🔴 IS A GRAPPLE REALLY WORTH IT? 💲 DO I NEED A 3rd FUNCTION? 🙄 Grapple Tips and HACKS

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If you've ever thought about buying a grapple for your tractor you need to watch this video. I'll show you how I store mine, how I hook it up and some of the uses of a grapple on the front loader.
A grapple is a fantastic piece of equipment that can do the work of many man-hours in just a few seconds. It's one of the most important attachments I have.
Check it out.
alan
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[@TressaZimmerman]

Great video. Thanks!

[@Genxisthebest]

I was wondering about using my rear remotes for this purpose, me catching this video was a blessing . Thank you.

[@BIGALTX]

It works great. Been using it this way for several years... no problems 3rd function might be a little more convenient, but not worth the extra $$

[@jasonwilliams2204]

You sound just like Matthew Mcconaughey. Enjoyed your video, thanks for sharing.

[@BIGALTX]

Jason Williams You bet. Hope it helped.

[@johnstark3058]

I thought I was the only one who noticed his voice 🤣

[@timbutler3213]

He does sound MM. good call.

[@scottandersen420]

Very nice video, explained very well. Thanks

[@BIGALTX]

Glad it was helpful! You'll love a grapple if you've got a lot of work to do :)

[@skidsteersdirect]

Grapple is an essential! Good tutorial video! 👍🏼

[@BIGALTX]

Yes! Thank you!

[@claytonwhitman2611]

@@BIGALTX Hey I Love how you hooked up your rear hydraulics for your grapple. NICE!! Also: You may want to consider getting some of those bendable rubber coated permanent ties that they sell at Lowes or Home Depot and whatnot. You can get different lengths, thicknesses and sizes and colors. Useful for wrapping up things that you often use like hoses, water hoses, electrical cords, extension cords, etc. You can wrap and unwrap them for months/years, before they wear out. And don't need to keep buying, using, cutting zip ties. Just an idea, maybe it will work for you? Great video !!

[@texasaggie1974]

Good info. Thanks

[@BIGALTX]

👍

[@dannybrown8602]

Very informative. Thanks.

[@BIGALTX]

Glad to help!

[@garyjohn316]

Nice tractor! I just bought a Kubota MX 6000 for my new land in east Texas.

[@BIGALTX]

Good choice! You'll LOVE it!!

[@sugarmtn]

Thanks for the video, good info on the grapple. By the way your voice sounds exactly like Jackie Bushman of Buckmasters!

[@BIGALTX]

Thanks for watching! Most folks say Matthew McConaughey. I get that once or twice a month. I'll have to give a listen to Bushman :)

[@patriots1needed]

They are game changers.

[@BIGALTX]

👍 I sure like mine :)

[@gaspardaltus]

I just purchased one for my tractor and the only thing I can say is I could of save myself a whole lot of work done in the last 14 years. Would not own a tractor without a grabble.

[@BIGALTX]

Amen... LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the grapple. I don't use it much now that my land is (mostly) cleared, but they are SO handy!

[@crazyuncleduke8012]

Very refreshing to see somebody else utilize the rear remotes like I do. It ain't pretty but making it pretty is expensive. :-)

[@BIGALTX]

Yep... Thanks for the confirmation :)

[@joecain2084]

I just ordered 20' hyd. hose and purchased a grapple thanks for the video..

[@BIGALTX]

Glad I could help. I think you'll LOVE the grapple. Which one did you buy?

[@joecain2084]

@@BIGALTX I purchased one off e-bay from skid steer attachments in Alabama.

[@BIGALTX]

👍

[@petrnikityuk9701]

Thank you

[@BIGALTX]

You're welcome

[@gibtube88]

Alright alright alright…Matthew McConaughey moves on from Lincoln to Kubota! 😎

[@BIGALTX]

A much better ride! Hahaha

[@tractortalkwithgary1271]

I have been looking at grapples. I did not get the factory 3rd function when I bought my Kubota L2501 new. It may be a dealer install anyway. it looks like the 3rd function will run about $800, give or take, and about 3 hours labor for the install. That adds up to over a grand. I like your idea here and thanks for sharing it with us.

[@BIGALTX]

You bet! I've never had a situation that I thought a 3rd function would have helped.

[@claytonwhitman2611]

Summit Hydraulics has reasonably priced kits, and great instructions/videos for the DIY'ers for 3rd function and diverter kits. They can help make a custom kit for almost any application also

[@TheBrushcutter]

@@BIGALTX it helps when your tractor doesn't have remote rear hydraulics. Like mine. 😠🙄🤣🤣🤣 But, I'll solve that when I install my 3rd function kit. Nothing a couple of valves and some hard line combined with a little elbow grease won't resolve. I like the way you fixed yours, probably would have done the same thing on mine if it had the remotes.

[@BIGALTX]

@@TheBrushcutter Understood.

[@42lookc]

The only thing I would do different is leave the hoses on the tractor all the time with a Pioneer coupler up front for the grapple. Then just unplug them at the front and rear when the grapple is dismounted.

[@BIGALTX]

Not a bad idea :)

[@bluesman97]

Great Video.. I'm currently in Texas myself but won't be able to retire here due to my property taxes.

[@BIGALTX]

Sorry to hear that. Mine aren't that high, but I'm not living that large either :)

[@jessebuchanan2625]

Have your local Hydraulic shop make you up some quick disconnect for where the lines go into the grapple, then you can leave the house there and make it connect at the front not the back.

[@BIGALTX]

The Grapple has quick connects on it. I could leave the long hoses connected, but I don't. I've found if I leave the long hoses on it they get in my way a little.

[@carlmenasco6256]

Mine are ran under the tractor out of the way so I can leave them on. Luckily haven’t caught them on anything yet.

[@BIGALTX]

@@carlmenasco6256 Good to know, Carl. I've thought about doing that myself. Thanks!

[@lh98]

I have rear hydraulics on my tractor for my backhoe but no lever to control a grapple. All the backhoe controls are on the backhoe. Is there any way to add a lever/joystick to utilize those lines or best to get a 3rd remote function installed? Wish the damn thing came with a lever...

[@BIGALTX]

So, your rear HYD is ON all the time, or just when you hook up the backhoe? If so, I think it would be best to install a 3rd function. Too bad it's pretty pricey. Let me know how it goes.

[@bobwhite825]

I have a question and a comment. First of all I have the same tractor and I was wondering i your 3 point works ok ? Mine works but its not very responsive. Makes it really hard to use a box blade. My comment I was about to buy that same quick connect but I decided to check and see if kubota made one for my loader which is the same as yours and sure enough they did for $600

[@BIGALTX]

Bob, Unless there is weight on the 3 point, it goes down pretty slow. Remember, most tractors don't have any "down force" on the 3 point. .. It's just gravity. And if there's no weight on there (like a mower or blade) it's going to go down slow. Sounds like a good deal on the quick connect. YOU'LL LOVE IT!!! Hope that helps, alan

[@mr.redneck2715]

300 dollars wood be a nice payment on a 3rd function! The third function you can add and remove the grapple in seconds. And it works so much better!

[@BIGALTX]

Sure, a 3rd function is better... just more expensive. I can unhook quickly also... same process, just longer hoses to the back of the tractor.

[@mr.redneck2715]

@@BIGALTX just having a grapple is fantastic!

[@BIGALTX]

@@mr.redneck2715 Amen to THAT!

[@audsp98]

A grapple on a tractor is like when you first got a DVR. You wonder how you ever survived without it. My grapple stays on my tractor more than anything.

[@BIGALTX]

Pretty good comparison :)

[@JuanMartinez-ie6gv]

QUESTION? when you have long hoses do you need add hydraulic oil.

[@BIGALTX]

Probably not... or at least not much. Just run it a while and check the stick.

[@JuanMartinez-ie6gv]

@@BIGALTX thanks I appreciate your feedback.

[@gckshea]

Is that an Armstrong Ag grapple? I have one, and it looks exactly like the same model.

[@BIGALTX]

YES IT IS!!! And it's a Bad Motor Scooter... love it! I had a hose rub and spring a leak (that was threaded inside the grapple channel). Here's that video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4O3lnevjsidrtU Here's me working it hard. I nearly got into trouble on this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4O3lnevjsidrtU

[@gckshea]

@@BIGALTX Yes, I have found this design, and the stoutness Armstrong builds them, to be invaluable. I'm using it on my LS XR4140. There have been only a few times I wished I'd gotten a dual clamp grapple, for those odd shaped logs, stumps, and rocks. But I have figured it out and line things up closer to one of the cylinders, so as to not bend the lid in the middle...ask me how I learned this!! LOL. It is a beast!!

[@BIGALTX]

👍

[@tombyrd320]

what make and model is that grapple

[@BIGALTX]

Armstrong Ag. I think mine is a 72". This video shows some good close ups. kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4O3lnevjsidrtU

[@terryhamrick8632]

Third function is worth the money

[@BIGALTX]

I debated getting one but settled on doing it like this. I haven't seen any problems not having a 3rd function yet

[@jaredmurray9868]

I want to hear you say "alright, alright, alright".

[@BIGALTX]

Hahaha!

[@rehoboth_farm]

Grapple? I'd be nice if I had a loader. Good news! I may have a battery soon.

[@cody_janssen831]

Loader??? It’d be nice if I had a tractor 😂

[@darkwinter6028]

$300 bucks?!?! Do you know about surpluscenter.com? They have hydraulic stuff - hoses, fittings, cylinders, valves, etc for cheap. As the name would indicate, some of it is surplus; but a lot of it is brand new. I’m in the process of building a ultra-lightweight brush grapple for my subcompact tractor; and I’m looking at about $25 for a 3/8ths 5000 PSI rated 10ft hose with NPT fittings on it. They also have JIC terminated hoses for only a few bucks more.

[@BIGALTX]

Never heard of them. I'll check them out, thanks!

[@edsmith4414]

Yes....grapples are the rage on YTUbe now days....."gotta have one". No, actually, you don't, unless you simply have money burning a hole in your pocket. A set of pallet forks will do 90% of what a grapple will do (including moving brush and tops) plus it will do a heck of a lot of things a grapple will NOT do......moving pallets (you'll find you begin to move EVERYTHING on pallets, or boxes on a pallet like base). moving lumber, moving the trash cart out to the road for pickup, moving all kinds of things. I can slide my forks together, and make a "digging spade" 8" wide, stick it under a small tree stump like that and just pop it out of the ground, then pick it up with the forks. Set of pallet forks set up for quick attach ? $500. Grapple ? I see them start around $800 and go up from there, plus the added plumbing for a 3rd function out front. You wrasseling with that long hose and having to ziptie it down and all was a hoot....and what did the hose cost ? And where/how do you store it, keeping dirt off the ends ? And most smaller tractors (25-40hp) don't even come with rear remotes ($1200 option for mine that I had no use for).....only when you get up in the 50+hp range to they start to become standard.

[@BIGALTX]

You're right... but I still love my grapple. Don't use a whole lot since my land is cleared now... but it still comes in handy.

[@bradjenkins932]

LMAO.

[@restoringbonaire]

Yep. You sound like Matthew McConaughey

[@BIGALTX]

Hahaha... I get that a LOT 😎

[@user-du7pe6pm7d]

trade secret on hooking those rear hoses up -- clean the hook up places - both sides - off with a clean rag that has been sprayed with brake cleaner or the like - each and every time - and do not do it with the rubber plugs out - keeping that even maybe small amount of dirt out will save yu headaches one day - and make less mess on your filters inside - cable tie - Xcellent - murphy's law stuff-

[@BIGALTX]

Great tip... thanks!

[@OneStepHomestead]

Oh boys......you could set up alot cheaper then that.....i just searched 55hp kabota and come up with some are 9gpm hydrolics.......either way a diverter valve at your cross beam on your loader with nothing more then a 2 wire 12v wire to the valve would cost under $600 hoses, diverter valve and quick fittings easyily under $600..... This is just one of like 4 different diverter valves id look at.Hydraulic Solenoid Selector/Diverter Valve, 13 GPM, 12v DC www.amazon.com/dp/B077BS9G2Z/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_pLGnEbYNBTQG7 If you hook the curl funtions to this valve all youll need is to cut your hoses and run to your curl cylinders and some to the quick connects mounted to the diverter valve so you can hook up your grapple....the rest is just 12v wireing to a momentary switch wereever hoever you want it.......button on your loader joystick would be my preferance......press it to run grapple let go to curl bucket on same left/right motion. You can also use a old starter switch and mount in on floor board if you rather that.. alot better then running a foot ball feild of hoses...it works yes but. ...3x the hookup

[@jpparker19]

One Step: Do you have a video of this setup?

[@tigercry5177]

Mathew mcconaughey?

[@BIGALTX]

Yep... you got me 👍😎

[@Ramdodge582]

third functions is cheaper then rear hydraulics

[@BIGALTX]

I disagree. Most 3rd Functions I priced were around $1500. These hoses only cost me about $300

[@Ramdodge582]

@@BIGALTX rear remotes cost more. Kubota brand 3rd function was 859, rear remotes are over 1k

[@BIGALTX]

@@Ramdodge582 Well., sure if you don't have rear remotes. I was not figuring that into the equation. My tractor already had them, so it was much cheaper to use the rear over the 3rd function. Also, I haven't seen the Kubota at $860. That's a good price.

[@silverback3541]

Zig Ziglar is that you talking 🤔

[@BIGALTX]

'Ol Zig was cool :)

[@hnmcclain]

How dumb do I feel? Sitting here all this time with a tractor with a rear set... still wondering how to afford a 3rd function. Appreciate the sharing my friend. Saved me a bundle!!! Huh... curious... only 4 idiots in the world that disagreed with me I see.LOL

[@BIGALTX]

Those hoses are going to be expensive. I think mine cost me $300, but they are about 25' long.

[@bradjenkins932]

Buy 3/8 hoses. l got $150 in mine

[@lylefoster471]

I really don't think your grapple weighs 850 lb. Check with the mfg on the weight. Average weight is 250 to 400lb.

[@BIGALTX]

Mine is the 72" - 11 tine grapple. It says 840LBS file:///C:/Users/bigal/Downloads/BGR-BRUSH%20RAKE%20GRAPPLE.pdf

[@gaetansimard1594]

What a complicated and dangerous (hose in the working space) set-up to save 800$ minus the hose cost! Not sure it is such a good idea…

[@BIGALTX]

True...IF I used it every day I use it 5 or 6 times *_per year_* , and I watch closely where the hoses are when in use It's been this way for several years with no prob

[@bradjenkins932]

How so?

[@tractorguru8168]

Why on earth would you buy a grapple that weighs 846lbs +/- ??? ????? ?????????????? There are grapples the same size that weigh a little over 200lbs. If you had a 120+hp I’d say what the heck, but you don’t. Just don’t understand why you would limit yourself soo much with that...

[@BIGALTX]

Well... I'm not going to question your knowledge on this...However... I did some quick research on several models by different manufacturers. The LIGHTEST I found was about 620 LBS. The HEAVIEST I found was almost 1100 LBS. My research was quick and was by no means exhaustive, but it did include some well known brands. I agree that adding 850LBS to the loader limits what you can lift. The bucket that COMES with the loader is around 400-450 LBS. I don't think there's any way a 72 inch - 200 LB grapple would do the work I do with this one, without folding like a cheap suit. I doubt anyone even makes a 200LB - 72 inch grapple. If they did, it wouldn't have much steel in it. My tractor is 70HP, and the loader is rated at 2200+LBS. The work I've been able to do with it has been a dream come true. If you have a link to the 200 LB 72 INCH grapple, I'd like to see it to make comparisons. These are Heavy, Heavy pieces of equipment. They HAVE to be. Grapple Weights From "Everything Attachments": Various Manufacturers: Construction Attachments - 74"= 1172 lbs. (2" larger than mine) Bradco - 72"= 1095 lbs. Land Pride - 72"= 895 lbs. CID - 72"= 900 lbs. Thanks for your comment.

[@lylefoster471]

He has no idea on the weight. It's too make kubota look stronger. Lol

[@foxtailfarm_nc7151]

What brand grapple is that?

[@BIGALTX]

Armstrong Ag Made in TX. It’s a 72” Weighs over 800 LBS. It’s a beast.