Grapple north american implements vs. wildkat grapple
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Red Horse
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Ck your private mesaages
After 3 phone calls trying to reach gator attachments, I finally got NAI and was told this was now there name. Not sure if the manufacturing is the same or not. Also, I called wildkat and they gave me a price of $900 on the 48 in. econo. Have they gone up on prices since you guys bought yours?? Apparently now theres only ~$100 difference in the NAI and wildkat for comparable grapples. Wildkat website also lists this grapple for $900 now. Guess I should have bought sooner. 
REALLY not sure of which to go with now!!!
REALLY not sure of which to go with now!!!
Red Horse
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Not surprised that they are now holding to the 900 figure. A bunch of us bought during the winter and they might have been interested in moving inventory.After 3 phone calls trying to reach gator attachments, I finally got NAI and was told this was now there name. Not sure if the manufacturing is the same or not. Also, I called wildkat and they gave me a price of $900 on the 48 in. econo. Have they gone up on prices since you guys bought yours?? Apparently now theres only ~$100 difference in the NAI and wildkat for comparable grapples. Wildkat website also lists this grapple for $900 now. Guess I should have bought sooner.
look at the pix-which looks more durable to you?
Hilltop Hillbilly
Bronze Member
Wow. I got mine for $550 (w/o couplers) plus $171 shipping to Upstate NY. Apparently they either caught on that they were giving them away too cheap, or they were trying to dump inventory.
The Wildkat is a solid implement. I really like the way the grapple hooks are gusseted and the spacing between the bottom tines means I can carry all sorts of small stuff too. I certainly recommend the Wildkat.
But if the price between the Wildkat and NAI is really pretty much the same now, I'd take a close look at the NAI.
NAI Pros:
- NAI has at least the same thickness steel (if not thicker in some spots) and if it's like the Wildkat its A36 so it's mild, but easy to work with.
- NAI has greasable fittings
- NAI has US made hydraulics.
It's worth checking them out if the Wildkat isn't so inexpensive anymore. I intentionally avoided using the word "cheap" because the Wildkat is anything but cheap.
HH
Red Horse
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Another opinion. Not to sound like a Wildkat sales guy, but remember I mentioned the number of tines-both bottom and the grapple hook itself? Well I started burning brush today for the first time this season. And after a 12" snowfall in early October with the trees still in full foliage, believe me I've got brush to burn.
One plus on the Wildkat, with those three tines on the grapple with the big diagonal gussets, it makes it easy to keep consolidating the burn pile as you can push with the front of the grapple and keep the fire a nice distance from your machine and hydraulic lines. That was probably not on their minds when they designed the three tines with those broad diagonal gussets but that design sure comes in handy in my book.
One plus on the Wildkat, with those three tines on the grapple with the big diagonal gussets, it makes it easy to keep consolidating the burn pile as you can push with the front of the grapple and keep the fire a nice distance from your machine and hydraulic lines. That was probably not on their minds when they designed the three tines with those broad diagonal gussets but that design sure comes in handy in my book.
tpulley
Silver Member
I can only say I love my WIldcat econo grapple. I bought it about 4-5 months ago and after checking the prices recently I am soooo glad I didn't wait. I have pushed over sweet gums as large as 9 inches and uprooted them and drug them off. Granted the tractor was crabbing because of the weight but it worked. I have the Kioti 45HP model and I am very confident a larger model could easily benefit from this model without damaging it.
It seems to me that NAI must be the next generation of Markham/gator grapples. When I called the number on gator website, guy told me this was no longer their number and gave me another number. Called it and lady told me this too was no longer their number and gave me yet another number. Finally, the lady answered the phone as 'North American Implements'. Grapple looks essentially the same. Could this be indicative of an unstable company?? I do like that all components are made in US and would be willing to pay a little more just for this but don't really want to patronize a business that may or may not be in business a month from now.
Also, do wildcat owners have a problem with there being no grease fittings?
Also, do wildcat owners have a problem with there being no grease fittings?
Hilltop Hillbilly
Bronze Member
I've only had my Wildkat 48" econo grapple a short while, and only really used it hard for two weekends so far, so time will tell.
However, looking at the design, I can tell you that I don't think the lack of greasable fittings will ever be a problem. The way the grapple arm mounts to the bottom frame is very simple, and I like the fact that if I wanted I could just undo the bolts and remove it completely. It would function like a FEL carry-all at that point.
The Wildkat is built far stronger than anything my 40HP tractor can dish out, so durability is not a concern for me.
HH