Outdoor Wood Furnace Info

All-Purpose OWF Discussions => Equipment => Topic started by: Roscoe on April 20, 2018, 07:03:19 PM

Title: Skid Steer Root Grapple Buckets
Post by: Roscoe on April 20, 2018, 07:03:19 PM
I was going to revive the 2016 thread but thought better of it as things have changed and the cost of steel has went up.....or at least that's what it looks like by the price of the new grapples.

I have an old 60" Titan root grapple with the double thumbs. Solid grapple, a little bent up but no complaints. It has the greasable pivot points and cost me a little under $900 shipped back about 8 years ago. The same grapple now is $1579 shipped.

So my question is who is running what and what did you pay including freight? Im looking for a 72" or bigger with double thumbs and greasable pivot points. Reason being I have a bigger machine now.Titan has this one:

https://www.palletforks.com/skid-steer-attachments/grapples/grapple-buckets/72-skid-steer-root-grapple-bucket-attachment.html

I'd like to stay under $2k     
Title: Re: Skid Steer Root Grapple Buckets
Post by: wreckit87 on April 22, 2018, 08:03:23 AM
Following... For my entire life we've been loading every block by hand, trailering home, unloading by hand and stacking. Last year finally I saw someone using a grapple and ended up trading him a bottle of Crown to use it for a weekend. That was a Virnig MFG brand (their factory is 20 miles from here but they are national) and is VERY well built (but also 4 grand), but the tines had a weird V wedge that would get blocks stuck in them. Heck of a lot better than loading by hand but less than ideal for firewood. I've been looking all winter at different brands and most seem to be local manufacturers, no big name items down in the affordable range. Few weeks ago I was at a consignment auction with a handful of new ones with double thumbs, looked very well built with nice tines and they all sold in the $800-1100 range. I couldn't justify spending that on something I use once a year when I can rent one for $26, but I've got an offer in on a 40 acre wooded parcel down the road so now I may be in the market again
Title: Re: Skid Steer Root Grapple Buckets
Post by: mlappin on April 22, 2018, 06:33:42 PM
Mine has the kinda weird V thing in the center, its for uprooting small trees….
Title: Re: Skid Steer Root Grapple Buckets
Post by: juddspaintballs on April 23, 2018, 11:51:02 AM
I want a grapple mostly for felling trees, collecting the brush with the grapple, and carrying it over the hill I push the brush down.  It makes a good habitat for small wildlife and it's a lot easier than running it through a chipper. 
Title: Re: Skid Steer Root Grapple Buckets
Post by: RSI on April 23, 2018, 04:12:51 PM
I bought mine from this place http://wildkatattachments.com/grapples.html
It works ok but looks like they cut all the metal with a torch and hand weld everything. When I bought mine, I called them and they gave me a much better price than what was shown on their site.

I am not sure how they compare to the Titan. I went with it instead of the Titan because it was made in USA and the Titan was made in China. I am guessing the Titan fit and finish may be better but I don't really care that much about looks on something like this.
Title: Re: Skid Steer Root Grapple Buckets
Post by: Roscoe on April 23, 2018, 11:02:13 PM
I bought mine from this place http://wildkatattachments.com/grapples.html
It works ok but looks like they cut all the metal with a torch and hand weld everything. When I bought mine, I called them and they gave me a much better price than what was shown on their site.

I am not sure how they compare to the Titan. I went with it instead of the Titan because it was made in USA and the Titan was made in China. I am guessing the Titan fit and finish may be better but I don't really care that much about looks on something like this.

The 72" #6 from your link is damn near identical to the 72" Titan. Costs about the same as well. Looks dont matter to me either altho I question the "made in the usa"on a lot of things. Very well maybe ASSEMBLED here in the U S of A but using "Chinese steel" as some call it. Who knows? Thanks for the link   
Title: Re: Skid Steer Root Grapple Buckets
Post by: mlappin on April 24, 2018, 07:10:21 PM
Paid about $900 awhile back from a place in Indianapolis, freight didn’t cost me anything as Dad had a truck coming back from that direction anyways.
Title: Re: Skid Steer Root Grapple Buckets
Post by: agriffinjd on April 25, 2018, 12:04:40 PM
I bought mine from this place http://wildkatattachments.com/grapples.html
It works ok but looks like they cut all the metal with a torch and hand weld everything. When I bought mine, I called them and they gave me a much better price than what was shown on their site.

I am not sure how they compare to the Titan. I went with it instead of the Titan because it was made in USA and the Titan was made in China. I am guessing the Titan fit and finish may be better but I don't really care that much about looks on something like this.

The 72" #6 from your link is damn near identical to the 72" Titan. Costs about the same as well. Looks dont matter to me either altho I question the "made in the usa"on a lot of things. Very well maybe ASSEMBLED here in the U S of A but using "Chinese steel" as some call it. Who knows? Thanks for the link

I bought the stump grapple from Wildkat, I believe.  A local dealer carried their stuff.  It's been good.  The Grapple got a little twisted from hauling around a 40' red pine without having it balanced perfectly, but still works just fine.
Title: Re: Skid Steer Root Grapple Buckets
Post by: mlappin on April 25, 2018, 09:00:53 PM


I bought the stump grapple from Wildkat, I believe.  A local dealer carried their stuff.  It's been good.  The Grapple got a little twisted from hauling around a 40' red pine without having it balanced perfectly, but still works just fine.

I’ve not twisted my grapple yet, but have watched the entire loader frame flex on the Bobcat from not having a tree balanced.

Title: Re: Skid Steer Root Grapple Buckets
Post by: agriffinjd on April 26, 2018, 06:19:49 AM


I bought the stump grapple from Wildkat, I believe.  A local dealer carried their stuff.  It's been good.  The Grapple got a little twisted from hauling around a 40' red pine without having it balanced perfectly, but still works just fine.

I’ve not twisted my grapple yet, but have watched the entire loader frame flex on the Bobcat from not having a tree balanced.

Yikes.  Good to know.  Thankfully that didn't happen.  We had cut a tree down across our private road and I needed to move it in a hurry.  Usually I only carry around 8' logs...
Title: Re: Skid Steer Root Grapple Buckets
Post by: schoppy on May 01, 2018, 11:02:46 PM
After looking over a lot of different brands I bought a Rock grapple (because I farm also I wanted it for multi purpose) and Pallet forks from Prime Attachments. Seems to be very well built and was free shipping for me as I bought them at a farm show and 2 attachments at the same time. They are made in Minnesota. Was well under $2000 also. They have many different attachments as well.