Anyone have experience with "North American Implements" grapples?

[trackman23]

I'm looking for a grapple for my MX4800 and came across North American Implements (https://northamericanimplements.com/) who seem to have decent prices for their Standard Duty, 60", dual top tine Grapple (under $2K). It is a little heavy at 610 lbs which is my main hesitation, but I am interested to know if anyone here has bought from them before and has any feedback.

Thanks!

 

[fried1765]

I'm looking for a grapple for my MX4800 and came across North American Implements (https://northamericanimplements.com/) who seem to have decent prices for their Standard Duty, 60", dual top tine Grapple (under $2K). It is a little heavy at 610 lbs which is my main hesitation, but I am interested to know if anyone here has bought from them before and has any feedback.

Thanks!

610 lbs. is WAY heavy for a 60" grapple!
Is it made from concrete?

 

[GrizBota]

Seems about 100 to 150 lbs heavy and $1k light. Check the specs for AR steal vs A36. Check the number of hinges (two or four) and the tine thickness. Check the hydraulic cylinder shaft diameter and hose routing. And check the pivot pins, greasable or not? Just a bolt vs a real pin?

Couldn’t find the unit you mentioned (60” standard duty at 610 lbs). I did find the 66” HD Class and 60” C Class. Both are using mild steel, A36, vs AR (abrasion resistance) steel. Also noted Schedule 40 tubing, that’s not impressive (but it is cheap). That’s one reason they are less expensive. The pivot pins and hydraulic rams looks decent enough, the tines are 1/2” plate and they need to be since they are mild steel (A36), about half the yield strength (36 ksi) of even the lower grade AR steel (70 ksi, IIRC).

I bought my grapple from CID early 2023, about $3k on the west coast, made on the east coast. 66”, single lid (four hinge). AR steel.

 

[trackman23]

Thanks! Which version of CID did you get (Standard, Heavy Duty, etc.)? Also, probably a different thread but how did you decide to get the clam shell type vs the flat bottom type?

Seems about 100 to 150 lbs heavy and $1k light. Check the specs for AR steal vs A36. Check the number of hinges (two or four) and the tine thickness. Check the hydraulic cylinder shaft diameter and hose routing. And check the pivot pins, greasable or not? Just a bolt vs a real pin?

Couldn’t find the unit you mentioned (60” standard duty at 610 lbs). I did find the 66” HD Class and 60” C Class. Both are using mild steel, A36, vs AR (abrasion resistance) steel. Also noted Schedule 40 tubing, that’s not impressive (but it is cheap). That’s one reason they are less expensive. The pivot pins and hydraulic rams looks decent enough, the tines are 1/2” plate and they need to be since they are mild steel (A36), about half the yield strength (36 ksi) of even the lower grade AR steel (70 ksi, IIRC).

I bought my grapple from CID early 2023, about $3k on the west coast, made on the east coast. 66”, single lid (four hinge). AR steel.

View attachment 119501

View attachment 119502

 

[GrizBota]

Thanks! Which version of CID did you get (Standard, Heavy Duty, etc.)? Also, probably a different thread but how did you decide to get the clam shell type vs the flat bottom type?

I got the standard duty, here's the spec sheet (or as close as CID comes to having available as a spec sheet).

I went with the clam shell style for handling brush from trimming Douglas Fir trees as well as winter deadfall. I don’t have a need to sieve rocks so I didn’t need that style. I really wanted a Land Pride SGC1060 unit (same style) but I wasn’t will to pay an easy two or three grand more for it. I did some window shopping with online specs, diagrams and photos as well as reading on the net what other grappler owners thought and their applications. Plus a friend of mine had the LP unit I wanted and did the same type of work I plan to with it. And I have another friend that does forestry commercially with a skid steer and he used the same style of grapple. Then I looked at the various grapples in person to the extent I could (which included CDI and LP as well as about 3 Chinese units). It’s also the style most forestry operators use here in the PNW.

Happy shopping!

 

[trackman23]

Thx! Did you also consider the ones from Homestead implements? They seem similar to EA but more in line with CID (or lower) in terms of price.

 

[GrizBota]

Thx! Did you also consider the ones from Homestead implements? They seem similar to EA but more in line with CID (or lower) in terms of price.

Although I did research the Homestead Implements, I wasn’t able to find a local retailer (so I couldn’t look at one directly). IIRC, I couldn’t confirm all the pivot pins were greaseable. They might be. As to EA, their prices were in the LP range and they were having trouble making deliveries on the timeframe they promised, as per my research here on OTT. I do believe they ship directly, but I wasn’t willing to buy sight unseen. I’d had just bought the LP if I was willing to pay the EA prices.

 

[Donystoy]

Hate to swear but I love my Kioti grapple that I bought last year. Great quality and half the price of the land pride equivalent that my dealer had to offer.

 

[ferguson]

Have a skid steer attechment depot 72" duel cylinder root rake grapple 600lb on my L3130 / If i had to buy one agen i get a 60" or 66" Not because of WT "Might" be juse a little easer to maneuver arround & get in to places (Tractor has 72" bucket)

 

[trackman23]

Well folks; I ordered the CID 63” standard grapple today! Thx for all the input!

 

[GrizBota]

Well folks; I ordered the CID 63” standard grapple today! Thx for all the input!

Congratulations. I think you’ll appreciate it. I like mine pretty well.

 

[Donystoy]

You are going to love your grapple. Had mine on the tractor almost all of last summer as I cleared brush and dead ash trees. I even moved a few fair sized bolders with it.

 

[trackman23]

You are going to love your grapple. Had mine on the tractor almost all of last summer as I cleared brush and dead ash trees. I even moved a few fair sized borders with it.

I’m pretty excited. As soon as I get my certificate of occupancy, I can start clearing for my back yard, shop and trails without any permits so it will get a full workout in the young (14 years old) stand of trees and brush.

 

[trackman23]

Seems about 100 to 150 lbs heavy and $1k light. Check the specs for AR steal vs A36. Check the number of hinges (two or four) and the tine thickness. Check the hydraulic cylinder shaft diameter and hose routing. And check the pivot pins, greasable or not? Just a bolt vs a real pin?

Couldn’t find the unit you mentioned (60” standard duty at 610 lbs). I did find the 66” HD Class and 60” C Class. Both are using mild steel, A36, vs AR (abrasion resistance) steel. Also noted Schedule 40 tubing, that’s not impressive (but it is cheap). That’s one reason they are less expensive. The pivot pins and hydraulic rams looks decent enough, the tines are 1/2” plate and they need to be since they are mild steel (A36), about half the yield strength (36 ksi) of even the lower grade AR steel (70 ksi, IIRC).

I bought my grapple from CID early 2023, about $3k on the west coast, made on the east coast. 66”, single lid (four hinge). AR steel.

View attachment 119501

View attachment 119502

Do you have a picture of how / where the hydraulic lines are being routed out of your grapple? Mine are coming out of the wrong side so I need to modify things but was thinking maybe to being them out of the middle of the grapple.

Thanks!

 

[GrizBota]

Do you have a picture of how / where the hydraulic lines are being routed out of your grapple? Mine are coming out of the wrong side so I need to modify things but was thinking maybe to being them out of the middle of the grapple.

Thanks!

Sure. Here you go. The lines on the grapple exit on the left side. I set up my 3rd function on the right side of the FEL. The hydraulic hoses are plenty long to connect to the 3rd function on my application. I have to use a bungee cord to manage the excess line.

The n my grapple, it looks like I could reroute the lines to exit to the right if I wanted.

Good Luck

 

[trackman23]

Sure. Here you go. The lines on the grapple exit on the left side. I set up my 3rd function on the right side of the FEL. The hydraulic hoses are plenty long to connect to the 3rd function on my application. I have to use a bungee cord to manage the excess line.

The n my grapple, it looks like I could reroute the lines to exit to the right if I wanted.

Good Luck

View attachment 126252

View attachment 126253

Thank you!