Texas Grapple Shootout

[Cord]

Shot a couple more showing some concrete demo

http://youtu.be/zV4O6FOnVrs
http://youtu.be/WaxTi24Ota0

 

[TomSeller]

Shot a couple more showing some concrete demo

Great action shots. That configuration of grapple sure is nice

 

[Cord]

I just love the grapple. So far, the only thing that a bigger grapple would excel at is raking a large area, moving large volumes of brush. That's only one task. I've already had her shoot video of me doing 5 other tasks that the small grapple was perfect for.

 

[IslandTractor]

I just love the grapple. So far, the only thing that a bigger grapple would excel at is raking a large area, moving large volumes of brush. That's only one task. I've already had her shoot video of me doing 5 other tasks that the small grapple was perfect for.

I've been using my 48" grapple now for about eight years. Never once have I wished I'd had a wider grapple. There have been a few times when digging stumps or rocks that I wished I'd had a narrower one. I can carry enough brush that I cannot see where I am driving once the load is lifted so I don't see where wider would be much benefit. I do think if I were cleaning up construction debris I'd prefer a wider grapple with narrower tines but for general duty clearing land and doing any digging at all, I would choose a 48 without question.

 

[txdon]

I also have found no need to have the grapple as wide as the FEL bucket. When clearing a trail I usually go from side to side clearing about 4' wider than the tractor.

 

[sd455dan]

I just love the grapple. So far, the only thing that a bigger grapple would excel at is raking a large area, moving large volumes of brush. That's only one task. I've already had her shoot video of me doing 5 other tasks that the small grapple was perfect for.

Looks like the new grapple is working out great! Congrats

I would like to eventually get a narrow grapple like yours - or the EA wicked for digging some old roots and rotten stumps .

For going through and removing slash/dirt piles i find that the wider grapple can be a good thing limbing a bunch of pine trees i actually added a couple removable extensions ( only use these when hand stacking the grapple)
also for stall clean up- the wider grapple has been a plus.

I still hope hope to get a narrow version and as Tom has found- a selection of grapples is nice to have for the job at hand- but as most on TBN have found if there is a will there is a way to make one type work for pretty much every thing and so far that includes me.

 

[IslandTractor]

How much more brush could you get into a "wide" grapple than into a 48? Keep in mind that wider grapples are heavier so the net load capacity actually falls. And, as is often pointed out, digging is less effective with a wider grapple as it is hard to concentrate force. Just for comparison sake, I can do this with my 48:

 

[Xfaxman]

How much more brush could you get into a "wide" grapple than into a 48? --------------------------

Quite a bit more if it has a 51 inch opening!

 

[IslandTractor]

Quite a bit more if it has a 51 inch opening!

My grapple only has a 46" opening as I recall (haven't measured today) but I still get plenty in the maw. Of course rolling and compressing the brush as you load is more important than opening size anyways so there are few liftable items that could not be loaded with a 46" opening.

 

[Xfaxman]

i have actually moved the most brush on my pallet forks and homemade plate vs. my grapple

But it looks like you loaded it by hand.

Here is a load of brush that I stayed in the seat to load on the 4' long brush fork.