Grapple bucket vs 4-in-1 for clearing property

[Charlie_Iliff]

<font color="red">Amen to the 4 in 1 grapple bucket....but then they would lose out on the extra money keeping them separate. </font>
Interesting. I guess that means they didn't consider the necessity of a separate hydraulic system, the possible interference between the edge of the 4 n 1 and the grapple when using the 4 n 1 and the probability that adding a grapple to the 4 n 1 would cost almost as much as a separate grapple bucket.
Actually, Power Trac doesn't make anything on attachments. All their profit is from replacement filters.
You're always welcome to mount a grapple on your own 4 n 1. ATI makes a kit.

 

[BobRip]

That's not a bad idea. It would save storage space and be quicker to changer over from 4 in 1 to Grapple.

Somebody should suggest it to PT.

Bob Rip

 

[FOURTEEN]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( (2) How much does the grapple get in the way when you want to use it as a normal bucket to move dirt, mulch, etc?)</font>


<font color="red"> Not at all!

I'll just say that for your wooded property, the Grapple Bucket is the 'Swiss Army Knife' of buckets!!
Since it's 1:00AM and I need some sleep, please review my numerous postings on the joys and uses for it!! </font>

 

[FOURTEEN]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( a lot of thinner branches and brush which I believe the grapple would struggle with. )</font>


<font color="red"> The trick, with any pile, even numerous medium logs or twigs, is to approach the pile with the bucket level, tight to the ground, and the jaw fully open. Push into the pile. As you move forward, punch the joystick into 'Float', and rotate the bucket downward and all the way to the rear. The teeth will move forward and downward into the pile. Now close the jaw tightly. Raise the bucket a few inches, and roll it all the way up and to the rear. (Sometimes, particularly with numerous logs, it helps to raise the full bucket very high, and gently open the jaw slightly. The logs will shift themselves into more stable positions. Clamp the jaw tight.) Move the bucket to travel height, and off you go!

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[MossRoad]

I also wonder how much weight a 4-in-one grapple bucket would be... it would cut down on the total lift capacity. With an electric diverter, it could be done pretty easily, but that would add more $$ to the total cost...

Oh, heck, I should just buy one of each and be done with it. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[FOURTEEN]

<font color="blue"> (adding a grapple to the 4 n 1 would cost almost as much as a separate grapple bucket.) </font>

<font color="red"> Specialized tools are usually the best! A machete will chop wood, but not as well as an axe, and it will slice bread, but not as well as a knife!!
Buy a PT Grapple Bucket, and you get a HD Bucket with Rock Teeth for FREE!!</font>



<font color="blue"> (You're always welcome to mount a grapple on your own 4 n 1.) </font>

<font color="red"> One of the best things about the PT Grapple Bucket is that it was designed as a unit. The bucket and rock teeth are strong and mate to the fangs properly. The hydraulics are plenty strong, but not too strong. The size and shape of the fangs are just right to nicely hold any load. No matter how you try to abuse it, it never fails.
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[BobRip]

I was able to bend one of the arms on the grapple bucket. I picked up a large log at one end of the log with the arm on the right end of the bucket. I was able to straighten the arm with a come along and a torch. It still works great.

Bob Rip

 

[FOURTEEN]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I was able to bend one of the arms on the grapple bucket. )</font>


<font color="red"> I bent a fang while doing a similar outrageous task!
I straightened it by gently tapping it with the largest sledge hammer I have!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

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[pah]

The 4in1 might not be quite as efficient in moving brush but it will pick up logs and move them easily. why not buy/rent a chipper and deal with branches and the smaller stuff where it lies. When you are finished clearing and should you then want to do some landscaping and general yard maintenance that's where the 4in1 shines. Good luck and have fun.

 

[FOURTEEN]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( why not buy/rent a chipper and deal with branches and the smaller stuff where it lies. )</font>


<font color="red"> As the saying goes: "Been there, done that!"! Last year I bought about the best residential chipper made, the 16hp DR Chipper, paying over $3,000 for it. It did a very nice job of chipping, but is way too slow if you have more than a few trees to maintain. A brush pile that used to take over an hour to chip is now grabbed and dumped in my fire pit in a few minutes without ever leaving the seat of my PT!

Also, the chipper is very hard on the hands. No gloves are thick enough, or soft enough, to absorb the vibration, which leaves your hands aching, numb, and tingling after more than a few minutes of feeding the chipper!

Every single little, or big, piece of wood must be picked up from the brush pile and fed into the hopper. But it won't take leaves, logs, or branches larger than 3". (I can still touch my toes, but I don't enjoy doing it hundreds of times to feed the chipper!)

The chips are blown onto the ground where they must be picked up and disposed of. The chips are light yellow for a long time, and don't look good left lying around or used as mulch.

Luckily DR offered a 9 month 'Money Back' guarantee. So, after using it for 8 months, I sent it back to DR, and got all my money back including shipping!

Even when using the chipper, the PT and Grapple Bucket were still needed to bring the branches to the brush piles, the chipper to the brush piles, and the logs to the fire!

The chipper was torture, the PT Grapple Bucket is FUN!

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