What grapple for my tractor?

[ransonjd]

Okay, at least looking at Everything Attachments, it looks like I have the following options:

55 inch "Large Wicked" - 627lbs, 42.5" opening
54 inch "Wicked" - 349lbs, 37" opening

Is the extra 5.5" worth 287lbs of additional weight?

--John

 

[EverythingAttachments]

Okay, at least looking at Everything Attachments, it looks like I have the following options:

55 inch "Large Wicked" - 627lbs, 42.5" opening
54 inch "Wicked" - 349lbs, 37" opening

Is the extra 5.5" worth 287lbs of additional weight?

--John

In my opinion....no.

Tines stick out about 41" on the heavier model and only 32" on the lighter one.
You'll lose prying power, curling power, pushing power, lift capacity and probably other things.

The compact model for tractors up to 55hp is the ULTIMATE grapple for your tractor!
Travis

 

[Sysop]

It wasn't for me. The only thing the additional opening will get you is bigger bites on brush piles if you're uses are like mine. This is a handy thing, but overall not really worth it to me. Even with my "tiny" 54" grapple with the "small" 37" opening, it moves about 10x the brush in one bite as I can fit in my UTV and the trailer it pulls (I could bury the UTV with a couple grapples of brush). Part of this is getting good with the operation and balling up lots of brush and crushing it down to get a lot in the grapple; but it still takes several days worth of work and completes it in several hours and the UTV stays parked during such cleanup now. I'm happy with that. The tradeoff between size and precision is something I considered a lot before making my choice. Also, I honestly don't see me moving stones or trees any larger than 37". If I do, chains and straps are in my future (which is how I've been used to doing everything before the grapple anyway), and perhaps a skidding winch (on my list of desired tools). Another consideration of a larger opening, is that when open, the lid(s) stick up higher and it hinders view a good bit more.

 

[Xfaxman]

I have owned both styles, clamshell and L bottom. You can carry more brush with the L bottom.

Here is a good thread on the different styles: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/372194-enjoying-new-grapple.html

Here is one with a very large opening, but I don't know what it weighs: Brush Grabbers | Young's Welding, Inc.