Grapple Grapples Galore

[Glowplug]

The point is you need to think about your use of it and make the selection based on that.

Good point. I am kinda thinkin' that my best bet would be a set-up like you have with a 4-in-1 bucket and then an attachable grapple to a regular bucket. The only thing better would be having a regular bucket, a dedicated grapple, and a 4-in-1 bucket. But that may be a bit over-the-top.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Good point. I am kinda thinkin' that my best bet would be a set-up like you have with a 4-in-1 bucket and then an attachable grapple to a regular bucket. The only thing better would be having a regular bucket, a dedicated grapple, and a 4-in-1 bucket. But that may be a bit over-the-top.

How about a grapple on a 4 in 1 bucket, now that could be , but very very costly. You would have to have a 2nd function on you 3rd function valve.

 

[IslandTractor]

Good point. I am kinda thinkin' that my best bet would be a set-up like you have with a 4-in-1 bucket and then an attachable grapple to a regular bucket. The only thing better would be having a regular bucket, a dedicated grapple, and a 4-in-1 bucket. But that may be a bit over-the-top.

I could see the 4n1 plus the full grapple but if you had that why would you need a regular bucket? I'm thinking about a 4n1 mostly for its "dozer" and scraper capabilities in relatively small landscaping tasks like cleaning up after pulling out a stump. It would cross over a little with the grapple but really the two would complement each other nicely. That's what I keep telling myself anyways as I contemplate springing for the 4n1. Of course this would make the most sense for someone with a QA adapter. Hey, I have a QA adapter....I'll add that fact to the plus column.

 

[3RRL]

I don't disagree that the more an attacment is designed for a purpose, the better it can be for that. But bucket grapples are very useful. It also allows for material removal that you want to get rid of which would/might sift through a grapple bucket. I guess it depends what you want and what you're willing to put up with.

In my use, I could not justify a dedicated grapple and elected to go with the bucket add on grapple. The real advantage of a true grapple bucket (to me) was moving big logs that stuck out the end, carrying them closer to the pivots. I did not really need that since my fel has 2,500lb capacity. As far as brush goes, or dead stuff, my grapple add on crushes the brush into my bucket anyway, so the sides do not become compomising at that point. The bucket is a great help for me instead of the sift feature, as I move a lot of crud, broken branches, rocks along with the brush piles. If this stuff filtered through, I'd have to put a bucket on and pick it up afterwords in my case.
Just another view on the subject.

Here are some pictures of my bucket add on grapple in use.
To put it in perspective, my 55hp Kama is pretty big pushing 7,500lbs loaded.





This is one before the add on grapple with only a toothbar. So it all depends on what you want to do and what you expect.

 

[Glowplug]

Hmmm. Maybe I could get a 4-in-1 bucket and attach an add-on grapple. Then power either the grapple arm or bucket opening from the 3rd function valve and the other one from a rear remote. Hmmm. That would be like some sort of complex sci-fi cyborg appendage on the end of the loader arms.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Hmmm. Maybe I could get a 4-in-1 bucket and attach an add-on grapple. Hmmm. That would be like some sort of complex sci-fi cyborg appendage on the end of the loader arms.

That was my whole idea.

 

[IslandTractor]

Hmmm. Maybe I could get a 4-in-1 bucket and attach an add-on grapple.

That sounds like a nice all in one solution (5n1?) but I don't know if anyone has done that successfully. For starters you'd need two sets of extra hydraulics for the bucket/grapple. That is doable but expensive and cumbersome. Another concern would be that the grapple arm would interfere with the front jaw of the 4n1. At the very least you would need to coordinate their use so you did not try to open the front bucket jaw without first opening the grapple to avoid a collision. Those hydraulics are pretty powerful so you might cause damage to either the bucket front or the grapple arm if you forgot to keep them separated.

I'd also worry a bit about the weight of the 4n1 plus grapple arm. I imagine a decent grapple arm and mounting adds about a hundred pounds to the weight of the already heavy (typically 600lbs+) 4n1 buckets. For bigger FELs that would not be a big deal but for <40hp tractor/FEL that would be taking a pretty big bite out of your lift capacity.

If I were to start from scratch I'd get a QA adapter, a 4n1 and a lightweight root grapple. It would be a bit more expensive (about $300-400 extra for a 48" grapple) than a 5n1 but would be overall much more flexible.

I like multifunction tools as much as the next guy but at some point it makes sense to have "the right tool for the job".

 

[Glowplug]

I think I'm gonna go ahead and order a Markham Welding root grapple (66") and a toothbar today. I know I've said that before but if I can find the time before 5pm I believe I'll go ahead and do it. I had considered the 60" grapple but I think the 66" would look more balanced with my big tractor. It only would add about 25lbs too. So I don't think that would adversely affect my net lifting capacity. I couldn't imagine lifting a ton of brush. I guess I could imagine lifting a 2,000lb rock though. But the weather's supposed to be in the single digits early next week. So I may have my dealer pick up my tractor and install the extra hydraulics and get the grapple on the way since I won't be able to "play" outside.

 

[3RRL]

Chuck,
Well, did you get it ordered today after all?

 

[Kendall69]

I just had a Piranha delivered last week. WOW what a well built piece of equipment. I took it to the dealer and had him install the bobcat style quick attach, and got it home to play. For be no bucket could do the job of a root/rock grappler. With a bucket every time I pick up anything I get a little to a lot of sand and when I dump that in the trailer it adds up to a ton or so a load. Since I pay to dump by the ton, it adds up. Now when I hit the pile, I ONLY get brush, logs, palm leaves etc, NO SAND. It’s great to see all the sand drain from the load, before I dump.
The quality was so good with the Piranha, that I quickly ordered a “Turkey bucket” with quick attach, and Tree boom.
Yes 4 in ones do have their place, but for me where was this thing for the last few years. Weight about 650lb, on a Kubota L4310