Home made Grapple

[Xfaxman]

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I really respect the opinions of the experts on here, but it would be great if those opinions were that the rooting operation was rarely useful (seems easier to build with gussets), that I should make the bottom tines x long, that 3/8" x 2" would be plenty strong, etc. I also wonder about using 3/8 x 2 for the center tines, and use 3/8" x 3" or 1/2" x 2" for the outside tine on each side.

If you have the kind of trees or brush that leave roots in the ground, you are better off using a box blade with the scarifiers down. If you don't have a box blade, you could make a 3 point bar that would do it.

Scarifier or ripper.


Mounted for use on the 3ph.

 

[TomSeller]

I found this thread recently while comtemplating purchasing or building a grapple. This grapple is awesome!...and it gave me the confidence to build my own. In fact, I have a 10-year old son whom I want to teach to weld, and more importantly teach that we men don't have to buy everything in our lives.
But...I have a question. I have seen some grapples with a design similar to this, where the bottom tines are 25-30" or more long. I have seen other manaufactured grapples where the bottom tines look to be 12" long, and the back of the grapple is much taller. "/>

IslandTractor gave you a very good description of the two basic types of grapples. I did notice that the one in your picture has a single narrow lid rather than a wide lid with many tines usually seen on Rake grapples. The lower tines are more similar to a typical Rake style but the lid is similar to an L style. That grapple would not be good for back raking with so few tines. It looks like a hybrid to me. The tall back on most Rake grapples comes in handy when you are pushing into brush grubbing shallow roots. The lid normally opens almost straight up, keeping brush off the top of the hood of your tractor. Note the two below from Wildkat.