Anyone Have Any Experience With This Pallet Fork Grapple?

[rkaufmann]

42" Pallet Fork Grapple Skid Steer Loader Attachment Tine Log Root Rake Bucket

I guess I'm trying to save some money with the grapple fork as opposed to separate fork and grapple attachments. Primary uses will be lifting and transporting funnel bottom super sacks with lift loops filled with a half ton of coal each from pick-up truck to fill a 5 ton capacity coal bin ( only need the forks for this), and lift/transport logs, and clean up tree tops and brush etc. Maybe it's a compromise but I really can't afford separate implements at this time. Convince me I'll be less than happy if I go with just the grapple fork.

Thanks and I'll appreciate any comments or advice.
Rick

 

[Citydude]

If it fits your needs, why not? Looks pretty handy to me.

 

[George2615]

No experience with Titan but have heard good reports from other members here about their attachments. I don't have a need for a grapple but I did add a thumb to my forks for the few times I need it. As mentioned, if you need it and the price is right go for it.

 

[rkaufmann]

No experience with Titan but have heard good reports from other members here about their attachments. I don't have a need for a grapple but I did add a thumb to my forks for the few times I need it. As mentioned, if you need it and the price is right go for it.

Yes, George I followed your thread when you added the Green's Thumb. That's what got me thinking about fork grapples in the first place, If I already had a set of forks I would do the same thing.
Rick

 

[carmedic310]

I have purchased Pallet forks and Grapple buckets from Titan made very well for the money

 

[rkaufmann]

It looks like Titan offers this grapple fork in both a 42" and 48" version. Only $100.00 difference. The grapple portion appears to spec out the same for each unit. For those of you who have used forks for a variety of purposes would you recommend 42" or 48" forks and why? Thanks for your advice.
Rick

 

[Apsterbobed]

I have 42" forks, the price was right. It is hard to see the tips when approaching a pallet, but I don't know if 48 would make much difference, i just stand up when i need to (no cab). I bag my fire wood in 1/3 cord bags with lifting eyes on the top. I use the forks to hold the bag up and open while splitting and that is really the only time it would be handy if they were longer to open the bag up more and not slip off the end of the fork. But I just clamp the eye to the fork tip to keep them from getting nocked off. Longer would be harder to move around in some places. My small tractor gets really long when I have the back hoe on and the forks, in fact if I had 48" they would poke out under my garage door! As it is now I have to lower the hoe to fit through the garage door then once in raise it up and back up only inches from the wall just so the 42" forks are inches inside the door. If I'm in a rush and leave the hoe down the forks will be poking outside. Personally I wouldn't spend the extra for the 48". If I had a choice between 48" straight backs and 42" angled backs, I would take the angled backs to gain the roll back down at ground level, even if the 48" were $100 cheaper (more of a difference and my frugality would take over). There are many times I have wished for more roll back (think about driving down hill) while moving pallets around but very few times I wanted longer forks. And not one time I needed longer forks, I even have access to 6' extensions and have never used them. The thought just crossed my mind to put on the extensions and hang 2 fire wood bags! Might have some experiments to try....don't think I could lift 2 at once.....

 

[Wild Bill the 2nd]

I was looking hard at pallet fork/grapples last year. In the end I went with a two lid EA Wicked grapple and a set of 48" forks. The plan was to use one attachment to load logs on a processor and remove bagged firewood from the other end. I think it would have worked but the grapple being wider allows you to be slightly off center without the log tipping off the side.

When I was looking I was looking at the Long FLG48, the Titan set thot you are looking at and then the third option was a cheap set of forks with a Wilco slip on grapple. (adjustable height version



Between me and two of my neighbors we've gotten 2 sets of pallet forks, a loader QA retrofit, and two QA plates from Titan. No real issues. Fit and finish isn't the best but it is to be expected. They are fully functional.

One other reason I didn't go with the pallet fork grapple is that I was afraid the grapple would not allow me to pick up a tall pallet since the tines would stick out.

I started designing a grapple that I could add to my forks to allow me to use one attachment for the processor but I stopped. It is pretty easy for me to borrow a neighbor's tractor while running. Usually there are two of us there anyway when we run it. If I were to get back at it I would scrap my current single cylinder design and go with a design similar to the WR Long grapple with the cylinders on the sides. I think that opens up options for more travel since you can move pivots points, and cylinder attachment points around more freely. A single cylinder design has to make sure it does not hit any QA components or the loader torque tube. therefore they often don't even open up so the grapple tines are vertical.

 

[rkaufmann]

Thanks guys. Bill, that adjustable height add a grapple looks interesting. I've not ran across that before. I like the thought of being able to remove it as well for full height pallet handling if necessary. With a cheap set of forks , I could get pretty close to the cost of the Titan set-up. In an ideal world, separate brush grapple and separate forks would be the way to go, but I just can't afford two separate attachments at this time. Bill, I like the looks of that firewood processor. I guess I'll continue to mull this around a little more before making a final decision.
Rick

 

[Apsterbobed]

There is an auction coming up in Manchester new Hampshire on the 21st I think (can bid online). I picked up a set of 42" forks and a 66" single lid grapple for $1200ish, the forks were 500 and the grapple was about 600 plus auction fees. When I got mine they didn't have any 48" but they do this time around.