Bob over at Michigan Iron does great work thats for sure. They call this a versa grapple, its sort of halfway between a root and a rake grapple which I really liked the idea of.
Need a grapple for my tractor... help me spend some money. :)
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Bob over at Michigan Iron does great work thats for sure. They call this a versa grapple, its sort of halfway between a root and a rake grapple which I really liked the idea of.
Thanks for all the replies and ideas. I have not made a final decision yet, but I am leaning towards the MTL RG-7 60" grapple. One of the reasons for not pulling the trigger yet is shipping. According to MTL the closest terminal for their shipper is in PA, that is a 5 hr drive for me. So I'm trying to see if there is a closer terminal for delivery that their shipper will use.
deezler
Elite Member
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2012
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- 3,672
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- Southeast MI
- Tractor
- Cub Cadet 7305, Kioti CK3510seh TLB
Huh, really?
MTL shipped mine to my workplace for free. Of course after I confirmed that we had a loading dock. Do you have any buddies who work somewhere with a loading dock and at least a pallet-jack, if no forklift? Or most mixed-freight semi trailers are driving around with a pallet jack in the back also, to shuffle their goods around as needed. Can't you unload from the back of a semi using your forks?
I used to have things shipped to my wife's place of employment. But we are both retired now and have moved away from were we worked. There is only one business within 30 miles of me that has a loading dock/forklift that could be used to unload a truck and they refuse to do it for liability reasons. The other reason I haven't ordered is my tractor is still in Maine, I'm in Virginia. Still looking for a good way to move my tractor and 4 post lift to VA. Most shipping companies don't want to drive down my narrow residential street anyway.
I finally moved my tractor to VA from ME. I pulled the trigger on the MTL RG-7 60" grapple. The shipping company wanted to deliver it to PA for me to pick up!!?? But I found they had a transfer site in Portsmouth VA, 1 hr from me, so I had it shipped there. I have used it every day since I got it hooked up!
shooterdon
Elite Member
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- Nov 24, 2012
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- 2019 LS XR4140 HST Cab; 2020 Kawasaki Mule SX; 2021 Bad Boy 54" ZT Elite
My MTL grapple is the most used implement I have. And it was a bargain.
Torvy
Super Member
Too late to this thread, but I went through this whole process not too long ago.
A couple of points: wider grapples add little, except extra weight.
Look for strong, light steel.
Check out the size of the cylinders, especially the diameter.
Consider cylinder protection if you are pushing into piles.
Here's what I got. It has been fantastic. Grapples | CID
I had to drive to Denton (about 3 hours) to save the shipping cost. Worth it.
A couple of points: wider grapples add little, except extra weight.
Look for strong, light steel.
Check out the size of the cylinders, especially the diameter.
Consider cylinder protection if you are pushing into piles.
Here's what I got. It has been fantastic. Grapples | CID
I had to drive to Denton (about 3 hours) to save the shipping cost. Worth it.
deezler
Elite Member
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2012
- Messages
- 3,672
- Location
- Southeast MI
- Tractor
- Cub Cadet 7305, Kioti CK3510seh TLB
Dunno if I would readily agree there. Most of what I am grappling is uneven loads of sticks, brush and logs of varying diameter. I often wish my grapple was a bit wider to help control stuff from wanting to tip out to the sides of it when you are clamping down.
But I do agree that the weight penalty is too severe, so I went with a 54" grapple even though my loader bucket is 66".
Torvy
Super Member
I think you'll find the wider grapple has the same problem, with a slightly larger load. My loads are ofter much wider than my grapple. The limiting factor is the width of the trail, path or road. Most of my place is forest.
I agree, there's a balance. Too narrow makes it difficult to carry long or unbalanced loads.
My comment was really about dropping 6" from 72 (wider than tractor) to 66 (narrower) will have no noticeable effect on your load capacity/balance. Dropping from 72 to 55 or 48 definitely would.
Some video types need to test that theory. Make 2 similar piles of brush and assorted logs.
Use the same tractor (model) with different widths of the same grapple.
Set up a 'course' where you have a variety of obstacles to overcome. See if there is any difference in which setup can finish the work more efficiently.
I agree, there's a balance. Too narrow makes it difficult to carry long or unbalanced loads.
My comment was really about dropping 6" from 72 (wider than tractor) to 66 (narrower) will have no noticeable effect on your load capacity/balance. Dropping from 72 to 55 or 48 definitely would.
Some video types need to test that theory. Make 2 similar piles of brush and assorted logs.
Use the same tractor (model) with different widths of the same grapple.
Set up a 'course' where you have a variety of obstacles to overcome. See if there is any difference in which setup can finish the work more efficiently.
