Grapple Grapples Galore

[Glowplug]

Okay, I know there have been about 8 billion threads and posts on grapples. But, hey, what can another hurt? I am thinking about getting a stand-alone grapple for my m7040 soon for brush and stump removal as well as for loading up and piling up tons of plank fencing. I have looked at Millonzi, Borgford, BuyAttatchmentsDirect.com, Skidsteersolutions.com, Markham, etc. I really like the clamshell type rakes like the Borgford and the Quick Claw from buyattachmentsdirect. They would allow back raking. But they seem to all be costly and all are about $3200 to $3500. The Millonzi grapple would likely be adequate. But I have also been looking at Markham recently. Everyone knows their tooth bar. But they have a heavy duty grapple rake. I was quoted under $1800 for the 72" model plus shipping. That sounds like a good price. Now this is not the same as the Borgford clam shell types where you can back drag and close the jaws all the way to nothing. But I was wondering if y'all think it would do the trick. I would prefer a grapple like the Borgford but I really would hate to spend twice the amount of money if I don't have to. Besides, I don't think I could afford a $3,000 plus grapple right now anyway. The only thing that slightly worries me about the Markham and Millonzi grapples is that if I was picking up small items they could slip out. But why would you want to pick up small items with a grapple anyway? Any insight, thoughts, suggestions, would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[RHughes]

I have not checked the price, but W.R. Long has a "Root Rake Brush Grapple" that is very similar to the Borgford and QuickClaw. I bought one of their toothbars a while back and have been very satisfied with the quality.

W.R.Long Loader Attachments

 

[KentT]

Don't know what kind of tractor you'll be using it on, but I'd provide one caution as you narrow down your choices...

Many of the grapples you see are made for heavy-duty machines and heavy-duty use, like on skid-steers. They are VERY heavy...

Every pound of weight for the grapple itself is potentially one less pound of stuff that you can lift and carry with it...

Balance the design and weight of the grapple with the lift capability of your tractor and FEL...

 

[Glowplug]

Thanks KenT. I HAVE thought about that. I'll be using it on a Kubota m7040 (68 hp) with LA1153 loader. It is a little difficult to tell the true real-world lift capacity from Kubota's specs but it appears to be a little better than 2,500lbs. I had contacted Markhamwelding and at first they said that I may need to get their light duty grapple rake, which is not on their website. When I told them what tractor I was using they said I would be better served with the heavy duty grapple rake like I mentioned before. But it does weigh 806-860lbs depending on which size I went with. Whether 66" or 72". I am leaning toward 66". I don't feel that I would have any benefit from a wider grapple. It would probably be counterproductive due to the extra weight. Maybe I should consider the 60" version.

I had seen the WR Long grapples a while back. I had forgotten about them. They are a little stranger looking than the others I had mentioned here. But I will have to look into them. If anyone knows how much they go for please let me know.

Thanks.

 

[1bush2hog]

I'll 2nd the suggestion to also look at the WR Long.

I paid about $2200 for the RBG72 and that included shipping to my dealer. You will need to purchase the WRL thru a dealer.

I suggest you pick up the phone or email Nelson @ WR Long - He also frequents this board from time to time too I beleive. He will be able to answer any questions you have. Good Guy and Good Co.

Next question is how will you plumb it? New Valve or rear remotes?

Regarding your comment about stuff falling thru: smaller roots, rocks, and other items will fall thru occassionally, but not a concern.

Since I bought my grapple, I have not even had my bucket back on my FEL. Your only regret will be not purchasing it sooner - Good Luck

 

[Glowplug]

Next question is how will you plumb it? New Valve or rear remotes?

I have purchased the 3rd function remote valve from my dealer. It has just not been installed yet. It is a separate hydraulic circuit to the FEL so that the grapple can be opened and closed by pushing two buttons on the loader joystick with the thumb.

 

[mike69440]

I think your loader will be just fine with an 800Lb grapple, the 66" is a nice size. i like the comment about Kubota Spec!

 

[Glowplug]

i like the comment about Kubota Spec!

Yeah, it's friggin' impossible to tell how much you truly can lift. Pivot point, mid-bucket, bucket at max. height, in height position, in power position, etc., etc. Why don't they just say you can lift such and such a weight.

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

One more place to look. Skid Steer loader attachments I recently priced a grapple for my RC-100 and they quoted a 81" extreme. Wasn't a bad price, don't recall exactly.
They look well built. Yes I was looking for a skid steer but they have a good variety. Can't hurt to look. I recently bought a bradco 72" with 1/2" tines, beefy as heck and good cylinder protection. It only weights 650lbs or so. A little pricey but I listed this for weight conparison. Good luck Robbie

 

[Oleozz]

Here's another one to look at:
Home.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Glowplug, I have an 81" heavy duty grapple from Limited Fabrication LLC. It is very well built, & very reasonably priced. $1550 for a 63" or $1600 for a 72". If you want a very good grapple for your money, this is the one that I would recommend. Mine has held up very well digging & moving rocks, logs and brush. And you can move a lot of brush with each load with this style of grapple.

Good luck with what ever grapple you choose.

 

[jcotta]

I have not read a post where WR Long grapple did not get a good rating. I bought a 66' RBG for 1,600 used. The guy selling had it on a Cat Skid steer. A lot more powerful than my JD 4600. The following was his write up. Can't wait to use it on my own. Attached is picture of his machine.

John

This is a universal mount root grapple attachment, it will fit Bobcat,Johndeere,New Holland,Caterpillar,Daewoo,Thomas, Mustang, etc,as long as they have the 2 pin universal mount. the attachment is 69" wide and opens over 6 feet high,it is only a few months old perfect condition, I used it for only 1 week the paint is not even worn, no leaks, the hoses are perfect. this piece is made very strong with plenty of gusset plates,excellent for grabbing demo, brush, trees,stumps, and will not hold dirt.I used this on a job in North Carolina I purchased 2 and now im selling 1. one of the best pieces I ever purchased.these are garaged kept. I travel from NY to North eastern North Carolina a few times a month, I may be able to haul this attachment to the winning bidder for a small fee just let me know if I can. and ask any questions you may have thanx. Pete

 

[IslandTractor]

The open jaw photo of the WR Long grapple shows me that even medium sized material like 2 foot pieces of branches etc, might fall out the bottom of that grapple. That seems to be intended for construction debris and was presumably used for such by it's original owner with the Bobcat. Most of the really heavy grapples are way over built for what someone with a CUT would actually use it for. I'd argue to focus on having lower tines that are no more than nine or ten inches apart as a key design feature if you are going to pick up brush. The width of the top 'grapple" is less important than it might seem as brush tends to hold itself in once you compress it so long as it isn't falling immediately out of the bottom. Virtually any grapple can manage a log. My 48" grapple could carry bigger logs than some of the monster $3000 72" grapples because it will hold the log just as well and will give you greater payload capacity as it only weighs 280lbs.

I think some folks may be rather naively buying more grapple than they need on the same mistaken premise that tractor buyers fall into in thinking more horsepower is better. You need to figure out what you are actually doing with the grapple and then figure out what grapple will work. For brush removal virtually any grapple is adequate and smaller grapples have the advantage of greater payload weight. Some of these bigger grapples are excellent for full time construction but way overkill for homeowner/landowner use and will actually cut manuverability and payload.

 

[DaryleD]

I am just throwing this out, due to not having a grapple yet, so I'm just speaking on things that I am noticeing about some of the grapples that you saved a link for. I am thinking it might be a little better to get a grapple with a straight bottom due to the clamshell style, seems to be designed tipping way back on the lower jaw,so that you loose some advantage of your curl of your loader. It looks to me that they tend to tip forward, and thus would make you have to curl you loader back all the way, to get it so the branches or whatever could rest on the bottom jaw. I think that with the straight lower jaw, you could curl less, or if you did curl it all the way, than I would think that it would help shift the load ( weight ) back toward the tractor for safer tractoring, and have that as the main advantage. I hope that I made sense with all that. Maybe IslandTractor can submit a photo of his when the loader is at the level position and then the curled back position? That seems to be the design that seems to have a little of both advantages. Good luck whatever you get.
Daryle.

 

[jinman]

I like narrow grapples over wide ones for working around trees or other obstacles. In an open materials yard where you move large objects all day, a wide grapple is just fine, but what if you want to reach between two trees that are 66" apart and you have a 72" grapple? I tend to think that anything wider than the loader arms is not needed most of the time. I'd buy a 48" to 60" grapple that is built heavy enough for lots of abuse. That would be my "ideal" grapple.

 

[m7040]

If you do a lot of rock removal and leaving the dirt behind then the grapple would be best but for most uses an add on thumb to the existing bucket will perform most tasks for a lot less money. See attached pics of the set up for my M7040 that I installed myself.

 

[1bush2hog]

The open jaw photo of the WR Long grapple shows me that even medium sized material like 2 foot pieces of branches etc, might fall out the bottom of that grapple. That seems to be intended for construction debris and was presumably used for such by it's original owner with the Bobcat.



You may be correct if the 2ft pieces are on the bottom of the pile you are moving, however, I have not really experienced this problem as most of the brush I am moving is in longer lengths. Maybe I am just piling brush differently(all laying in same direction) before I use the grapple to move the pile.

Also, another advantage of the WRL design is that the v-shaped plates behind the bottom tines are designed such that small standing sapplings can be wedged between these, and uprooted without digging

I like the wider grapple as it allows more bite and more holding area when closed - on a smaller tractor this may not be a priority. It is nice to be able to pick up an object from an angle, using only one end of the grapple, without having to first center the load. The terrain I work on does not always allow ideal positioning.

I'm not saying one grapple is better than another, but one thing is for sure - everyone that has a grapple seems to LOVE their grapple - no matter what type or style they have.

One other consideration - being able to see thru both top and bottom of the grapple is a huge advantage for me especially considering my limited experience.

 

[DDT]

This is the one I have got. For my use this one works great, But I really would like to have a different type for brush. with no bottom, just a back and grapple. For brush I could leave most of the dirt compared to the soild bottom grapple I have. My current one works great for concrete and debis clean up work.

 

[DDT]

This is the type I would like to have for brush and tree work if I could afford both worlds. This would leave most the dirt on the ground and the load is closer the the loader for more lift cap. and could be used as a rake as well.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

[I'm not saying one grapple is better than another, but one thing is for sure - everyone that has a grapple seems to LOVE their grapple - no matter what type or style they have.]

I would have to agree, I have not read anything from anybody saying that they were unhappy with there grapple of any kind.

ALL GRAPPLES MUST BE GOOD