Another Grapple Weight Question

[buck12]

Well for what its worth I have had a 48" Wildkat Economy grapple. I got in on ground floor 9 years ago and paid 700 bucks delivered to Mass. Only issue I ever had was I was trying to "hog out" a buried bolder by opening all the way and digging with teeth while trying to roll back with grapple locked onforward edge of rock I cracked the welds where cylinder is attached to box beam. Cut a couple of 1/4" thick wedges and welded on-end of problem. As my avatar shows you can get a lot of firewood on it Like you, I use it for clearing brush as well as bucking logs. I'll take the weight savings (350lbs) any day vs lost payload with a heavier, wider grapple.

I had the same grapple for 10 ten years on my previous tractor. My BIL bought the tractor tractor and grapple and it still works fine. I a MTL grapple on my current tractor.

 

[the old grind]

I vote again to go 'narrow' with a grapple to save weight and to go 'sturdy' vs iffy. We can only 'scoop' so much and little stuff falls out anyway. Large logs etc don't care where/how we grab 'em, we're either half-azzed balanced and won't tip/drag regardless. (if >24' long I'm dodging buildings) What we also with back-hoe thumbs can do might only make more sense of what I'm saying.

 

[oosik]

The amount of "whatever" you can grab with a 66" grapple vs a 60" grapple will be completely insignificant. It's going to be more about - what it is and your skill level.

Balancing a load on a 66" grapple is no easier than with a 60" grapple.

If I could have purchased the same model in 48" width I would have. About 80% of what I do - picking and moving large rocks and large chunks of pine tree trunk.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I bought this cheap, junky, no-name grapple off a guy (new) that he bought at a Richie Bros Auction in the states.

I have abused it, wrenched on it with long material and it has suffered zero for breaking or bending.

 

[the old grind]

Hard to bust a grapple, IMO. Harder to imagine being without one. Good luck finding serious complaints. In Summer I only remove mine to put the other one on. (horizontal gripping jaw or vertical grabbing 'lid') Keep it light, get more done.