I am going to be upping my fleet of skidsteers and am going to need a new grapple. The ones I am using are four years old and I got them from caterpillar. At the time there were not many grapples for sale, Now they are a dime a dozen.
I need one extremely strong and durable . We pick up and move many cedar trees at one time to haul to the grinder. Occasionally we have been known to hit a stump with the forks or tines and break or bend them. That is why I need some strong forks.
Does any one have any brands in mind that might fit the bill? Or experience with any that seem weak?
okmulch, I have a grapple for the loader on my JD tractor. Have had it 3-4 yrs now and have had good luck with it. I move rocks with it very often and haven't bent anything except the screen in the little window. Made by Addington Equipment in N.H. http://www.addingtonequipment.com/grapplerakes.html It's a lot stronger than it looks in the Photo. I have rolled rocks around half the size of my tractor banging the tines all the way and no damage, it's prob. the handiest attachment I have.
David
I ordered one from an outfit in Ohio that I've had for 3 years or so ago. I believe its 72inch wide and 9 tines. They are reinforced about 6 inches back and it has two grapple clamps that run off your aux hydraulics. I believe there are several outfits that make basically the exact same attachment but this is the style I believe you want. In three years I have slightly bent one of the tines but other than that its basically still in new condition. With this attachment you can move logs, as well as small pieces of wood, rocks ect. You can rip up gravel driveways with the spikes and also backgrade very effectively because of the reinforcing bar that goes across. Its also great for "plowing" gardens This attachment rarely comes off the machine because it can do almost everything.
If you want me to try to get the phone number of the place I will go dig through my records but I do remember it was from Ohio. And again, there are numerous places that make basically the same thing presumably because the design is so good.
Just make certain that the one you get is rated for the size of your skidsteer.
Ex. My Jd 317 won't tear up my grapples, and I've tried, but my friends Jd 332? would rip them up. Heck he even tears his grapples up, but he is the kind that could tear up an anvil with a rubber mallet ;D
I'll try to get you some brand names this weekend.
I'd go for the double clamping and not just the single type if you are handling logs.
Paul
Here are a couple of manufactures for you to check out.
http://www.markhamwelding.com/
http://www.anbomanufacturing.com/
http://www.borgford.com/
http://www.wrlonginc.com/
http://www.getbsg.com/common/content.asp?PAGE=137
I bought a tooth bar from Markham Welding a couple of years ago. Well made and good people to deal with.
If you go to that first link that Urbicide posted. The markhamwelding one, and look under what they call "grapple rake" thats the one you want. Again, there are many places that make that same design but that is most definately what you want for what you are doing.
Thanks for theinfo about the websites. I will check them out and see if they are what I am lokking for.
I have the idea in my head of what I want but have not found that it exists yet. :)