Do I really need a grapple?

[k0ua]

Do you need a grapple? Yes.

 

[ericm979]

You can try the debris forks and then get the grapple if they don't do what you want.

The ability to grab stuff is so useful. Besides clamping down securely on logs or brush I've used my grapple to pull poison oak out of the ground and out of trees. We get huge poison oak bushes here.

The open jaws let you grab a bunch of brush, probably more than you can carry on forks. I have the long lower tine style grapple, not the short tine rake style. It's not that good for digging out roots and the short tine style would have more capacity for heavy logs, but it carries more brush or smaller logs. It's the implement that stays on the loader. I switch out to a bucket or forks when I need them and then put the grapple back on.

 

[fried1765]

You can try the debris forks and then get the grapple if they don't do what you want.

The ability to grab stuff is so useful. Besides clamping down securely on logs or brush I've used my grapple to pull poison oak out of the ground and out of trees. We get huge poison oak bushes here.

The open jaws let you grab a bunch of brush, probably more than you can carry on forks. I have the long lower tine style grapple, not the short tine rake style. It's not that good for digging out roots and the short tine style would have more capacity for heavy logs, but it carries more brush or smaller logs. It's the implement that stays on the loader. I switch out to a bucket or forks when I need them and then put the grapple back on.

"the longer lower tine style grapple"

Yup!
That is exactly what I will order this Spring.
Folks here on TBN seem to like MTL grapples, but I found what I think to be a near perfect single lid grapple with long lower tines.

Mid State Attachments in Denton, NC.
Their E-Series root rake.
It actually opens to 53", and I really like that.

Nice folks on the phone, and have been in business for 30+ years.
They apparently sell mostly wholesale, but will sell direct as well,..... and with inexpensive shipping.

 

[chas0218]

I wonder how much attachment fittings add to the price?



Here is another: Multi-Spear Ultra Fork

Specify 24" working length.

I know I could add the plate for around $120 shippped to my door. So that price plus the plate.

 

[chas0218]

You say your experience is with trimmings from an orchard and a grapple was not used. The trimmings also don't weigh much, but are bulky and you're not running the forks thru the soil, just on top to get under the trimmings. OTH if you plan on running the forks into the dirt, you'll need heavier duty grapple. You don't say how you plan to use the grapple, so it's hard to make a recommendation. Also, consider your fabrication skills. This does not seem to be an item where people could get injured so it would be a good item to improve your skills. I would consider the CAD drawing a concept drawing and not a fabrication drawing since it doesn't show how it's attached to the loader arms nor does it (as you mentioned) show the shield.

I vote for finishing up the CAD drawing just to be sure you've thought through all the pieces and part and then building one. I also recommend adding a bar and hydraulic cylinder to compress the brush slightly while you're carrying it to help keep it all together.

I thought I had mentioned it but I would be picking up brush, I can usually grab the rocks my tractor can lift with the bucket and a little jocking around. The finished CAD drawing wouldn't look much different other than the SSQA plate attached (don't have measurements to build in CAD) and a couple holes to bolt a few 2x4s to the plate for a guard/shield.

Picking up stuff without a thumb or clam shell is going to be furstrating...at least for the stuff I do.

MTL makes a decent grapple that is affordable ($1000) and I use it for brush and lifting logs.

One way to reduce cost might be to add a grapple attachment to a set of pallet forks. There is a member here (Sawyer Bob?) who processes a lot of firewood and he has forks with a grapple. His method does not work for me as I need to transport loads up to 6 ft high on my forks.

Yeah forks wouldn't really work with the smaller stuff I'll be moving to burn piles. I was planning on the MTL grapple but we will see how much I'll have invested into the debris forks. If it is only a matter of $400 I will gladly pony up the money for a grapple.

Do you need a grapple? Yes.

Haha yeah kind of what I am thinking, they do have more uses than just picking up brush and would definitely work well for what I do around my house.

"the longer lower tine style grapple"

Yup!
That is exactly what I will order this Spring.
Folks here on TBN seem to like MTL grapples, but I found what I think to be a near perfect single lid grapple with long lower tines.

Mid State Attachments in Denton, NC.
Their E-Series root rake.
It actually opens to 53", and I really like that.

Nice folks on the phone, and have been in business for 30+ years.
They apparently sell mostly wholesale, but will sell direct as well,..... and with inexpensive shipping.

Good to know, that is a nice grapple.

If I can get one around $1000 I will buy a grapple instead. I figured I would just throw around the idea of making my own debris forks and figure out the price. I know the bale spears aren't anywhere as rigid as the grapple teeth but that is why they are replaceable. Also the deciding factor might be the ability to remove small trees by getting under the roots and lifting them out. I have a lot of saplings to clear where the bale spears probably won't work for root removal.

 

[Hozzie]

Do you need a grapple? Yes.

This times 2. For me it's not even a question. If you can afford one, buy one.

 

[tractorcrazy]

I bought a grapple two years ago and love it .I can clean up my woods or a falling tree I can pickup a branch with a one inch diameter with it.i would be completely lost without it.

 

[SGreene]

I've often thought that a hydraulic clam on forks would be an economical route to go if one isn't needing a grapple for a specific purpose. I've tried it before as a tester prior to purchasing a brush rake and clam. Worked well for general purpose but I was logging full time so I sprung for a cheap grapple. It didn't last under heavy use. Had to buy another within a couple years. Still, proper tool for the job.

 

[GeneV]

So I was all set that I wanted a grapple. I have been looking around and figured a root grapple is what I wanted and there wasn't much changing my mind. I got looking at different grapple design then different use grapples, ect. Then came the prices, I was blown away with what I found, there were some on the high end some on the lower end. I have been thinking that I still need a grapple but might try and get away with a set of debris forks.

My reasoning for doubting that I really need is based on working in apple orchards and vineyards over the years. We never used a grapple like never when were picking up and removing clippings/prunings. We always used a buck rake which was similar to the one pictured below but with some 4x4's instead of steel tines. Now call me crazy but for moving brush I don't see a need for a grapple if that is all I'm going to do with it. I do see the plus side of being able to easily pick up large objects like rocks or tree stumps but even then with a buck rake it should be that hard.

So here is what I am getting at. Below you will see a CAD drawing of a set of debris forks utilizing some 24" bale spears with 1350lbs. individual holding/lifting capacity 10" on center for a total length of 66". They are attached to 3" square tube 1/4" wall, do you think this would be strong enough to take some punsihment from a 35hp, 2200lbs. lifting capacity tractor? To build this it would be probably about $400 all said and done not including welding materials. Yes I have seen quite a few grapples for close to this price (about 18" narrower) but the weight of this plus the SSQA plate would be in the 200lbs.-300lbs. range. I feel that would allow for greater lifting ability than a grapple. Also I would add a little bit of a sheild above the SSQA plate to keep debris from coming over the top.

Tell me if I am reinventing the wheel here and if I should just bite the bullet and buy the grapple. All said and done it would be a lot less effort involved with the grapple than building something from scratch.

Personally, I ain't got a grapple, I can't justify the cost (plus the cost of a 3rd function kit for it) to move brush and tree limbs to the burn pile. I use forks for that. For stuff that falls off, I throw a bungie or 2 over the pile, strap it to the forks. Currently, I got bolt-on forks, I don't like em much. I want ssqa forks or another option I stumbled on just now: Titan Debris Forks review - YouTube

 

[HillStreet]

I have an 8 acre apple orchard and just use my bucket (very carefully). I cut with a chain saw pretty aggressively, then push into piles for burning next year. Not easy but I am slow and deliberate.