14 aspects to consider when buying a grapple

[@JwaltonF150]

That last few seconds….. 👀 lol

[@jazzlives]

Thanks for making solid fact-based videos. I came to the conclusion steel is where skid steer attachments are weakest because people do not know the difference between A36 steel in bargain attachments and tougher grades like A50, A80, T1, and AR400 in Virnig, FFC, Paladin, Bradco and Land Pride. They shop mainly on price for sub-par attachments, they buy Shandong garbage at auctions that lasts maybe 3 months before bending (or worse). There is a lot of fakery going on among domestic attachment brands as well, I came across a Blue Diamond grapple that turns out is a Loflin with a cute little price gouge. You're also the only salesman talking about cylinder back pressure problems. Good work!

[@ritterjon]

You’re so right about different styles for different needs. Love the comment at the end! *Keep on tractoring!*

[@thebradleysoncatbirdhill6849]

Without a doubt, one of the best discussions of grapples I have seen. 👍 You and Nick really nailed it for me with the Virnig 30 root rake grapple recommendation. I love it!!!

[@JCWren]

I can't believe you passed up the chance to say "If you're grappling with what grapple to purchase..." in the intro.

[@MessicksEquip]

that would have been gold.

[@wbar4398]

I bought an L5740 in 2008 and wanted a grapple. My dealer recommended the RBG72 from WR Long. I’ve used and abused this grapple for over 16 years. I pick up lots of small stuff so this style works best for me. I’m considering a grapple for my SVL 75-2, but the tractor uses less fuel, tears up the ground less and actually can move material further faster.

[@travisgriffiths8170]

My land pride grapple has been an absolute back saver, best implement for clearing food plots and general forestry work

[@RobertBrothersJr-dc7nr]

Very informative video. I always enjoy watching your videos. Thanks

[@garyrichardson8306]

Comprehensive assessments of various factors influencing grapple/rake performance, well presented. Thanks a lot. Other safety factors affected by the holding advantages of the dual hydraulic clamp versions is the reduced possibility of a shifting load due to a log or rock rolling forward or sidewards in the grapple during transfer to the offload point - especially on rough and sloping ground using an implement with a longer type of floor section which could have space for a loose load to shift below a loose clamp. The possible movement can unbalance the tractor forwards or laterally. Tractor wheels (especially smaller ones) rolling on uneven ground can increase the tendency to pitch weight also. Vehicle track and wheelbase and load carrying height are also important considerations. This is not a criticism of the information but some experienced thoughts to support the ideas presented. Regards, Gary.

[@John_Ridenour]

I've been grappling with this topic.

[@MessicksEquip]

Lost opportunity on that one.

[@RickSRT1]

Great video regarding type selection.

[@mrpips000]

I prefer to buy my grapple from a company that will abruptly go out of business.

[@gckshea]

😅😅

[@DemoDad101]

Hahaha….thats gold.

[@gckshea]

EA is/was dirty.

[@genewilliams7497]

Grapples are for suckers!! 😂😂. All you need are pallet forks

[@susitnariverranch6399]

Yeah, I've bought from them before...

[@Ron-0417]

Thanks Neil, for the last second warning

[@hbracerx]

Wow, very thorough. Thanks for a great video. I've been kicking around the idea of a grapple so this was perfect timing and food for thought.

[@kingduck3192]

I know you can’t cover everything but Danuser makes an awesome grapple that goes on pallet forks that adds a thumb to your forks. I have one on my Woods pallet forks. It works excellent for moving logs and slashings.

[@BTarpley805]

A different video got me over here, but I'm happy I found you guys!!!!! Subbed, and set for all notifications!

[@oxfletch]

Super-educational. Thank you!

[@SteveB2601]

Neil, I bought a CB1060 4n1 bucket instead of a grapple. I do love that attachment. I have never used a grapple. Now I only use my tractor around the house and friends houses. The question I have is can you my understanding the benefits over buying a grapple over a 4n1 bucket?

[@MessicksEquip]

I have very little personal experience with four in one buckets. Just not very popular in our market. I would love to give one a shot sometime though. Love the versatility of them, suspect it's easier to manipulate logs with a grapple.

[@matthewdingman2177]

Virnig. Made in my home town in Minnesota. Wish they sold to the public though. Lol.

[@howelake]

We have a land pride root rake for our L2501 been a great tool

[@hphillips7425]

Along with the grapple a grill guard is a must. Also make sure the brush doesn’t detach the grapple from the tractor

[@karlbrundage7472]

Would love to see a demo, especially the installation and operation of the "third-function kit", which I didn't even know was a thing...................

[@MessicksEquip]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bXK9ZYx8aaaFgK8si=oKitDjwe1Myl31-9

[@MessicksEquip]

There's probably half a dozen videos on the channel about third functions

[@m9ovich785]

You left out the 3rd style Grapple, LOG only. Very narrow, Light weight.. like the Frost Byte..

[@dans4900]

Got a bobcat root grapple it has a longer bottom, on an older 864 tracked machine. I've taken a 16" x 30 log wedged it between two trees and torque it till it breaks. Don't need a chainsaw to size it.

[@polobbie]

Neil went into detail regarding the root grapple then just referred to the floor (rock) grapple without going into the pros/cons of that style.

[@alc3546]

No opinion on the pallet fork with grapple ?

[@davidblood9882]

Excellent video! Thank you!

[@bigsway4414]

Another great video from Neil, but no mention of up Dog…

[@DJC995]

Nice One we just use a muck grab 😀😀 Thanks again

[@calebsjunkremovalservice7593]

Root Grapples are better for us when loading trash and debris so you aren’t paying to dump dirt.

[@choppergirl]

I don't understand how to attach a grapple to a tractor that was not designed for one. I have a Yanmar YM1500. Are there kits to fit any generic tractor or am I going to have to weld up my own hardpoint attachment points to match the grapple and come up with my own way to tap into the hydraulic system...

[@MessicksEquip]

yes. Needs a few thousand in couplers and hydraulic work.

[@danhenson6386]

Great video Neil, hit every point that many of us have had to learn the hard way. Been running 60” long bottom from that other place on my L47 for seven years. Have switched out the connectors to flat face & cuss regularly when brush gets hung up in serrated teeth. What would you recommend for a SVL97?

[@MessicksEquip]

For an SVL97, www.messicks.com/new/model/virnig-v60-root-rake-grapple

[@donbrutcher4501]

Ever consider getting into the attachment manufacturing business? Give some thought to taking over Everything Attachments.

[@MessicksEquip]

As interesting as the idea is, it's a different business model we don't know well.

[@sheltonsmith9270]

love having one

[@andrewbartelheimer6127]

One thing I learned the hard way is to be very careful of the clearance with the cylinder guards. My boss got a "Land Honor" (knockoff Land Pride) and promptly split the hydraulic coupler manifold on the SVL75 because the cylinder guard smashed into the hydraulic couplers with all the force of the hydraulics. My recommendation would be to open the clamps all the way and roll the grapple back slowly to make sure stuff won't collide.

[@walterchapin33]

Good information. Thank you.

[@ArchimedesPie]

Wait, what's up with Everthing Attachments? I got the impreasion they made good stuff.

[@MessicksEquip]

I don't want to participate in rumors. I think its safe to say if you do some googling you'll find several lawsuits they are tied up in, and a long list of customers who have not gotten what they paid for.

[@jameskennerly9748]

Awesome thanks!

[@jamesparadiso4667]

I have an EA on my M7060, which is excellent. Too bad they went under. I hate to see any US based company go under.

[@gckshea]

Ted didn't play by the rules, and Mr. Banker wants his loan repaid! Then Ted sells off assets, like lake house, restaurants, inventory, and transfers other assets like house, cars, land into wife's and son's name. He's dirty ...period. Not at all unfortunate. Now, I hate banks, because in the hierarchy of restitution, the banks will get their's first. All the customers with prepaid, undelivered goods are S.O.L. That's the sad part. And all past customers are now unsupported for parts, warranties, service. It's a crappy world.

[@jamesparadiso4667]

I agree with that assessment. He did many things wrong. I hope all who prepaid get their money. Can’t deny they had quality well built implements. Will now have to look for quality elsewhere.

[@smokinbutts2]

EA is back!

[@Mr.Homeowner]

I want a grapple. I have a b2650 but don’t have the extra hydraulic hook up. Would it be useful on my tractor and worth adding?

[@MessicksEquip]

Very much. Glad to help with the parts.

[@Mr.Homeowner]

@@MessicksEquip I’m interested and will be in touch

[@wildbill23c]

Looks like the Land Pride SGC0554 would be the grapple sized for the BX series....too bad its already $2k and add a few hundred bucks for shipping. Should have bought one when I bought the tractor, but like other things I let my salesman talk me out of stuff. Land Pride really needs a program for buying attachments/implements for financing options because and I'm sure I'm not the only one I don't have $2500-3000 lying around for that grapple.

[@MessicksEquip]

There is 0/24

[@wildbill23c]

@@MessicksEquip Hmm, that's good to know, gotta get my tractor paid off first though LOL. Thank you for the information...I'll look into it through my dealer and see what they can do when I'm ready.

[@seanmccurry6737]

I didn’t even know they existed when I bought my 3301 in 2020. Kicked myself for a couple of years and then found the cash. The 0%/24m financing isn’t great (the orange tractor dealers here actually add in 2% charge when financing that way). I also missed out on a Quick Hitch with the purchase. My sales person wasn’t up to par…

[@wildbill23c]

@@seanmccurry6737 2% ain't nothing, compared to many other types of loans you could use that are 30%+ interest...Many of us don't have a bunch of money sitting around unfortunately to rush out and buy expensive implements....so being able to break the payments up into more manageable chunks is a great help. The catch is you gotta pay it off within 23 months with that 0/24 deal otherwise on that 24th month anything left after that will be charged interest all the way back to when you started that loan. Every dealer out there regardless what color, charges you somewhere for that 0% financing....so you either get it or you pay cash, or you go to the bank and take out a loan with a much larger monthly interest rate than the fees you were charged up front for that 0% financing....you get charged somewhere along the lines for everything...but you get the convenience of paying over time, rather than trying to come up with that big huge fancy tractor bill that day.

[@jimmaag4274]

Did Peanut land at your store?

[@dereksmith1803]

Love my Vernig.

[@Deuce_Allan]

what machine is it on

[@dereksmith1803]

​@@Deuce_Allan2012 Case SV250. V60 large capacity skeleton grapple 72". Awesome for loading scrap metal and handling brush.

[@justindavis1546]

Good thing you didn't say the last part out loud.

[@SM-od2yp]

I only watched it to see if any shade would be thrown. HA!

[@plakor6133]

Handiest thing ever.

[@genewilliams7497]

Grapples are for suckers!! 😂😂😂

[@Machinehead0007]

Found the guy that's never had to clear and pile up an overgrown field full of 2"-5" small trees with their compact tractor, and thinks pallet forks will do the job.

[@genewilliams7497]

@@Machinehead0007 learn how to operate a loader and you don’t need a grapple brother….. and yes I’ve cleared 100’s of acres of overgrown fields… farms & ranches but with the right equipment for the job. What you describe is for a bush hog model 406 to clear so you wouldn’t even need pallet forks…… or better yet a Cat D6 LGP dozer. You would be done in a day time MANAGEMENT is EVERYTHING!! That’s how you accomplish so much more

[@Machinehead0007]

@@genewilliams7497 So you're all about the right tool for the job, unless a grapple is the right tool, in which case all you need are pallet forks, according to your other comment. Got it. Is the bush hog 406 the right tool if I don't want roots in the ground? Is a cat D6 the right tool if I'm on a budget and I've got an acre of saplings to clear? Or is the right tool still pallet forks? Your comment is at the very bottom because the algorithm determined it was bad, and I would have to agree.

[@genewilliams7497]

@@Machinehead0007 holy hell Batman……. We’ve actually found a real rocket scientist here…… 😂😂😂😂. WOW. You are the greatest ever in your analysis an problem solving skills.