EA grapple not an option now what?

[Torvy]

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

I looked around those and they are in budget, but I can't wrap my head around the narrow width and single thumb for brush work. They are light, due to smaller size. Their website gives almost zero useful info.

I am ticked that EA fell apart because (surprisingly), my home CFO made my budget big enough that I could have had one.

I'm still researching. I think I've decided on Root/Brush style rather than Rake/Clamshell style. I appreciate new brands to research. Once I get done, I will 'publish' my findings to help future buyers.

 

[Xfaxman]

I'm still researching. I think I've decided on Root/Brush style rather than Rake/Clamshell style.

Good decision. I made the same decision after having both styles.

 

[Torvy]

Checked out raptor. A little short on details. The 'tractor' versions are only the clam style and are very light. That could be good or bad. 60 or 72". I'm thinking 66" is my sweet spot. Just a bit narrower than my tractor. +/- 6" is not a deal breaker though.

The Skid ones say they have 72, 78 and 84", but only allow you to choose the 78 or 84. They are a bit on the heavy side, but so have 3" cylinders, which is big compared to most I have researched.

No info on steel quality, cylinder length or tine spacing.

Why are so many of these working out of NC?

 

[oosik]

I checked those who had grapples around here when I was deciding. Almost 100% had the rock/root style.

This is my Land Pride SGC1560. 60 inches wide - 820 pounds of AR400 steel.

Also - this is how I had my grill guard modified. Saves the grill, radiator and battery from sticks, stobs and limbs.

 

[airbiscuit]

 

[Jstpssng]

Also - this is how I had my grill guard modified. Saves the grill, radiator and battery from sticks, stobs and limbs.

Good idea. A couple of weeks ago I walked past my tractor and noticed a fir limb sticking out of the grill. No idea when it got there, but it left a 5 inch gash. Luckily my radiator is intact.

 

[1 Old Man]

Also - this is how I had my grill guard modified. Saves the grill, radiator and battery from sticks, stobs and limbs.

Really like that grill guard. Good job.

 

[Torvy]

Nice thing about Homestead, they have grill guards for some makes/models.

 

[oosik]

Humorous note. I had a young fellow, at the local welding shop, make up the grill guard. He wanted to paint the upper two quadrants as big eyes. That center piece - he wanted to paint red - as a big tongue.

Being somewhat of a stick-in-the-mud - I declined his offer. All black was just fine for me.

 

[two_bit_score]

Being somewhat of a stick-in-the-mud - I declined his offer. All black was just fine for me.

You were smart.

 

[Molalla1]

Humorous note. I had a young fellow, at the local welding shop, make up the grill guard. He wanted to paint the upper two quadrants as big eyes. That center piece - he wanted to paint red - as a big tongue.

Being somewhat of a stick-in-the-mud - I declined his offer. All black was just fine for me.
View attachment 860678

I used the same mesh on most of my front guards . . .

 

[DerMann]

Why you guys like root grapple instead of rake grapple?

I'm usually picking up cut branches to haul to burn piles, thought rake grapple could clamp more branches?

 

[airbiscuit]

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

I don't have a grapple, but I used some scrap angle iron to bolt on to my forks to make them more of a debris fork. It works great for hauling brush.

 

[airbiscuit]

Why you guys like root grapple instead of rake grapple?

I'm usually picking up cut branches to haul to burn piles, thought rake grapple could clamp more branches?

A rake grapple can probably haul more brush, but a root grapple is probably better if you also want to use it as a ""dozer" to grub out roots.

 

[kenmac]

Oh believe me I have seen it on here, I bet a few of them are sulled up about it.

while not a ''cult fan'' they made an excellent grapple bar none !
And that's not ''cult talk'', that's a fact !
Facts are, some didn't like it because they produced a superior grapple.
It really hurt their feelings that EA sold superior grapples

 

[Lineman North Florida]

while not a ''cult fan'' they made an excellent grapple bar none !
And that's not ''cult talk'', that's a fact !
Facts are, some didn't like it because they produced a superior grapple.
It really hurt their feelings that EA sold superior grapples

I have no reason to doubt that they probably made a nice grapple but the best one in the world is no good to anyone that's looking to buy a new one if they are out of business. I take it that you own one, did your superior EA grapple replace another brand that failed?

 

[D&D]

while not a ''cult fan'' they made an excellent grapple bar none !
And that's not ''cult talk'', that's a fact !
Facts are, some didn't like it because they produced a superior grapple.
It really hurt their feelings that EA sold superior grapples

 

[oosik]

Why you guys like root grapple instead of rake grapple?

I'm usually picking up cut branches to haul to burn piles, thought rake grapple could clamp more branches?

I would guess - DerMann - it is because most grapple work around these parts involves moving rock, chunks of tree trunk and round hay bales. In these cases - a rock/root grapple seems to functions best.

In my specific case - I have little to no brush to gather or move. It is ALL - rocks - basketball size and up to too large to pick and move. AND - chunks of pine tree trunk. I'm also using my grapple/tractor as a demolition machine. I have several old homestead buildings that are being taken down - gathered up - taken to a burn pile. The shorter, thick tines resist damage better.

Grapples designed to pick and move brush do not fair so well when dealing with rock and tree chunks. Those longer lower lid tines can tend to get bent and broken.

JMHO.

 

[shooterdon]

while not a ''cult fan'' they made an excellent grapple bar none !
And that's not ''cult talk'', that's a fact !
Facts are, some didn't like it because they produced a superior grapple.
It really hurt their feelings that EA sold superior grapples

"hurt feelings"? Are you serious?

I thought this was a tractor forum, not a Mary Kay get-together.

 

[Xfaxman]

Why you guys like root grapple instead of rake grapple?

I'm usually picking up cut branches to haul to burn piles, thought rake grapple could clamp more branches?

Yep, it will: