Help me pick best grapple for my tractor!

[Gordon Gould]

I’d love to know more about that frost bite grapple. Do you know the grade of steel? What size machine it’s rated for? Cylinder size? It looks well rinforced and I love the simplicity of the 3 point of contact design for logs and rocks. How is it for small stuff like piles of 2-3 inch branches?

I would have to research that but you probably can to. It is made in Latvia I believe and it is pretty rugged. Small wood ....



gg

 

[gladehound]

My main tines are 1/2? The in between pieces are less. Don稚 know what steel it is but probably nothing fancy. As far as impaling things, I can see that with hay bales but nothing else. I can scoop up anything. And my argument for a narrow one is it digs much better, when trying to uproot a 6 tree. Kinda like digging is easier with a spade than a snow shovel. But if you don稚 dig and only scoop, a wide one is fine. But my 48 will scoop up a bigger pile than you can see around. The other problem I would have with the unconnected tines is that when I knock down a tree, the first thing I do is push it from high. Then back up, plunge under the root ball, and curl up while inching forward. Those widely spaced tines would not allow that. The tree would wedge between them and bend them. I don稚 care what steel it is, for a big tractor will bend it.
As far as two thumbs, my narrower one doesn稚 need it. Once I grasp it, it goes no where. Now of course a wide grapple needs two.

I'm definitely going narrow and single lid. I do push over trees on occasion and my stump bucket is my favorite tool for pushing them over or digging out the ball if needed. However, if the tree is small enough to pry out of the ground in one motion then forks are my go to. It's amazing what you can pry out of the ground with a set of forks! I like to stick my forks about half way under each side of the ball and use the dump and lift function while driving forward to pry the other side of the ball out of the ground. I calculated that I'm getting something around 12,000 pounds of lift this way.

The tree in the picture came up in one motion...

 

[Xfaxman]

I’d love to know more about that frost bite grapple.
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Just type frostbite or favor into the Google Custom Search box at the top right of the page. Lots of threads on both.

 

[gladehound]

Just type frostbite or favor into the Google Custom Search box at the top right of the page. Lots of threads on both.

Thank you. Yes I have done that. It's surprising how little information there really is and how much time you can waste trying to find it. I'm now leaning towards the Frostbite grapple because the majority of my use will be handling logs and it is purpose built for that.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Thank you. Yes I have done that. It's surprising how little information there really is and how much time you can waste trying to find it. I'm now leaning towards the Frostbite grapple because the majority of my use will be handling logs and it is purpose built for that.

If you want any measurements or close up pics of a particular part let me know.

gg

 

[gladehound]

If you want any measurements or close up pics of a particular part let me know.

gg

Thank you! I wrote a company in MD that carries them with my specific questions. We’ll see what they come back with.

 

[Coyote machine]

I'd strongly second the Frostbite, which is in fact a knockoff with some minor improvements on the Igland GR-20 that I've had for years now, and have never bent any part of it; have added the extension feet on the lower 'arms' and find to be basically indestructible on my tractor.
I push it so hard at times I have to be real careful to not let an entire tree take over by its weight and position, and need to watch I don't allow the forces twist the loader and flip the tractor on it's side if something goes wrong.
The GR-20 is the AR400 steel, I can't say for sure what the Frostbite uses, but it looks identical to mine except for color. Mine is flat black, the Frostbite is grey.
Here's a video of it, and it's optional 'grab plate' (and arm extensions) to put between the two lower arms for picking up smaller items, rocks etc.
Igland GR2 Grapple - YouTube

I've also got Igland's winch, which is also a monster as far as strength and durability. I actually broke off the swedged cable end on one log pull that hung up the cable and snapped the end. Easily repaired with proper cable clamp positioning, but I would have liked to keep the original end; oh well...
I find the grapple on front, the Kioti KB-2485 hoe on the rear, with Mie's 'ripper tooth and hydraulic thumb give me everything I need to rip, tear, lift, uproot and destruct any tree, rock or most other ground items in the way or wanting to be dug or carried.

I'm confident you will NOT be disappointed by your choice in the Frostbite. It has bushings I've been told, that my GR-20 does not have. To date, the grease fittings have kept my grapple in excellent shape with no loose joints. I've had it near nine years to date and not one issue with it. I did add expanded metal to keep sticks from poking into my radiator, and added same to my Kioti front grill pushbar as double layers of protection. That has served well in both cases.:thumbsup:
Check my avatar. It shows the grapple pushing logs further into my burn pile. Not highly recommended- I've burned up both tie-rod rubber boots over the years from that over zealous act. :confused3:

 

[HCJtractor]

Thank you. Yes I have done that. It's surprising how little information there really is and how much time you can waste trying to find it. I'm now leaning towards the Frostbite grapple because the majority of my use will be handling logs and it is purpose built for that.

I agree the Frostbite looks ideal for handling logs, large rocks, and similar items. So if that’s your main use, I think if would work perfectly. What’s the cost of one?

But for others like me, who use the grapple for more ground engagement, like digging up stubborn root balls from pushed over trees, “skimming” the ground just below the surface to clear growth or scoop up debris, I think my style would work better.

The bottom line is to decide your main use and select style based on that. No doubt if you want to grab a log out of a pile precisely, the Frostbite looks about as perfect as you can get. Mine will do that but certainly not as quickly and easily as the Frostbite. But if I want to clear an area of privet and trees, my style will win. Both are great tools depending on your use.

I think you’ve made a good decision and will enjoy it. Post some photos if you get one.

 

[John_Mc]

I agree the Frostbite looks ideal for handling logs, large rocks, and similar items. So if that’s your main use, I think if would work perfectly. What’s the cost of one?

My Sundown GR40 was $1500. This did not include getting the hydraulics up to the front of the loader. I assume the Frostbite is similar.

 

[goeduck]

The Favor grapples are very well made with 1 thick AR400 tines. Your models price looks good, I assume it is the SCX 314? I did not see the weight

Favor SCX

 

[HCJtractor]

The SCX is about triple what I paid for mine. I just don’t like those long unsupported tines. But that’s just my opinion.

 

[goeduck]

The SCX is about triple what I paid for mine. I just don稚 like those long unsupported tines. But that痴 just my opinion.

They are 1 inch AR400. You can support tines because they are thin or mild steel and then not dig as well. Who has a tractor that will bend 1 inch AR400? These are made for skid steers, that should indicate the strength.

What brand do you have?

 

[oosik]

Strange - - the OP has about identical requirements as I had when looking for a grapple.

I went with Land Pride SGC 15560 and WR Long third function valve. The grapple is called a rock and root grapple - is VERY heavy duty - I have been unable to do any damage to it in four and a half years of use. The dealer installed the third function valve and grapple and I've never had a reason to take it off yet.

The grapple weighs 820 pounds which still leaves around 3200 pound lift capacity. Its 60" wide which is a tad narrower than my front wheels.

One strong suggestion - do something to your front OEM grill guard for additional protection. I took my grill to the local welding shop and this is what they came up with. No need to have a limb, root or stob get to your grill, battery or radiator.


View attachment 574821View attachment 574822View attachment 574823

 

[standup616]

I see this one in my future. if the link works. As a lifelong boater and harsh Alabama gulf coast salt air and rain, one less thing to watch rust away or paint while not in use
http://i1admin01.webstorepackage.com/modernag/virtualweb/images/TopQltyAttachments.pdf

 

[HCJtractor]

They are 1 inch AR400. You can support tines because they are thin or mild steel and then not dig as well. Who has a tractor that will bend 1 inch AR400? These are made for skid steers, that should indicate the strength.

What brand do you have?

Mine was made by Markham which is no longer in business. I use mine a lot to push down trees and dig stumps. My fear with the 9” gap between the tines would result in a 10” tree wedging between the tines, and with my 8,000+ tractor, I think it would bend. I’ve bent my tips slightly and they’re much shorter, supported by welded gussets and still bent a little. It doesn’t affect function thankfully. I would feel better about those long tines if there was a cross brace connecting them to prevent wedging between the tines.

Again, I’m not trashing that grapple. It looks really good except for that one detail, which because of how I use mine, would worry me. It that’s just my opinion. I may be wrong.

 

[ns_in_tex]

We built our grill guard, about 15 years ago, with expanded metal. We still managed to punch a hole through it. Have now replaced, at least part of it with 1" cat walk material.

 

[gladehound]

I realize this is an old thread... but I finally pulled the trigger on a Frostbite! I bought it through FrostBite Grapples - Grapple, Log Grapple and Todd was very responsive and answered all my questions. Delivery was quick about 1 week and everything looks to be as requested. I can give a positive recommendation for Todd and frostbitegrapple.com

One thing I like on the Frostbite is that the hoses are threaded so you can change to different couplers in the future if you like. Unit looks very, very strong. I doubt there is any possible way I can hurt it with my little 45hp tractor. And at under 400 pounds, plenty light for my 2700+ pound full height lift.

I still need to get hoses to run it on the loader. I'll throw it on the 3pt to see how it works once I can get away from work for a bit (have an SSQA on the 3pt too)

 

[Xfaxman]

 

[gladehound]

Sorry, no pics doing actual work. All I've done is take it off the pallet, put it on the back of the tractor and made sure that it worked. I'm in the process of ordering hoses so I can put it on the front. I'll share more when that process is done. Everything was greased and it functioned as it should.

 

[oosik]

Hey - gladehound. Thanks for the final followup and pic. That looks to be a fine working implement. Enjoy.