Uses for a grapple attachment

[tpulley]

I agree with what you are saying. I was really going by price. The smallest one I saw that had the quick attachement was listed as $900. The 48 inch they listed was for a dingo, toro etc, the price was $599 though. Even better in the price dept if it would only fit.

BTW thanks for posting the pics. This will be its primary purpose...

 

[wrflt]

IMO 66 inches is wider than you need. There are some mechanical disadvantages to wider grapples. 48 works fine for most everyone who has one. 60 seems fine too but the disadvantage with anything wider is that you need two upper grapples which just complicates matters without adding a lot of benefit and especially increases grapple weight.

Lots and lots of stuff on grapples on TBN so no reason to repeat it all here. Just search and you can read for days or weeks.

I have a 48 inch light duty grapple. Works great on my DK40se.

Okay, so I have a DK40se also and have been thinking about the purchase of a grapple. I have no idea about the size of grapple I need. If you wouldn't mind and have the time, please explain your reasons for disadvantages and complications to grapples wider than 60 inches. In other words, how does 2 uppers complicate matters? Is it hydraulics? I don't want to dive onto something I would not be pleased with.

 

[tpulley]

I had thought the 48 inch from Wildcat wouldn't fit my tractor so i was overlooking it. I called today to see if the 48" would fit. Since it has the skid steer qa it should. So it looks like next week I am gonna ride up there and pick one up. I will also make the deciscion on the to valve or not to valve and just use the rear remotes. Here is the one I am going with. It saves me an extra $300 which I can certainly use elsewhere.

48" MINI ECONO GRAPPLE SKIDSTEER ATTACHMENT TORO DINGO | eBay

 

[IslandTractor]

I had thought the 48 inch from Wildcat wouldn't fit my tractor so i was overlooking it. I called today to see if the 48" would fit. Since it has the skid steer qa it should. So it looks like next week I am gonna ride up there and pick one up. I will also make the deciscion on the to valve or not to valve and just use the rear remotes. Here is the one I am going with. It saves me an extra $300 which I can certainly use elsewhere.

48" MINI ECONO GRAPPLE SKIDSTEER ATTACHMENT TORO DINGO | eBay

That is exactly what I would buy today if I needed a grapple for anything from a CK20 to a DK50/55. I have about six years on my Millonzi grapple which is almost identical in construction and it has been an excellent match for both my CK20 and DK40se.

Get'm while they are hot. I cannot believe WildCat manages to sell them for $599 and one of these days they will figure out that the competition is charging $500-1000 more for essentially the same grapple.

 

[IslandTractor]

Okay, so I have a DK40se also and have been thinking about the purchase of a grapple. I have no idea about the size of grapple I need. If you wouldn't mind and have the time, please explain your reasons for disadvantages and complications to grapples wider than 60 inches. In other words, how does 2 uppers complicate matters? Is it hydraulics? I don't want to dive onto something I would not be pleased with.

Briefly:
1) lower cost
2) smaller size = more manuverable
3) smaller size = less storage space
4) smaller size means the force of the grapple is concentrated in a smaller area when ripping out roots etc. You have XXXX lbs of breakout force from your loader and you can divide that force by the grapple width to calculate the max force you can exert on a given root/rock etc. Point is that narrower grapples give you greater breakout force concentration which is almost always what you want
5) When raking or pushing with the grapple, with a 48 inch grapple even the outside tines are still lined up or inside the FEL arms. If you hit a stump or big rock with the edge of the grapple there is relatively little twisting force applied to the FEL. With a wider grapple (or bucket edge) if you hit an unseen object with the edge of say a 72 inch grapple you are putting a significant twisting load on your FEL. Not good. FELs are tough but there is little doubt that tractor FELs are designed and engineered for LIFTING, not Pushing. They can push but not a safely as a bulldozer. Consider how a bulldozer's arms are short, stumpy while tractor FEL arms are long and thin in comparison.
6) Although it is understandable that people would think wider grapples will carry more, in practice there is very little difference. Brush is "sticky" so a 48 inch grapple can easily grapple a much larger chunk of brush than is actually contained within the grapple width. 48 inches if fine for any size log for example. Indeed a 48 inch grapple can carry bigger logs because the grapple weighs less so your net lift capacity is greater even though the grapple is smaller.
7) Hundreds of TBN users with 48inch grapples are virtually unanimous that they are happy with the 48 inch size.
8) You can spend the money you save on other implements
9) Small is beautiful

 

[steve0413]

Ditto to IslandTractor's post. I have a 60" and have said several times that if I had it to do over, I would consider a 48" for most of the reasons he stated. The bottom line for me, based on my experience, is the 48" will do everything I need it to do, so why spend another two grand plus?

 

[wrflt]

Wow! What a great response!!!

Please excuse the delay. Had to go spend a few days in the woods.

I couldn't have gotten a better explaination from a professional...That's a joke, cause now I'm quite sure you are a pro. I sincerely appreciate your time and wisdom. Just by looking at your pictures, it's easy to see that the 48" is having no problems with moving a tremendous load. Thanks again!

 

[imdjack99148]

I just ordered a 60" grapple for my DS4510 Hope it works out for what I need.
I will need to change out the couplings it comes with the flat face Parker type. Should be able to find them online hopefully.
Thanks

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-5-60-GR...ltDomain_0&hash=item53ea574ca7#ht_3494wt_1185

 

[IslandTractor]

I just ordered a 60" grapple for my DS4510 Hope it works out for what I need.
I will need to change out the couplings it comes with the flat face Parker type. Should be able to find them online hopefully.
Thanks

file:///C:/Users/imdjack/Downloads/NEW%205'%2060%20%20GRAPPLE%20ROOT%20BRUSH%20RAKE%20SKID%20STEER%20LOADER%20tractor%20claw%20bobcat%20cat%20etc%20%20%20eBay.htm

Why not get the manufacturer to either give you Pioneer or at least a credit.

 

[imdjack99148]

IslandTractor,
He gave me a fifty dollar credit which I thought was fair.