Need a grapple for my tractor... help me spend some money. :)

[Hoosierdad]

Add A Grapple makes a good grapple. Easy to install and inexpensive.
SINGLE – PRECISION MANUFACTURING

 

[Hay Dude]

I have the 72" W.R. Long Open Bottom Grapple OBG-1, it weighs 685 pounds. The OBG-2 series is the lighter weight grapple, the 56" is 460 pounds. One thing to consider is the type of grapple, my OBG-1 has long tines on the bottom. The root rake style has shorter bottom tines, more of a clamshell design. Weight is comparable.

I like mine for being able to carry logs but there is a technique and learning curve to be effective.

OBG-1
View attachment 850289

Root rake style
View attachment 850290

The “root rake style” grapple looks ideal for driving into an pushing large brush piles. Can’t understand the nickname “root grapple”, though??
Already have a log grapple.
Need something that I can drive into a tall & deep pile of brush, close grapple, and come away with lots of brush.
See the brush in the red box? I have 10 piles bigger than that.

 

[JCoastie]

The “root rake style” grapple looks ideal for driving into an pushing large brush piles. Can’t understand the nickname “root grapple”, though??

Because you can dig into the ground with them (a bit) and rip out roots.
Mine works really well for your posted use case.

 

[Hay Dude]

So when you drive into a tall pile of brush and use the hydraulic “clamping” function, I would want it to grasp a large bundle of brush.

Trying to decide if the short root tines are better/worse than a grapple with long horizontal tines at grabbing and pulling brush from very large piles.

 

[JCoastie]

I can carry a pretty decent size pile of brush. Some smaller stuff does fall through the tines, so there is a little cleanup along the route when done.

Biggest issue I have is picking up multiple logs. I can always get 2 big ones, but I can't always get 3 in there. If a big log gets in the back, the front won't clamp down on a 3rd.

Brush crushes though, so no problem with that. I often dive in near the top, press down to compress the stack, then clamp it, so I get more.

 

[BlueToy1]

So when you drive into a tall pile of brush and use the hydraulic “clamping” function, I would want it to grasp a large bundle of brush.

Trying to decide if the short root tines are better/worse than a grapple with long horizontal tines at grabbing and pulling brush from very large piles.

In my experience, either will do the job. The jaw opening height and top lid clearance will be limiting factors. I think some of the clam shell style may open a bit wider.

 

[Piston]

For the piles you are showing, I'd recommend the longer bottom style, because you can drive in and actually get under the material vs. trying to clamp it. This comes down to a lot of personal preference in the end though. I feel like grapple decisions have more to do with your personal thought "process" than actual real life major differences. At the end of the day, the piles won't know what's moving them, nor will anyone who looked at that spot in the future where a pile once was.

My preference is the longer bottom style. I have the WR Long OBG-2 in 64" length, and I've done a lot of cleanup with this grapple. I also appreciate the ability to backdrag with the bottom of it, using it as a miniature land plane while it glides backwards over the soil.

Another photo in this post of an area I cleaned up and graded using only the grapple to backdrag.... Grappling fun - A Picture Thread....

 

[Piston]

Don't forget, you can always use your the long bottom grapple just like a root style grapple when picking up material, I often drive into a pile, 'dump' the grapple while lifting the FEL, and end up pushing the pile forward with the grapple in the almost full dump position, then close the lids just like a root rake style. You can pick up massive amounts of material with this grapple.

 

[Xfaxman]

So when you drive into a tall pile of brush and use the hydraulic “clamping” function, I would want it to grasp a large bundle of brush.

Some large bundles of brush:

Trying to decide if the short root tines are better/worse than a grapple with long horizontal tines at grabbing and pulling brush from very large piles.

This is what I have after having both styles: Monster Root Grapple

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Some large bundles of brush:

View attachment 851546
View attachment 851548
View attachment 851552
View attachment 851553

This is what I have after having both styles: Monster Root Grapple

View attachment 851540

View attachment 851544

I'm not sure that you don't have the most versatile rig going, it seems pretty handy. Charlie.

 

[David in KY]

I've been interested in the Faver grapples due to their open tines. I have big piles of brush to move as well as big flat rocks to dig out and relocate. The open tines seem less likely to hang up with debris constantly.

They are on the higher end cost wise, but I subscribe to the "buy quality, cry once" line of thinking.

Anyone have any experience with these?

Faver Grapples

I'd like an 728-SCX model:
SCX Features

 

[sd455dan]

So when you drive into a tall pile of brush and use the hydraulic “clamping” function, I would want it to grasp a large bundle of brush.

Trying to decide if the short root tines are better/worse than a grapple with long horizontal tines at grabbing and pulling brush from very large piles.

I think that is where an Open tine non tied L style excells.

The bar that connects tines near the front will hit objects and then just push the entire mess. Don't know who made the used grapple I adapted but pretty sure it is a skid steer construction grapple. Definitely not a mild steel unit maybe AR400
Replaceable round tines and a large opening help for getting a large pile grabbed. My 66" wide grapple will open to 49"
Also with the round tines you can make tine extensions for gettng even larger loads. This style also works better for cleaning out stalls and manure.

Faver makes a similar variant that looks Good as well but does not use replaceable tines. They also seem to like the large opening capability and using very high strength steel in their designs.

Wow I don't know how it happenned on the Faver grapples I started writng this post before the one above appeared. Totally agree with looking into them for the needs quoted.

Loader Grapples | Grapple Rake | FAVER

Faver Inc., Faver Grapples, we produce the finest big loader grapple rakes, USA built and factory direct.

www.faverinc.com

The construction grapple on my tractor

 

[Hay Dude]

I'm not sure that you don't have the most versatile rig going, it seems pretty handy. Charlie.

Every time I look at it, I’m like I need that!

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Every time I look at it, I’m like I need that!

Me to.

 

[4570Man]

I've been interested in the Faver grapples due to their open tines. I have big piles of brush to move as well as big flat rocks to dig out and relocate. The open tines seem less likely to hang up with debris constantly.

They are on the higher end cost wise, but I subscribe to the "buy quality, cry once" line of thinking.

Anyone have any experience with these?

Faver Grapples

I'd like an 728-SCX model:
SCX Features

I’ve had a Favor for probably 5 years. It’s a great tool and I’d have no hesitation to buy another one.

 

[Piston]

I've been interested in the Faver grapples due to their open tines. I have big piles of brush to move as well as big flat rocks to dig out and relocate. The open tines seem less likely to hang up with debris constantly.

They are on the higher end cost wise, but I subscribe to the "buy quality, cry once" line of thinking.

Anyone have any experience with these?

Faver Grapples

I'd like an 728-SCX model:
SCX Features

If this is for your RX6620, I would NOT recommend that grapple. At 862 pounds it is way heavier than it ever needs to be. You would be unneccesarily taking away a substantial amount of lift capacity (one of the benefits of having a machine the size of the RX6620) negating those advantages.
Have you looked at the WR Long grapples? The OBG-2 seems about the perfect fit for what you are looking to do with it, also it opens a full 44" over the 42" of the Faver (splitting hairs here however). I know there are other companies out there but that's the only one I'm extremely familiar with for doing similar types of work you describe.

Someone mentioned the open tines vs having the bar in the front of the grapple teeth, and the bar getting in the way and 'pushing' objects. This is not true and does not impede in any practical way in real life.

Perhaps Faver makes a lighter duty grapple of the same design?

 

[Rmart30]

For what you are describing a MTL will work fine for you. I have had a MTL for about 5 yrs and ita done just fine.

 

[IXLR8]

I'm leaning towards the MTL Grapple, about the same size/weight as the EA grapple for a lot less money. Lead time is measured in weeks not months. Hope to get a quote on a LandPride grapple tomorrow, that will be the deciding factor.

 

[Rmart30]

I'm leaning towards the MTL Grapple, about the same size/weight as the EA grapple for a lot less money. Lead time is measured in weeks not months. Hope to get a quote on a LandPride grapple tomorrow, that will be the deciding factor.

I had mine in 3-4 days after payment was sent.

 

[319Quahog]

I have the Kioti KG 4066 grapple. Mine was on the lot when I bought the tractor so it was an easy choice and I didn't really worry about price versus convenience. It barely has the paint scratched on it, but will be getting more work once the summer sun dries up the spring mud.

While I love the thing and it makes log/brush handling a breeze, I sometimes wish it had a longer bottom 'shelf'. That way I could physically stack some scattered things in there vs shuffling them into a pile and hoping to grab them all with one bite.

That said, since it sits at the same orientation of the loader bucket, I can tilt the grapple all the way down and attack a brush pile or pile of logs from the top. Allows for some precise grabbing.