Looking at the Stinger brand grapples for compact tractors and not sure which width to purchase. Weight difference is less than 50 pounds, both under 400 lbs. What are your opinions? I know everyone has one. 
Grapple width for LX4020, 56" or 66"?
- Thread starter Outback101
- Start date
I would get the larger one because it will be a little wider than the front tire total width. I like having the grapple clear debris ahead of the tires. I have a 64" on my tractor.
I have a 60" grapple but sometimes wish I'd bought the 66" version which is 200lb heavier. At the time I only had the MX so it made sense to go with the 400lb grapple vs. the 600lb grapple. The front tread width of the MX is 52.2" but it's adjustable on the M6060 from 55.9" to 59.8". Still under 60" but it does look undersized on the bigger tractor.
L3940/66" grapple. The only time I wish it was wider is when I'm using it as a stick plow. Pretty rare, really, so for me the width is good. I think it probably depends on your use cases whether or not the wider one would make a difference.
There's surely a best choice for each application..... I went with a 54" for my B2601, to minimize weight and to keep it nimble in the woods. I use this same 54" Grapple on my LX4020, with zero complaints! (I did weld in some enforcements between the lower tines though, *after tweaking a couple of them a little)
Donystoy
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Equipment
LX2610HSDCC, B/H, Loader, plus numerous other attachments. B7200 sold
great question I think probably no right / wrong answers only preferences.
For me I went narrower than front wheels. Its a HD AE root grapple and knowing the type of work we make around our place didn't want anything wider than needed as I was worried about operators using the outside tines which are easiest to see to push on stumps / trees / rocks / end of long downed trees / etc... causing too much twisting stresses on loader arms. If I was to do it again I would still go narrow. Tractor loader arms are flimsy compared to track steers loader arms so trying to be careful on twisting forces.
Looking forward to seeing the rational on why others want as wide as the front wheels but not as wide as the rear wheels? If the objective is to have coverage of a machines track like users of snowblowers/box blades/land planes/rear blades/etc..... and / or protect rubber from stick and other pokes then wouldn't the grapple need to be as wide as the rears?
just thinking out loud.
For me I went narrower than front wheels. Its a HD AE root grapple and knowing the type of work we make around our place didn't want anything wider than needed as I was worried about operators using the outside tines which are easiest to see to push on stumps / trees / rocks / end of long downed trees / etc... causing too much twisting stresses on loader arms. If I was to do it again I would still go narrow. Tractor loader arms are flimsy compared to track steers loader arms so trying to be careful on twisting forces.
Looking forward to seeing the rational on why others want as wide as the front wheels but not as wide as the rear wheels? If the objective is to have coverage of a machines track like users of snowblowers/box blades/land planes/rear blades/etc..... and / or protect rubber from stick and other pokes then wouldn't the grapple need to be as wide as the rears?
just thinking out loud.
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I think it depends on the load. Messick’s did a video on how you can overload cylinders with leverage. Go shorter to minimize that effect.
I went with a 55" to save weight. It has worked out pretty good with my L3901DT. I haven't had any problem clearing paths to fell tree with it.