My first tractor grapple

[MarcusCarr]

from the front

 

[MarcusCarr]

I received the cylinder and the website showed the wrong schematic for it. The schematic shows pin to pin of 10"-16". It turn out that this cylinder is more like 18"-24". Rats. So I took to modifying the grapple, which was already fully welded. I finally finished the changed to allow for this cylinder...about 3 hours of work.

Lessons learned.

Woodworking - measure twice, cut once.
Metalworking - measure thrice, have your wife and neighbor each measure and verify, measure it one more time, tack it in place, measure it again....then weld

Lesson 2

Don't weld anything unless you have all the parts on hand and know they will fit.

I will take some pictures of what it look like tonight.

 

[EddieWalker]

There's some good advice there. I'll add another.

Don't rely on your memory of what the plan is.

I put a piece of steel in a place I thought it went without checking my plans and realized after it was done and didn't work that I did that one piece backwards. Half a day to redo it and get it back together the correct way. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Have you figured out what it's costing you in materials to make your grapple? Steel, cylinder, pins, hoses, valves and disconnects?

Thanks,
Eddie

 

[MarcusCarr]

I am saving the receipts as I go. Once I finish it, I will post pictures, observations and a cost breakdown of the whole project.

 

[EddieWalker]

Thanks,

One of the things I've always heard is that you can't build a trailer for what you can buy a brand new one for. I sort of wonder if it's the same, or close with a grapple.

Did you price what a new one would cost of similar design versus what your materials will add up to?

Thanks, it's looking really good and I'm enjoying your posts,
Eddie

 

[MrJimi]

I would rather build my own but I will look at whats out there and try to improve on the designs, I have a grapple in my future but it won't be real fancy, it will be very functional!
I have most tools and still needing more.
I need some 3/8" plate cut and its $25 per cut ( 12 cuts ) at the metal shop? The Milwaukee saw that will do the job is $263 , I will buy the saw and have it for next time.
I have been following your project also and the best of luck
Jim /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[MarcusCarr]

So far...

$68 - Steel, all cut to length
$69 - Cylinder
$16 - Four 1" pins
$10 - Six each (bolts, nuts, washer, lock washer)

Total - $163

I used a flux core 100amp welder, 1/2" drill bit, 1" drill bit, drill press, angle grinder.

I still need the hydraulic parts which will include the following:

3 male quick connects
3 female quick connects
open center, sping center valve
about 20' of 1/2" hose
misc connectors to attach hose to valve, quick connects and cylinder

The nice thing about this design is that I can quickly move the cylinder from the front grapple to the back top link for any 3 point devices. Two birds with one stone.

-Marcus

 

[kossetx]

Experience is priceless. It can give you immense knowledge, like when to buy /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif and when to build /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif. That being said, I'm going to build a rake/grapple.

 

[Ronbo]

The only ones saying that are the people that sell trailers.
I just built trailer for my 2 waverunners. Cost was about $450
Same trailer would have cost me about $2500.

Built a trailer to carry my Corvette behind my motorhome. Had a motorized ramp. Cost was about $900. Would have cost about $4500 to have build.

Once you have the tools, the rest is just your time and materials

Ron

 

[JustGary]

I agree about price. Our Boy Scout Troop built this in my driveway for about $2300, including custom shelves and lighting inside. We did get paint donated for the fenders and frame, but it's still much cheaper than a comparable trailer would have cost. Cheapest dealer quote was $3500 without any custom interior.

- Just Gary