Decision on Grapple

[svendawg]

First off, I'm very new to tractoring and dealing with a large piece of property. I have a new Mahindra 4550 and plan on maintaining 60 acres, 30 of which is cleared. I don't intend on clearing any more, I just want to keep it maintained

I've been agonizing over which grapple to get. I think I have settled on a Everything Attachment 66" or 72' compact single lid grapple or either the 54", 73" compact utility grapple. The utility grapples are really over my budget so I am wondering if I need to step up to the utility line of grapples. The 73" utility grapple seems huge and the 54" seems too narrow since my front wheels are 6' wide.

The million dollar question is, is my tractor a compact tractor or a utility tractor. My tractors is 48 HP but a big heavy frame with a loader that has 2866 pounds lifting capacity and almost 5000 pounds breakout force. The high hydraulic pump flow is low at 8.7gpm of which 5gpm goes to steering is also a consideration.

I've read the entire post on the compact grapple post as well as the new post on the utility grapple post. There just aren't many post where someone has a grapple on the Mahindra 4500 size model tractor. Still can't decide.

I am the kind of guy that needs to see and touch the product before buying so this makes my decision ever harder. Is there a place near Salem, Arkansas where I can see these grapples in person.

 

[sdef]

Can't help you with the see or touch- sorry. My Kioti tractor is similar in size to yours. I used my grapple to help clear a home site from a forest. A quality grapple is made of heavy steel. The wider it is the heavier it is with resulting less lift capacity for the load. I chose a 48" rock grapple that weighs ~ 500# I seem to recall. I see no reason to get a wider one for grabbing and carrying large items such as tree parts and rocks. Even large amounts of brush can be carried in it. No regrets on my size after many hard hours of use. I find I can get the grapple into places I could not with a wider unit.
Most folks on TBN purchase wider units I believe.

 

[adventure bob]

Cant help you in AR, but it you fly out to CO, go skiing, stop by and Ill let you do some logging with my EA 72".

 

[Wildfire]

I have a Kubota L4060 HST. My grapple at 60" is just a bit narrower than the tires and I wouldn't want it to be any wider. Rick at EA talked me through this. I think the FEL bucket is 72".

Width reduces maneuverability and loader capacity. And there hasn't been anything I've picked up or pushed where the width would have helped to the job better or faster.

 

[k0ua]

Mine EA is 50 inches. I have never wanted it to be any wider. I have wished it to be narrower at times. Like when setting rocks on a rock wall. I suppose if you were stacking split wood chunks in a grapple you would want it to be wider, but I don't do that so color me in the "narrower is better" crowd.

 

[txndncowboy]

Do you have a bucket? If so I wouldn't go any wider than it. I tried a rock picker once that was wider than my bucket and it was just too much for the Massey that I had at the time.

 

[adventure bob]

I'm in the wider is better crowd but can see the argument for narrower. Root raking large areas is faster with wider. Additionally, I'm picking up 18-20 foot logs and processing them. I could see narrower as a around the house tool, but for outright logging and clearing I'd say wider.

 

[Xfaxman]

A wide grapple isn't needed for moving long logs or trees, just find the balance point.

This grapple is 44 inches wide, on a 6 foot wide V417:

 

[svendawg]

I think I have settled on getting the 54" grapple for the maneuverability since my tractor is large.The biggest thing I'm wrestling with now is do I need the bigger utility grapple EA just came out with or can I get by with the Wicked grapple. Is my tractor too big for the smaller grapple and will I be disappointed in the long run for not going big

 

[Xfaxman]

Call Travis at EA and ask him.

 

[EverythingAttachments]

Call Travis at EA and ask him.

I feel really good about the compact. My favorite is the 60" Single Lid
Travis

On a comparable sized tractor. Kubota L6060

72" Single Lid Wicked Grapple on a fellow TBNer's Mahindra 5555

Surely you've seen the 72" on Eric's famous Kioti NX6010!!

 

[svendawg]

I feel really good about the compact. My favorite is the 60" Single Lid
Travis

On a comparable sized tractor. Kubota L6060

View attachment 490957

72" Single Lid Wicked Grapple on a fellow TBNer's Mahindra 5555

View attachment 490958

Surely you've seen the 72" on Eric's famous Kioti NX6010!!

View attachment 490962

View attachment 490964

After speaking with Travis, I finally decided on the Wicked 60" single lid Grapple and ordered it on December 9th along with the third function kit.
I got the third function kit within a couple of days and quickly installed it without any issues.
In order to save on having to travel 80 miles to the closest Fed-ex depot., Hirsch Feed and Farm Supply was gracious enough to receive my grapple so I could pick it up at their store.
I picked up the Grapple last night and had a small opportunity to use it today before the rain pushed me inside.
Thanks to Travis at Everything Attachments for working with me and answering my question and concerns.

 

[oosik]

You should be very happy with that unit. I went with the Land Pride SGC1560 and WR Long third function. Mine has worked out so well - I've yet to put the bucket back on the FEL. Congratulations

 

[94BULLITT]

Congrats. It looks like you are already putting it to good use.