Grapple 4n1 vs Grapple vs grapple arm on existing bucket..

[jtfx6552]

I've read lots of good posts on Grapples and on 4n1's.

The attachements I think I really need to take car of my 10 acres of woods with leftover construction clearing debris for use on a Deere 4120 w/400x loader are:

1) A dedicated HD grapple (clean up the pile of stumps, some fairly large)
2) 4n1 bucket, use for grading and convienent for small trees/stumps during grading without changing attachements.
3) Landscape rake, prepare for seed

I know the 4n1 and grapple are kind of redundant, but i think if i got a 4n1 with enough jaw opening for some of the larger stuff i want to pick up, all my lift capacity will go into just lifting the bucket, lol.

Even though i'd like both, I don't want really have the budget either.

Now, I've seen some add on grapple like attachements for an existing bucket,one from ATI, which looks nice, but i don't know what it costs.
http://www.preseeder.com/attachments/grapple.cfm

and one from Dehner welding:
http://www.dehnerwelding.com/THEARM.html

Which seems quite reasonable at $320.00.

To easily pick up stumps and debris with these i would need to use in conjunction with a tooth bar or maybe some debris forks, right?

With these maybe i could get an inexpensive box blade for the grading?


Any thoughts?

 

[Tractors4u]

Here the grapple I bought off of ebay fom a seller named Andy Tatro, username HTATRO. A few people here on TBN have bought from him. The quality of his grapple is great. Just from looking at the Dehnerwelding website, their's appear to use thinner metal and their grapple doesn't have teeth. Andy's grapple was $340 delivered. If you do a search here on TBN you should be able to see more of Andy's work.

Here is his e-mail address.

htatro@bwsys.net

 

[IslandTractor]

I've been looking at the same issue but have focused on which grapple attachment. The 4 in 1 is really more of a construction tool than a brush clean up device which is what my main need is. The 4 in 1 really doesn't pick up nearly as much debris in one bite than a grapple attachment would.

My research so far has discovered the two you posted on (ATI and Dehnerwelding) as well as the Add A Grapple (precision manufacturing) and another ebay (The Thumb=Andy Tatro) version. The Dehner product looks nice and is easily the least expensive. Joey is a very responsive guy and I would not hesitate to use that if it met my needs. I unfortunately have a bucket hook welded right in the middle of my top bucket lip where that type of grapple attachment would need to be bolted so I cannot use that style (goes for the Thumb too). The ATI is a very nice unit but very expensive compared to the almost identical Add A Grapple (see photo). About twice the cost because you can only get it through dealers. Also, the ATI unit requires that you do both bolting and welding as part of installation while the Add A Grapple is just bolting. I'm not certain but it looks like the Add A Grapple comes off a bit more easily too.

That is the state of my research at this point. I am also looking at some light duty root grapples that would switch out with the bucket. These are clearly more expensive than the bucket attachments but have some added advantages in how easy it is to pick up brush and in how much you can bite.

 

[Jw5875]

I just purchased a W R Long light weight 60" Root Grapple for my Kubota L 3400. Moved my clean up time up moocho pronto!!

Pics are in the Kubota forum.

jw5875

 

[jpm]

one question is do you have a QA or a pin type of bucket ? It changes the answer somewhat.

 

[jtfx6552]

Thanks for the reply's so far!


The JD mounts with a couple of hooks and pins, so it goes quick, but it is not a skid steer type QA.

 

[jpm]

If you have pins my vote is for the add on grapple ,it's out of the way when open and available.Which one?? the ATI bolts on the side
and will not bend or buckle your bucket but cost more plus welding,
mid mounts you have to reinforce the top of the bucket but lower
cost. you will love the grapple /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
j

 

[Berniep]

I have an ad on grapple on my little BX 23 bucket without a tooth bar and it picks up debris and anything that will fit into the opening just fine.
Up to the weight limit obviously. I thought I would need to get a toothbar but I really haven't seen a need yet. but then again maybe if I had one I would.