Grapple Failure

[ovrszd]

I came back today to check on this thread. Expecting to hear some sort of response from Wildkat. All I hear is Crickets. Bummer.

 

[oosik]

I would say-if you are going to hear from Wildkat it probably won't be on a weekend. I'm going to check back around Wed.

 

[ovrszd]

Not picking on them,,, but the way I understand it he told them about this last week??? They should have responded to this thread within a couple hours. I'm betting on the Crickets.

 

[IslandTractor]

Not picking on them,,, but the way I understand it he told them about this last week??? They should have responded to this thread within a couple hours. I'm betting on the Crickets.

I don't recall many manufacturers responding on these threads. EA seems active and occasionally we hear from Nelson Long (of WR Long) but I don't recall others. Does Wildkat even have an account?

 

[ovrszd]

I don't recall many manufacturers responding on these threads. EA seems active and occasionally we hear from Nelson Long (of WR Long) but I don't recall others. Does Wildkat even have an account?

I agree. I just checked in out of curiosity, didn't expect anything.

 

[Red Horse]

Red Horse, I heard you when you posted about not having a problem with wildkat; and I get it that you were/are willing to take the risk of buying the not top of the line/cost item, with the knowledge that it might mean you have to do in field upgrades on occasion.. What I find somewhat incomprehensible is why companies cut corners to attempt to make more money per piece, when if they spent the minimal amount extra to make a slightly better product they would sell way more pieces and likely survive longer by having a built in positive referral service like TBN working for them?!:duh:

I hear you-penny wise and pound foolish. My only guess is its the old "economy of scale issue" -the thought process is, "yes it only costs 2 bucks to make it bullet proof or better yet idiot proof".. The next issue is well at XXX units per year, that adds up to.........! Again in my case I paid under $700 delivered from NC to MAss. They are now up to $1000 for same unit so hopefully that thicker tube or added re-enforcement has been incorporated in newer units.

 

[94BULLITT]

I hear you-penny wise and pound foolish. My only guess is its the old "economy of scale issue" -the thought process is, "yes it only costs 2 bucks to make it bullet proof or better yet idiot proof".. The next issue is well at XXX units per year, that adds up to.........! Again in my case I paid under $700 delivered from NC to MAss. They are now up to $1000 for same unit so hopefully that thicker tube or added re-enforcement has been incorporated in newer units.

You pass the savings on to the consumer.

 

[bhh]

All they really have to do if they want to keep a super low priced option is to just offer the 1/4" steel as an upgrade. If if cost them $40 more, charge $50 more and they do even better. At least then the consumer has an option with nobody to blame than themselves as long as they state that the 1/8" steel isnt suitable for specific tasks. Since the cylinder is the thing that is actually creating the damage here, they should probably "downgrade" that for the 1/8 lite version as well.

 

[Renze]

They could have improved it a lot with no added cost: Just parallel the lateral gussets with the vertical flange of the tube on the back, instead of somewhere in the middle on the horizontal tube flange, pulling perpendicular onto the wall of that tube.

Naah, i used to design payloaders, i wont add to this any further because applying industrial loader standards to a homeowner product would just be bashing the manufacturer...

 

[bhh]

UPDATE:
I'm happy to report that Wildkat has generously offered to exchange the grapple, for which I am very thankful. I'll be updating my first post as well but have offered to incorporate any recent or future design changes to the grapple in this thread as well since this will most likely become resource for people using the forum to research a grapple purchase. Standing behind their product is a very good sign and using these failures as a tool to innovate and improve the product will be even better. Check back a little later for the details.