Grapple New Tractor! What Grapple do you have and what do you like/dislike about it?

[oldtimer 66]

I purchased a Titan 72" John Deere Root Grapple Bucket Attachment, weight 700 lbs. The light weight and the double lids were the features that I was looking for. I should have bought one that has a larger opening though. I mainly use it for handling my fire wood. I did not realize until I started using it how the opening size affects its ease of use. The Titan opens up to 34". Some of the reviews stated that the mounting pins were out of location. I figured that this was a problem that would be corrected by the time I received my grapple. It was not. I cut the brackets loose and rewelded them in the correct location. There was another review that showed the hydraulic lines were molesting each other. Again I thought that would be corrected by the time I received my grapple but it was not. I reconfigured the line mountings added loom and zip ties to capture the lines. I shortened one of the hydraulic lines to conform with my hydraulic connection on my FEL. The hydraulic lines are metric and the local distributor had no fittings to match and if he did have the connector he did not have the correct tooling to crimp the connector. One new line cost $85. That's my bad. I added structure to each lid towards the middle of the grapple. I was dropping to many pieces of wood thru the center of the grapple. This has helped reduce this problem. Again that was my prerogative. On line I submitted a negative review documenting most of the above. I included my observations on the weld quality ( size, porosity, lack of fusion etc. ) I checked back several times built my review was never published. I wonder why. All in all I should have bought a grapple years ago. It is very handy for doing my fire wood by doing the heavy lifting. I moved and consolidated a half a dozen older brush piles into one large one. I have other work and mods that I am contemplating. Later.

 

[oosik]

My Kubota M6040 will lift 4200 pounds at a point 12 inches forward of the lift/pivot pins. I have a Land Pride SGC1560 grapple that weighs 820#. Leaves 3400 pound lifting capacity.

The SGC1560 is classified as a rock and root grapple. Short & thick tines. I've had it four years - have left it on the FEL all that time. Its strong as a bull and has had no problems in those four years.

I post this so you can see a rock & root grapple mounted on a tractor.


View attachment 567294

 

[TitanSkidsteer]

I purchased a Titan 72" John Deere Root Grapple Bucket Attachment, weight 700 lbs. The light weight and the double lids were the features that I was looking for. I should have bought one that has a larger opening though. I mainly use it for handling my fire wood. I did not realize until I started using it how the opening size affects its ease of use. The Titan opens up to 34". Some of the reviews stated that the mounting pins were out of location. I figured that this was a problem that would be corrected by the time I received my grapple. It was not. I cut the brackets loose and rewelded them in the correct location. There was another review that showed the hydraulic lines were molesting each other. Again I thought that would be corrected by the time I received my grapple but it was not. I reconfigured the line mountings added loom and zip ties to capture the lines. I shortened one of the hydraulic lines to conform with my hydraulic connection on my FEL. The hydraulic lines are metric and the local distributor had no fittings to match and if he did have the connector he did not have the correct tooling to crimp the connector. One new line cost $85. That's my bad. I added structure to each lid towards the middle of the grapple. I was dropping to many pieces of wood thru the center of the grapple. This has helped reduce this problem. Again that was my prerogative. On line I submitted a negative review documenting most of the above. I included my observations on the weld quality ( size, porosity, lack of fusion etc. ) I checked back several times built my review was never published. I wonder why. All in all I should have bought a grapple years ago. It is very handy for doing my fire wood by doing the heavy lifting. I moved and consolidated a half a dozen older brush piles into one large one. I have other work and mods that I am contemplating. Later.

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[IndianHeadFarms]

You can't get good grapple advice without telling us what you plan to use it for. I use a Forestry Grapple, which works better than anything else I've used moving logs in the wood and maneuvering in tight quarters. It works rather well at cleaning up the limbs and brush I trim off the trees I've felled as well. Now that I've used it, I would not be without it for those tasks. However, it stinks for other applications where different designs really shine (fortunately, my need for other applications is rare).

You might try a search for other threads on grapples. There are some very good, detailed discussions on here.

So there may be more implied information in what I was asking. Let me try to be more specific. Ii'm wanting Users opinions of their personal Grapples, and what they like/dislike about it. Specifically, Users that have a similar sized tractor (25HP/ ~2500lbs/1500lb loader lift) as mine. I'm primarily going to be using it to pick up brush piles. Light land clearing and tree removal. The links that I supplied in the original post where the main Grapple Designs that I was looking at. I wasn't sure how well twin pistons functioned vs single function piston grapples on tractors of my size. So no offense Old timer and oosik but your tractors are working with way more capabilities than mine are. But I do appreciate your insights. Is the weight a big factor with tractors of our size to consider?

So basically? If you have a tractor similar to my size with a grapple. Tell me what you use it for and how you like it.

 

[CincyFlyer]

Weight is the factor. My brother has the small Mahindra which I used for several months (which is why I got a larger one!) The lifting capacity was marginal. Spend the money and wait the time for an EA lightweight grapple made of decent steel. You can get one that weighs ~200 lbs. On my larger tractor (2540) I have one that weighs about 550 lbs, because it was cheap and I didn't want to wait for EA. But it would be nice if it was a couple of hundred pounds lighter! You'll need a counterweight of some sort, as well.

 

[Teachu2]

My 34hp tractor only has 1155 lbs lift to full height, 2046 breakout at the pins. Because of that, I chose a truly lightweight grapple, the EA Wicked 55" at 209 lbs. I have moved tree trimmings, trees, brush piles, granite rocks, railroad ties, and my Miller Bobcat 250 welder with it. On some of the rocks, my 700 lb flail mower was barely enough counterbalance .... so I'm making a concrete barrel counterbalance as soon as I am up to it. I bought mine last winter, when lead time was a couple of weeks. I am amazed at how well it works, and it's plenty strong. It weighs less than my factory bucket. I'd buy it again without hesitation.

 

[ovrszd]

Welcome to TBN and tractor ownership!!!!! Let these guys run on about their personal favorite. In the process you'll pick up some valuable information.

 

[IndianHeadFarms]

My 34hp tractor only has 1155 lbs lift to full height, 2046 breakout at the pins. Because of that, I chose a truly lightweight grapple, the EA Wicked 55" at 209 lbs. I have moved tree trimmings, trees, brush piles, granite rocks, railroad ties, and my Miller Bobcat 250 welder with it. On some of the rocks, my 700 lb flail mower was barely enough counterbalance .... so I'm making a concrete barrel counterbalance as soon as I am up to it. I bought mine last winter, when lead time was a couple of weeks. I am amazed at how well it works, and it's plenty strong. It weighs less than my factory bucket. I'd buy it again without hesitation.

How much stuff do you do that requires the full top bar for pinching? vs the center point or side? I really like that 55 in because of the weight but i feel like the other styles would be much easier to pick up brush with.

 

[Teachu2]

How much stuff do you do that requires the full top bar for pinching? vs the center point or side? I really like that 55 in because of the weight but i feel like the other styles would be much easier to pick up brush with.

It opens wide, and will grab a large pile easily. There is a bit of a learning curve, but I have achieved results I'm happy with. I am very happy with the clamping force when collecting brush. It compresses the pile tightly, allowing me to pack much more on my trailer - we burn very little due to air quality issues. Between clamping and packing brush down on the landscaping trailer, I ended up with a woven pile that I cut up with a chainsaw to unload at the greenwaste facility. This prompted me to buy a hydraulic dump trailer.....

For me, weight was a huge factor in which grapple I chose. The EA Wicked 55 is a great match to my tractor, and is stronger than the tractor's output.

 

[Rmart30]

I went with one of the ebay dual lid 66" grapples.. it was $999 shipped and arrived in 3 business days from time I ordered it.
Grapple weight was not my main concern when I bought for my L4600. For what I am doing moving mostly brush top piles and about 200 pine trees about 18" and smaller Im not going to be maxing it out anyway. Once im done with my initial land clearing mine probably wont get used but maybe once a year.

With that being said if i had one of the under 25hp tractors id have went with the lightest one I could get.