Grapple heavier grapple or not

[IslandTractor]

there he goes.. showing off again.. ;-)
wait till I post a pic of a load of firewood all stacked on mine.

We always have our standard buckets for girly tasks like moving firewood!

 

[BarryinMN]

I have a larger 55 pto 10K lb tractor with a 66" grapple. It only covers the inside of the front wheel spacing. I prefer this as I can stick it between things & chomp down. A wider grapple is easier to get the load off balance bend & torque the loader arms. Mine is 3/8" and has not bent in 6 years of boulder, brush, etc. picking. The type of steel it's made of makes a difference.

 

[crazyal]

Looking up old threads is really the best way to get information here. By the time you get done reading, you'll really have a good idea of what you need for your job.

The only problem with reading past posts is when they turn into a "mine's better" type of thread. Since I'm going to make my own grapple this spring I have been reading lots of posts about them to understand what size would be about right. once people start debating each other about things like grapple width, tire type, etc and forget about saying why one size is better than the other it's easy to not read every post and miss some useful information.

 

[rd_macgregor]

I guess it inevitable that each poster will endorse what he/she has. After all, how many of us have more than one grapple rake to compare?
I happen to have the 48" Gator with extra spacers and 1/2" outer tines and it has worked great on my Kioti DK45 for moving trees, brush and trail clearing in my woods.
Most of my implements are 72", but I haven't missed the extra width with the grapple rake...if anything, it makes me more maneuverable in the woods to have the slightly narrower unit sticking 'way out there in front as I wend my way through the trees!
Either way, wider or narrower, you'll be happy just to have that nifty tool.
BOB

 

[IslandTractor]

The only problem with reading past posts is when they turn into a "mine's better" type of thread. Since I'm going to make my own grapple this spring I have been reading lots of posts about them to understand what size would be about right. once people start debating each other about things like grapple width, tire type, etc and forget about saying why one size is better than the other it's easy to not read every post and miss some useful information.

Yes, you do need to read through a lot of general "mine's better" stuff but most of the threads do bring up the important points about grapple style, size, weight etc.

Nobody complains about their grapple. That is one thing we all seem to agree on. And, nobody seems to upgrade the way we frequently upgrade other implements or tractors. Of course those of us who have smaller lighter cheaper grapples will point to this as strong evidence that smaller cheaper lighter is better too .

 

[foggy1111]

I guess it inevitable that each poster will endorse what he/she has. After all, how many of us have more than one grapple rake to compare?
I happen to have the 48" Gator with extra spacers and 1/2" outer tines and it has worked great on my Kioti DK45 for moving trees, brush and trail clearing in my woods.
Most of my implements are 72", but I haven't missed the extra width with the grapple rake...if anything, it makes me more maneuverable in the woods to have the slightly narrower unit sticking 'way out there in front as I wend my way through the trees!
Either way, wider or narrower, you'll be happy just to have that nifty tool.
BOB

Well Stated!:thumbsup:

 

[universalgirl]

We use a root grapple w/removable teeth. 66" and weighs 675lbs. It's 39" deep, 20" tall, 2 x 10 cylinders, has 5/8 tongs, 3/8 middle, and came 9 1/2 spacings bottom tine. We added tines and it wasn't but $75 to $100 more. We just cleared more pasture and it really came in handy.:thumbsup:

 

[IslandTractor]

We use a root grapple w/removable teeth.

I've never heard of removable teeth on a grapple. Can you post a photo or two? Who made the grapple?

 

[jake98]

I posted a pic on facebook of my tractor backing away from the loader and grapple, and one of my buddies commented, 'oh, so like you, it's teeth come out?' They had fun with that one..

 

[universalgirl]

I posted a picture under photo gallery. I've been trying to include it in reply but I'm thinking my fist was gonna get there faster.