Grapple Anbo Grapple Rake

[IslandTractor]

Do You remember what forum The anbo that had been twisted was in?

Here it is:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/1211940-post11.html


Having read that report I am pretty sure there is another one out there that relates to backing a log out of the woods that ended up twisting the top grapple. Haven't found it yet.

 

[jimmysisson]

Island, I'll add a bit here. I bought a 60" Millonzi first of this year, and have maybe 15-20 hours of pulling rocks and stumps, logs and brush. (I needed the 60" for my QA setup.) Last time used, I pinched a ~150# rock on the right side, between the bottom tines and the top cross-tube. I pinched it pretty tight and when I look now I see the tube is bent up about 1/2 inch from the pinching force.
Also, after unearthing a bear of a boulder (like some you've pictured) I noticed one grapple arm was parallelogrammed a bit. It now fits a little on an angle to the pivot brackets on the upper bar and scuffs the brackets.

IMG_6476.JPG (205.2 KB)

IMG_6477.JPG (170.0 KB)
I DO like the heck out of this grapple. It lightens the work load and saves the back, not to mention many trips off and on the tractor. This tool is rugged enough for me, and I don't really mind the bent stuff, but all is not perfect in Millonzi-land.
I thought I read here somewhere they had gone out of business, what's the story?

 

[IslandTractor]

I'm trying to envision how you pinched the rock. I guess it was deep in the grapple when you clamped. I know the support tube you are talking about but I've never hit it with anything.

I've lifted much larger rocks without damaging anything except to put a slight bend in the very tips of the upper grapple arm when I accidently lifted a huge rock by one tip alone. I guess it makes a difference if you are actually pushing the rock against a support tube rather than between the upper and lower tines themselves.

Alas, it does appear that Millonzi has gone under. No one has had any luck getting further info so we don't know if they are simply restructuring or not. WR Long makes a similar grapple to the LD48 and LD60. There are a few other manufacturers with similar products too.

 

[Kytractor]

I guess I will do some more research. It appears under the right cicumstance any brand or model can be damaged. The orinal poster with the anbo must not be around. Anyone with the Bodozer care to chime in. It looks to be a similar design but made a little thicker and with a different type of steele. I will also take another look at wrlong and the link by tym man

Thanks

 

[GV40U]

Bo Dozer Grapple-Second Thoughts: I purchased my Bo Dozer grapple (Model BG5, 5', about 600 lb. for use on a Kubota L3430) in 2003. There weren't as many grapple options then as now for small tractors. I have been completely happy with the performance and build quality of the grapple but I've seen some newer grapples that are smaller and lighter, both clam shell and bucket type, that are probably just as functional and would serve my purpose of moving brush and logs at a lower initial cost. I don't use my grapple much for rocks and I think some of the bucket types might be more useful for that purpose.

I think that Island Tractor's summary of grapples was on the mark. I ran into my dealer at a farm show this spring and he was showing me a line of AnBo grapples that was lighter in weight and lower in cost than the heavy duty AnBo line that was comparable to the Bo Dozer model I purchased. The dealer no longer handles the Bo Dozer line and says the An Bo line has been upgraded to have more options for heavy and light applications.

Would I sell mine? Not likely, I'm having too much fun with it. Would I purchase a different model today? A lighter, less expensive model at a lower cost would probably meet my needs based upon the reports of the TractorByNet gang.

 

[IslandTractor]

Oliver and Dahlman makes a grapple that stands like an anbo yet has two independant grapples like the most root grapples and scrap grapples do. it is the BR series

Oliver & Dahlman, Tractor & Skid Steer Attachments

I'd go for the LD60 myself. Only 420lbs vs over 700. It looks like a sturdy grapple with single wide upper jaw. I don't like the short bottom tines that much but otherwise the grapple looks like a nice one. Any idea on cost?

 

[thunderworks]

I guess I will do some more research. It appears under the right cicumstance any brand or model can be damaged. The orinal poster with the anbo must not be around. Anyone with the Bodozer care to chime in.

Thanks

I use a Bodozer on my L5030. I have the 66" model, approximately 660lbs. So far, it's completely indestructible - nothing bent, picks up everything I've tried to move so far. I use it to manage brush, move logs etc. When fully opened, the grapple can move mounds of brush similar to the way a dozer blade curls and rolls earth, moving the entire pile forward without actually picking anything up. Very handy for moving more brush than you can actually pick up and managing brush piles during burning. Maybe all grapples would do the same - the Bodozer is the only one I've used.

Also, I like dealing with individuals rather than larger companies. Dale Borgford handled my inquiries directly, answered the phone himself a number of times, and was very easy to deal with.

 

[jimmysisson]

I also had a good experience with Millonzi and am sorry to see them go (if so). Like any tool it takes some practice to get the most out of it. The clam style looks like it has the advantage that the end of the lower tines is closer to the loader arms and thus slower to rise and fall as the tires go over obstacles (shorter lever arm). That makes raking easier, I imagine.
Still, I like the Millonzi and similar styles, as you can move stuff without clamping, saving some cycle time for some operations. By the way, the not-so-good welds in my pix are mine, not Millonzi's.
Jim

 

[Kytractor]

I use a Bodozer on my L5030. I have the 66" model, approximately 660lbs. So far, it's completely indestructible - nothing bent, picks up everything I've tried to move so far. I use it to manage brush, move logs etc. When fully opened, the grapple can move mounds of brush similar to the way a dozer blade curls and rolls earth, moving the entire pile forward without actually picking anything up. Very handy for moving more brush than you can actually pick up and managing brush piles during burning. Maybe all grapples would do the same - the Bodozer is the only one I've used.

Also, I like dealing with individuals rather than larger companies. Dale Borgford handled my inquiries directly, answered the phone himself a number of times, and was very easy to deal with.

I've called Dale as well, and he seems knowledgeable and easy to work with. They are about $100 difference between the Anbo and bodozer, the Bodozer bieng the lesser. The Tines are noticeably thicker on the bodozer model at least from the pictures I have seen. I wonder if the the difference in the steel they use makes a lot of difference?

 

[curly]

Well she came in the other day. I have yet to use it. I might run next door and see how it works on the neighbors blackberries. I'm trying to keep her kind of clean for my buddy who is supposed to be here to hook up my new lights. Two 25W up high on the front and two 25W on the ROPs in the rear. Hopefully that will light up my night a little better.

Man, that thing looks great. I have a WRLong and love it. I have the grapple on almost all of the time. But even with the grapple on I can push mounds of dirt out of the way and level them somewhat so as not to have to put the bucket on.

If your tractor has got the juice, a few hundred lbs isn't gonna make that much difference in what you can pick up. If you only have 1100 lbs to deal with, then definately get the smaller one.