or Friday. Since WildKat is only 2 hours from me the cost of shipping it to me was cheaper than me taking off a day of work plus the fuel cost to go pick it up.
Hydraulics- I just emailed a few questions to Kenny at Bolt On Hooks about their diverter valve kit and waiting on his response.

Things are taking shape.

 

[aeblank]

If you want a long-winded diverter thread....
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/hydraulics/342364-diverter-mounting-4.html

Sure is sweet for getting firewood though!

 

[houser52]

aeblank- thanks for the link. There's so much info on TBN it gets confusing sometimes.

Since I have an older Kubota I haven't seen any pics of where guys are mounting their diverters. I know mine sure looks crowded with the valve and hoses already on the loader tower.

A good place to mount the diverter is one of the questions that I asked Kenny but haven't heard back yet.

 

[aeblank]

aeblank- thanks for the link. There's so much info on TBN it gets confusing sometimes.

Since I have an older Kubota I haven't seen any pics of where guys are mounting their diverters. I know mine sure looks crowded with the valve and hoses already on the loader tower.

A good place to mount the diverter is one of the questions that I asked Kenny but haven't heard back yet.

A good place is somewhere before the split for the left/right cylinders. Makes for less hoses.
My dad has an L3710 (the loader valve seems similar to yours) and i was going to do a power beyond valve for him. So, 2 levers, but a true 3rd function. Though, I haven't done it yet..........

1 SPOOL 8 GPM PRINCE MB11B5C1 DA VALVE