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? EverythingAttachments.com 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.everythingattachments.com/Compact-Tractor-Root-Grapple-p/eta-cut-sl-rg-50.htm
http://www.everythingattachments.com/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.

 

[PondCreekFarm]

I sent API an email to find out where to get such a thing. I am in Southern MO. I think that is a good option as I can use the bucket and the grapple when I need it. Thanks to all.

 

[arlen4720]

Well, I'll throw another one into the mix...The BoDozer. It's a fine piece, and as close to indestructable as you can get. Deforestation is its specialty.

 

[94BULLITT]

Like Tom Said do have a SSQA?

You will need a 3rd function on your loader to run the grapple. If you have a rear remote you can save some money by running hoses from it up to your loader but a 3rd function works best.


The lighter the grapple is the more you will be able to lift with it. I like a grapple as wide as the tractor so you don't have to worry about running over something and damaging a tire. A grapple with 2 lids will grip brush or logs more evenly than a grapple with one lid.

I recommend the Everything Attachments wicked grapple. It is lightweight but heavy duty.

 

[plumbstraight]

I have a hyd winch permantly built into the loader frame behind the bucket. It is great for pulling logs to the tractor from the brush where you can't reach with a chain from the rear. It is also handy for brush removal. It will pack much more than a grapple. Of course you have to load it. I just lie the cable out in front and pile the limbs on. Take the hook back to the line and cinch it up into a bundle and pick with the loader. I find this if faster and cleaner, no dirt, than trying to push a pile and grab with a grapple.

I use that winch a lot. It sure beats having hooks and such on the bucket. Being able to hold the tractor still with the bucket in the ground while pulling is a plus. I don't use it for going backwards while pulling logs. I have built attachments for the three pt for that. A frame with tongs and winch. The tongs are able to reach the ground and pic to about 5ft so I can put either the tongs on, or use a small block and several chains to the cable for multiple smaller trees. The rear winch is also hyd, but a bit slow.

 

[plumbstraight]

rear winch without tongs

 

[Xfaxman]

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.

If you don't have a quick attach bucket on your loader, the add on grapple is better than no grapple. It depends on what you will be using it for.

The advantage of an open bottom grapple, is you can pick up several trees at once by laying the first one on top of the second one, open the grapple, push down, close the grapple, put those two on the third, and repeat until you can't squeeze another one in there.

It will also pick up a lot more brush, than an add on. It sure saves time hauling stuff to the burn pile.

I have picked up 5 ten foot tall cedar trees all at once with this grapple.


Here it is on the V417, with brush

 

[Gordon Gould]

Pond Creek I think you got some good answers to your question. Certainly my bucket grapple is not an equal to a dedicated grapple for strictly grapple jobs. But it is still pretty worthy and useful. My bucket and grapple weigh the same or less than a wide large jawed grapple. I can grab and pick any log that I can lift so having a wider opening is not a factor for logs with my FEL. Sevear tapered logs also don't seem to be a problem. You get a feel for how to grab them after a while and the teeth I put on the bucket edge help alot. That tree in my picture set has a good taper to it. I can handle brush and tops fine but definitely slower than a dedicacted grapple with its huge mouth.
One of the things I do alot is clean up old stumps which I have a lot of. I wait til the stumps are ready to come out rather than struggle with them. I push on them side to side if they move I grab them with the grapple and pull them out. Then I can use the bucket to even out and clean up the area by back draging and what not. Here are some stump pics. They are before I put the teeth on the bucket.

 

[EverythingAttachments]

Our 50" Single Lid Wicked Grapple would be great on your tractor. It is so lightweight that you'll barely tell the difference between the grapple's weight and your bucket's weight.

 

[I Stand Alone]

Everything attachments is coming out with a new grapple that is a "clam style", much like the Long grapple. I find this style MUCH better at grabbing logs. Hopefully it will have twin lids for better grabbing of un-even material. I have held off buying a grapple till I see their new one.

 

[nybirdman]

What loader do you have on your L3130,523 or 724.The 724 is rated for more weight.I would suggest a thumb+tooth-bar to your existing bucket.