Grapple

[PondCreekFarm]

I have a Kubota L3130 and need a grapple option. We ahve 100 acres mostly wooded and are undergoing timber stand improvements (cutting many of the hardwoods and all of the cedar trees). This is resulting in many trees down. We will cut up most for firewood, but need to be able to clear tops and limbs as best we can. The property will be burned next spring,so the more fuel we can get out the better. I need some recommendations on what to buy. I would prefer something simple to install and to operate. Thanks for your advice.

 

[TomSeller]

I have a Kubota L3130 and need a grapple option. We ahve 100 acres mostly wooded and are undergoing timber stand improvements (cutting many of the hardwoods and all of the cedar trees). This is resulting in many trees down. We will cut up most for firewood, but need to be able to clear tops and limbs as best we can. The property will be burned next spring,so the more fuel we can get out the better. I need some recommendations on what to buy. I would prefer something simple to install and to operate. Thanks for your advice.

Do you have a quick attach on the FEL? If so, what style? What loader lift capacity? (Temporarily blocked due to reports of company closure) has a few options for the medium size tractor. WR Long OBG2 and their own. Also PalletForks.com. Wildkat has some good ones. There are many, many choices and just as many threads to read. Note the opening dimension, that varies a lot. As does weight.


http://stores.palletforks.com/-strs...ents-cln-48"-LW-Grapple-Bucket/Categories.bok
http://www.(Temporarily blocked due...t-Tractor-Root-Grapple-p/eta-cut-sl-rg-50.htm
http://www.(Temporarily blocked due to reports of company closure)/product-p/wrl-obg2.htm
http://www.wildkatattachments.com/grapple.html

 

[Coyote machine]

GR-20 log grapple. See my avatar holding a boulder. See my signature for model and brand (Igland). Works great! Jaw opens to 42"h x 36" wide. Doesn't weigh as much,(354#) as basically useless bucket grapples IMHO; and is specifically made for logs and entire trees. I have their model 4000 Cat 1 winch too; together they are unbeatable! I'm a former professional tree surgeon, so trust me, this is the best equipment for a mid or bigger tractor.

http://www.treemansupply.com/productdetails.asp?productcode=gr-20

Igland Log Grapple

 

[Gordon Gould]

There are so many good ones. I don't have a quick attach bucket so this is what I use on my L3010 which is the same basic size as your L3130. It is a bolt on grapple. It works great for what I do which covers all the things in your list. I like having the bucket and/or grapple available all the time down in the woods. So I don't have to go all the way home to change one out for the other.

 

[Rayster]

Hello neighbor,

Like Gordon, I went the Add-a-Grapple route. My total cost was about $1400 (self installed). Here is a photo of mine, (moving some hedge logs and a bridge railroad tie)...



It's one of the best investments ever.

 

[TomSeller]

There are so many good ones. I don't have a quick attach bucket so this is what I use on my L3010 which is the same basic size as your L3130. It is a bolt on grapple. It works great for what I do which covers all the things in your list. I like having the bucket and/or grapple available all the time down in the woods. So I don't have to go all the way home to change one out for the other.

You must have that loader on steroids. That big log and rock can't be light. Nice.

 

[Grn mtn boy]

GR-20 log grapple. See my avatar holding a boulder. See my signature for model and brand (Igland). Works great! Jaw opens to 42"h x 36" wide. Doesn't weigh as much,(354#) as basically useless bucket grapples IMHO; and is specifically made for logs and entire trees. I have their model 4000 Cat 1 winch too; together they are unbeatable! I'm a former professional tree surgeon, so trust me, this is the best equipment for a mid or bigger tractor. http://www.treemansupply.com/productdetails.asp?productcode=gr-20 Igland Log Grapple

I have to agree. I have a GR-20 Igland grapple also and it excels at handling timber. I use it to block my fire wood. Grab a log, keep it at waist height and block away. Way easier on my back and my chain also! Keeps me from bending over and my chain out of the dirt.

 

[PondCreekFarm]

There are so many good ones. I don't have a quick attach bucket so this is what I use on my L3010 which is the same basic size as your L3130. It is a bolt on grapple. It works great for what I do which covers all the things in your list. I like having the bucket and/or grapple available all the time down in the woods. So I don't have to go all the way home to change one out for the other.

Gordon, (and everyone else), thanks for the advice. I think I might like, too, having the bucket and th grapple available. Hving never used such a piece of equipment, though, I am concerned about the comments that the bucket/grapple combination is a useless one. Have you had any issues in this regard? No more than I use it, I would supect I could give up sheer performance for versatility, but am curious to thought sin this regard.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Gordon, (and everyone else), thanks for the advice. I think I might like, too, having the bucket and th grapple available. Hving never used such a piece of equipment, though, I am concerned about the comments that the bucket/grapple combination is a useless one. Have you had any issues in this regard? No more than I use it, I would supect I could give up sheer performance for versatility, but am curious to thought sin this regard.

I guess I don't know how to answer. It is certainly not useless to me. I use it all the time for all kinds of things. I can not image why someone would consider it useless. All I can think is that he was trying to do something it was not ment for or the geometry of his mounting was such that it did not work well.

 

[TomSeller]

Gordon, (and everyone else), thanks for the advice. I think I might like, too, having the bucket and th grapple available. Hving never used such a piece of equipment, though, I am concerned about the comments that the bucket/grapple combination is a useless one. Have you had any issues in this regard? No more than I use it, I would supect I could give up sheer performance for versatility, but am curious to thought sin this regard.

Having multiple buckets, multiple grapples and multiple tractors I have the flexibility to match what I need at the time. But that does't mean a bucket with a grapple lid would not be worth having. I liken it to a having a tractor with loader and backhoe (TLB). I could have a dedicated articulated loader and I could have a dedicated excavator. Will the backhoe dig like an excavator? No. Will the FEL on the tractor keep up with a dedicated loader? No. Is it handy to have an all in one TLB? YES. Having a bucket on all the time sure would be handy when I have to fix a fence or something. Toss everything in the bucket and go do the work. Try that with a OBG grapple.