Grapple Best 66"/72" Root/Rock Grapple Under 700 Lbs?

[Dougster]

Dougster...I called and talked to a gentleman from Unlimited and the standard 63" is "about 600 lbs" and the 72" is "about 650 lbs." Shipping to or PA is "around $200". Without negoiating the Millonzi weights less but cost more. I am looking for the same use as you describe and have become very interested in this unit from unlimited. I like the idea of being able to slide under a rock or log before gripping it. I will probably find myself using it more for rocks and logs than brush although I do have brush to move also. I would like to pull the trigger on one next week....we will see... please keep us posted as to anything you may find out.

Funny, but I now notice they've got two websites: root grapple skid steer +++and+++ Skid Steer loader attachments

The websites contain slightly different info and pix. One has prices and the other does not. I wonder which is more up-to-date???

Did you mean to say "MA or PA" in regard to the $200 freight? Sounds about right given what little I know about how freight works.

Message me offline and let me know what they gave you for a price... and if there is a group discount for two!!!

Dougster

 

[Slippy]

If you look at the Markham grapple you will see the tines are ridged or serated. In other words, they look like saw teeth. I would think this would be helpful in ripping roots and digging rocks.
Once again I think Island Tractor makes a good point about size. Small would allow you to be more direct in what you are trying to remove. I think you just have to be sure the grapple you buy is strong enough for your tractor. 30 to 40 hp or smaller the 48" would be fine. On a 75 hp tractor or larger I would think you could do some damage to the grapple. So, I am leaning toward a smaller, say 60", but in a hd build.

 

[Dougster]

I have noticed on photos of the Versatech five foot grapples on eBay that they look almost identical to the Millonzi five foot version. I have no idea if they are from a common source or not. I still would argue that I haven't heard any convincing rationale for getting more than a 48inch grapple for a CUT with loader capacity of less than 2500lbs or so. (i.e. less than a big skid steer). Logs are simply no issue and are held very firmly by curling the grapple after picking up the log so the log is lying in the "bottom" of the grapple then clamping down. I suppose if you like carrying logs in the "dump" position it would be better to have a double wider grapple but I don't see any reason to do that. I don't see the advantage for making trails as you'd always be making multiple passes as small trees and brush is not uniform and removing it is usually not the same as driving through an area with a brush hog. A smaller grapple is easier to dig with (why do you think backhoes have 12" buckets rather than 60" buckets?) Also for digging out bushes or rocks, the wider grapple is going to get in the way, for example due to tightly packed trees, more often than it will be a benefit. I know I am sounding like a broken record but I've never had a situation where a larger (even 60") grapple would have had the slightest advantage over the 48" and obviously the 60" will cut any tractor/FEL's lifting capacity by at least 250lbs. Bigger grapple equals less capacity and more expense period (IMHO ).

The Millonzi light-duty and and the Versatech clearly do share some common design features, most notably the centered pistons and light-duty style thumbs, but I doubt they are from the same manufacturer unless there is some strange two-tier marketing thing going on. One is a premium brand and the other is... well... still a mystery!

Position on width acknowledged! Believe me when I say that I do understand your rationale for the 48 inch size. You make a lot of sense (I think it comes with a lot of experience!) and you are probably right that even my 7,000 lb Mahindra may get stuck more often digging up rocks & roots with a 60 to 66 inch width than with a 48 inch width. All I will say in my defense is that there are other considerations (beyond those I've already shared) that continue to drive me toward a slightly wider, two-thumb grapple. Let's just say for now that there are other uses and other machines on which this grapple is very likely to see service.

Dougster

 

[Dougster]

If you look at the Markham grapple you will see the tines are ridged or serated. In other words, they look like saw teeth. I would think this would be helpful in ripping roots and digging rocks. Once again I think Island Tractor makes a good point about size. Small would allow you to be more direct in what you are trying to remove. I think you just have to be sure the grapple you buy is strong enough for your tractor. 30 to 40 hp or smaller the 48" would be fine. On a 75 hp tractor or larger I would think you could do some damage to the grapple. So, I am leaning toward a smaller, say 60", but in a hd build.

While I dream & drool over the Mahindra 7520 almost daily, unless I win the lottery it's going to remain just a dream! On the other hand, I've not ruled out occasionally using rental equipment that could probably turn any grapple into a pretzel. Add to that my budget concerns and it's a really tough call what will work best for me.

Dougster

 

[3RRL]

Dougster,
I have read most of your thread and I see your ambivalence about getting a good strong grapple but trying to keep the weight down at the same time. And also what you are using it for. IslandTractor and the others have some great grapple advice about usage and alternative uses.

I was wondering if you had a boxblade with scarifiers on it? I recently finished a bucket grapple add on project using dual grapples. My ground engaging projects sound much like yours too. I use the boxblade to rip out the boulders and then scoop them up with the bucket grapple. I find there is less wear and tear on the bucket and grapples that way. My guess would be it eliminates the need for your rock grapple to be super heavy duty. Don't use it so much for digging, rather use your boxblade to pull those boulders out. Then a lighter weight grapple set up will do almost anything else from carrying those boulders, logs or brush. Your Mahindra probably weighs as much as my 55hp Kama and I'm sure you could damage your grapple with the power that thing has. Just my 2¢

 

[Dougster]

Dougster,
I have read most of your thread and I see your ambivalence about getting a good strong grapple but trying to keep the weight down at the same time. And also what you are using it for. IslandTractor and the others have some great grapple advice about usage and alternative uses. I was wondering if you had a boxblade with scarifiers on it? I recently finished a bucket grapple add on project using dual grapples. My ground engaging projects sound much like yours too. I use the boxblade to rip out the boulders and then scoop them up with the bucket grapple. I find there is less wear and tear on the bucket and grapples that way. My guess would be it eliminates the need for your rock grapple to be super heavy duty. Don't use it so much for digging, rather use your boxblade to pull those boulders out. Then a lighter weight grapple set up will do almost anything else from carrying those boulders, logs or brush. Your Mahindra probably weighs as much as my 55hp Kama and I'm sure you could damage your grapple with the power that thing has. Just my 2¢

Nice add-on project! Wish my FEL bucket were 1/3 as strong as yours looks! I'd probably be doing add-on thumbs too!

I'm finding out fast that one aspect of these powerful tractors is that you can do particular tasks at least 4 or 5 different ways. Most folks would probably say that I'm digging out these surface rocks and other debris with the wrong end of my tractor! The problem is that the right end of my tractor has a big ol' 509 backhoe on it which I prefer to leave on there during this rock and debris removal stage of my work. It's not so easy getting that monster on and off like it might be with smaller tractor/backhoe units. I am a little old man and it's a job and a half for me given where I prefer to store it. I'm sure it will get easier with practice, but I need the grapple anyway for other reasons so I plan to give it a try at digging out these surface rocks first!

Dougster

 

[IslandTractor]

The Millonzi light-duty and and the Versatech clearly do share some common design features, most notably the centered pistons and light-duty style thumbs, but I doubt they are from the same manufacturer unless there is some strange two-tier marketing thing going on. One is a premium brand and the other is... well... still a mystery!

I don't think either is a premium brand frankly. These are the value brands. They seem to sell for the same ballpark amount when auctioned on eBay too. I just thought the design and construction was so similar as to suggest a common source. It is not just the general design that is similar...compare photos of the lower part of the grapple in particular (it is easier to see on the ebay photos)...they are indistinguishable.

 

[Charlesaf3]

Hi Charles - Not sure I get your meaning here, but it certainly sounds like you are satisfied with the Millonzi. I see you are fairly local to me. Did you buy your Millonzi in this area?

Dougster

Rereading, I wasn't completely clear. What I meant is that I've gotten the grapple locked in such a way while using it as a root grapple that I couldn't move either the tractor and the FEL, and it didn't bend the grapple. Meaning that the weakest link was the power of my machine, not the strength of the grapple.

Per my millonzi review - worth searching for - I bought the grapple over the phone from Millonzi after seeing IslandTractors glowing reviews of it. So far my experience has entirely justified his reviews - its a grat pice of equipment.

 

[Charlesaf3]

I agree with Island tractor on extra width being a disadvantage when digging. I find the 48 almost too wide when digging out stumps and rocks - the edges catch on things. Far more useful would be narrow, tough, and with a heavy duty cylinder, so it could really apply pressure.

From my current grapple experience, If I had a larger tractor I'd want a stronger grapple far more than a wider grapple.

 

[Dougster]

I don't think either is a premium brand frankly. These are the value brands. They seem to sell for the same ballpark amount when auctioned on eBay too. I just thought the design and construction was so similar as to suggest a common source. It is not just the general design that is similar...compare photos of the lower part of the grapple in particular (it is easier to see on the ebay photos)...they are indistinguishable.

Hi Ed - Just completed another Google & eBay archive search and I'm still not seeing those similar details of construction you're picking up on. I'm comparing 72" to 72". But no matter...

eBay prices are all over the place... especially the "Buy It Now" prices which are often obscene. I go by high bids on completed auctions only. It's hard to compare Millonzi to Versatech as most of the Millonzi's are the heavy-duty series (and heavy weight!!!) while the Versatechs are all... well... Versatechs! They appear in the photos to be much lighter duty.

I did think Millonzi was a fairly well-regarded skid-steer attachment brand... at least as opposed to Versatech about which I can find nothing. To me that seems a little strange in this day and age. And yet the brand (Versatech) seems to be everywhere!

BTW, further searching did reveal that the 66" Versatech is about 500 pounds, at least according to one vendor. That keeps it in the running (weight-wise) but I'd sure like to know where the heck the manufacturer is hiding... and why???

Dougster