Bucket grapple vs root rake How to decide?

[CalG]

I just did a search here using that phrase. Only one thread even mentioned the options when it comes to grapples.

What would go into decision making between the two?

I live and work the tractors in hilly, rocky, 130 year old maple and hemlock forest. (with a couple of oak, cherry, hickory and ironwood thrown in)

Brush pushing and root "displacement" would be anticipated. But there is stone and ledge EVERYWHERE!

eta. Making the paths to do the work of pulling out firewood would be in the mix.

Presently, I use the box blade as a general purpose tool. It does poorly with any carry requirement.

Pin on would be the configuration. NOT SSQC

 

[old and tired]

I love my bolt on grapple, I can grab enough brush to the point where I can't see where I'm driving... great for logs. Couple it with a tooth bar, you'll never need to remove them. Pin on bucket....

 

[oosik]

I move large rocks, chunks of pine tree trunk and backdrag, collect and move brush/small rocks with my grapple. Backdragging with the top lid does require some care. Do not want to hook the tines of the top lid on any immovable object. Such as bedrock outcropping or very large tree root. Damage to the grapple hydraulics could result.

However - I've had this grapple for twelve years - used it in this manner - never had any problems.

JMHO - a bucket grapple is going to be much more universally useful than a root rake.

My 2009 Kubota M6040 & Land Pride 1560 grapple. My modified grill guard.

 

[oosik]

I had my grapple installed twelve years ago. Along with a WR Long third function valve. It has never been taken off the FEL.

A modified grill guard is essential. It will keep limbs, sticks and stobs from finding your radiator, grill or battery.

 

[CalG]

I move large rocks, chunks of pine tree trunk and backdrag, collect and move brush/small rocks with my grapple. Backdragging with the top lid does require some care. Do not want to hook the tines of the top lid on any immovable object. Such as bedrock outcropping or very large tree root. Damage to the grapple hydraulics could result.

However - I've had this grapple for twelve years - used it in this manner - never had any problems.

JMHO - a bucket grapple is going to be much more universally useful than a root rake.

My 2009 Kubota M6040 & Land Pride 1560 grapple. My modified grill guard.

View attachment 918620View attachment 918621

Your bucket grapple appears to be a compromise between types , at least from images I have seen.

Great reference ...thanks!

 

[CalG]

I love my bolt on grapple, I can grab enough brush to the point where I can't see where I'm driving... great for logs. Couple it with a tooth bar, you'll never need to remove them. Pin on bucket....

I believe that would do just about any task that I might have need.

It is truly a "bucket grapple" What of the "root rake" style?

 

[oosik]

My grapple is called a root & rock style or clam shell style - CalG. Now what old & tired has pictured is a true bucket grapple.

Every style has it's - pluses and minuses. You just have to figure out how you will use the grapple and then get the type that will work best.

There are - at least - four, perhaps six, different styles.

One of the biggest factors - weight of the grapple. The weight of the grapple will reduce the weight that can be lifted.

Another factor - style. My grapple is not the best design for gathering limbs, brush and trash. If that is what you will be doing - then a grapple with long lower tines will work better.

If you still want the use of your bucket - then a bucket grapple will work better. I can still move dirt with mine but not in the traditional way you would with a bucket.

My grapple weighs 820 pounds. It's made of AR400 steel. High abrasion resistance.

I can use it to lift heavy rocks and chunks of pine tree trunk because I never lift a heavy load higher than 6 inches off the ground. It's called - "knuckle dragging". Many times I will leave drag marks in the dirt as I lift and move an exceptionally heavy load. Normally - the lower the load is lifted - the greater you will be able to lift.

 

[old and tired]

So my bucket grapple is 143 pounds, just a hair over a grand, new. I am most likely to grab a bucket full of gravel to patch the road as I am to pick up logs... I use the bucket to carry my tools mostly!!

The pin on bucket keeps the lifting points closer to the tractor (meaning I can lift more than if I had a SSQA) but I went one step farther and jacked my PSI to 2500 psi (mine was a tad low from the factory, 2300psi.)

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

 

[oosik]

That 55 gallon drum is a very handy way to get rear weight. It's "in and tight" - doesn't cost an arm & leg - gives a reasonable amount of weight. My rear blade weighs 1000+ pounds - BUT it sticks out back quite a ways and has to always be considered when moving thru my tree stands.

The 1550 pounds of RimGuard in my rear tires is no problem when in and amongst the brush and trees.

 

[Fladogman]

I can see where a bucket grapple would be beneficial with a pin on bucket, but i have to respectfully disagree that it's more useful than traditional root grapple. I can do so much clearing and digging roots, stumps and hauling large loads of limbs. I level and smooth out fresh cleared land very efficiently. I probably have my grapple on my tractor 85% of the time
View attachment 918743

 

[oosik]

There was another limiting factor for me. What was available locally and who was going to install the 3rd function valve and related hydraulics.

I know zippo about hydraulics. For me it was either the Land Pride at my local Kubota dealer. Or an ANBO grapple from the dealer 70 miles north of me - in Colville. A round trip for my tractor to the ANBO dealer was $1000. I've always had good dealings with the Kubota dealer - I chose Land Pride and the Kubota dealer. I have no regrets after all these years.

 

[tacticalturnip]

I love my bolt on grapple, I can grab enough brush to the point where I can't see where I'm driving... great for logs. Couple it with a tooth bar, you'll never need to remove them. Pin on bucket....

Given his pin-on bucket, I think this would be the best option, especially paired with a tooth bar.

 

[CalG]

There was another limiting factor for me. What was available locally and who was going to install the 3rd function valve and related hydraulics.

I know zippo about hydraulics. For me it was either the Land Pride at my local Kubota dealer. Or an ANBO grapple from the dealer 70 miles north of me - in Colville. A round trip for my tractor to the ANBO dealer was $1000. I've always had good dealings with the Kubota dealer - I chose Land Pride and the Kubota dealer. I have no regrets after all these years.

I spent the good part of the day on the Hurlimann , re-stacking walnut and hemlock logs. (they were in the middle of a clearing, and are now off to the side). Also re-stacked the stump pile. It's like turning a compost pile, only to get the dirt to fall off. It's just a bit harder on equipment. Those maple stumps are big and still heavy!

Any way, I sure could have used that "bucket thumb" grapple thingy. I bolted on the bucket tusks, but still had to get off and on the tractor a dozen times to fit the short walnut logs for carry.

Looking hard at the "Add-a- grapple" offering, but bon't really like the "adjustable" feature.

SINGLE - PRECISION MANUFACTURING

 

[tacticalturnip]

I spent the good part of the day on the Hurlimann , re-stacking walnut and hemlock logs. (they were in the middle of a clearing, and are now off to the side). Also re-stacked the stump pile. It's like turning a compost pile, only to get the dirt to fall off. It's just a bit harder on equipment. Those maple stumps are big and still heavy!

Any way, I sure could have used that "bucket thumb" grapple thingy. I bolted on the bucket tusks, but still had to get off and on the tractor a dozen times to fit the short walnut logs for carry.

Looking hard at the "Add-a- grapple" offering, but bon't really like the "adjustable" feature.

SINGLE - PRECISION MANUFACTURING

Could you post photos of your machine sometime? It's so unique. Do you have a mid-mount ROPS?

 

[CalG]

Could you post photos of your machine sometime? It's so unique. Do you have a mid-mount ROPS?

ROPS is on the Back, like any other US market tractor. I can't say how that came to be. I have never seen another.

There are some images in the hydraulics sub forum from when I put a dedicated loader valve on it. Quite a few years back though
A goggle search of "Hurlimann Prince 435" images sometimes shows /

I'll snap a pic or two in tomorrow's light.

(image snagged from the internet, not mine, but just like it , down to the Allied loader. Mine has a small bucket though

 

[old and tired]

Looking hard at the "Add-a-grapple" offering, but don't really like the "adjustable" feature..

WR Long has the same adjustable "feature". As far as I can tell, it adds strength to the upper support tubing. You have two, 1/4" tubing, one inside the other, over lapping the joint. And raises the grapple up to give you more volume to carry more sticks/branches.

I suppose if you are a welder, you could weld the two pieces together. I figure if I (or the next owner) ever decides to change tractors, you can just unbolt it from your old tractor and mount it to a new one.

If your bucket is strong enough (or you like to weld) Greens machine, The Thumb might be what you want... Greens-Machine Thumb Grapple.

You can buy two mounting bases and move the Thumb from one tractor to another.

Only thing I don't like about the thumb... you loose the extra space between the top lip of the bucket and the tube of the the add-a-gapple which gives you (basically) the "adjustable "feature"!!!! (more space to carry material).

 

[CalG]

WR Long has the same adjustable "feature". As far as I can tell, it adds strength to the upper support tubing. You have two, 1/4" tubing, one inside the other, over lapping the joint. And raises the grapple up to give you more volume to carry more sticks/branches.

I suppose if you are a welder, you could weld the two pieces together. I figure if I (or the next owner) ever decides to change tractors, you can just unbolt it from your old tractor and mount it to a new one.

If your bucket is strong enough (or you like to weld) Greens machine, The Thumb might be what you want... Greens-Machine Thumb Grapple.

You can buy two mounting bases and move the Thumb from one tractor to another.

Only thing I don't like about the thumb... you loose the extra space between the top lip of the bucket and the tube of the the add-a-gapple which gives you (basically) the "adjustable "feature"!!!! (more space to carry material).

I watched the install video for the thumb. Sure is a lot more fab work than only needing to drill a few bolt holes.
I've already welded a full length angle iron to the top edge of the bucket to support the weld on chain grab hooks.
I'll need to check dimensions etc. to see if that will get in the way.

Thanks for the reference.

 

[Hay Dude]

Is grapple forks attachment an alternative?
I have found this attachment to be my handiest and best for boulders, logs, brush, anything but aggregates

 

[old and tired]

I'll need to check dimensions etc. to see if that will get in the way.

Whichever way you go... don't forget some kind of tooth bar!!!

 

[oosik]

If you go with a "standard" grapple - don't forget to modify your grill guard. Check out the thread - Grill guard - here on TBN.