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[Dougster]

They said they will change it over to a skid steer attachment for me if I still want it. You have the double claws right? Do they ever seem to be a disadvantage vs a single claw in the middle. It seems like that single in the middle would help in some instances...or maybe one longer claw on the top vs the 2 claws. I like that piranha. How do those Piranha's compare to WRLong? If you could buy another right now, would you get 2 claws or 1 claw (in middle or full length)? Would you get 66" or longer or shorter? Anything at all different?
Thanks,
Curly

Hi Curly - Gotta tell you that I am pretty dang satisfied with the 66" Piranha. I did extensive research at the time and found it to be the very best compromise between heavy-duty construction (good) and overall weight (bad) in the kind of grapple I was seeking. And yes, it has double claws. For the type of work I do, it is the only way to fly.

W. R. Long is a great name. Not sure which of their grapples you are looking at, but I have nothing bad to say about W. R. Long. They build very high quality equipment. I was very impressed with one of their larger grapples that happened to be sitting in my local Mahindra dealer's yard. My only reservation would be about this idea of converting a grapple from pin mount to skidsteer QA. Not at all sure what they intend to do, but I'd certainly want to know what they had in mind before opening up my wallet and saying "okay"!

Dougster

 

[curly]

My only reservation would be about this idea of converting a grapple from pin mount to skidsteer QA. Not at all sure what they intend to do, but I'd certainly want to know what they had in mind before opening up my wallet and saying "okay"!

Dougster

Well, I first talked to George at WRLong who said it is a very simple change. They can send the plate to my dealer who would take something off of the grapple (the pin part...which I have no idea about) and then weld on the plate that makes it skid-steer. Then I talked to the dealer who explained what they would do ...in almost the same words as George did. So I did feel comfortable that they really had a handle on that part.

But I will let them know that I will get the grapple first and when I'm satisfied that it is in good working order, then they get the money. But the WRLong RBGD-60 at 627 lbs is almost 1000 more that the Piranha that's almost the same grapple (60" ROOT GRAPPLE - $1400.00). So, I may still not get the WRLong...because of that.

So far, because if the error the dealer made in my quote, I've had to send back my Pat's hitch and trade it on a cat 2 Pat's hitch. And I've had to send back my toothbar and trade it on a larger toothbar. And of course I've had to pay for the s&h. It wasn't $1000, but I still don't feel obligated to get them out of the jam they've gotten themselves into by being stuck with the grapple. And I also had to take a day off from work to go pick up the Kioti (the Montana was being delivered). I may ask them if they want to match the price of the Piranha.

Curly

 

[Dougster]

I may ask them if they want to match the price of the Piranha.
Curly

They can't and won't do that. The W.R. Long is a premium, prestige piece... a first class machine in every respect. It's almost a work of art! The Piranha, by comparison is a crude, brute, skidsteer-grade, heavy-duty grapple. The Long is worth more... the Piranha (in my opinion) is the better buy if you need really heavy-duty. Ya pays your money and ya takes your chances.

As long as W. R. Long is involved in the gender change operation and trusts the welding of this particular dealer, I'm sure the transition will be fine. You could never do something like that to the Piranha. It is built pure, irreversible skidsteer!

Dougster

 

[curly]

They can't and won't do that.

What I mean is this. The dealer already has the WRLong that is paid for and sitting on the lot. It will be hard to sell I think. Someone has to see it that needs that size, with dual arms etc. So I should tell the dealer that I will buy it at a deep discount...since I have seen a Piranah of equal diminsions for much less money.

 

[Dougster]

What I mean is this. The dealer already has the WRLong that is paid for and sitting on the lot. It will be hard to sell I think. Someone has to see it that needs that size, with dual arms etc. So I should tell the dealer that I will buy it at a deep discount...since I have seen a Piranah of equal diminsions for much less money.

Certainly no harm in trying (other than maybe the dealer screams loudly and comes at you with a large knife!!!). I can only go by how business is done up here. No dealer up here is going to give away (deep discount) a W. R. Long grapple. They will let them rot on their lot for years before ever doing so.

Dougster

 

[curly]

No dealer up here is going to give away (deep discount) a W. R. Long grapple. They will let them rot on their lot for years before ever doing so.

Ahaa, shows my mere newby status in all things tractor I guess I need to make up my mind. I go back and forth constantly...just like I did with the tractor purchase

 

[jsborn]

Curley

I have a WR Long Grapple on my L4400 and love it in ever way . It is tuff and rugged and I have had no problems with it at all. I have seen others with the separate grapples (one on each side) with one side bent where it took all the load or something. I much prefer the grapple that goes all the way across with 2 cylinders on it operating in parallel.
With that said if the dealer is able to retro fit the grapple he has (that he ordered for you) to a QA skid steer type for you then it makes sense he would have no problem adapting it to most other connections therefore not as much a problem to sell as you might think. Just a thought.

 

[curly]

Yeah, he's eager to get it off the lot that's for sure. It had no hoses, but he's offered to add the hoses and quick connects, change it to skid steer, and still knocked $500 off the original price. So I said send it on.

 

[jdbower]

Some guys have all the luck!

 

[civesnedfield]

Yeah, he's eager to get it off the lot that's for sure. It had no hoses, but he's offered to add the hoses and quick connects, change it to skid steer, and still knocked $500 off the original price. So I said send it on.

That is till he has it loaded up, does the paper work, and finds out he made a mistake. Then he calls you and tells you he can't sell it to you for less than he paid for it.

Just kidding Curly.