Grapple Quick Attach and Grapple for Industrial Tractor\Loader??

[wjb-49]

This is the one I use. Monster Grapple from Loflin Mfg. Very heavy duty, weighs 1200 pounds, opens to 51 inches.

Found the best price on eBay, For the 6 foot, $2,895.00. They make wider ones also.

New Loflin Extrem Monster 72" 6' Grapple Root Rake Bucket Skid Loader Holland | eBay

340B is a newer 3400, so just about any modern skidsteer grapple should work. No need for an 'industrial heavy duty' design as I believe that loader has a 3000lbs or so lift at height and 4000lbs down low. All you need is the proper connects..

I am in the process of figuring this out too as I would really like a grapple. Question is, modify my bucket to add one with forks, or buy a purpose built one for 2x the cost.. ?

Xfaxman, Thanks for posting information about Loflin Mfg. in Denton, NC. (Yes, Denton, NC is home to four skid steer attachment manufacturers!) They are only a little more than an hour drive from me and I can easily drive to their facility to pick up a grapple. I very much like the look and specs of the Extrem Monster 72" grapple, but it requires a minimum 75 hp tractor and my tractor is around 50 hp. I emailed Loflin Mfg. and they informed me that I should use their Standard 72" model. As you can see from Loflin's grapple specs web page, the primary differences between the Extrem and Standard models are the opening height, opening depth and weight.

Midniteoyl, You are correct that I do not need an industrial heavy duty grapple, it appears that a standard duty model will work fine for me. I'm certainly glad that I'm not going to have to spend $4000 for the grapple alone. At this time I am planning on using the following:

Palletforks.com Quick Tach Conversion Assembly

or (I am trying to determine if the Unlimited Fabrication Conversion is worth an additional $360.00.)

Unlimited Fabrication - Skid Steer Conversion

Palletforks.com 1/2" Thick Mount Plate

Rankin Third Function Electric Hydraulic Diverter Valve Kit

Loflin Fabrication Standard Root Grapple

With the above components I should do a conversion and add a root grapple in the range of $2800.00 - $3150.00 for materials. I do not think the labor would be more than $300.00 - $500.00. Much better than $4000.00 for the grapple alone!

Thanks to all for your help.

 

[Piston]

Be sure to check out WR Long grapples as well. They have light duty and heavy duty models available. Excellent product and excellent customer service!



Xfaxman, what is the lift capacity (max) of the versahandler your grapple is mounted to? I have a backhoe with a 5k lb lift capacity and have only found very expensive options for grapples. If your model is heavy duty enough that may be a good option.

Hope I'm not high jacking your thread as its related.

 

[wjb-49]

Be sure to check out WR Long grapples as well. They have light duty and heavy duty models available. Excellent product and excellent customer service!



Xfaxman, what is the lift capacity (max) of the versahandler your grapple is mounted to? I have a backhoe with a 5k lb lift capacity and have only found very expensive options for grapples. If your model is heavy duty enough that may be a good option.

Hope I'm not high jacking your thread as its related.

Piston, Thanks for joining in the discussion . . . it's always good to have another opinion or suggestion! I will look at Long's offerings. Another good North Carolina company, only further east from my location.

 

[Xfaxman]

........

Xfaxman, what is the lift capacity (max) of the versahandler your grapple is mounted to? I have a backhoe with a 5k lb lift capacity and have only found very expensive options for grapples. If your model is heavy duty enough that may be a good option.

Bobcat rates it at 4400 pounds, but that may be to compensate for the bucket that weighs 800 pounds.

Without the bucket, I tried to check it, but it maxed out the scale, Went over 5000 pounds!

Over Flow!

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/bobcat-construction-equipment/275747-v417-max-lift.html

I have never got ahold of anything that it would not pick up. Very heavy duty and the wide opening is great for brush.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Hey wjb-49.. I know you are in NC, but, even with shipping, these have got to be a good deal.. Look for the Sheboygan ones:

janesville all for sale / wanted classifieds "grapple" - craigslist


I'm looking at the 66" brush grapple New 66" skid steer brush grapple bucket , or the grapple bucket New 66" skid steer grapple bucket myself... But then I can drive there and back for $75..

If you do a search for 'unused Versatech grapple', you can find an auction close to you were they have lots of these unused.. These guys have tons: Industrial Equipment & Trucks for Sale | Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers

 

[Midniteoyl]

Another: New 66" skid steer dual ram root grapple

 

[Xfaxman]

Another: New 66" skid steer dual ram root grapple

These are not strong enough for a high capacity loader.

No gussets on the top plate, it will bend under a heavy load.

 

[Midniteoyl]

How heavy is 'heavy'.. I figured they were lighter weight, but then the loader is not that heavy duty in the first place. Besides, I planned on modifying the hook-ups for my loader arms

 

[Piston]

Bobcat rates it at 4400 pounds, but that may be to compensate for the bucket that weighs 800 pounds.

Without the bucket, I tried to check it, but it maxed out the scale, Went over 5000 pounds!

Over Flow!
View attachment 321208
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/bobcat-construction-equipment/275747-v417-max-lift.html

I have never got ahold of anything that it would not pick up. Very heavy duty and the wide opening is great for brush.
View attachment 321209 View attachment 321210 View attachment 321211

I wonder how it will hold up to rough digging and grubbing with my heavy machine? It would be a shame to bend up a new grapple! I'll look into it some more and thanks for the info. I liked how you said it weighed 1200lbs but then i noticed that must have been a mistake, and it weighs in at 800lbs.

WJB,
If you click the wr Long grapple link in my signature, it should take you to a thread with a bunch of different grapple pics if you haven't seen it yet.

 

[Xfaxman]

How heavy is 'heavy'.. I figured they were lighter weight, but then the loader is not that heavy duty in the first place. Besides, I planned on modifying the hook-ups for my loader arms

A heavy load would be the the maximum curl force of your curl cylinders, plus the lift force of the loader, plus the drawbar pull rating of your tractor. Think trying to remove a stump while curling, lifting and spinning your wheels.

I have bent those 1/4" top plates on two different fork frames, with just the curl force with the V417.

If you are going to modify to pin on, they might work.