Grapples

[Anchovy]

I’ve been looking for a grapple for my tractor. I’ve looked at more than half a dozen manufacturers (Land Pride, MTL, Virnig, Kioti, Tiger Attachments, Loflin Fabrication, Bobcat, Everything Attachments, Titan Attachments) However, I still want to look around to find grapple for a good price. But most grapples I’ve found are way too heavy to be useful on my tractor. Can anyone suggest any companies I may not have looked at?

 

[OntheRidge]

Homestead Implements

 

[Anchovy]

Homestead Implements

I’ll give them a look

 

[TheOldHokie]

I’ve been looking for a grapple for my tractor. I’ve looked at more than half a dozen manufacturers (Land Pride, MTL, Virnig, Kioti, Tiger Attachments, Loflin Fabrication, Bobcat, Everything Attachments, Titan Attachments) However, I still want to look around to find grapple for a good price. But most grapples I’ve found are way too heavy to be useful on my tractor. Can anyone suggest any companies I may not have looked at?

I assume we are talking about your L2501/LA525. What is the maximum weight you think you can use on that machine?

Dan

 

[Anchovy]

I assume we are talking about your L2501/LA525. What is the maximum weight you think you can use on that machine?

Dan

According to the lift/load curve. The absolute max is around 1400-1500 (at or just above ground level). The heaviest grapple I would think of getting would be no more than 350lbs but I don’t expect to ever lift more than a few hundred pounds at a time with the grapple

 

[mcmxi]

According to the lift/load curve. The absolute max is around 1400-1500 (at or just above ground level). The heaviest grapple I would think of getting would be no more than 350lbs but I don’t expect to ever lift more than a few hundred pounds at a time with the grapple

There are plenty of grapples suitable for your L2501 that weigh less than 350lb, but you mention "a good price" so what do you mean by that?

 

[Anchovy]

There are plenty of grapples suitable for your L2501 that weigh less than 350lb, but you mention "a good price" so what do you mean by that?

I was hoping to get one for 2k or less. The Loflin is priced at about 1k and most everything else between 2k and 2.5k

 

[Goz63]

So I have an L2501 and the LP0660. Works great. I would suggest though you don’t go the cheapest one. These tractors can tear up a grapple. Watch GP outdoors and he bent his with an LX2610. Personally I would either go with the LP as you can do 2 years with 0% interest if cost is a factor. I like mine. Or with the EA Wicked grapple. The latter though requires all the money upfront and from what I understand is 4-6+ months for delivery. Now don’t get us all started on that thread again lol.

 

[Jchonline]

I assume we are talking about your L2501/LA525. What is the maximum weight you think you can use on that machine?

Dan

LA525 is lifting about 1000 lbs max height..so it needs to be a nice light one. EA does a great job of balancing weight with stability. However they require up front paid in full and are at 4 months lead time (I do believe they will refund in full if you cancel a certain amount of time before shipping). I would see what they recommend then find other manufacturers to compare (weight, materials, features). If you dont find anything equivalent and can wait for EA…then do so.

You get what you pay for. Be very careful, some companies are USA based but import in bulk from China. It is often hard to find replacement parts down the road in these scenarios. To cut costs the US company orders 500 grapples in bulk from China….and these may never be produced exactly the same again (Hence the parts issue). Just research to know what you are buying.

 

[TheOldHokie]

According to the lift/load curve. The absolute max is around 1400-1500 (at or just above ground level). The heaviest grapple I would think of getting would be no more than 350lbs but I don’t expect to ever lift more than a few hundred pounds at a time with the grapple

The max lift on the LA525 is pins at ground level and is roughly 2000+ lbs.

The reason I ask is because I just purchased a 60" RG-7 from MTL and it clocks in at 525#. It will lift quite a bit to full height - more than I would feel comfortable with on anything other than a level paved or concrete surface. Without a lighter grapple to actually compare I am not sure how much difference that 175 pounds actually makes for anything other than dead weight lifting of large logs. or rocks. The one thing I do think you should consider is the length of the lower tines. The tines and lids on the RG-7 are quite long and that makes the grapple noticeably front heavy. It also gives it a big bite which is PRO to go against the CONs. Even with all of that weight and balance issues it works just fine for moving large piles of brush and tree tops . It also transports and stacks pretty substantial logs with no issues.

To sum that up payload lifting capacity is not nearly as big an issue as is the the stability of an L01 with a max load on the front. I have in excess of 1000# of ballast on my L3901 and it really needs another 500# to 1000# and wheels widened with heavy loads on the loader. As is I can easily lift a rear wheel on uneven ground picking up considerably less than max lift capacity.

Dan

 

[Anchovy]

LA525 is lifting about 1000 lbs max height..so it needs to be a nice light one. EA does a great job of balancing weight with stability. However they require up front paid in full and are at 4 months lead time (I do believe they will refund in full if you cancel a certain amount of time before shipping). I would see what they recommend then find other manufacturers to compare (weight, materials, features). If you dont find anything equivalent and can wait for EA…then do so.

You get what you pay for. Be very careful, some companies are USA based but import in bulk from China. It is often hard to find replacement parts down the road in these scenarios. To cut costs the US company orders 500 grapples in bulk from China….and these may never be produced exactly the same again (Hence the parts issue). Just research to know what you are buying.

Yeah. Currently, I’m between the Kioti 60”, the Virnig 60”, or the EA 55”. They all look really beefy and are in the same neighborhood when it comes to weight and price. I just can’t shake the idea that I would like a grapple that’s at least as wide as my tractor which is 60” wide with the tires.

 

[nota4re]

The max lift on the LA525 is pins at ground level and is roughly 2000+ lbs.

Not sure where that number is coming from. Kubota specs the max lift weight (at the pins) at 1131lbs. That is consistent with what I observed on my L2501 and there's also a couple of youtube video tests that got almost the same number. It won't come close to 2000lbs (or I likely wouldn't have traded it in.)

 

[i7win7]

B2650 / LP SGC0660 grapple - I'm satisfied with it

 

[Anchovy]

Not sure where that number is coming from. Kubota specs the max lift weight (at the pins) at 1131lbs. That is consistent with what I observed on my L2501 and there's also a couple of youtube video tests that got almost the same number. It won't come close to 2000lbs (or I likely wouldn't have traded it in.)

If you already have a backhoe, why does it matter if your tractor can lift 2,000lbs? That backhoe can lift 6,000 easy

 

[TheOldHokie]

Not sure where that number is coming from. Kubota specs the max lift weight (at the pins) at 1131lbs. That is consistent with what I observed on my L2501 and there's also a couple of youtube video tests that got almost the same number. It won't come close to 2000lbs (or I likely wouldn't have traded it in.)

Per the owners manual lift capacity at ground level (aka breakout force) is 10951kg/2462 pounds. Also notice the capacity of the exact same loader on the L3301 is less although both are producing the exact same hydraulic pressure. Odd isn't it? Let me suggest those numbers are exactly what the table in the manual says - "operational specifications" - not actual physical lifting limits. I have a crane scale good to 2200 lbs - would you like for me to actually pull up a max load and measure it?

Dan

 

[LarryBud]

How about a MTL?

They have a 48, 54 & 60". All under 400 lbs and < $1300 delivered. Im very pleased with mine and in it was delivered in 1 week from the date of order,

MTL 48" / 54" / 60" Skid Steer Root Grapple Bucket Attachment-Orange — MTL Attachments

Brand New Built in the USA 48" Compact Tractor Root Grapple bucket for skid steers The complete MTL line is built in the USA, by hard working families living in the USA High Strength Steel A36 HYDRAULIC CYLINDER COVERS INCLUDED !!! 3/8" sides - middles-Uppers

www.mtlattachments.com

 

[nota4re]

Per the owners manual lift capacity at ground level (aka breakout force) is 10951kg/2462 pounds.

With all due respect, breakout force is NOT lift capacity at ground level. Breakout force is typically measured using BOTH the lift and curl cylinders as well as also leveraging the back edge of the bucket against the ground as a fulcrum. I agree that with a grapple, breakout force may be interesting in some tasks - like leveraging up stubborn roots. But overall lift capacity is also something that needs to be considered (as OP is doing) because if you put a heavy grapple on the L-series, you're going to subtract that weight from what you can actually lift.

Here's a real-world test and the numbers were pretty close to Kubota's published specs.

 

[nota4re]

If you already have a backhoe, why does it matter if your tractor can lift 2,000lbs? That backhoe can lift 6,000 easy

Yeah, the 580M is a monster and I haven't found anything it wont lift. It has been a HUGE asset for us during the last year or two as we have prepared our lot to build on. When we are done building (and have the septic, electrical, gas trenching all done) we'll likely sell the 580 and get a backhoe attachment for the DK4210 which will be the tractor we keep.

 

[Anchovy]

How about a MTL?

They have a 48, 54 & 60". All under 400 lbs and < $1300 delivered. Im very pleased with mine and in it was delivered in 1 week from the date of order,

MTL 48" / 54" / 60" Skid Steer Root Grapple Bucket Attachment-Orange — MTL Attachments

Brand New Built in the USA 48" Compact Tractor Root Grapple bucket for skid steers The complete MTL line is built in the USA, by hard working families living in the USA High Strength Steel A36 HYDRAULIC CYLINDER COVERS INCLUDED !!! 3/8" sides - middles-Uppers

www.mtlattachments.com

I looked but I don’t like the design. I’m not sure a box design like that would help picking up small brush, seems like it would all just fall out because there’s no pressure keeping everything together in the middle

 

[Anchovy]

Yeah, the 580M is a monster and I haven't found anything it wont lift. It has been a HUGE asset for us during the last year or two as we have prepared our lot to build on. When we are done building (and have the septic, electrical, gas trenching all done) we'll likely sell the 580 and get a backhoe attachment for the DK4210 which will be the tractor we keep.

I was looking into buying a used backhoe before I decided to just buy a new tractor. It’d be awesome to have one but not very practical if you don’t have many uses for it