New guy in Louisiana

[Frank46]

I'll be getting my brand new Kubota L3800 with LA524 front end loader and woods bush hog hopefully this weekend. And soon to add a grappel to get rid of the piles of dead tree limbs and such. Finally had it with the local JD dealer. Must think his stuff is made from unobtainum as his prices reflect that. Let the proberty get away from me and now want to get it back better than it was before. Will drfinitely need a grappel to pickup the branches and stuff. Any suggestions?. Checked with anbo and they recommended one of their grappels for over 3 grand. Way to high for me. So how about some cheaper options?. Thanks,Frank

 

[TripleR]

Have you checked out Everything Attachments? They have some videos on You Tube and some instructional videos: http://www.everythingattachments.com/Implement-Video-Demonstrations-s/2999.htm

 

[Operator...Error]

I also live in Louisiana. I just bought a 72" 700# grapple Sunday on eBay from Titan attachments. It will be delivered today. They offer some lighter ones too. I have heard a few people have issues with parts of it bending. Not sure exactly what was bent or how it happened, but some folks tend to use things not what it is intended for. After I get it in I can give some first hand detail/opinions on it. It was 1545.00 free shipping to my door. If it turns out that it needs some modifications to strengthen it I am sure starting with a 1545 base price is not that bad. Where if I get an expensive one and it turned out to need mods I would be more than agitated. Of course my logic and thinking could be wrong.
-Mike

 

[Frank46]

Well they delivered my new baby today. Tomorrow will be test day. The dealer had a CMP grapple and with the third function switch and all the other stuff will run about 2600 bucks. Think the weight is close to 475 pounds. Just going to use it for brush and small trees. I have about 4.5 acres and a lot of trees which translates into a lot of branches and limbs especially after a good storm. I don't even mention whats on the ground after a hurricane. Is the weight of a grapple a consideration concerning how much I can pickup without over loading the hydraulics?. Thanks, Frank

 

[hodge]

Welcome to OTT! How can you sleep tonight? I think I'd put a sleeping bag in the loader bucket...

 

[m32825]

A grapple is very satisfying to use, it's like having your own miniature Hand Of Man to play with:

YouTube : Hand of Man at Bay Area Maker Faire 2013

I went with the WR Long 48" OBG2 grapple for about $1700 and have no complaints.

-- Carl

 

[trouble11]

Welcome to OTT Frank46

 

[Frank46]

Many thanks for the nice welcome. Took my new toy out for a test drive today. Note to self: remember to lift the bush hog before driving on concrete. Interesting skid marks. So much difference with the L3800 versus the 2305. Felt more comfortable, safer, and suprisingly a lot less noise with the L3800 than the 2305. The difference was immediatly noticeable. Still have yet to cut the grass on the back section of the property. In my mind should have dropped the bucks on an orange tractor rather than what I had on the john Deere.Do need some practice with the bucket and am a proud owner of about 6 yards of dirt when we had the new septic system installed. Now we can flush till we turn blue without any suprises. Even came with a full tank of diesel. Frank

 

[skeets]

Frank, that same thought has passed through a lot of our minds, I spent years with that damned yellow machine, nickeled and dimed me to death,, Had I saved wait I spent on all that I could have paid cash for my little beasty,, Welcome and pictures man pictures

 

[Frank46]

Well this is sugar cane country and they are harvesting and grinding now. Should finish up around Christmas or New Years day. The farmers use a lot of john deere tractors so I figured they ought to know what works and what doesn't. Well I learned what worked and what didn't. Sick and tired of getting taken to the cleaners when something craps out. Shoulda,coulda and woulda. I'm not a spring chicken anymore and with health issues getting old really stinks.
Thanks again,Frank

 

[skeets]

Yeah getting old aint for sissies lol

 

[xtruckerbob]

Welcome
I just bought my wife a new 2670 with loader and mmm We tryed hard to buy a JD but the dealer in Winnsboro Louisiana insulted us personally several times about have not bought JD before then made fun of the BX2200 we were trading. The JD dealer in Delhi Louisiana would not give us a price. Nelson Tractor here in Winnsboro bent over backward and gave us the very best price. Enjoy the new Kubota I am sure you will get many years of great service from it.

 

[Frank46]

As related in another thread I took my new baby out and did the whole back section in about 3 hours. Few spots can't do as there are a bunch of low overhanging branches. So as I get a decent gas powered pole saw the branches and me are gonna spend some quality time together. Would you believe that the lowe's I went to did not have any gas powered pole saws??. kept trying to show me these gizmo's that have all sorts of attachments. I kept telling him just a pole saw to cut branches. I got disgusted and left. Firt time I ever got skunked at lowe's. Frank

 

[Eric McCarthy]

You're going to have to head to a Stihl dealer and get a quality power pruner. The big box stores won't carry them for the average homeowner. Ohh and just because it has a handy dandy motor it'll still work you to death holding it up in the air as they are not light weight. Also they will get hung in a limb bad if you're not careful on your cuts.

http://www.stihlusa.com/products/pole-pruners/

 

[Eric McCarthy]

This little slice of heaven will cost you alot less and cuts pretty fast actually and gets 10 feet into the air. http://www.stihlusa.com/products/pole-pruners/professional-pole-pruners/pp600/