Demand for a PT Grapple??

[EverythingAttachments]

I'll admit, I do not know much about these cool little machines, but we had a customer that demanded one of our 50" Wicked Grapples for his Power Trac PT425.
We obliged and are in the process of building it.

I have a couple questions...

1. Do most/all power tracs share the same triangular shaped quick attach?

2. Any idea how much demand is out there for these?

Opinions welcome!!
Travis

 

[MossRoad]

While the quick attaches are similar, I'm fairly certain the 400 series hitch is much smaller than the larger models. You'd have to get some specific measurements.

Also, there's an angle issue to mounting the quick attach plate to some implements. If the angle is not correct, the implement may not dump or curl far enough. It would be a bummer to have a bucket that you couldn't dump.

 

[MossRoad]

Out of curiosity, how much is that grapple going to weigh?

 

[EverythingAttachments]

Out of curiosity, how much is that grapple going to weigh?

Thanks for the insight.

It has bolted in, intermediate lower tines that reduce spacing from 10" to 5".
Approx. 255 with the tines removed.
Approx. 274 with the tines in place.

 

[KentT]

Travis,

I'm the culprit. I ordered one to go on my PT-1430 (T-12) that uses the smaller PT-425 (T-8) quick attachment plate -- so, it is somewhat of an anomaly.

The shape of the Power Trac quick attach plates are all similar, but the sizes are different for different product classes: Products

The T-8 class have an 800lb rated loader, while the T-12 class have a 1200lbs loader.

On my oldie, that originally predates quick attach mechanisms, I'm using the smaller T-8 for two reasons: (1) it bolts right on, and (2) I have several other T-8 attachments such as tiller, stump grinder, mini-hoe that I want to keep to use on it.

I went back and forth for a while on which grapple to get. One of the reasons I went with your 50" compact, rather than your larger 54" with a bigger opening, is that I didn't want to overtax the smaller QA plate. I owned, used and abused a T-8 grapple bucket, and just sold it. I wanted a more capable grapple, yet wasn't enamored with the factory options.

BTW, the PT-425 (T-8 class) is the biggest selling Power Trac model by a pretty fair margin, I understand. But, the 800lb lift is a limitation - as is the price point for your current 50" compact.

The factory T3295 45" T-8 grapple bucket lists for $1300. This is what I sent you pictures of.


And they offer a lighter weight 29" T3424 Utility Grapple for the T-8 class, though not nearly as robust as yours, rated for 800lbs. It lists for $800.



For the larger T-12 class their products are a bit bigger/stronger, beginning with the T-3425 29" Utility Grapple (their utility grapples are narrow), rated for 1200lbs, which lists for $1300.



The T3296 54" Grapple Bucket for the T12 class lists for $1700.



Having used one of their T-8 grapple buckets for about 10 years, I was pretty aware of their capabilities. But, I have a 60" rock/dirt bucket with teeth for the new-to-me PT-1430, and wanted to have a more specialized grapple. (My grapple bucket has been my most used attachment.) I also stress-cracked that T-8 grapple bucket with my PT-425, digging roots (and had it repaired), so I was aware of its limitations. But, don't underestimate its ability to handle brush. Here's a couple pics of grapple loads that I've moved with the 45" T-8 grapple bucket on my old PT-425.

 

[EverythingAttachments]

Very informative, Kent!
I didn't know you were a member, but it's nice running into you here!

So, after yours, we'll be able to make the grapple with the smaller QA plate(T-8) because we can easily fabricate it.
If someone wants it with the larger QA plate(T-12), we'll need the 1st customer to send us one. After that, we should have them all covered, right?
Travis

 

[KentT]

Yes, that would cover the T-8 and T-12 classes -- in addition to the smaller, homeowner class PT-422 which shares the same QA plate and 800lb lift as the PT-425, though it can't lift as high. So, that would cover 5 models total.

They have several far larger machines, but the smaller and less expensive T-8 and T-12 classes are their biggest sellers, both for homeowners and landscapers.

 

[MossRoad]

so, it is somewhat of an anomaly.

NOOOoooooo..... Stay inside the box! :laughing:

 

[cqaigy2]

I think owning one of these PT is somewhat of an anomaly. :laughing:

 

[MossRoad]

So we know the 400 series' T8 quick attach is smaller than the next step up T12 size. What about the T18 and T24 class? Are each of them larger and larger as they go up in class?

 

[KentT]

I can't speak to the larger classes - I try not to kick the tires of things I know I can't afford...

The ones I'd be interested in are the TSM class - with 1200 lb loaders like the T-12 class, yet a much heavier, more powerful machine with more PTO power/flow. Their mowers are much bigger, for example, but what about their loader buckets, which are impacted by lift capacity AND potential twisting force out on the ends of buckets being pushed by heavier, mower powerful machines....

 

[KentT]

I just confirmed by looking at the part/product numbers on their price lists that the 1845 and 1850 TSM slope mowers share both the light utility grapple and the grapple bucket with the T-12 class.

So, by offering T-8 and T-12 QA plates, you could cover 7 of their 12 different models. I have no idea how many sales or potential sales that represents.

 

[MossRoad]

Thanks for the insight.

It has bolted in, intermediate lower tines that reduce spacing from 10" to 5".
Approx. 255 with the tines removed.
Approx. 274 with the tines in place.

Those weights wouldn't be bad on the 1430. It would still leave a tad over 900# lifting capacity.... That's a lot of brush pile or good sized logs for that size machine. :thumbsup:

 

[KentT]

Those weights wouldn't be bad on the 1430. It would still leave a tad over 900# lifting capacity.... That's a lot of brush pile or good sized logs for that size machine. :thumbsup:

That was my thought -- dealing with brush, I was more limited by volume than weight with the T-8 grapple bucket. Logs are a different story, but quickly lightened using a chain saw...

 

[MossRoad]

Yeah, brush is loose and a grapple is perfect to squeeze it, get and go! I pull lots of 40-60' telephone pole sized locust trees out of our woods with the 425. I doubt most of them weigh over 500#. A few with butts starting to get over 14" are pushing the PT and it puckers. Then I just cut it in half with the saw. You're 1430 will be fun, for sure! :thumbsup:

 

[Marks481]

255-275 lbs would probably be too much for the PT425, since its max weight is 800 lbs. Would limit how much you could carry in the grapple. And 800 lbs is only the max carrying load until you articulate the vehicle while driving, and then nose into the earth.

Would be nice if you made a smaller one, maybe 30" wide and proportionately lighter weight.

 

[KentT]

A 30" grapple with a 30" lid and a 30" opening, at around 200 lbs, would certainly be a wicked grapple for the PT-422/425 size machines. I wonder if that 30" width would also work for the mini-skidsteers, like a Toro Dingo? That would really broaden their potential market. I looked at some of those mini-skid grapples, and boy are they heavy for their size! Not sure why, since those mini-skids only have lift capacity comparable to the T-8 class...

But, I wonder how much the 45" PT grapple bucket weighs -- they are fairly heavy. in addition to the added weight of the grapple lid/fangs and it's full width pivot, you have three mounts for that pivot, the hydraulic cylinder and mount, and longer bucket teeth... They are almost certainly over 150 lbs, probably closer to 175. There' not all that much weight difference with their 50" compact grapple. As I've said before, the limitation with brush is how much you can grasp, not how much it weighs. Carrying logs, though, is different... there weight becomes a big factor.

 

[Marks481]

But, I wonder how much the 45" PT grapple bucket weighs -- they are fairly heavy. in addition to the added weight of the grapple lid/fangs and it's full width pivot, you have three mounts for that pivot, the hydraulic cylinder and mount, and longer bucket teeth... They are almost certainly over 150 lbs, probably closer to 175.

true.

The 50" wicked grapple is designed for a tractor that can pick up 1500#, and is beefy to match. Seems if I only wanted to pick up 650#, they could trim it down to make it a more reasonable size and weight for the smaller tractor.

It would be nice to have a sturdy alternative to the PT 30" grapple, which just looks a bit anemic to me. Lightweight, but easily damaged.

since on of my hobbies is collecting tractor implements....

 

[KentT]

Simply because of their market share, I'd bet the most of 50" Wicked Grapples are mounted on the little Kubota - which do not have as much lift capacity as the PT-422/425.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...An1Sz53whAMNdCW8Q&sig2=cYIsqO5QcVKNX8nwcOYaOg

 

[Marks481]

Simply because of their market share, I'd bet the most of 50" Wicked Grapples are mounted on the little Kubota - which do not have as much lift capacity as the PT-422/425.

The lil' kubota would probably be better served by a lightweight grapple as well.

Of course, it would have the visceral mean look of the 50" grapple.

One of the good things here is that since EverythingAttachment has the dimensions of the QA plate, maybe they would be willing to make some of their other attachments fit the PT series.