Utility Fork/Grapple for Toolcat

[PAFarmboy1]

Visited my dealer this past weekend. I am going to purchase a 72 inch utility fork with a 48 inch grapple for my toolcat. The dealer quoted a price of $1700.00 for this attachment. Does anyone have this attachment? How well does it work?

 

[radman1]

I looked at the Bobcat model and JD models of both 72". Bought the JD for $1650. Bobcat wanted $1900. Your price is good. The only real difference between the two, are the grapple tines. Bobcat had 4 individual pointed tines on the grapple and the JD more of a claw with better reinforcement of the 4 tines. I thought they would get bent less on the Jd. Bobcat does have a wider opening for the grapple which is a plus for the Bobcat. Jd does have one more bottom tine than the Bobcat but I don't think that makes any difference. It really came down to price for me.
I use mine to pick up brush and trees after we shear them with Dymax tree shear on my Bobcat 873 and put them in piles or load them on dump trailer. For a CUT, the grapple seems plenty heavy for my use. I didn't want a heavy brush grapple on the front of my JD 3720 bouncing across the pasture. I won't be using it to dig out trees or roots. For heavy duty use, I have a construction bucket and grapple for the Bobcat 873.
The bottom tines are pretty heavy. I can jump up and down on them and can't imagine bending one. If I just lifted up the FEL with one tine, it would probably bend. Due to the relatively close spacing of the teeth/tines, sometimes brush gets stuck on the tines and I have to manually remove them.
The bobcat brochure shows them picking up round bales. I have not tried that yet but should work great for hay/staw in bales or loose.
It should be about the right size/weight for your toolcat. Your toolcat has a little more lift than my JD 3720. If bobcat comes out with a 3pt toolcat, I will probably get one.

 

[PAFarmboy1]

Thanks Radman1: Great information and very useful. I constantly have a great deal of brush in the Spring on my property. I just am getting tired of picking up limbs one by one and tying them down on my flatbed trailer until so I can transport them to my chipper.

 

[radman1]

I'm jealous of your toolcat. How do you like it so far? The higher hydraulic flow rate and ability to use my other skid steer attachments, really makes owning one desireable for me but I still want the 3 point capability of a CUT.

 

[PAFarmboy1]

I have owned Kubota Tractors/Implements for years! I still have an L2500 and a B7200. I wanted something with a Cab and considered many options. My Kubota dealer is also my Bobcat dealer and one day while making a parts run, a Toolcat was on display in their lot. I eventually took the plunge and purchased a 5600C with a chipper/mower/blower and bucket. The Toolcat is by far the best machine I have ever operated. It's efficient, easy to operate and this winter with a wind chill of 15 degrees below zero, I was out in the weather without a coat in the cab. Yes, it's an expensive piece of equipment, but it's worth every penny. Just this weekend I talked with my dealer about the 5600D. I am also curious about the 3pt hitch, but it's not on the horizon yet.