14 aspects to consider when buying a grapple

What to consider when shopping for a grapple.
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01:10 - 1. Root Rake vs Grapple with a Floor
02:33 - 2. Steel Quality
03:22 - 3. Parking Stand
04:10 - 4. Supported Lower Tines
05:22 - 5. Routing of Hydraulics
06:29 - 6. Hydraulic Cylinder Guards
06:53 - 7. Serrated Teeth
07:41 - 8. Replaceable Teeth
08:08 - 9. Single vs Double Lids
09:01 - 10. Hydraulic Couplers
09:39 - 11. Chain Hooks
10:38 - 12. Weight
11:48 - 13. Tine Spacing
12:31 - 14. Damage to Third Function
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[@JwaltonF150]

That last few seconds….. 👀 lol

[@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.

[@ritterjon]

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

[@BTarpley805]

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

[@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!

[@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!!!

[@oxfletch]

Super-educational. Thank you!

[@RickSRT1]

Great video regarding type selection.

[@RobertBrothersJr-dc7nr]

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

[@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.

[@walterchapin33]

Good information. Thank you.

[@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.

[@jameskennerly9748]

Awesome thanks!

[@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...

[@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.

[@Ron-0417]

Thanks Neil, for the last second warning

[@hphillips7425]

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

[@howelake]

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

[@matthewdingman2177]

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

[@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.

[@sheltonsmith9270]

love having one

[@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.

[@DJC995]

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

[@dereksmith1803]

Love my Vernig.

[@John_Ridenour]

I've been grappling with this topic.

[@MessicksEquip]

Lost opportunity on that one.

[@calebsjunkremovalservice7593]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@bigsway4414]

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

[@m9ovich785]

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

[@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.

[@alc3546]

No opinion on the pallet fork with grapple ?

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@jimmaag4274]

Did Peanut land at your store?

[@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.

[@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.