Grapple or 4 way bucket? Which one?

[Bob_Young]

I was going to suggest modifying your old bucket with a Brush Claw from these guys:
the W e s L o r group....Excellence in Metal Processing

They add about 160lbs. to the weight of the bucket. The toothbar seems to make it more effective for brush pickup. They're easily removed and, when not in use, work well to prevent load rollback when the bucket's raised too high. Mounting brackets bolt to the bucket. Not cheap though. I recall around $1400 installed with hydraulic valving. It uses a simple standalone control valve; it's not integrated with the loader control. Had mine since Dec. 2004.

They will provide it in kit form. It's worked well clearing brush for me on the L4300. I've also moved some 20 ft. long I-beams with it.
Bob

 

[Glowplug]

That looks pretty nice Bob. I would've considered that instead of my stand-alone grapple if I'd have known of it. But my stand-alone grapple was "only" about $1,600 I believe including hoses.

If you want something cheaper, but probably not as capable, consider The Thumb from Greens Machine Shop. I think you could get one, including hoses for a few hundred bucks.

 

[IslandTractor]

I was going to suggest modifying your old bucket with a Brush Claw from these guys:

I like the full width of the grapple arm on that device. A tad pricey though as a full grapple and controls can be had for about the same price.

 

[alchemysa]

I must confess that while I am a grapple first advocate, I saw a deal on eBay I could not refuse and just won an auction on a 60" WR Long 4n1 bucket with an electric diverter kit (Total cost was less than the diverter kit including shipping!!! ).

I'll be most interested to see what you think. As a grapple for moving logs and big piles of scrub you'll probably find it pretty sad compared to your big grapple. It will handle small trees, bushes and small piles of rubbish OK, but for grabbing smaller stuff like chunks of rock, or for pulling posts its unbeatable. Renovating a lawn is a good job for a 4in1. Big loose clumps of lawn can be a hassle to scoop up with a standard bucket but with the 4in1 you can just doze them into a pile then grab them. My feeling is that, at first, you'll think "These 4in1's are over-rated" but as time goes by you'll find more and more advantages to a bucket that can change functions 'on the move'.

 

[IslandTractor]

Actually, I've always wanted a 4n1 for the bulldozer and back scraping capabilities. No question it is much more versatile than just a bucket. For the occasional pile of brush it will certainly be adequate too but I suspect I'll still mount the grapple for serious brush and tree clearing.

In my lawn renovation I need to pull up a lot of old disintegrated macadam (?sp) which is like crumbly asphalt that was put down a hundred years ago for driveway and walkways. I figure I can do that faster and with less ground disturbance using the 4n1 dozer/backscraper rather than toothbar/bucket or backhoe.

 

[jerrynycom]

I am in the process of getting a JD 4720 and I think cause of this thread I am getting the 4 N 1......Makes sense.....I just wish the control for the 3rd valvle was on the joystick and not a separate lever.....

 

[IslandTractor]

I am in the process of getting a JD 4720 and I think cause of this thread I am getting the 4 N 1......Makes sense.....I just wish the control for the 3rd valvle was on the joystick and not a separate lever.....

You must be referring to using a rear remote to control the 4n1. That's fine and is very cost effective if you already have at least one set of rear remotes on the tractor. If you really wanted to control the bucket just with the joystick you can get either a diverter valve or electric over hydraulic set up each of which allows you to control everything from the FEL controller. A diverter set up will cost you at least $500 plus installation. The electric over hydraulic set up cost even more but allows simultaneous curl and open/close functions. I've used both rear remotes and a diverter valve and frankly I think both are fine. I never felt the need for the pricier electric over hydraulic set up. You will get used to moving your hand to the rear remote control stick very quickly. I think it is just like driving a manual transmission car...you stop thinking about where you are going to put your hand and it just becomes automatic.

 

[alchemysa]

IslandTractor. Have you got that 4in1 rigged up yet?

A fortnight ago I was preparing a dirt pad for a poly rainwater tank. The pad was dug down about a foot and scraped pretty smooth using the dozer on the 4in1. The dirt was pushed into a pile at the back. Some large concrete chunks were unearthed so i picked then up with the 4in1 and put them aside. Then I bucketed the cleanest of the dirt to a couple of low spots in the yard. To improve the size of each bucket load and prevent the pile from getting away from me I regularly backdragged the dirt off the pile with the grapple blade. The last of the dirt was too full of roots so I pushed it into the bushes and smoothed it out with the clam in a fully 'outstretched' position. I forgot to mention that before the pad could be prepared I had to get a steel post out of the way that had been cemented into the ground. I couldnt pull it out so I just gripped it in the 4in1 and drove back and forth til it broke off about two foot below ground.

Next I had to fill in a couple of trenches that had the rainwater pipes in them. The dozer was used for that. I also had to fill in a trench that the tank guy would need to drive over. The dirt from the trench was on the 'wrong side' but with the clam blade in the most extended position I was able to reach over the hole and backdrag it into trench. Finally I realised the tank guy would need a bit more room to get out after he'd dropped the tank. So using the clam I pulled up a few large bushes and ripped some intrusive branches off some trees.

My point is, the 4in1 is in constant use. Its amazing how useful it is. Its like having a giant swiss army pocket knife attached to the front of the tractor.

 

[IslandTractor]

IslandTractor. Have you got that 4in1 rigged up yet? .

I wish. I am working overseas and closer to you Aussies than to my tractor. I just need a slightly longer hose and a couple of bushings to convert a 1/4 inch hose to 1/2 inch quick connects. Maybe I'll get it done early October when I get back.

I bought it to use in landscaping which I haven't started yet as I am mostly clearing land and use the grapple for that. I know it will be useful when the time comes.

 

[garth466]

4-in-1 is the way to go! Of course I haven't tried anything else and probably shouldn't or I might end up trying to get a grapple too. It would have been nice to have the control on the joystick, but as stated before, it becomes pretty automatic reaching for the other lever which is far.

I showed these pictures to a friend who had just started the process of buying a 3720. He immediately put a hold on it until the 4-in-1 was installed. Like me (never had a tractor), he never even heard or had seen such a thing. I just happened to see a tractor on craigslist that had a grapple. My salesman suggested the 4-in-1. If I sold tractors, I'd push the idea more. I couln't imagine not having it.

Yesterday I pulled 12 of those heavy duty metal fence posts out of the ground. It was a lot easier than my old method hack sawing them off.