Grapple width

[smfrompa]

Let me first say I'm a long time lurker and a first time poster. This is a fantastic site and I've spent more hours than I care to think about reading the posts on this site. Thanks to all of you for your contributions. KennyD mentioned IslandTractor specifcially and I can say I've read many if not all of his "grapple posts" and they were very helpful so thanks for that. BTW - KennyD, I've also read and benefited from many of your posts as well, thanks.

To get back on topic, I have a JD 3320 with the Markham 48" grapple and couldn't be happier. I can't say that I've ever been in a situation where I felt like I would have benefited from a wider grapple and of course as others have said, you have to consider the weight for our smaller tractors. I really can't imagine a better product or value than that Markham grapple. If I had to do it over again, I would buy exactly the same thing so that pretty much sums up my opinion of it for my machine. It's simply a fantastic value.

I opted to have some additional bottom tines put in mine to help keep more of the debris in the grapple at least that was my theory but it was more of a personal preference and it may or may not be something for you to consider based on your anticpated usage, i.e. brush, logs, rocks, etc. In any case, I'm sure the standard configuration would work absolutely fine.

I love looking at grapple pictures, who doesn't, but I'm not real good at taking many pictures. I did find a few that I thought I would share. They're not nearly as cool as IslandTractors but we all have to start somewhere. Please be sure to have more sense than me and only operate your grapple with the ROPS up, they don't do much good when they're down like mine in the pictures. Also, I'm sure I'm stating the obvious but make sure you have plenty of ballast and keep your load balanced. All common sense things but it proably doesn't hurt to remind ourselves from time to time.

Best of luck in whatever you decide.

 

[kennyd]

Let me first say I'm a long time lurker and a first time poster. This is a fantastic site and I've spent more hours than I care to think about reading the posts on this site. Thanks to all of you for your contributions. KennyD mentioned IslandTractor specifcially and I can say I've read many if not all of his "grapple posts" and they were very helpful so thanks for that. BTW - KennyD, I've also read and benefited from many of your posts as well, thanks.

To get back on topic, I have a JD 3320 with the Markham 48" grapple and couldn't be happier. I can't say that I've ever been in a situation where I felt like I would have benefited from a wider grapple and of course as others have said, you have to consider the weight for our smaller tractors. I really can't imagine a better product or value than that Markham grapple. If I had to do it over again, I would buy exactly the same thing so that pretty much sums up my opinion of it for my machine. It's simply a fantastic value.

I opted to have some additional bottom tines put in mine to help keep more of the debris in the grapple at least that was my theory but it was more of a personal preference and it may or may not be something for you to consider based on your anticpated usage, i.e. brush, logs, rocks, etc. In any case, I'm sure the standard configuration would work absolutely fine.

I love looking at grapple pictures, who doesn't, but I'm not real good at taking many pictures. I did find a few that I thought I would share. They're not nearly as cool as IslandTractors but we all have to start somewhere. Please be sure to have more sense than me and only operate your grapple with the ROPS up, they don't do much good when they're down like mine in the pictures. Also, I'm sure I'm stating the obvious but make sure you have plenty of ballast and keep your load balanced. All common sense things but it proably doesn't hurt to remind ourselves from time to time.

Best of luck in whatever you decide.

Welcome to TBN Nice Pictures:thumbsup:

 

[foggy1111]

Thanks for all the good input guys! I bought my 3320 today......and I beleive I will put on the 48 incher....and it's gonna look just like smfrompa's when I am done. I like the rear spacing to hold smaller brush. :thumbsup: I'm going to make a new post (with the std pic when I get cooled off.....long, hot day).

 

[jinman]

Hey Jim...what do you think that rock weighed?

My guess is about 1500 lb. I could curl the bucket enough to just get the rock clear of the ground, but there was no way for me to lift it. With the grapple/bucket weight of 750 lb, the rock far exceeded my lift capacity of 1600# to 1700#, but I had enough breakout force to just tip it up so that I didn't have to drag it on it's bottom for the 1/4 mile move to my yard. A big rock like that is just like having something heavy on the tips of forks. It rapidly overpowers a loader. If the weight is centered over the pins on the loader arms, it's much easier to lift. BTW, it was a soft limestone rock and not too dense/heavy. Had it been granite, I would probably still be struggling with it.:laughing:

 

[ManAtArms]

I think I will be buying a used 3320 this week.....and I plan to add a dedicated root grapple to the FEL (not a bucket grapple). I have my eye on the Markham light duty set up.

I am unsure how wide of set up to put on this tractor. I beleive I see KennyD's listed as a 48".....but that would not cover the tire width....which seems mandatory. I want to keep the width down to about 60....I think. Any comments or suggestions before I call Melissa?

Foggy,

I'm somewhere in the middle here. Assuming the cost of the grapple is acceptable (BTW, I think Markham is a good value for the money compared to other offerings) IMO, I think your choice of grapple will largely depend upon two factors:

1. what do you want to grab with it
2. the weight of the grapple and your lift capacity.

I just bought a 72" HD Markham grapple for my m59. I had them weld extra tines in the bottom to close up the gaps so I can use it to scoop up split firewood. My tractor is slightly wider than the grapple...maybe only a few inches. For my primary use, working in my wood yard, handling logs/split firewood and cleaning up leftover debris the wider bucket made sense.

What do you want to use it for?

 

[HCJtractor]

All good advice. After reading all about grapples here, I bought a 48" version Markham with 1/2 steel and extra spacers. Use it on a M 6800 Kubota which is about a 70 hp. I must say it is great, by far the best implement I own. As far as width, I agree it depends on what you are using it for. I use mine mostly for clearing land, widening trails and roads, by uprooting trees and hauling off the debris. A narrower one is best for this as it allows more focused pressure to bury the tines under the root ball so you can dig it out. Often on a stubborn root, I have to use the corner of the grapple only, in other words, only several tines, to really apply maximum pressure. Not having more width has never been an issue. A 48" will take a plenty big bite out of a brush pile. Now if you do not dig and just use it as a scoop to grab brush, or use it as a rake, a wider one would be o.k., but my 48" works well for that also. You can't go wrong with a 48".

 

[foggy1111]

I placed my order for a 48" Light Duty Markham Gator this morning. I put in the extra bars in the bottom (just like fmfrompa's) and got it to hook up to my JD mounts. I can understand both viewpoints on width....but nobody seems sorry about the 48" width...and I believe it to be the right thing for my purposes.

Thanks for the discussion.....I'm looking forward to hooking this dude up!

 

[CenTex Chris]

Here's a grapple width question from a clueless newbie. I have a Kioti CK35 with the stock KL130 FEL and standard skid-steer quick attach plain-jane 60" bucket. I've got my eye on the same 48" Light Duty Markham Gator that the previous poster just bought. Here's the dumb newbie question: even though I've got a 60" bucket, the 48" Markham grapple will fit on the KL130, because it's standard ski-steer, right? In other words, any width will fit, correct?

Gonna time my purchase so I can have my dealer add the 3rd-function when I take it in for the 50 hour service (just about halfway there already). Thanks in advance!

 

[kennyd]

Here's a grapple width question from a clueless newbie. I have a Kioti CK35 with the stock KL130 FEL and standard skid-steer quick attach plain-jane 60" bucket. I've got my eye on the same 48" Light Duty Markham Gator that the previous poster just bought. Here's the dumb newbie question: even though I've got a 60" bucket, the 48" Markham grapple will fit on the KL130, because it's standard ski-steer, right? In other words, any width will fit, correct?

Gonna time my purchase so I can have my dealer add the 3rd-function when I take it in for the 50 hour service (just about halfway there already). Thanks in advance!

It will fit, no problem:thumbsup:

 

[SWIMMER]

I have the Markham 48inch light duty grapple and it is perfect on my Kubota 3240. I leave it on the tractor and find i use it more than i do the bucket. by far the best money I have spent on tractor implements. I had them add extra spacers on the bottom, which helps keep the small stuff from falling out. IMHO you do not need to be as wide as you might think with a grapple, they do a lot of work in the smaller sizes. My 4 footer will grab more than my tractor will pick up.