TC 5600 Grapple buckets

lapua33eight · Jul 30, 2018

First off, a big thanks to all the posters here. I have had my eye on a TC for a few years now, and was extremely apprehensive to getting rid of my tractor (NH T4.75 Powerstar) for a TC. the lifting power of the loader still has me a bit concerned. That being said, i just pulled the trigger on a 2018 TC 5600 with Hi-Flos, traction control, suspension seat, the window guard for the rear, and a few other protective things. I bought the brushcat 66" Hi-flo, and a 68" low profile landscaping bucket. the last thing I really need is a grapple bucket. I will be moving trash piles of wood, cut tree logs, fallen trees, rocks, etc. Im not sure which type of grapple to go with. Skeleton? Tines? or the bucket with the double claws? Weight concerns me. most of the bucket grapples are heavy which limits your total payload you can lift. Many of the Virnigs i looked at were 700-800 pounds. With only 1500 pounds lifting capability, that concerns me.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Xfaxman, your posts with the pictures as you owned your old 5610, and now new 5610, ended up making me pull the trigger. thank you for all of those posts, as they answered most of my questions, and helped ease the fear of some of the downfalls of a TC versus my tractor. My NH mostly sits in the barn collecting dust at this point, and I got a good price on it for the trade.

ruffdog · Jul 30, 2018

I would watch your weight, only need one claw, good size for grabbing lots of brush (less width, more open maw), one made to grab the end of a log straight out the front of the bucket, and one you can restrict the flow (speed) of the claw.

Jabonee · Jul 31, 2018

Remember the 1500 Lbs is "safe lift capacity" It will lift more.:thumbsup:

lapua33eight · Jul 31, 2018

Jabonee said:
Remember the 1500 Lbs is "safe lift capacity" It will lift more.:thumbsup:

I was hoping that this is the case. from all the forums i have read guys have said theyve had as high as 2k pounds in the TC without much back lift. i was told by the dealer that there is a check valve now that wont allow the loader to lift more than 1500lbs.... He said the loader just stops.... xfaxman has a 2017 if I remember correctly.... maybe this is some sort of safety system now put in the newer ones? **** attorneys! Im hoping the dealer is just wrong about that... time will tell, I should be getting my TC end of August. Ty for the reply!

lapua33eight · Jul 31, 2018

Thanks for the input RuffDog... I'm all over the place with which one to buy.. I'll go look at some today I think... Im looking at the log grapple thats made by bobcat for the actual TC, but Im not sure I believe those tines will hold up, Im also looking at a LD Virnig, and a Blue Diamond.

Do you have any input on the style of bucket? A tine or skeleton type seems nice because you can jam it under all kinds of stuff, plus ill have a bucket anyway for scooping if need be... I'm also looking at a root type of grapple, from all the videos I have seen, it looks like a root grapple will let you roll the bucket and really get a good grab on something vertically...

lapua33eight · Jul 31, 2018

This is oneof the specific ones im looking at... it weighs in at just 400lbs. Im just not sure i like the dual cylinders. Not sure how that will work, but if its two button presses to close the clamps each time, that will annoy me to no end, and just waste time.... Also, not sure with a root grapple if you can really get under things like logs and such with the curved bottom...

Root Grapple Attachment LD - Cleveland Equipment LLC

ruffdog · Jul 31, 2018

This is a general purpose bucket that has a bolt on grapple. All of it is Bobcat brand and is heavy duty. I should cut back the sides of the bucket so it will haul more long stuff. The claw tines are tough and will stick into a pine log. I needed to grab the end of a log and pull it but this grapple isn't made for that.

lapua33eight · Jul 31, 2018

ruffdog said:
This is a general purpose bucket that has a bolt on grapple. All of it is Bobcat brand and is heavy duty. I should cut back the sides of the bucket so it will haul more long stuff. The claw tines are tough and will stick into a pine log. I needed to grab the end of a log and pull it but this grapple isn't made for that.
View attachment 564929

perfect, thanks for the example!

ruffdog · Jul 31, 2018

lapua33eight said:
perfect, thanks for the example!

For doing logs and brush, I'm sure many grapples are more suited for the job being lighter, log grabbing, and open to see through. This one opens up good so I can grab lots of branches and releases them good.

Xfaxman · Jul 31, 2018

lapua33eight said:
I was hoping that this is the case. from all the forums i have read guys have said theyve had as high as 2k pounds in the TC without much back lift. i was told by the dealer that there is a check valve now that wont allow the loader to lift more than 1500lbs.... He said the loader just stops.... xfaxman has a 2017 if I remember correctly.... maybe this is some sort of safety system now put in the newer ones? **** attorneys! Im hoping the dealer is just wrong about that... time will tell, I should be getting my TC end of August. Ty for the reply!

I would be very surprised if that is true. Here is the 2013 F Series showing max lift with nothing on the SSQA, the loader relief valve opened at just over 3K and the loader just stopped going up:

And easily lifting the 1800 pound brush hog.

And the 2017 G Series lifts it no problem also, just don't have any pictures with it airborne.

lapua33eight said:
This is oneof the specific ones im looking at... it weighs in at just 400lbs. Im just not sure i like the dual cylinders. Not sure how that will work, but if its two button presses to close the clamps each time, that will annoy me to no end, and just waste time.... Also, not sure with a root grapple if you can really get under things like logs and such with the curved bottom...

Root Grapple Attachment LD - Cleveland Equipment LLC

I like that basic style best and have had the clamshell style.

All dual lid grapple cylinders are plumbed in parallel, so the lids move at the same time unless there is something holding one from moving.

And the control on the Joystick is proportional so a flow restrictor is not needed.

Any grapple is better than no grapple, but some grapples are better than other grapples.
It depends on your main uses for a grapple.