Grapple for Working in the Woods

[BackRoad]

Yes Sir, I respect what you posted...and have learned to value most everything else you post. You seem to do it right.

Life's too short to start a debate about grapples, which is why I put my comments as just my view of this wonderful world.


Actually it was you and Mr. SaywerRob I was thinking about when I said some cut the big stuff and have different needs. And I know you wouldn't use something that wasn't quality.

Wishing you a Good Night Mr. Gould, with as much sincerity as I can convey on a forum post.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Almost forgot - works fine building bush piles too



gg

 

[Gordon Gould]

Yes Sir, I respect what you posted...and have learned to value most everything else you post. You seem to do it right.

Life's too short to start a debate about grapples, which is why I put my comments as just my view of this wonderful world.


Actually it was you and Mr. SaywerRob I was thinking about when I said some cut the big stuff and have different needs. And I know you wouldn't use something that wasn't quality.

Wishing you a Good Night Mr. Gould, with as much sincerity as I can convey on a forum post.

I appreciate that. Things are complicated and often not exactly what they seem intuitively. This is a great learning place so don't take my post as a criticism or belittlement.

gg

 

[suburbanfarmer]

Here's an example of what a frost-bite style grapple can do. These two piles of rocks were dug up out of an area measuring about 50 ft x 20 ft.View attachment 686913View attachment 686914View attachment 686915

How much does it weigh? The EA 55" was under 300lb

 

[bcs001]

The differing opinions that are given in these forums is what makes them such a great source of information. Real life experience with a particular design, size or project are invaluable but at the end of the day we make the choice best suited to our application. Many times there is no best choice. It痴 always a trade-off of one feature for another but having accurate information and experience to make the choice is why we all come here.
Now getting back to the subject of the thread, I actually would have a use for both a wide and narrow grapple rake as well as the FrostBite design but can稚 afford to have all three sitting around.....so based on my property needs, which only I know in detail, I値l pick a style and size that 澱est suits my needs.
Keep the great insights coming guys.

Bruce.

 

[Jstpssng]

I may misunderstand GG's description of picking up a log on uneven ground, but I often reach down from the top, rather than trying to scoop it up. That comes in especially handy when stacking 9 foot lengths, as I can stack four or five at a time, then reach down and pick all of them up.

 

[ericm979]

I got a 60" wide grapple. I feel it does not need to be wider for my uses. 55" would be fine too.

 

[North to Alaska]

I have an MTL grapple. 55 inch single. This has worked well for me in prying stumps, grabbing logs, grabbing brush. It may not have the same quality as an EA, but it is also less than half the price and available right away.

Recommend that you leave about 5 feet of trunk so that you can shove the tree over with the grapple before digging down into the roots and pulling up. Even with loaded tires and something heavy on the 3pt hitch, you may lift your rear tires up. So take it slow at first. Your tractor has the loader and about the same weight as my 4520r. It is a very stout tractor.
I pulled out dozens of spruce and birch with mine. But the roots of your Georgia hardwoods might be a little more tough to pull up.

Depending on how much money you have to play with and how much logging you are doing, a skidder is a great investment. I want one.

Congratulations on the tractor.

 

[Gordon Gould]

The differing opinions that are given in these forums is what makes them such a great source of information. Real life experience with a particular design, size or project are invaluable but at the end of the day we make the choice best suited to our application. Many times there is no best choice. Itç—´ always a trade-off of one feature for another but having accurate information and experience to make the choice is why we all come here.
Now getting back to the subject of the thread, I actually would have a use for both a wide and narrow grapple rake as well as the FrostBite design but can稚 afford to have all three sitting around.....so based on my property needs, which only I know in detail, I値l pick a style and size that 澱est suits my needs.
Keep the great insights coming guys.

Bruce.

Well said !!

gg

 

[John_Mc]

I own a Sundown GR40 grapple. It's very similar to the Frostbite mentioned earlier. There is nothing better for maneuvering in the woods, and they hold logs securely - they ought to as that is exactly what they are designed to do. The extra maneuverability is a much bigger factor than you might imagine, I can thread into places that I could never come close to with my bucket on the tractor. The trade off is that while you can pick up a good grab of brush with one of these, you can't really "rake" at all (though I have been known to grab some cedar or pine tops with my grapple to use as a broom on occasion). Other styles of grapples will let you rake up debris and pick up smaller rocks and debris, or carry a load of firewood. That just doesn't happen with a forestry grapple.

For me and for my uses, there was no hesitation: a forestry grapple is the way to go. For others with different needs, other designs make more sense. While it would be nice to have one for every need, but you learn to adapt and find ways to make what you have work for you.