Grapple Grapple - bucket or forks?

[Mattlt]

I am considering making or buying a grapple fork. I have a 6' bucket or a set of pallet forks that I could mount it on. I'm torn as to which one to use.

I'll mainly be using it to clean up brush during firewood cutting - no real heavy stuff, just light brush. Maybe an occasional log or two.

It's going to be removable in either case, but it will definately need to be removed from the pallet forks more often. The bucket is kind of a "spare" so the mounting on there could be semi-permanent.

I use the forks now to pick up and carry brush, and it seems to work ok, but it would work better with the grapple. Curious if I'd be as happy with the grapple on the bucket?

Anyone have any opinions either way?

Also, any opinions on the add-on grapples sold by GC Manufacturing on ebay? On the surface, they seem like a pretty decent deal - hard to make one for the price they want. Searches on this site seem pretty favorable as well.

 

[charlz]

I use clamp on forks with my bucket to pick up brush. Even with a grapple I don't know how much you could carry with a bucket without something like forks on there. The stuff I pick up is mostly trimmed branches etc. more bulky then heavy and I'd rather make fewer trips. I plan on making an actual brush grapple at some point.

 

[BarryinMN]

I have a rock bucket with grapples. My opinion forks are way too convenient to clutter up with a grapple. Cut the sides out of the dirt bucket & use it or get a old manure fork and grapple it.

 

[radman1]

I have construction bucket and tine grapple forks. The construction bucket is HD and can handle cement, trees, or whatever I can get in the grapple. It weighs 900 lbs and used on large frame skid steer. The tine grapple is not near as heavy duty but much lighter in weight for a CUT and yet has the strength for a CUT FEL. Works great with brush, loose material such as hay/straw, cut cedar trees etc. I never used a pallet grapple. I always thought they would work well for logs or bigger diameter trees. I would think brush and small stuff wouldn't stay in the grapple well.

The closed sides of a conventional bucket may make a grapple work a little less efficient. It would be more difficult to get an log to fit on the grapple due to the sides. The sides of a tine grapple are open and a construction bucket is cut down on the sides. Grapples do get in the way sometimes. I would prefer a dedicated grapple, rather than taking my current bucket and adding a grapple (unless it was real easy to remove).

 

[Mattlt]

Hmmmm... The manure fork is an idea. Might have to see if I can locate an old one.

I should mention, this will mainly be used on a Toolcat or skidsteer. Not much heavy lifting.

 

[IslandTractor]

How about a plain ole grapple. They can be had for about a grand and are much more versatile than either a bucket grapple or forks grapples.

Bucket grapple would be my second choice though if brush was involved. I think the forks grapple looks like a nice tool for moving stacked logs and big branches but am not so sure it would scoop up lighter brush or unstacked wood very well.