Need help deciding on a grapple

[Poopdeck Pappy]

thanks.. how do you like the stump grapple? how versatile is it? Im wondering if a stump grapple would be just as beneficial since it could dig for me as well... can you pick up brush with with it? I actually called RCO in Gville and it was 1900 installed for the 48" grapple which I thought was kinda high.

I haven't used it enough to form a firm opinion. Probably 2 hours of use so far. I like that I can dig with it, but I'm leary of digging too much. My tractor is brand new so I'm feeling my way along, trying not to tear anything up while I discover the limitations of my equipment. One thing I don't like, as I mentioned, is the solid back of it that prevents me from seeing what the bucket part of the grapple is doing.

Yes, I can pick up brush with it.

 

[shibaura_4043]

i have the wildkat version of the bobcat one in your fist post. i paid $1200 at auction and 25 for fittings. it works great pushing over trees and picking them up raking the ground, i have cleared a little bit with it

the land (wish i had before photos but i don't, bigger trees (6"+) were cut with a saw and the stumps ground)

If I could find that style for 1200 I would have definitely bought it too.... that's a good deal. It looks pretty tough have you have any issues out of it?

 

[Piston]

I have a lot of experience with the WR Long OBG 2 grapple. I mainly use it for "woods work" such as clearing land, handling a LOT of brush, raking out stray limbs and roots or saplings, back blading newly cleared areas for rough grading, moving quite a bit of firewood, loading logs on my mill, managing lumber and slabs, digging up large rocks/boulders, and generally any other thing I use my tractor for. I almost never have my bucket on the tractor anymore because of how useful the grapple is.

I have a little experience with a root rake grapple which is what I used before purchasing my own grapple.

For the two tractors mentioned I would think my same grapple would be a great match for you. There are quite a few options out there and unfortunately I only have experience with two of them, so I can only comment on those. However, if I were buying new right now I would take a really good look at the WR Long line of OBG2 grapples and the Everything Attachments line of Wicked Grapples.

 

[shibaura_4043]

thanks pappy...that's something to consider.

 

[shibaura_4043]

I have a lot of experience with the WR Long OBG 2 grapple. I mainly use it for "woods work" such as clearing land, handling a LOT of brush, raking out stray limbs and roots or saplings, back blading newly cleared areas for rough grading, moving quite a bit of firewood, loading logs on my mill, managing lumber and slabs, digging up large rocks/boulders, and generally any other thing I use my tractor for. I almost never have my bucket on the tractor anymore because of how useful the grapple is.

I have a little experience with a root rake grapple which is what I used before purchasing my own grapple.

For the two tractors mentioned I would think my same grapple would be a great match for you. There are quite a few options out there and unfortunately I only have experience with two of them, so I can only comment on those. However, if I were buying new right now I would take a really good look at the WR Long line of OBG2 grapples and the Everything Attachments line of Wicked Grapples.

Thanks Piston, can you pop roots of smaller trees pretty good with your grapple?

 

[terryknight]

If I could find that style for 1200 I would have definitely bought it too.... that's a good deal. It looks pretty tough have you have any issues out of it?

so far it has heldup to everything i have thrown at it.

 

[shibaura_4043]

so far it has heldup to everything i have thrown at it.

thanks

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

. . . I actually called RCO in Gville and it was 1900 installed for the 48" grapple which I thought was kinda high.

The grapple RCO had looked amazingly similar to this W.R. Long OBG2 grapple. (I'm pretty sure theirs is made by Construction Attachments, but it looks almost identical the the W.R. Long if my memory serves me correctly.) The W.R. Long grapple alone is the same price that RCO quoted you for theirs installed, which would include hoses and quick connects. That's not a horrible deal in my opinion.

W.R. Long Loader Open Bottom Grapple 2 for Compact Tractors

 

[Bascom]

I got a 60 inch medium class grapple from the Rake Shop two and a half years ago and would buy from them again. Superb construction, excellent welds and perfect fit. Quality, domestic hyd cylinders as well. No problems at all other than me busting a hose after a limb caught it.

I use it mainly for brush cleanup/uprooting and to move logs. Have pushed over/uprooted a few decent sized sweetgums easily. 60 inch works for me as I clean up lots of debris. 48 might work for you. I got the medium class rather than the light class due to the larger dimensions, i.e. 48" open vs. 36". You might be able to get them to build one to medium dimensions using light class sized metal to save a bit of weight. I'm also a fan of the two "top claw/jaw" design for cleanup in and around trees.
Good luck with you choice! Most everyone likes their grapple and this thread will definitely generate some opinions! LOL

 

[Xfaxman]

I vote for the the rake shop style grapple, because for picking up cedar trees you can grab the big ones from any angle.

The tines will penetrate the branches. Mine is a Gorilla Grapple. :thumbsup:


Can't do that with this style.

 

[Chickengrower]

I have an Anbo Rancher series grapple and absolutely love it. Should've had it 15 yrs ago. Its the 77" model. I think it was about $3,700 with shipping when I bought it in May. I mainly use it to move downed limbs and trees to the brushpile (we've had alot of those lately) but its plenty strong for digging and the opening is big enough to pick up a large round bale. Haven't found anything it wont easily and quickly pick up yet as long as it isnt too heavy for the tractor. Like someone else said, I hardly ever put the bucket on. I would say whatever you decide on, definitely get something that you can see thru and also that will allow you to back rake to get the smaller limbs up. Just my .02. Good luck with your search!

 

[TomSeller]

The first one is a Titan and they are decent grapples for the money. I have their rake grapple and the quality is fairly good. Its only down fall is the lower teeth are too short. The one you show is an L bottom which is going to work very well for moving debris but not so well for grubbing roots.

I do not know who makes the second grapple, it sure seems to be inexpensive. Too little info.

The third one looks like the Wildkat Extreme. It is a rake with longer lower teeth so it would be a good all around grapple. The wide lid with 10 tips would be good for back raking. That is important to me, so you can clean up the area. The slots in the lower teeth seem to me would plug up with dirt. No big deal on that except any dirt on my digging equipment seems to dry and then flake off in the barn unless I clean it. I am not crazy about cleaning digging equipment unless I am not going to use it again for a few months. I have a Wildkat heavy duty with a 46" opening which I like a lot. I can get huge bites in it. The quality of fit and finish is so so.

The fourth one I had seen but don't know much about. They look very interesting. Long lower teeth without much gusseting would work well for grubbing if they do not bend when they hit rocks. Similar to the third grapple, they would be an all around. Okay for moving debris and good for grubbing. The lids would not be good for back raking since you only have 4 tips.

A popular grapple with the TBN crowd is one Everything Attachments makes for the compact, smaller tractors. They get good reviews and you should look at them. WR Long makes good grapples, some with big openings and are available on the EverythingAttachments.com website.

Pay attention to weight, depending on your loader. For an L bottom, you may not want a wide one as narrow ones can often pick up a fair amount. For Rake grapples, you want to cover your tracks. They are ground engaging so they need strong lower teeth if you use them for grubbing roots.

 

[Piston]

Thanks Piston, can you pop roots of smaller trees pretty good with your grapple?

Yes, it works very well for grubbing roots and clearing small saplings. I should video this some time but its hard to drive the tractor and video at the same time
I put the bucket in a dump position about 60 degrees or so, so the tines are sticking below the ground, then just drive forward. The nice thing with this is that if I take too big of a bite or I'm not deep enough, I can make small adjustments using the curl function instead of the loader up/down, and I have better control/finesse with the curl rather than loader.

Another useful way to use the grapple that some people stated already, is using it as a back rake. By dumping the grapple all the way, or just before, then dropping it just below the surface and backing up, it does a real good job of raking up small debris.

If you look in some pictures, you'll see a bar across the back of the grapple at the "heal" of the grapple. I use this heel all the time for pushing or back blading material to rough grade. By keeping the tines parallel with the ground, and flat, you can move quite a bit of material this way, despite the fact that you would think it would all flow out because of all the openings, but it doesn't, until you want it to and adjust the bucket some.

 

[shibaura_4043]

Pappy, good point about the price I didnt realize that... Iwould probably buy from them if they sold 60" and 72", Im not sure I would be happy with 48" when I can get a 72" for about the same price in a different brand.

 

[shibaura_4043]

I got a 60 inch medium class grapple from the Rake Shop two and a half years ago and would buy from them again. Superb construction, excellent welds and perfect fit. Quality, domestic hyd cylinders as well. No problems at all other than me busting a hose after a limb caught it.

I use it mainly for brush cleanup/uprooting and to move logs. Have pushed over/uprooted a few decent sized sweetgums easily. 60 inch works for me as I clean up lots of debris. 48 might work for you. I got the medium class rather than the light class due to the larger dimensions, i.e. 48" open vs. 36". You might be able to get them to build one to medium dimensions using light class sized metal to save a bit of weight. I'm also a fan of the two "top claw/jaw" design for cleanup in and around trees.
Good luck with you choice! Most everyone likes their grapple and this thread will definitely generate some opinions! LOL

thanks for the review...did you pay over the 2500 quote I got from The Rake Shop... thats the upper end of my budget. I like the 48" vs 36" opening much better.

 

[shibaura_4043]

thanks, xfax

 

[EverythingAttachments]

The W.R. Long grapple alone is the same price that RCO quoted you for theirs installed, which would include hoses and quick connects.

W.R. Long Loader Open Bottom Grapple 2 for Compact Tractors

The grapples that we offer include hoses and quick connects.
One exception is the Bradco grapple rake, but we are making one that is very similar, and less expensive. It should be on the website soon.

ALL of our grapples ship free to a business or supporting freight terminal within 1,000 miles of Newton, NC.

 

[shibaura_4043]

The grapples that we offer include hoses and quick connects.
One exception is the Bradco grapple rake, but we are making one that is very similar, and less expensive. It should be on the website soon.

ALL of our grapples ship free to a business or supporting freight terminal within 1,000 miles of Newton, NC.

I believe RCO installs hoses and quick connects from the back of tractor to the grapple

 

[Guesseral]

I believe RCO installs hoses and quick connects from the back of tractor to the grapple

Yea so does Titan.

 

[shibaura_4043]

Yea so does Titan.

I did not know that... thanks