Grapple options for the L2501/LA525

Runs With Scissors

Well-known member

Equipment
L2501 TLB , Grappel, Brush Hog, Box Blade, Ballast box, Forks, Tiller, PH digger
Jan 25, 2023
2,788
3,339
113
Michigan
Although I like the idea of a "dual lid" unit, for certain things, I'm kind of a "fence sitter".

Just last week, I was using my "single lid" grapple to "back drag" an area, and it works very , very well. I have used it a lot for that same thing.

I'm just not sure if the dual lid models that I have seen, are very good at that maneuver.

Just for reference, I have the HLA brand, (light duty root rake) and I have been very happy with it.

https://hlaattachments.com/item.php?prod=291&cat=9
 

TBK

New member

Equipment
L2501
Apr 23, 2025
3
4
3
Texas
Thank you everyone for the recommendations. I ended up going with the Precision Manufacturing Mini 322. The dual jaws made from AR400 and weighing only 265lbs is what sold me. I've already had several solid days of using it and it is doing great. Shout out to Paige Tractors in Paige, Texas for a very smooth transaction!
 
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Cody Dellinger

New member

Equipment
Kubota L4701
Mar 8, 2024
8
22
3
Stony Point NC
It's hard to believe there's no connection when so many of their implements appear to be cloned from EA implements. And then there's the name thing with the Catawba Rake Grapple 55, 60 and 66 which EA has called the Wicked 55, 60 and 66 for years. The only company that calls a land plane/grading scraper a land leveler is EA, and yet Catawba's recent creation uses the same name for theirs. Even the paint is the same yellow. All indicative of something. Maybe Catawba found a bunch of engineering drawings in a dumpster out back behind the 1506 Emmanuel Church Rd, Conover facility when things weren't going well for EA. :unsure: Afterall, it is only 20 miles from Catawba to EA.

Someone knows the truth in all this, but it sure isn't someone on this forum.


As the Vice President and a second-generation leader at Catawba Attachments (EWI Fabrication & Manufacturing) , I want to clarify that we have no affiliation whatsoever with EA. Established in 1988, our company has its roots in custom fabrication, a field in which we continue to specialize. You can learn more about our services by looking up EWI Fabrication & Manufacturing. The terms "land leveler" and "land plane" are utilized in our product descriptions purely for search engine optimization and marketing purposes. It's a common practice in the industry to include such keywords to enhance visibility. Importantly, our attachments are not clones. All designs are developed in-house using SolidWorks, reflecting our extensive experience in fabrication. We were producing these products well before launching our website, recognizing an opportunity in the market and seizing it! - Cody Dellinger
 
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McMXi

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
***Current*** M6060HDC, MX6000HSTC & GL7000 ***Sold*** MX6000HST & BX25DLB
Feb 9, 2021
6,365
8,294
113
Montana
As the Vice President and a second-generation leader at Catawba Attachments (EWI Fabrication & Manufacturing) , I want to clarify that we have no affiliation whatsoever with EA. Established in 1988, our company has its roots in custom fabrication, a field in which we continue to specialize. You can learn more about our services by looking up EWI Fabrication & Manufacturing. The terms "land leveler" and "land plane" are utilized in our product descriptions purely for search engine optimization and marketing purposes. It's a common practice in the industry to include such keywords to enhance visibility. Importantly, our attachments are not clones. All designs are developed in-house using SolidWorks, reflecting our extensive experience in fabrication. We were producing these products well before launching our website, recognizing an opportunity in the market and seizing it! - Cody Dellinger
Thanks for the clarification re there being no affiliation between your company and EA. However, I won't change my opinion that many of your newer implements such as your grapples borrow heavily from EA designs. But that's your prerogative, and it's a testament to the fact that EA did and does make very good products.

All the best to your company during what will certainly be some very challenging times ahead.
 

Cody Dellinger

New member

Equipment
Kubota L4701
Mar 8, 2024
8
22
3
Stony Point NC
Thanks for the clarification re there being no affiliation between your company and EA. However, I won't change my opinion that many of your newer implements such as your grapples borrow heavily from EA designs. But that's your prerogative, and it's a testament to the fact that EA did and does make very good products.

All the best to your company during what will certainly be some very challenging times ahead.
We looked at the grapples on the market and put our heads together to make them better. There are a ton of grapples on the market from cheap to expensive. We engineered one that could be competitive in price while being one of the strongest and lightest on the market. A few things to note are the stands on the side, and the mount location for the cylinders. The cylinders mount on a 1” thick tab that runs through the tube allowing it to have a very high clamping force. Something else people may not be aware of is that we opted to design one with a standard size cylinder (2x6) so customers don’t have to rely on us to get them one if they ever need to replace it. That’s a very big deal if something breaks on a weekend, it allows you to run to a local tractor supply store and get a cylinder to get up and running again. I also was not a fan of the exposed hydraulic fittings so we turn out cylinders and route the hoses into a protection plate and a channel through the middle. Another question we get asked is why don’t we use DOM and the answer there is simple. We chose schedule 80 pipe because it's a better fit for the engineering demands of our attachments—strong, reliable, and more cost-effective for the end user. We didn’t want customers to pay more for parts that aren’t necessary. The engineering involved allowed us to make that decision with a sound mind. We also recently switch to Hardox 500 tuf to provide even stronger units. Lastly our customer service will set us apart. We have a dedication to God, family and our employees which drives our daily decisions on how we run the business.
Hopefully this clears up any questions for those that get the chance to read it!
 
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