Grapple Which type of grapple is best suited for...

[Xfaxman]

.....Curved bottom time tips would be my preference but I haven't heard anyone with straight bottom tines complain.

Straight works for me. With some sticks in it, and you tilt it, moving forward to get more, they slide up against the front teeth, that are angled up, and stay in the grapple.

 

[Dingo Man]

I would buy the Wildkat if and only if they have switched from 4x4x0.125 to 4x4x0.25 for the top tube. 3/8" mild steel is all you need for the bottom tines and upper arm. I think that is currently the best bang for the buck but that top tube issue needs to be fixed. Curved bottom time tips would be my preference but I haven't heard anyone with straight bottom tines complain.

If the price was acceptable from a dealer I would happily own a WRLong 48" OBG2. I would not personally want an RBG style as I think the clamshell style grapples are not as versatile as well as being more expensive.

I haven't seen much about the Titan 48 but it looks fine. If EA made a 48 I would have confidence in that one too. Gator used to make a good 48 too but I don't know if they are in business anymore.

The Wildkat was my first choice initially but it sounded as though they have some SSQA issues. I will have to call them and ask about the top tube size.

 

[IslandTractor]

The Wildkat was my first choice initially but it sounded as though they have some SSQA issues. I will have to call them and ask about the top tube.

I would be surprised if they have ongoing SSQA dimension issues. Trouble is that different tractor FEL QAs can be different too. I know my Kioti QA is much narrower than any other. I can still mate with a standard SSQA but there are large gaps left and right so implements can slide. So long as they don't pop off it shouldn't be a big problem.

 

[caspar3259]

I went with the NAI 48" Light Duty Root Grapple.

My main decision factors were:
> Tractor is a Kubota L3540 w/ bigger loader (i.e. not too big)
> Maximize lifting capacity for moving logs
> Decent design & build quality
> Reasonable Price

It was $820 plus shipping (which was a decent chunk to Calif). I don't recall the weight, but it's one of the lightest. It has greaseable pins for all of the pivots.

I first used it to move brush to the burn pile and it worked great. I have also used it to move large oak logs and it lifts more than I expected. Like all other grapple owners, I'm very happy with it. :thumbsup:

 

[Herkypilot]

2) does anyone know if Wildkat changed the gauge of 4x4 tubing used from 0.125" to 0.25"?

I bought one from them last fall. I was aware of the issues posted here. I sent them some of the pictures and asked about the top support tube. They said they have fixed the issue. I live about 40 miles from their factory so I went there to purchase the 66" grapple from them. I have not had any problems other than the quick attach bracket location made the grapple a bit loose on my Kubota Quick Attach. That has also been mentioned on this site. I welded a couple of 1/4" x 2" steel plates to the bottom support brackets - problem fixed. Works as advertised.

HP

 

[IslandTractor]

I went with the NAI 48" Light Duty Root Grapple.

My main decision factors were:
> Tractor is a Kubota L3540 w/ bigger loader (i.e. not too big)
> Maximize lifting capacity for moving logs
> Decent design & build quality
> Reasonable Price

It was $820 plus shipping (which was a decent chunk to Calif). I don't recall the weight, but it's one of the lightest. It has greaseable pins for all of the pivots.

I first used it to move brush to the burn pile and it worked great. I have also used it to move large oak logs and it lifts more than I expected. Like all other grapple owners, I'm very happy with it. :thumbsup:

Looks nice. Great price. The back is a bit shorter than mine which explains the slightly smaller max opening.

Happy grappling.

 

[Dingo Man]

I went with the NAI 48" Light Duty Root Grapple.

My main decision factors were:
> Tractor is a Kubota L3540 w/ bigger loader (i.e. not too big)
> Maximize lifting capacity for moving logs
> Decent design & build quality
> Reasonable Price

It was $820 plus shipping (which was a decent chunk to Calif). I don't recall the weight, but it's one of the lightest. It has greaseable pins for all of the pivots.

I first used it to move brush to the burn pile and it worked great. I have also used it to move large oak logs and it lifts more than I expected. Like all other grapple owners, I'm very happy with it. :thumbsup:

Caspar, when did you buy yours, I recently got a quote for $1016 plus $145 shipping. I noticed the grapple pictured in the link you posted has 7 bottom tines. Is the one pictured the 48" I thought the 48" only had 5 tines. I also noticed some photos so the bottom tines are straight while other are curled up, is this an option.

 

[94BULLITT]

I know a little bit about what goes into a grapple. It is a heck of a lot of work to build one. I don't see how some of these companies are selling them so cheap. They have to be cutting some corners. Where are they if you have a problem with it?

 

[IslandTractor]

I know a little bit about what goes into a grapple. It is a heck of a lot of work to build one. I don't see how some of these companies are selling them so cheap. They have to be cutting some corners. Where are they if you have a problem with it?

Good question. However, unless you buy a WRLong from a local dealer, you pretty much have to deal with repairs with local resources yourself. Nearly every grapple manufacturer is hundreds of miles away and getting anyone to help is pretty difficult. Shipping costs, especially returns, are prohibitive as the grapple needs to be palleted and picked up. On the good side, not much goes wrong once you get them set up as they are pretty simple devices and a local hydraulic shop plus a local welder can do pretty much anything the original manufacturer can do. I would imagine that even WRLong just has the local dealer make any necessary repairs. When I bent the tips of my upper jaw tines on a big rock, I just took the upper jaw off, threw it in the back of the car and took it to a local gas station to have them straighten and reinforce the tips. Probably should just have made the repair myself but I didn't have a torch to heat the tips with at the time.

 

[94BULLITT]

Good question. However, unless you buy a WRLong from a local dealer, you pretty much have to deal with repairs with local resources yourself. Nearly every grapple manufacturer is hundreds of miles away and getting anyone to help is pretty difficult. Shipping costs, especially returns, are prohibitive as the grapple needs to be palleted and picked up. On the good side, not much goes wrong once you get them set up as they are pretty simple devices and a local hydraulic shop plus a local welder can do pretty much anything the original manufacturer can do. I would imagine that even WRLong just has the local dealer make any necessary repairs. When I bent the tips of my upper jaw tines on a big rock, I just took the upper jaw off, threw it in the back of the car and took it to a local gas station to have them straighten and reinforce the tips.

I did not literally mean were are they. I meant would they give you a bunch of run around and would the problem ever be resolved. I would rather deal with somebody reputable.

 

[IslandTractor]

I did not literally mean were are they. I meant would they give you a bunch of run around and would the problem ever be resolved. I would rather deal with somebody reputable.

My point was that even a very well established manufacturer is handcuffed by the fact that it just doesn't make sense economically to ship the grapple back so repairs need to be done locally. The manufacturers will not accept responsibility for breakage so other than replacing a hydraulic cylinder or a hose, there is not much they can do to help. How can the manufacturer choose a local welder or hydraulic shop any better than you can?

 

[caspar3259]

Caspar, when did you buy yours, I recently got a quote for $1016 plus $145 shipping. I noticed the grapple pictured in the link you posted has 7 bottom tines. Is the one pictured the 48" I thought the 48" only had 5 tines. I also noticed some photos so the bottom tines are straight while other are curled up, is this an option.

I sent them an email in August for a quote and they gave me $820 plus shipping. When I called in January to order, Stella said about the same $1000 price. When I mentioned the $820 email quote she immediately said "OK, I can do $820". Of course my shipping was more... about $400 to get to the west coast. Ugh.

Yes, the 48" has 5 bottom tines. All of them are the same shape and turn up a little at the ends. It appears to be very well made. These pics are after is started getting dark, so maybe not the best view. I'll try to remember to get some action shots tomorrow. Got some big logs to move and buck.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Those are some nice grapples you guys have. One question though; Will those NIA and similar grapples bite down hard on a small log like 12" to 16" or do the logs rattle around in there. I know my grapple has limitations being the bolt on type but one thing I like is that it holds any log I pick big or small firmly. It is also easy to pick 2 or 3 and it holds all of them tightly.

 

[IslandTractor]

Those are some nice grapples you guys have. One question though; Will those NIA and similar grapples bite down hard on a small log like 12" to 16" or do the logs rattle around in there. I know my grapple has limitations being the bolt on type but one thing I like is that it holds any log I pick big or small firmly. It is also easy to pick 2 or 3 and it holds all of them tightly.

It is possible to clamp that size log but I usually just hold it in the bottom by curling and closing the grapple arm to keep it contained. So long as it is reasonably balanced it doesn't move. However, I usually have more than one such tree in the grapple at once and in that situation the load is generally compacted by the upper arm.

 

[CJONE]

Wow- a CUT with a minimum loader lifting capacity of 3500lbs. are you sure? that sounds more like an AG tractor or at least the Industrial version or a VERY HEAVY duty CUT???

Yea I am fairly sure that most if not all CUT's are less than 3500lbs. Thats why it says CUT less than 3500lbs. Now with that being said the DK40-50 will lift 2700 to FULL hight at the pins. I am guessing it will be in excess of 3k at the ground. I have a weight indicator and now that the weather is better I am going to hook it up and find out for sure. Like Island stated the 48" is more than a match for our tractors and they have very strong loaders for their size. CJ

 

[CJONE]

1) any photos of your modifications (otherwise you know the TBN rules....it didn't happen!:laughing:

2) does anyone know if Wildkat changed the gauge of 4x4 tubing used from 0.125" to 0.25"?

I'll get some tonight, I have 2 good sized trees to clean up that I removed from my driveway [more room needed] I'll even put the sides on. CJ

 

[sd455dan]

Yea I am fairly sure that most if not all CUT's are less than 3500lbs. Thats why it says CUT less than 3500lbs. Now with that being said the DK40-50 will lift 2700 to FULL hight at the pins. I am guessing it will be in excess of 3k at the ground. I have a weight indicator and now that the weather is better I am going to hook it up and find out for sure. Like Island stated the 48" is more than a match for our tractors and they have very strong loaders for their size. CJ

Got what you were trying to say now, for a moment there- thought there might be some new CUT I hadn't heard about.

BTW before my budget for a new tractor evaporated ( setting up a new house, road, sewer, power, water and on and on...... , the DK-55 was THE tractor was set on buying, Maybe someday..

 

[CJONE]

Pics

 

[CJONE]

1st and second pic you can see the added bars on the bottom to keep the wood from falling through and the walkway grating and added steel straps at the back. The 3rd pic is with the sides on [I know they are not painted but they work] The 4th pic is loaded with 2 rows of green hard maple [yea it's heavy] The loader will lift it about 5 feet. Here is a pic of the added bracing 2x3 angle and top gussets. and another of the front loaded.

 

[CJONE]

Got what you were trying to say now, for a moment there- thought there might be some new CUT I hadn't heard about.

BTW before my budget for a new tractor evaporated ( setting up a new house, road, sewer, power, water and on and on...... , the DK-55 was THE tractor was set on buying, Maybe someday..

I would love to get a 55 but it still is not offered in a hydrostat and that is a deal breaker for me. I used to be leary of them but now that I am building units for the oilfield and own a few I won't have anything else. CJ