Grapple for DK-40se/hst; best unit for $

[IslandTractor]

Thanks to all who have replied to date!
Could anyone who chooses to post what their setup cost complete- out the door?!
Thanks all :thumbsup:

You don't want to know.....

I got my 48" grapple for $500 in an eBay auction and got a free bonus WRLong diverter valve when I won another auction for a 4n1 bucket. Lucky me.

Today you can get a new 48 inch Markham/Gator for a bit more than $1000. A couple of 3/8 x 20 foot hydraulic lines plus 4 Pioneer fittings can cost $75-150 from Internet or dealer. That's all you need if you already have at least one rear remote.

If you want a diverter or electric over hydraulic valve, add about $600-900 more.

 

[rd_macgregor]

When I bought my Gator grapple last year, I was told that I could get them for $750 each if I wanted to buy 5 (I was tempted!). I think mine came in at about $1400, including shipping, GST and brokerage fee. My dealer made up the hoses for me and charged me dramatically more than what I thought it should cost...but I had four hoses made, which meant an extra four fittings, too.
BOB

 

[HCJtractor]

I agree with Island Tractor on the price. I bought the grapple from Markham (now Gator) ,a WR Long electric over hydraulic valve. Only additional item I had to deal with was my loader was not skid steer so I also had to buy an adapter that also added $700 ish. But the best money I ever spent in terms of usefulness.

I bought mine (48" heavy duty grapple) several years ago.
Grapple $1500
Valve 600
Tach all 700 (adapter)
labor ???

 

[Coyote machine]

Found what I believe will best serve my needs: a GR-20 LOG Grapple manufactured by Igland of Norway. It is 36" wide and opens to 42" jaw width. (Igland builds some tough stuff- I have their 4001 PTO winch and it is kick a**!!)
It is a single cylinder ram and will eat most anything that gets in its way. 354lbs., so it is not too big or heavy.
So my KL-401 loader should not loose any real lifting power due to the grapple's compact and close to the pins size. It'll be about a week before I have it to use....:drool::drool:
Around $1400 and then hoses and a second valve A/B lever and fittings/labor, etc.

 

[IslandTractor]

Pictures, we need pictures. The Norwegian grapple sounds very interesting.

 

[Coyote machine]

Pictures, we need pictures. The Norwegian grapple sounds very interesting.

I'll give you pics:laughing:
Here's a link to the pics - note they can be enlarged by selecting the radio button on the site.

http://www.treemansupply.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=GR-20

I've seen this unit up close and personal and it sold itself to me in a few minutes. There are two holes in each front foot on the grapple arms to which I may bolt a ridged support bar and then attach a removable tooth bar with backhoe bucket type teeth, as I see the need after using the unit for a while...

 

[IslandTractor]

Interesting photos and grapple design. This is clearly optimized for log grappling. It will be interesting to see how it works on brush and other debris. I can see that it would be possible to bolt on a piece to widen and fill the bottom with a finer grid.

 

[Coyote machine]

Interesting photos and grapple design. This is clearly optimized for log grappling. It will be interesting to see how it works on brush and other debris. I can see that it would be possible to bolt on a piece to widen and fill the bottom with a finer grid.

Here's the description of the uses for the grapple:
"The IGLAND GR-20 Grapple attachment, attaches to your skid steer/tractor. With a weight of only 354 pounds and an opening of 42" you will out work your Skid Steer easily. This works great for:
-Moving logs
-Hauling brush
-Loading portable sawmills
-Loading firewood processors
-Building stone walls
-Loading logs on trailers and trucks
-Removing and hauling small stumps
-Culvert loading and placement
-Handling steel I-beams and pipes"

Seems versatile enough for me

 

[RADIUM]

I have one for sale LOL it's just too big for your tractor ;-), but there is no doubt you can't live without a grapple on a farm. I also posted a video of me using this one in the new video section check it out

 

[IslandTractor]

Here's the description of the uses for the grapple:
"The IGLAND GR-20 Grapple attachment, attaches to your skid steer/tractor. With a weight of only 354 pounds and an opening of 42" you will out work your Skid Steer easily. This works great for:
-Moving logs
-Hauling brush
-Loading portable sawmills
-Loading firewood processors
-Building stone walls
-Loading logs on trailers and trucks
-Removing and hauling small stumps
-Culvert loading and placement
-Handling steel I-beams and pipes"

Seems versatile enough for me

If you look at the photo the grapple has just two heavy bottom tines. That means that any object less than about 24-30 inches in length will fall out. Not an issue for logs or trees or even bushes but it does limit the grapple in collecting rocks, cut firewood, construction debris, and also perhaps in digging out roots and brush. It looks very well made but is pretty clearly a specialized design.