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Author Topic: Skidsteer Grapples  (Read 10123 times)

agriffinjd

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Skidsteer Grapples
« on: February 21, 2016, 03:21:28 PM »

I'm trying to decide what kind of grapple to buy for my skidsteer.  Is a grapple bucket better than a set of forks with a grapple on it?  Or is a simple grapple (like a Frostbite brand grapple) the best way to go?  I want to be able to fall a tree and haul it out of the woods then buck it with the chainsaw near the stove.  Seems like forks with a grapple would work well, but I don't know how tightly it can hold some 8' logs and think maybe a Frostbite type grapple would be best.

Thoughts?
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coolidge

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Re: Skidsteer Grapples
« Reply #1 on: February 21, 2016, 06:07:36 PM »

I have one similar to what you are looking at, the frostbite, they work great, but there are times when I wished I had the bucket with grapple.
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hoardac

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Re: Skidsteer Grapples
« Reply #2 on: February 21, 2016, 07:54:10 PM »

I got a bucket with brush grabber. I welded a piece of pipe in each corner of the bucket. I put 1 inch diameter solid stock that sticks out about 8 inches held with a nut and bolt welded onto the pipe goes into a hole in solid shaft to hold it in place. It allows me to use the bucket to grab really big logs. I can grab really big logs with that setup 36 inches with no problems. Without it around 20 inches. Saved me a bunch of cash and works just fine. When I do not have any giant logs the solid stock slides back into the pipe same bolt holds them in place. I welded a small tab on each end to keep it from falling out and to keep the hole aligned and allow me to hit it with a hammer to bring it out.
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mlappin

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Re: Skidsteer Grapples
« Reply #3 on: February 21, 2016, 08:41:48 PM »

Mines actually a root rake with grapple on it, works great for cleaning up after topping a tree out.
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Roscoe

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Re: Skidsteer Grapples
« Reply #4 on: February 23, 2016, 07:17:52 AM »

Mines actually a root rake with grapple on it, works great for cleaning up after topping a tree out.

X2  :thumbup:
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Re: Skidsteer Grapples
« Reply #5 on: March 12, 2016, 11:39:46 AM »

Has anyone used both the type with solid bottom (like the Bobcat brand) and the slotted type? I am thinking the solid bottom could be used as a bucket for dirt and gravel too and save swapping to the bucket as often.
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mlappin

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Re: Skidsteer Grapples
« Reply #6 on: March 12, 2016, 12:29:06 PM »

Has anyone used both the type with solid bottom (like the Bobcat brand) and the slotted type? I am thinking the solid bottom could be used as a bucket for dirt and gravel too and save swapping to the bucket as often.

Depends on hows it built as to whether or not it was intended to apply a break out force to it.
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Re: Skidsteer Grapples
« Reply #7 on: March 12, 2016, 02:34:08 PM »

This is what the Bobcat ones look like.

 
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MerrellRoofing

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Re: Skidsteer Grapples
« Reply #8 on: March 12, 2016, 03:31:14 PM »

Depends on how and what you are loading. My woodpile is full of dirt from loading my dumptruck with my buddies solid bottom grapple. Slotted will let some dirt fall out. Slotted bottom with tines curved upward would grab logs better I would think.
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mlappin

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Re: Skidsteer Grapples
« Reply #9 on: March 12, 2016, 08:43:51 PM »

This is similar to what I use, handle logs, entire trees, limbs after topping a tree, large rocks, round bales, etc. Works great for cleaning up behind he LimbHog as well, I’ve even used it to clean limbs and leaves out of a shallow ditch that runs thru one of our woods.



« Last Edit: March 12, 2016, 08:53:55 PM by mlappin »
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Re: Skidsteer Grapples
« Reply #10 on: March 12, 2016, 09:53:52 PM »

That Bradco grapple looks really nice but way more expensive than I want.

These don't look as good but are much cheaper. Do you think they would work ok?
http://www.palletforks.com/skid-steer-attachments/grapples/grapple-rakes.html

Is there any reason to get a wider model? I would mostly use it on the Toolcat so I would go with a 60" unless there is a reason to go wider than the Bobcat.
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mlappin

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Re: Skidsteer Grapples
« Reply #11 on: March 13, 2016, 07:09:58 AM »

I went wider than the skid steer so the tracks wouldn’t be running over anything and mashing it into our softer clay soils.

Mines not a Bradco but similar, I wanted the root rake style so I could get all the topping and limbs when following up after the Limbhog, I can have the teeth just barely digging in, get all the branches and barely disturb the soil. Mine is also in halves on the top assembly so it can grip really odd shapes fairly well.
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RSI

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Re: Skidsteer Grapples
« Reply #12 on: March 14, 2016, 12:03:04 PM »

I haven't seen any grapple rakes with the 2 piece top.
Do you think those titans that I posted the link to are any good?
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mlappin

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Re: Skidsteer Grapples
« Reply #13 on: March 14, 2016, 04:44:39 PM »

I haven't seen any grapple rakes with the 2 piece top.
Do you think those titans that I posted the link to are any good?

Search for em and see what other people are saying about them is my only suggestion.

I can’t remember what brand mine is, bought it online and one of Dads drivers was coming thru Indianapolis and picked it up for me.

Think I paid a touch over 2K for it but won’t swear to that.
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fireboss

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Re: Skidsteer Grapples
« Reply #14 on: March 14, 2016, 05:47:51 PM »

I just picked up a  t m splitter for my skid steer ! Well worth its weight in gold!
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