Root Rake Grapple

   / Root Rake Grapple #1  

fortyseven2n

Bronze Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2002
Messages
71
Location
North Carolina
Tractor
1947 Ford 2N , 1952 Ferguson TO-30 , 1953 John Deere 40 Standard, 2009 Kubota L3400 HST with Loader
I am adding a third function to my 2009 Kubota L3400 HST tractor and am looking for advice on what size grapple would be best for my tractor. I would mostly be using it to pick up brush and limbs/logs and move them around.

Currently I use my forks and have moved literally tons of stuff but it is hard to keep from losing something in transit.

I am looking at the following options:

48" wide - 450 lbs

or

60" wide at 550 lbs

Any suggestions of which size would be the best choice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You

Fortyseven2n
 
   / Root Rake Grapple #2  
Id go with the lighter one and in fact look for one that's even lighter than the 48" grapple you have listed. That's based on the lift capacity of the tractor.

W.R. Long Grapple 54" grapple is listed at 360 lbs. There are likely others with similar weights.
 
   / Root Rake Grapple #3  
I've had my 60 inch Land Pride grapple for over ten years now. I can say truthfully - width is not really that important. A 48 inch grapple will pick up most anything as well as a 60 inch, or larger, grapple.

How it its constructed and it's weight can be more important.

A grapple can - either intentionally or accidentally - be subjected to some mighty damaging forces. I would always choose the smaller, stronger grapple over a larger, lightly built one.

My grapple - Land Pride, SGC1560, 820 pounds of AR400 steel. Used to move large rocks and chunks of pine tree trunk. Still in the same condition as when initially purchased.
IMG_0011.jpeg
 
   / Root Rake Grapple #4  
How much more brush do you have to move? I have the single bolt on grapple at 140 pounds paired with a tooth bar offers a nice combination. Both are made in Tarboro, NC

 

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   / Root Rake Grapple #5  
Don't forget to modify your grill guard. Limbs, sticks and stobs have a nasty way of finding your grill, radiator or battery. This is how I had mine modified.
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   / Root Rake Grapple #6  
Too heavy, OP; those will eat up half your lift capacity. Higher grade steel retains strength at lower weight; my 58" Anbo weighs abt 350# and is unphased by the stupidest grapple tricks.
 
   / Root Rake Grapple
  • Thread Starter
#7  
Thanks for the input from everyone. The WR Long is a good looking grapple but out of my price range. I can get the 48" from Midstate for $ 1300 and the 60" for $ 100 more. Planning on going to their yard this weekend to check them out. I bought a set of forks from them in 2010 and they have been bullet proof. They make everything on site except for the forks themselves. I've moved a ton of logs, brush and so on over the years. To answer old and tired, I live on 52 acres with a 1/4 mile driveway. There is never any shortage of something to clean up. Also good point about the grill guard. Been lucky so far but time to do something before I do some real damage.
 
   / Root Rake Grapple #8  
Quite a few good ones out there. The same width (or slightly smaller) as tractor is what I would pick.
Have you considered just adding a grapple to your forks?


 
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   / Root Rake Grapple #9  
I’ve those Mid State grapples in SC on Craigslist. What I have not been able to determine is if the pivot points and cylinder pins are greaseable.

Fortyseven2n, please post if they have grease zerks.
 
   / Root Rake Grapple #10  
Catawba Attachments has a great root grapple. Customer service has always been great and haven't had issues at all with them.

 
 

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