Another Grapple Weight Question

[Matt VA]

I am getting a branson 4820HC. Heavy for its class and lift capacity of 2700. Dealer is trying to sell me a 66 inch wr long grapple. It weighs about 670 pounds. Grapple will be for clearing brush and lifting logs for a mill I have. Too heavy? I'm struggling to decide. Dealer says I will want the heft as he sees lighter 300 to 400 lbs grapples get bent.

 

[4570Man]

One of the best 400 pound grapples might hold up but a cheap mild steel construction one won’t.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Weight does not always equal strength. A grapple made with cheap steel has to be heavy to have any chance at all of survival. A grapple made with high quality steel does not need to be heavy to be very strong, especially if the design is good. A lot of cheap grapples are made heavy to try to get by with the crappy steel they're made out of.

 

[Matt VA]

Weight does not always equal strength. A grapple made with cheap steel has to be heavy to have any chance at all of survival. A grapple made with high quality steel does not need to be heavy to be very strong, especially if the design is good. A lot of cheap grapples are made heavy to try to get by with the crappy steel they're made out of.

Understood. My understanding is that the wr long grapple is higher end with better steel. It's just very heavy duty. I see an EA wicked 60 inch at 400 pounds -- 230 pounds less than the grapple I am currently looking at and wondering if that's not the way to go.

 

[Jchonline]

Lift capacity where? Max height 20in from the pins or at pins or breakout force? 2700 I am guessing max height at pins, but it matters. How heavy are the logs you need to lift? How high do you need to grab/lift them? Do you have ballast on the tractor for the heavy ones? Just covering the bases.

Mine weighs 900 lbs but it is made for a skid steer. It is fairly bulletproof.

 

[Matt VA]

Lift capacity where? Max height 20in from the pins or at pins or breakout force? 2700 I am guessing max height at pins, but it matters. How heavy are the logs you need to lift? How high do you need to grab/lift them? Do you have ballast on the tractor for the heavy ones? Just covering the bases.

Mine weighs 900 lbs but it is made for a skid steer. It is fairly bulletproof.

Yes. 2700 at the pins. Will be running fluid in the tired and 900 lbs at the back for additional ballast. I would keep logs to 10 feet long and perhaps 18 to 24 inches

 

[ericm979]

I have not bent my Wicked 60" root grapple (the long tine type). The lids still meet the teeth perfectly. My Branson has the older 2200lb capacity loader. I've picked up logs that it could barely lift and could not curl. I think 60" is as wide as I need.

 

[oosik]

I have a Land Pride SGC1560 on my Kubota M6040. It VERY HD - made with AR400 steel and weighs 820#. A couple reasons I chose this grapple. It's not going to crumple up when I use it. Soo... Buy once/cry once. It WAS an expensive grapple along with the WR Long 3rd function valve. And - it was available thru the local Kubota dealership. Any after sale service is an important factor to me.

I DO NOT lift heavy "things" up high. So...... this means I can lift a 3000# rock or chunk of tree trunk just off the ground and move it. At this weight I can lift to a height of around 30". As with all lifting - the higher you lift - the less you can lift.

I've had this grapple for seven years. Only "damage" - the paint keeps wearing off the tips of the teeth.

If I were to do it again - I'd buy the same grapple and 3rd function valve.

 

[oosik]

Get your FEL OP Manual. It should have "weight lift" charts. You know how high you are going to lift. These charts will tell you exactly how much weight and how high. What is listed on the general spec sheet is usually - 24" ahead of the lift pins and 36" off the ground.

This may not be the way you are going to use the grapple. Center of mass on my grapple is around 16" ahead of the lift pins - it makes a CONSIDERABLE difference.

 

[K5lwq]

Understood. My understanding is that the wr long grapple is higher end with better steel. It's just very heavy duty. I see an EA wicked 60 inch at 400 pounds -- 230 pounds less than the grapple I am currently looking at and wondering if that's not the way to go.

I would highly recommend the EA Grapple. I have the 55” Wicket Root Grapple I use on my Branson 4815C and love it!