Front-End Loader Pulling with FEL?

[Rich_Z]

I've been watching videos and reading till I am blue in the face about what sort of attachments I want to get with the tractor on the top of my list. In one of those videos, the main character mentioned in passing (like everyone knew this) that the front end loader is not designed to PULL, it is designed to LIFT or perhaps PUSH.

One of the things I would like to be able to do with a grapple is to grab a grapple full of grape vines and yank then out of brush and trees. Perhaps grab cut branches hung up in other branches and pull them out of the tangle.

I have also been looking at tree pullers that look like one heck of a tool to have, but again, they pull upwards on a rooted tree to yank them out of the ground. In a perfect world I would be able to find one that acts as both a stump bucket AND a tree puller. I have found a few, but they are heavy (700 lbs) and rather expensive. Relatively speaking, anyway. Seems like all of these implements and attachments for tractors are a bit on the pricey side.

So, yea or nay on my plans with the FEL? The tractor I am looking at has a 2100 lb lifting capability (TYM T474).

 

[bdhsfz6]

I can't speak for TYM but I've pulled with the FEL on all my Kubota tractors and never had any problems. I use my grapple to pull roots and vines on a regular basis. The trick is to pull straight backward and in line with the direction of travel. Never pull at an angle and go easy with the grapple at max height. Most FEL's are designed for back dragging with the bucket which put's similar stress on the frame.

 

[i7win7]

I like the Danuser Intimidator. Thought it would be too much for Kubota B2650, went with Kubota STP25. Brush under 3/4", usually snaps it off. 1-2" FEL usually pulls it. 3" brush/trees, often have to be in 4wd and drive forward while pulling. Sometimes have to release tree and try from different angle. Rocking is a bad idea tree puller clamps tight enogh for rear axle to come off the ground. 4+" usually requires chainsaw or digging equipment.

 

[Torvy]

I've been watching videos and reading till I am blue in the face about what sort of attachments I want to get with the tractor on the top of my list. In one of those videos, the main character mentioned in passing (like everyone knew this) that the front end loader is not designed to PULL, it is designed to LIFT or perhaps PUSH.

One of the things I would like to be able to do with a grapple is to grab a grapple full of grape vines and yank then out of brush and trees. Perhaps grab cut branches hung up in other branches and pull them out of the tangle.

I have also been looking at tree pullers that look like one heck of a tool to have, but again, they pull upwards on a rooted tree to yank them out of the ground. In a perfect world I would be able to find one that acts as both a stump bucket AND a tree puller. I have found a few, but they are heavy (700 lbs) and rather expensive. Relatively speaking, anyway. Seems like all of these implements and attachments for tractors are a bit on the pricey side.

So, yea or nay on my plans with the FEL? The tractor I am looking at has a 2100 lb lifting capability (TYM T474).

I can definitely see using a grapple to pull vines at my place. My tractor is a size bigger, but you should be able to do that type of work, no problem. Grab the vines, lower grapple. (resist natural temptation to pull upwards) use tractor to pull away if possible. Lots of people use a stump bucket, but to me the risk is not worth it.

 

[Rich_Z]

I can definitely see using a grapple to pull vines at my place. My tractor is a size bigger, but you should be able to do that type of work, no problem. Grab the vines, lower grapple. (resist natural temptation to pull upwards) use tractor to pull away if possible. Lots of people use a stump bucket, but to me the risk is not worth it.

What is the risk of using a stump bucket? As I mentioned above, I want a combo stump bucket and tree puller. The stump bucket part to loosen up some of the roots before yanking the tree out of the ground. My land is mostly all sandy soil, with just loam on top from decades of tree litter. When we had a pool put in a long while back, when the guy dug out the hole for the pool, at about 3 foot he hit nothing but the purest whitest sand you can imagine. Wonder how long ago this property was beach front?

 

[2manyrocks]

In my mind, stump buckets and tree pullers are asking to bend the FEL on a tractor. Perhaps they might work with your sandy soil, but I'd be more comfortable using them on a compact track loader that has much stronger lift arms and hydraulic cylinders.

That being said, Smokeydog has a thread about his Danuser intimidator and one of his posts shows how he made a simple chain grab out of a 2" section of pipe. Front-End Loader - Danuser Intimdator

The least expensive option for pulling grapevines is a chain attached to the drawbar, but be careful. Grapevines can be surprisingly strong and well anchored to the ground.

If you do buy a cab, keep in mind that pulling vines out of trees often pulls tree limbs, too, and this stuff could come crashing down on your cab.

 

[newbury]

I used to dig up small trees (< 3"DBH) with my M4700 using my FEL with a pair of clamp on pallet forks in clay soil.
I'd drive the forks in at a slight down angle then curl the bucket back. The curl would pull the trees out.

 

[oosik]

I have a Kubota M6040. RimGurard in the rear tires - 900 pound rear blade - 820 pound grapple on the FEL. All tolled - the tractor weighs 10,000 pounds. One of my projects - removal of a lot of the patches of Buck brush.

Drive into the Buck brush - grapple down low - reach forward and grab as much brush as possible. Clamp - lift slightly - back up. Many times I pull so hard - all four wheels end up digging.

YES - I PULL with my FEL. Buck brush is low - 3 feet, max height - about as big around as your yellow pencil - thick as hair on a hound dog. I remove the brush this way because I don't have a PTO driven bush hog.

 

[2manyrocks]

If you cut the grapevine and let it deteriorate for about 9 months, the rest will become brittle and can be pulled down much more easily than when it is green.

This is one of the more affordable tree pullers when you can find it in stock. MTL X Series Tree Fence Post Puller Skid Steer Attachment — MTL Attachments

These are designed for working with a single tree or shrub. They aren't like a wide grapple designed to pick up a pile of brush.

I'm going to generally agree with i7win7's assessment that once you get to about 4" trees, it starts to be a backhoe job to dig them out. Soil conditions are very important. Trees that can be pulled early in the spring when the ground is saturated can't be pulled as easily when the soil has dried up.

The cheap way of pulling trees is to use a chain wrapped around the trunk, looped over a tire, and then pull with the rear drawbar on the tractor. But there comes a point where the tree and the root system will be too much to pull. Got to be careful because the tree will want to land on your cab.

 

[LouNY]

Pulling grape vine with a grapple on a FEL is certainly doable, as has been said the straighter you keep the pull the better and safer. You will pull limbs down and out of trees some can be from completely different trees then the one you are watching. So be carefull and observant.