Grapple Kubota L39 TLB Grapple "Markham"?? WOW

[Goodluck w/ That]

used my grapple for some cedar tree brush this weekend, did a great job, lots easier to "Grab it with a Gator" then haul it & stack it by hand.

 

[pitt_md]

You get what you pay for. Not that there is anything wrong with the Markham grapple, but what do you guys expect for $900? They have to make a profit somehow. It looks like they are using an apprentice welder and just paint the grapple without at least cleaning the metal first. I imagine that if they produced what you guys would be happy with, they would need to raise the price.

Just my opinion of what I see.

I have to agree with you. Markham was not known about when I bought my WRLong OBG2-56. It has top notch welding and the unit was painted well and still has most of it. My unit has two jaws, its wider and it has more steel on the sides but it costs several hundred dollars more.

 

[SCDolphin]

Trying to decide on a one jaw or 2 jaw grapple........any thoughts??

 

[IslandTractor]

Trying to decide on a one jaw or 2 jaw grapple........any thoughts??

I've been using a one jaw 48 inch light duty grapple now for about four years. Used mostly for brush clearing but also rocks, logs, stumps etc. I have never found an object that I could not grapple and have never wished I'd had two upper jaws. In fact two upper jaws would be cumbersome for most of what I do and only add weight (limiting net lift) and expense.

I might sing a different tune if I were cleaning up construction debris (but then I'd have a grapple bucket) but for routine use on land/brush etc I would advise going with a single upper jaw.

Don't make the mistake of thinking you need a grapple as wide as your standard bucket either. My 2700lb lift loader works beautifully with a 48 inch grapple. At least one TBNer with a M59 uses the same grapple I have with no complaints (CharlesAF3)

 

[Glen Watkins]

I am going to try a "Sweeping C" design with a single wide top jaw. I think this will work good for raking materials out from between trees and this design closes tight to hold any amounts of debris. Check em out!
60" Skid Steer Grapple/Root Rake for Bobcat, Cat, etc. - eBay (item 150419592262 end time Apr-01-10 06:42:17 PDT)

Has anyone used or have any experience with this Rake?

 

[IslandTractor]

I am going to try a "Sweeping C" design with a single wide top jaw. I think this will work good for raking materials out from between trees and this design closes tight to hold any amounts of debris. Check em out!
60" Skid Steer Grapple/Root Rake for Bobcat, Cat, etc. - eBay (item 150419592262 end time Apr-01-10 06:42:17 PDT)

My only comment would be that this design should work very well with brush, especially pure brush. The weakness of such a design is that the wide upper jaw can twist when unequal sized material is held in its maw while you apply closing pressure. That twist can damage the jaw. An example would be trying to clamp a stump (almost always asymmetric). More concerning would be blind clamping in brush or a brush pile where you cannot see that there is an asymmetry to the load.

I understand the impression that a wider top grapple (or two) would be better as it covers the whole bottom area but such is not really the case. Think of the human hand, our thumb is not as wide as our four fingers yet we grip things without much trouble. For the most part with this style grapple (not with a clamshell) the upper grapple is really just holding the load in place while all the weight is on the bottom tines. It doesn't take much to hold a load of brush which is always tangled together anyway. With a true clamshell grapple you need to have the upper jaw wide as the load is carried by both jaws almost equally (another disadvantage of that style IMO).

 

[pitt_md]

I have the model in the pic and I never wished I only had one grapple. In my opinion two arms have an advantage over one.

 

[2720wes]

I am going to try a "Sweeping C" design with a single wide top jaw. I think this will work good for raking materials out from between trees and this design closes tight to hold any amounts of debris. Check em out!

Has anyone used or have any experience with this Rake?

I have that grapple, just had them make mine 52", they suggested that instead of 48". My favorite attachment. Very happy with it. My main use is moving logs and it works great. 1/2" metal is very strong and heavy. Some would say its too heavy for a machine my size but I easily picked up and carried 2 30" wide by 20" long maple firewood logs. Also worked good for brush. I do try too keep the load centered. I recommend it.

 

[IslandTractor]

I have the model in the pic and I never wished I only had one grapple. In my opinion two arms have an advantage over one.

I understand your opinion but one should also consider that there are virtually no complaints wishing they had two by the probably hundreds of owners of single jaw grapples. Bottom line for me is that unless there is a specific benefit of two that someone should carefully consider the clear specific benefits of one: 1) costs less, 2) weighs less therefore greater net lift capacity.

 

[Glen Watkins]

Thanks for your response 2720wes. They look like a nice Rake and Paul Green is a great guy to deal with! :thumbsup: