Grapple or 4-in-1?

[Phils]

Even after reading dang near every thread in this PT forum over the last year, I'd like to ask opinions:

I need to haul piles of cut brush to big bonfires. Over the last 25 years I've been doing that by hand, more often than not putting the fire near the latest piles of brush. Now that I have the PT I keep dreaming of using the 4-in-1 or grapple bucket and bring the brush to the fire. The grapple LOOKS like it might be better for grabbing brush. I've given some consideration to building a grapple to add to my LMB but at the rate I'll get that done another burn season will have come and gone before I'd have it completed.

I also need something to start smoothing our driveway (1/4 mi) and other projects. A box blade seems the logical solution.

What are the 4 things that the 4-in-1 does?

I have seen it mentioned that it does an acceptable job of smoothing and leveling. As good as a box blade?

I could spend $500 more and buy a grapple bucket AND a box blade. Or save that money and get the 4-in-one only. That seems to be the choice I need to make. Some of you might even have two or all three of these implements and can give a very experienced opinion. Everyone else's opinions would also be welcome. I haven't yet called Terry to find out the shipping costs, but both together on a pallet shouldn't be prohibitively more expensive than one by itself.

Phil

 

[stray]

If you can build stuff and weld. A close look at a box blade and you will say "I can easly build that"
the grapple bucket will do well to move brush. but for the price I would surely build my own grapple fork.

If you need any close up pics let me know.

I beleve the best buy for the money from PT is the Large materal bucket. forget the small one.

 

[Phils]

I got a MIG welder for last Christmas. I've only welded my Supertrap muffler onto the PT muffler with it, but the results were acceptable (it hasn't fallen off yet).

In the past I've had good luck sticking things together with slag using an antique buzz box, but I wouldn't be one to claim "I can weld".

Oxy/acetelyne is in my garage too, but I've never tried welding with it. It's a great cutter although neatness and straight lines are two things I haven't yet mastered.

My friend in a nearby town has a plasma cutter in addition to being an excellent welder. But between his schedule and mine each piece could take months at best to complete.

I have a small inheritance coming soon and an investment in PT tools seems worthwhile. Now it's just a matter of "which?".

Phil

 

[pajoube]

I have all of the attachments mentioned except for the grapple. The box blade will do a much better job of leveling once you get the hang of it. This is a much-used attachment for me as I use it to fill low spots, level, and push/pull dirt. Used in conjunction with the float position on the 425 it is an awesome piece of equipment.
The 4 n 1 bucket is used in the following ways.
1. Jaws to pick or drop
2. Open jaw used to scrape
3. In closed position it is a heavy-duty bucket
4. Opening jaws to dump allows one not have to have to curl bucket allowing you to rise to maximum height (truck) when dumping.
From what I have seen the grapple will do a better job of picking limbs etc.
If it were me, I would buy the box blade; 4n1 but add grapple arms and the large material bucket. Now with that said, why two buckets? You can get by with just one but boy both will get used very often. If I could only have one bucket it would be the large material bucket. But then you would not have the grapple arms.
PJ

 

[Phils]

I have the large (or light) material bucket. I've seen the grapple things available on eBay, but they are two-forked and don't really come with the proper two-port cylinder. Those four white forks on 14's PT look awesome for brush work. On hindsight maybe I should've ordered the grapple bucket instead of the LMB, but I had a budget to stay within then too.

pajoube, if you were going out to smooth a load of gravel that was just "spread" by a dump truck in your driveway would you put on the 4-in-1 or the box? Sounds like you'd use the box.

I wish some of you lived closer. I'd like to try carrying brush with the 4-in-1. I'll probably get both the grapple and box blade but was concerned that I'd later learn I could've done it all just as well with the 4-in-1.

Phil

 

[pairodime]

I have the 4n1 and do not think that it is a tremendous "brush" carrier. It can carry large logs, but it has not been great at brush. However, I love my 4n1 and have used it a great deal to move and spread over 3000 tons of dirt. It is one fine tool.

 

[KentT]

How about a grapple bucket and a boxblade to meet your requirements? Grapple for brush and boxblade for leveling -- you already have the LMB for hauling and spreading stuff....

I haven't used a 4-in-1, but I'm quite pleased with my grapple bucket so far, just playing around in the woods with it... It'll get its real "baptism by fire" in a couple weeks, when I'll be using it to clear the slash left behind cutting about 7500 bd ft of timber....

As an example of the size, one of the white pines had 34 feet of log before it forked into two limbs -- and 17 feet of log on each one of those forks, before it fell below 12" in diameter....

 

[BobRip]

I have the LMT, grapple bucket and the 4 in 1. I have access to the box scrapper. The grapple bucket is fantastic at moving brush. The 4 in 1 can move at best 1/10 as much brush (and I am being generous). In your case with brush being the primary target, I would get the grapple and box blade. The grapple can be used to smooth gravel. You put it on float and drive backwards. It's not bad at doing that. If you don't believe me then you need to try it and see. There is another thread here where this is discussed in depth with pictures.
Don't get me wrong, the 4 in 1 is a very useful tool, but not for brush.
Buy the grapple!
Bob Rip

 

[menchhofer]

I use the grapple bucket every week for moving brush. It is fantastic. I do not see how the 4 in 1 would work that well moving brush.

I use the grapple to break down brush piles and bring it over to the chipper fro mulching. Works great. It is almost always surprising just how much brush one can move with the grapple. Sometimes I wish it had 2-4 more forks.

I also agree the grapple bucket is good at leveling gravel, etc.

 

[pajoube]

Actually I probably would put the 10 cu bucket on with blade curled down and pull backwards spreading as I go. The finish work would be done with the box blade.
PJ