Grapple Looking for a grapple that fits my JD5300

El Wood · Nov 28, 2012

Check out Deere's grapples too. I really love mine... There are many different sizes.

lutt · Nov 28, 2012

I am sure wildkat makes a good grapple,heard alot of good things about them on here. I have personal expierance with Deere grapples, there darn good. I used a 72" most of the summer on a ditch bank we cleaned the timber off of with the excavator. That always makes a mess. I think your tractor is in the 50 to 60 horsepower range? There is alot of debate on width. I think I would stay with a 48" though. But you could probly get by with a 60". A guy just needs to use common sense and good judgement. I am going with a 48" on mine,but it is a 4200. A bit smaller than yours.

deere5105 · Nov 28, 2012

Would agree depends on intent for usage. If just picking up debris the narrower units probably work fine. Spent most of past weekend using a 72" on a skid steer. Tasks included moving fallen trees, reclearing overgrown roads and creating new roads through thick brush and small trees. Was nice having the grapple as wide as the machine. Used it couple weeks ago to maneuver very large blocks of wood to the splitter. Could not have positioned it the same and as easy with a single jaw setup. If looking at one for my 5303 I would strongly consider a 72" double jaw design.

I would fill the rear tires and use some sort of ballast on the 3pt hitch if space allows.

Tubbaaggie · May 5, 2014

I finally bought a grapple from Titan and am pleased with the design. Their "John Deere" model fits perfectly on my FEL. Now, I need to connect the hydraulics. Under the seat is the block where the FEL gets it's power and there are two spare plugs where I plan to hook up the lines to and from the valve. The videos I have seen require a third hose to allow me to operate the grapple along with the FEL. Is this necessary? Once I grab what I want, I really don't plan on letting it go till I get to where I'm putting it.

plumbstraight · May 5, 2014

Tubbaggie. Mine is a 5300 also and I got it with an extra set of remotes. The four for your loader on either side of your top link. I have an extra set on the right side just below the loader set. Have an extra lever just to the right of the 3pt lever.
I can operate the loader and the lever with my elbow as needed. Mostly though I just push with the grapple open and grab the lever to clamp things down.

I picked up my bucket in a scrap yard that was off a skid steer. It fit the loader perfect. Just had to put the tabs on for the top and pins for the bottom and plumb in. As I have a hyd winch in my loader frame, it was just a couple of 5ft hoses for extentions out front and I am in business. Love it. Doing some logging and it sure makes things a lot easier to sort and move brush. I also have an hyd winch on the 3pt with a short boom to lift the logs after pulling them up to me. When using the rear I open the grapple and disconnect it to plug in the rear winch and just use the bucket for pushing. Is quick and easy.

Tubbaaggie · May 6, 2014

Thanks. What are you using for a counterweight? Two wheel drive has left me dumping part of a load from my bucket more than once.

plumbstraight · Aug 3, 2014

Tubbaaggie said:
Thanks. What are you using for a counterweight? Two wheel drive has left me dumping part of a load from my bucket more than once.

Mine is four wheel drive and I just have the winch on the back. Now that I am cutting wood and moving larger logs, I have my splitter on the back and it is close to a thousand pounds. It is heavy enought that the loader will stall before picking up the rears.

flatpik6 · Aug 3, 2014

Wish I would have seen this thread earlier so I could've suggested the grapple I bought. Brush Raker by Oliver Dalhman. Mine is a beast. Absolutely love using with the Mahindra 5035. Did have to fill the rears with Rimguard though.