Add a grapple

[Bdavis]

I sold my large tractor last year. I know I am going to buy a smaller 4 wheel drive FEL and backhoe combination this year.
I am determined that I will never again buy a tractor without a third function. A bucket grapple seems the only logical solution.
I spend about 1/2 my time digging and moving dirt and 1/2 my time cutting and moving brush. So I want to be able to move easily from one task to the other. Precision manufacturing makes Add-a-grapple but there maybe others . I see it for sale on a site called Agfolks. I know I will have a 48 inch bucket which translates to a mini. Would appreciate any advice on where to purchase or if there is another brand I should evaluate.
Thanks Bill

 

[LittleBill21]

Wr long makes one. Mahindra Max26 WR Long Bolt On Grapple

 

[old and tired]

Bolt On Grapple Single, Dual, Dual X | W.R. Long Inc.

The Bolt On Grapple Single BOG-Single and the Bolt On Grapple Dual BOG-Dual are designed to fit most tractor loader buckets with lift capacities up to 2,200.

www.wrlonginc.com

I second the WR Long Single bolt on. The light version is 133 pounds and $1005. I added a tooth bar for getting bigger bites and easy digging...

 

[Billy Bee]

Add a tooth bar and a thumb from Green's Machine. I love my set up.

 

[frogpond]

I put an Add A Grapple on my pin-on 48" bucket of my Kubota BX25D a few years ago. I also have a Piranha toothbar. Like you, I move dirt, logs, mixed debris, etc. I am very pleased with how it works. I removed the grapple once just to see how it went, but have not bothered to do it since. The grapple has stood up to some nasty use without bending or breaking. To pick up most effectively, dump the bucket so the bottom is vertical, then close the lid. The purchase through Agfolks was easy and pleasant.

The other alternative grapple lids may be good, also.

 

[Gordon Gould]

I have a 5' pin-on bucket on my 2001 L3010 and bought a ATI grapple kit for it a few years later. This was long before SSQA FELs were common place. It worked very well. Here is the original.

I have made some improvements since then. Mostly little things but the first, like others have said, was to add a tooth bar. That made a huge improvement in being able to grab stuff easier and quicker. I also lengthened and added some curvature to the tines.

It is a very useful unit. You want to mount it to maximize the distance between the bucket sides and the grapple tines while keeping the tines parallel, as much as possible, to the edges of the bucket sides. It is harder to grab and securely hold stuff if your tines are angled with the bucket sides like a scissors unless there is a good hook on the end of the tines.

I wouldn't be without this grapple on my pin-on bucket but that being said if I had a SSQA FEL I would buy a dedicated grapple. I have two tractors and a graple for each. The L3010 with the pin-n bucket with a bucket grapple and a M5640 with a SSQA FEL and a dedicated grapple. The dedicated grapple is more capable especially with the amount of brush it can handle. Just my opinion here.

gg

 

[shooterdon]

You can buy an MTL grapple for not much more and it will work better. I do not use my bucket much so a dedicated grapple is a better option for me.

 

[nyone]

Becids a 3rd function on a new machine a SSQA would be top 2 on my list of must have items.

 

[oosik]

Adding a grapple will increase the odds of potential damage to your grill, radiator or battery. Check out the GRILL GUARD thread for ideas on how to modify your grill guard.

 

[Jstpssng]

Adding a grapple will increase the odds of potential damage to your grill, radiator or battery. Check out the GRILL GUARD thread for ideas on how to modify your grill guard.

Never happen!!!!

Oops, then again...