Grapple Help me choose a grapple

[MOTractor]

Are you sure you want to cut them off and leave the stumps? The stumps are a nuisance, IMO. I'm removing mine by either pushing them over and ripping them out of the ground with the grapple, or by wrapping a chain around the trunk and pulling them out of ground. For the larger ones I can't push over with my DK50SE, I dig up the lateral roots with the BX23 backhoe and then push them over or jerk them out with a chain.

Question about pushing them over: Grapple high on the tree for leverage? Grapple curled back or rolled forward?

 

[EverythingAttachments]

Question about pushing them over: Grapple high on the tree for leverage? Grapple curled back or rolled forward?

Here's a video that comes to mind. Posted by 94BULLITT. He has a 72" Wicked Grapple on a L4240 Kubota.
Travis

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

https://youtu.be/9rQS6wh7ZW8

If your gonna pull out trees....

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

https://youtu.be/9rQS6wh7ZW8

If your gonna pull out trees....

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

Question about pushing them over: Grapple high on the tree for leverage? Grapple curled back or rolled forward?

For cedar trees, I raise the stump grapple up so that it contacts the trunk of the tree about 3 - 4' feet off the ground (depending on the size of the tree). That seems to me to do two things. First, it keeps me from having any part of the FEL structure fully extended, which might put undue stress on it. And, secondly, it gives me a little leverage to put more pressure on the roots

If I start too high up the tree trunk, it will usually just crack and splinter without busting the roots out of the ground. You'll be able to judge how high to start after you've done a few of them (and busted a few trunks up by positioning the grapple too high up on the trunk.)

I try to keep the grapple just rolled down just slightly below level.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

Hey Pappy,

Curious why not upgrade yourself to a Kioti KB-2485 backhoe for the DK-50, then you can rip out the trees with the hoe on the same machine as the grapple? Especially if you get a hydraulic thumb like I have?!
Not implying the BX23 isn't enough, I don't know a thing about it's capabilities, but I do know the KB-2485 is a dynamite hoe....
Just saying'.....

That's a fair question. Clearly, the KB-2385 backhoe would work circles around the little BX23. But there are two reasons I didn't go that direction.

First, my stumping work is a 3 part process: (1) busting loose the lateral roots, (2) pushing the tree over or pulling it out with a chain, and (3) using the box blade to level out the mess I made when removing the tree. I use the BX23 for Step 1, and the grapple and my big Gannon box blade on the Kioti for Steps 2 and 3. I'd rather use two tractors than swap a box blade and backhoe on and off of one tractor.

Secondly, when I'm done clearing my property, I won't have much more use for a backhoe. If I want to, I can sell the BX23 for almost what I paid for it. I'm not sure a Kioti backhoe would be as easy to sell or would return the same percentage of my investment. (If the truth is told, I'm not sure I'll ever sell my BX23. I just love the little thing.)

 

[TripleR]

https://youtu.be/9rQS6wh7ZW8

If your gonna pull out trees....

We bought a Titan puller a few months ago and really like it to go along with our grapple. This fall we will have it on our M8540 and a grapple on our L5740 to carry them to a burn pile.

 

[TomSeller]

https://youtu.be/9rQS6wh7ZW8

If your gonna pull out trees....

Wow ! Impressive.

 

[MOTractor]

https://youtu.be/9rQS6wh7ZW8

If your gonna pull out trees....

Oh no.... Not something else to drool over

 

[MOTractor]

Poopdeck Pappy and Everything Attachments: Thank you for the tree pushing instructions and video. 94BULLITT, thanks for making that video!