Grapple Markham Grapple - Ready for Action!!!

[GeneD14]

I finally got my hydraulic lines routed and the grapple hooked up to the new tractor. It's way to muddy out yet to try it out but it does look mean enough to scare the brush piles away.

 

[LetsRoll]

I finally got my hydraulic lines routed and the grapple hooked up to the new tractor. It's way to muddy out yet to try it out but it does look mean enough to scare the brush piles away.

That's a nice setup you got there. That will serve you many years to come.

As for the mud. I went to my parents house around the Newburgh/Evansville (southern Indiana) area for Christmas. There yard was messy from all the rain they had been receiving. All of the creeks were up as well. So, I know what you mean by muddy conditions.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

How wide is your grapple? Mine is 81" and I have been happy with it. There are many applications for grapples on tractors of our size.

 

[EddieWalker]

The only thing nicer then that grapple is having that cab!!! You'll find very quickly that the grapple makes it very easy to clean up an area, but you will also find that you'll be spending allot of time sitting there while driving back and forth. Having the cab and something to listen to will sure make it nice!!!!

In my next life, I'm buying a tractor with a cab.

Eddie

 

[jinman]

You are gonna love being able to pick up anything you want and not have to worry about it tipping out of the bucket or off the forks because you can hold it with that grapple. It gives your loader a whole new level of utility. Nice job!

Edit: I also often carry my bucket with me to my work area using the grapple. That way I have both for quick changes to work brush or dirt.

 

[GeneD14]

How wide is your grapple? Mine is 81" and I have been happy with it. There are many applications for grapples on tractors of our size.

The grapple is a 72". I have gobbs of trees, limbs and brush to move if it will freeze soon or start drying up.
We got over an inch of rain last night so colder weather is my only hope right now.

 

[GeneD14]

Edit: I also often carry my bucket with me to my work area using the grapple. That way I have both for quick changes to work brush or dirt.

Thanks, that is a great idea. It sure beats traveling all the way back to the barn to get the bucket.

 

[piller]

Congrats, nice looking setup! I'm interested in getting a grapple for a kubota M tractor also, just wondering if you might share how you picked the Markham over the others. Thanks.

 

[GeneD14]

Congrats, nice looking setup! I'm interested in getting a grapple for a kubota M tractor also, just wondering if you might share how you picked the Markham over the others. Thanks.

I picked the Markham for a few reasons: One of the reasons is that I have bought tooth bars from them in the past and they treated me like a valued customer. On my last tooth bar the customer service people called to tell me the trucking company shipped my order to the wrong terminal, delaying my order by one day. So they were going to give me the $60 shipping free of charge.
Some other reasons: I really am pleased with the fabrication quality of their products and the material they use. For example: they recessed grease zerks in every pin.
The hydraulic cylinders are shielded to help protect them from damage. Other people on this site have gushed about their experience with their Markham grapple as well. Price wise they were also much cheaper than many of the other brands that I looked at.
The only minor nuisance that I have found is that Paint coverage and paint adhesion is weak compared to my other implements.
All and all I would definitly buy again from them. In fact I'm getting ready to buy another toothbar from them.
I don't know the size of your tractor but: the 72" heavy root grapple that I have was way to heavy for my L4330 and I wouldn't even try it on any M-series Kubota smaller than a 7040 with lots of rear ballast. Markham does now make a light duty grapple that is a better match to the M-series tractors that are smaller.

 

[HCJ]

that is a really impressive set-up. I have been thinking about adding a grapple to my Kubota M6800 with a LA1002 Kubota loader. The loader does not have a skid steer type quick connect. How does the grapple attach and what other controls, valves,etc. would I need or does Markham include all of that? If you don't mind, what should I expect to pay? I think the grapple is $1600 alone from Markham. What else would I need? I don't know anything about tractor hydraulics or quick connects (obviously!) Thanks!!!

 

[PapaPerk]

I finally got my hydraulic lines routed and the grapple hooked up to the new tractor. It's way to muddy out yet to try it out but it does look mean enough to scare the brush piles away.

Nice machine! Have fun!

 

[IslandTractor]

that is a really impressive set-up. I have been thinking about adding a grapple to my Kubota M6800 with a LA1002 Kubota loader. The loader does not have a skid steer type quick connect. How does the grapple attach and what other controls, valves,etc. would I need or does Markham include all of that? If you don't mind, what should I expect to pay? I think the grapple is $1600 alone from Markham. What else would I need? I don't know anything about tractor hydraulics or quick connects (obviously!) Thanks!!!

You could get by with the lighter duty 48 or 60 inch Markham that cost significantly less. I use a 48 inch grapple (Millonzi...similar construction to the Markham) on my Kioti DK40se with a 2700lb lift capacity at pivot pins which is pretty close to the LA1002 in terms of power. My 280lb grapple has taken all sorts of abuse and works fine. The Markham 48 is a slightly heavier build and would I am quite sure meet your needs. Don't make the mistake of thinking that you need a grapple as wide as your primary bucket.

With a M class Kubota you must already have some rear remotes. You could control the grapple then simply by running a couple of long hydraulic hoses with appropriate fittings from the rear of the tractor to the grapple. Cost from an internet hydraulic discounter would be about $100, from a dealer maybe $200. Lots of people (including myself) have done this and are perfectly content. If you decide later to upgrade to a diverter valve or electric over hydraulic valve you can recycle the hose and fittings so there is almost no disadvantage to trying the rear remote first. The only practical thing you need is a rear remote controler that is conveniently located for you to reach with your right hand.

 

[wedge40]

The loader does not have a skid steer type quick connect. Thanks!!!

Markham has just started (in the last 9 months) making two light duty grapples. But I haven't heard if they offer Kubota style hook ups. I know they have SSQA and I believe John Deere. Give them a call and see. I know I ended up switching my Koyker loader over to SSQA. Then I had to mod the bucket too.

If I were interested I'd be calling now. Once spring hits everyone is trying to get grapples, tooth bars .. etc and you might end up waiting a few weeks.

Wedge

 

[kennyd]

But I haven't heard if they offer Kubota style hook ups. I know they have SSQA and I believe John Deere.

Markham only offers the SSQA, JDQA, or a plain-backed version that can be adapted buy the purchaser.

 

[scott_vt]

Good Mornin Gene,
Very nice looking setup you have there ! As Jim states, that cab and some good music will make all the jobs seem very easy !

Enjoy !

 

[HCJ]

You could get by with the lighter duty 48 or 60 inch Markham that cost significantly less. I use a 48 inch grapple (Millonzi...similar construction to the Markham) on my Kioti DK40se with a 2700lb lift capacity at pivot pins which is pretty close to the LA1002 in terms of power. My 280lb grapple has taken all sorts of abuse and works fine. The Markham 48 is a slightly heavier build and would I am quite sure meet your needs. Don't make the mistake of thinking that you need a grapple as wide as your primary bucket.

With a M class Kubota you must already have some rear remotes. You could control the grapple then simply by running a couple of long hydraulic hoses with appropriate fittings from the rear of the tractor to the grapple. Cost from an internet hydraulic discounter would be about $100, from a dealer maybe $200. Lots of people (including myself) have done this and are perfectly content. If you decide later to upgrade to a diverter valve or electric over hydraulic valve you can recycle the hose and fittings so there is almost no disadvantage to trying the rear remote first. The only practical thing you need is a rear remote controler that is conveniently located for you to reach with your right hand.

I assumed I should get a 72" grapple, so what size do you think would be ideal? Would a narrower one be advantageous? Again, I've never even seen one used but after spending the summer picking up brush I chain-sawed from roads and shooting lanes, I can see that a grapple would really be great to have. I don't move much dirt, so it seems a grapple would be more useful than a bucket. Thanks for all of the replies and great info.

 

[IslandTractor]

I assumed I should get a 72" grapple, so what size do you think would be ideal? Would a narrower one be advantageous? Again, I've never even seen one used but after spending the summer picking up brush I chain-sawed from roads and shooting lanes, I can see that a grapple would really be great to have. I don't move much dirt, so it seems a grapple would be more useful than a bucket. Thanks for all of the replies and great info.

I have used a 48 inch grapple and done tons of the same sort of work you are describing. The advantages of a narrower grapple are that you have a lighter grapple which means more load capacity, you have a more manuverable grapple to get in between trees etc, you can focus your grapple ripping and pushing power in a smaller area so you can easily grab single bushes or trees or rocks and focus all your loaders strength on that small area, it takes up less storage space and lastly is much less expensive to purchase and ship. The main advantage of a wider grapple would be that if you were literally picking up sticks from the ground you could scrape up more in a single scoop. For cleaning up construction debris a wider grapple would also be helpful for the same reasons.

I don't know how different your loader is from mine but I use a light duty 48 inch grapple. I'd guess you could use either a 48 or a 60. The Markhams are currently the best value grapples and are well built. If I were in your shoes I'd probably stick with the 48 from Markham but either would be great.