I Want to Build The Ultimate Root rake/Grapple

[MrJimi]

I am looking for the better features to incorporate in this. My machine is 75 inches wide, it will be that wide at the root rake part and I had in mind a 3 foot wide for the top grapple, I have gotten some real good ideas from J_J and its a good design, I would like a double joint for the top, kind like a bending finger, I have seen one and I did not save the picture or site.
thanks
Jim

 

[shaley]

Why so wide? I always thought 60" was more than enough for width. I could maybe see it if you were raking sand at a construction site to gather bricks and debris but other than that it is just added weight to decrease the FEL capacity. My 2 cents, YMMV but I'm open to suggestions. Oh yeah, the ultimate grapple should have a beer cooler as well.

 

[MrJimi]

Well, my Case 1845 C is 75 inches wide and as for the cooler part, only after I'm home and its unloaded. And we live in Florida and we don't have any real dirt here just sand
Jim

 

[jandefirewood]

Well i own a bobcat t300 and have the root grapple made by bobcat on it. the freature i love the most is the dual indepandant top clamps. 2 is better than one because thry both can clamp independantly of one another which is essential when haulin trees and brush.
It is a great design and i strongly suggest you take a look at one and take notes i will send photo's if you want of mine

hope that helps

Evan

 

[MrJimi]

At first I wanted a wide bottom with a smaller top grapple but I've been looking a lot aand I like this design like this I will make something simular to it, what are your thoughts? I like the way it can be curled forward and back drag more brush, here is site and click on the first video and you will see what I mean
Jim

 

[IslandTractor]

I agree with the earlier comment that there is little advantage but substantial penalty for using a grapple bigger than 60". I'd even go lower and say for almost any grapple task a 48" grapple will do fine. The comparison is not similar to bucket capacity where there is an advantage to bigger. You can grapple almost anything with a small grapple that you could get into a larger one. Trees, no advantage for large as they stick out the sides anyway. Brush tends to "stick" together so you can get huge amounts into a smaller grapple just by pushing it in.

I'd guess there is a 500lb weight difference between a 48" and 73" grapple which means 500lbs less payload for the bigger one.

Small is beautiful.

 

[shaley]

Jimi, You know what I don't like about the Skid Solutions GR model. It looks like the unsupported front tines will bend if I push it under say a 6" stump and it wedges between 2 tines and starts prying them apart. The design lends itself to brush and log work but I think it needs longer front supported tines for root/stump/trash rake work.

 

[jmc]

Jimi, You know what I don't like about the Skid Solutions GR model. It looks like the unsupported front tines will bend if I push it under say a 6" stump and it wedges between 2 tines and starts prying them apart. The design lends itself to brush and log work but I think it needs longer front supported tines for root/stump/trash rake work.

I wouldn't be surprised if that model is actually made by Anbo since it looks a lot like their's. Here's a quote from Anbo's web site:

"AR 400 and steel teeth that have over 4 times the strength of A-36 mild steel."

I think many manufacturers use mild steel instead of AR400 or T-1.

 

[shaley]

Let me add also that AR400 is $980 per 4x8x3/8 sheet. What a deal, 4 times the strenght at only 3 times the cost. Too bad it cant be used for structural steel, think of the tall buildings we could build.

 

[jba3520]

I too was interested in the SkidSteerSolutions Root Grapple and I am just about to start to weld mine together. In fact, I based the design off the picture you posted. Mine is 60" wide and about 420 lbs. but could easily be scaled up or down. I had all of the pieces laser cut and I'm just waiting on the last pieces from the machine shop. I purchased the cylinders online and only have the hydraulic hoses and fittings left to buy. I figure I'll have about $1000 into it when I'm done.

I will try and post some pics but I have never done that before so I hope they work.