EA grapple not an option now what?

[tacticalturnip]

Damn near whatever brand you buy you'll be happy with it; grapples are a real treat, a back saver for sure!

 

[3 Horse Ranch]

Omg. I thought those dang tumbleweeds were only in West Tx. What a pain.
Buy the best grapple/tool you can afford. You'll never regret buying quality.
Is your fence line a property boundary? If not, take the new root grapple and clear that nasty
scrub brush away from the fence.

The sagebrush is on neighboring range land. Most of the tumbleweeds blow in from the neighboring properties north and south. To the south is a federal game management unit.
You almost need heavy welders gloves to handle them nasty things. I've been using a pitchfork. According to the state weed board, they are an invasive specie brought into South Dakota mixed in sacks of flax seed in the 1870s and are actually Russian thistle.

 

[lman]

I picked this one up at the factory a few years ago, about a 12 mile drive. No complaints so far.

Tomahawk One-Cylinder Brush Grapple

Tomahawk Attachments is your premier factory-direct source for all sorts of skid steer attachments. Our high-quality, American-made attachments are…

tomahawkattachments.com

 

[Notforhire]

I have been thinking of a grapple, but I don't need it to be heavy duty. I am plagued with a whole bunch of tumbleweed. Some of my own and some that blows in from north and south during strong winds. I have been working by hand gathering them off the fences and some out of the fields, but I have probably put in 30 hours so far. Since I know nothing of grapples, I was wondering what the consensus of opinions would be of a 72" Chinesium grapple for this work. I have found one online that will be $2400 to the door. My next option will be Homestead but that would be about $1000 more delivered. I would go with the better one if I was planning on major land clearing, but this will be a twice a year use implement and light duty work.

Pardon Our Interruption...

PS, I have come to really hate the old western Tumblin' Tumbleweeds song. Who in their right minds would try to romanticize those weeds from hell.

I had a grapple much like the one in your link.
Where the lid pivots was the week point. In a very short time the holes egged out and everything got sloppy. My first inclination was to do a redesign and weld in one inch ID bushings.
After figuring cost of materials and time involved I figured I'd be better off getting a heavy duty model. My original grapple cost about $1200 at the time and the HD model was $1800. (Now around 3k)
The new grapple has worked out great for me w/no issues.
The only downside is you need a tractor big /strong enough to lift it. I wouldn't want anything heavier on my L47 TLB.
IMO there is little need for a wide unit. I bought a 66in model to save weight. After using it a while I think a

60in would have worked just as well

My light duty model did work, it just started to self destruct after a while. If you don't work it hard it could last for several years. Or you could redesign the pivot.
BTW pay no attention to the dates on my photos. I sometimes forget to set the correct date when I replace batteries. I see that the manufacturer now lists on ebay. Security Measure

 

[Jstpssng]

I bought a 66in model to save weight. After using it a while I think a 60in would have worked just as well

I've found the same thing, although on a smaller scale. I bought a 54 inch but could have gotten a 48. That extra 6 inches really doesn't add much.

 

[newbury]

That extra 6 inches really doesn't add much.

That's not what she said!

 

[5030]

That's not what she said!

Dreaming again I take it....

 

[scootr]

You can get too big of an attachment for the tractor. Last year I got a 7 ft mower for my SS. It was too big. Yeah it worked but it was too heavy and taxed the 50 hp motor in thick material. I sold it to the local water district that had a bigger SS and ordered the same unit in 6ft width. It's a perfect fit for a machine that carries a 5 ft bucket.

 

[3 Horse Ranch]

I had a grapple much like the one in your link.
Where the lid pivots was the week point. In a very short time the holes egged out and everything got sloppy. My first inclination was to do a redesign and weld in one inch ID bushings.
After figuring cost of materials and time involved I figured I'd be better off getting a heavy duty model. My original grapple cost about $1200 at the time and the HD model was $1800. (Now around 3k)
The new grapple has worked out great for me w/no issues.
The only downside is you need a tractor big /strong enough to lift it. I wouldn't want anything heavier on my L47 TLB.
IMO there is little need for a wide unit. I bought a 66in model to save weight. After using it a while I think aView attachment 858781View attachment 858782 60in would have worked just as well

My light duty model did work, it just started to self destruct after a while. If you don't work it hard it could last for several years. Or you could redesign the pivot.
BTW pay no attention to the dates on my photos. I sometimes forget to set the correct date when I replace batteries. I see that the manufacturer now lists on ebay. Security Measure

Your comments on weight have me now thinking along the lines of the Homestead Implements version. Their's weighs in at under 400 pounds, whereas the ebay weight is 600 pounds, although that probably includes the Chinese angle iron crate

 

[1 Old Man]

I noticed Homestead Implements has gone from 4-6 week delivery to 5-7 week delivery.
Has anyone received a grapple from Homestead in the 4-6 week time frame? Wondering
if they are headed to 2-3 month delivery times, or will they be able to increase
production to meet demand.

 

[Notforhire]

Your comments on weight have me now thinking along the lines of the Homestead Implements version. Their's weighs in at under 400 pounds, whereas the ebay weight is 600 pounds, although that probably includes the Chinese angle iron crate

The lid pivot point looks to be a better design than the light duty unit I had. If the unit wears at this point it would be easy to add outboard bushings and replace the bolt with a smooth pin and grease fittings.
I would also suggest blocking the open back of the grapple. Branches have a tendency to poke through and could damage your radiator. These changes would be simple to do and would add little weight.
So much depends on your use.
IMO pivot points that have a decent surface area and can be greased are important.

 

[Xfaxman]

Saw one on YouTube that I had not seen before: Skid Steer Liquidation Clearance - Grapples - Raptor Attachments

Tractor Liquidation Clearance - Raptor Attachments

raptor-attachments.com

 

[Midniteoyl]

Dont know anything about them, but I have been noticing these Great Bear 78" grapples showing up all over FB for $2000, give or take $200 or so.. Item Weight: 721 lbs, so prolly not the thickest material.

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[shooterdon]

If I was in the market the Frostbite would be my choice.

FrostBite Grapples - Grapple, Log Grapple

FrostBite Grapple Log Grapple for your Skid Steer, Utility Tractors, handling and rocks, brush removal, move pipe culverts, handling steel I-beams & landscaping

www.frostbitegrapple.com

I do far more moving of logs than brush and it is better suited for my needs (firewood processing).

My MTL is OK but it is tougher to pick up 3-4 logs at a time.

MTL RG-7 HD Root Grapples 60" or 72" Models Black or Orange Universal quick attach Mount - Skid Steer — MTL Attachments

Brand New Built in the USA Skid Steer Universal Quick Attach RG-7 Root Grapple ***LIMITED 150 PRODUCTION per Month OF RG7 MODELS*** Highest quality Construction - BUILT IN THE USA Only 150 of the RG7 Grapples will be made each Month to be sold- This includes all sizes and Models of the RG7

www.mtlattachments.com

It would be about $1000 difference to sell my MTL and get the Frostbite. Been thinking about it but the MTL gets the job done and saving a few hours year is not worth it.

 

[DerMann]

Hey, for those of us with tinkertoy tractors (SCUT's) I stumbled on this grapple last night and damn near bought one. The boy talked me out of it, saying the EA fork tines we have are enough for our limited tree branch hauling work. But, boy would this be nice -

48″ Compact Tractor Root Rake Clam Grapple Fits John Deere Loader – Skid Steer Attachment Depot

www.skidsteerattachmentdepot.com

 

[Jstpssng]

Hey, for those of us with tinkertoy tractors (SCUT's) I stumbled on this grapple last night and damn near bought one. The boy talked me out of it, saying the EA fork tines we have are enough for our limited tree branch hauling work. But, boy would this be nice -

48″ Compact Tractor Root Rake Clam Grapple Fits John Deere Loader – Skid Steer Attachment Depot

www.skidsteerattachmentdepot.com

Don't listen to him, you really need this!

I just checked out their website, I could really spend some money there.

 

[newbury]

Don't listen to him, you really need this!

I just checked out their website, I could really spend some money there.

Check out their address on Google maps, street view.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Check out their address on Google maps, street view.

If you look at it from their site it looks like a power company's storage yard. From Google, it looks like it deals in sand and gravel. From Bing, however, and it is full of tractor implements..

 

[two_bit_score]

Until recently EA had an almost cultlike following here. Suggesting any other brand would subject you to some abuse.

The worms sure did turn on EA.

 

[shooterdon]

The worms sure did turn on EA.

Put a good quality steak outside in the summer. Have a look at it after a week if the critters have not attacked it.

Coporate rot is no different. It will always win if left unchecked.