Grapple trucks

Anyone operate or have any experience with grapple/debris trucks. One like this: http://www.truckpaper.com/listings/detail.aspx?OHID=1497976&guid=EA0A254405884381A67CD3E5809C5147

Looking at possibly adding a grapple truck to our trash business. It would be a good compliment to our roll-offs. I just don't have any experience with any of these grapple loaders. Robotec, Prentice, Petersen, Nu Life, etc. Just looking for some feed back.


Now here is another interesting idea: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92_Plz_iZwg&feature=related

We have 2 tandem hooks and a grapple/box mounted on a hook skid would eliminate another dedicated chassis. The ones like this I have seen before have pony motors, something I wouldn't be to thrilled about.

Any info would be appreciated.

I can vouch for the Prentice brand of equipment, it's been around for a long time. I worked on these and installed them on logging trucks in Michigan's UP back in the seventies. They usually went on International 5000 models with lengthened frames, which we did ourselves at the dealership. Generally on the log haulers the grapple assembly went on the back, but we did some mounted to the front.

Most of these had a PTO driven hydraulic system, but front mounted systems were coming into vogue, I don't know why anyone would need a constant hydraulic source of power with a grapple.

I'd suppose that either one of the two lashups you have pictures of would be much in demand in Texas and Louisana right now for debris clean up. Only disadvantage I see is that you always have deadweight whether empty or loaded. They are not cheap either.

I've had quite a bit of experience using these type trucks, except it was for the railroad. Norfolk Southern uses these types of trucks extensively for material handling of all kinds. The railroad versions of course have a Hy-Rail system for on-track use, and most have a magnet for handling metal materials.

Working for two different railroad contractors I've operated Prentice, Hood, and Rotobec loaders and I actually like the them all, with a bit of favoritism to the Rotobec. The Rotobec is fastest operating with the Prentice a close second. Of course fast usually means you sacrifice power, so the Hood, while being the slowest, is the strongest I've run.

The truck you linked to is bass ackwards in my opinion. For the most versatility and ease of use (not mentioning saving some nasty dents in the truck cab) the loader needs to be mounted to the rear of the frame. Not only is it easier to back into the area to be loaded from, a rear mount will also let you pull a trailer to double your haul capacity.

Some food for thought on these trucks: Get a good operator - A poor operator will destroy the truck and bed in a short time. Spring suspension not air - Air suspension must be chained up (or religiously dumped) when running the outriggers down to prevent blowing the bags. Double Frame - There's a lot of stress on the truck frames, don't skimp on frame strength. Consider your working area height restrictions - With the seat folded and joysticks lowered, the last trucks I ran with Rotobecs were 13' 2".

Here are some pics of the 2007 Sterlings with Rotobec Grapples I ran previously. With the rear towed cart, you can see the added load capacity of a rear mounted grapple.

Wow! That's an awful load of ties on that truck! Not too often you see a tandem flatbed bowed down in the middle.

I forgot to mention that all the trucks we installed bunks and loaders on were double-framed by us at the dealership. That meant we had to remove everything inside and outside of the original frame, install the new rails, then redrill and remount everything. These were fairly massive undertakings in those days, but no one was making double-frame truck models at the factory level at that time.

I would be using this grapple for a refuse application, such as brush, bulky appliances, general debris, etc. We get requests for bulky item pick up from our customers that don't want or necessarily need a roll-off or need a way to mechanically load their debris.

I have seen the Prentice loaders around a while in the logging industry. The Robotec also looks like a good unit. Just doing some preliminary searching and market research.

There are few good used ones out there, sometimes you can find a used municipal unit that is in decent shape. Definetely not adverse to running something a little older.

Thanks for the info.:thumbsup

If you are buying used , check truck frame very carefully.
Over the years have seen a lot crack where loader is bolted to the frame

Check this out... might be what u are looking for
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/roll...m14QQhashZitem270284360137QQitemZ270284360137

here in chicagoland, cornerstone runs some of these rigs for construction site clean up. they provide home builders with a large round plastic container, they look like 2000 water tanks halved. every home or two gets a skip and the grapple truck empties it about twice a week. on a large housing site this really helps keep things kleen. they have a couple young guys on each truck, one driving, one running the grapple, they fly. load the truck heavy and transfer to a bulk semitrailer on site to keep from road running. super efficient and real clean.

OneWelder said:

If you are buying used , check truck frame very carefully.
Over the years have seen a lot crack where loader is bolted to the frame

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Absolutely, those loaders have to be tough on the truck, especially with a careless operator.

SunServicesLLC said:

Check this out... might be what u are looking for
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/roll...m14QQhashZitem270284360137QQitemZ270284360137

Click to expand...

I searched Ebay and missed that one.:beatsme There was another similiar unit a month or so ago that had a pony motor that was not in as nice of shape as that one, they were trying to get $25K or so for it.

I wonder what his reserve price is .......

qball said:

here in chicagoland, cornerstone runs some of these rigs for construction site clean up. they provide home builders with a large round plastic container, they look like 2000 water tanks halved. every home or two gets a skip and the grapple truck empties it about twice a week. on a large housing site this really helps keep things kleen. they have a couple young guys on each truck, one driving, one running the grapple, they fly. load the truck heavy and transfer to a bulk semitrailer on site to keep from road running. super efficient and real clean.

Click to expand...

That is another market we would target when residential building kicks off again. My roots are in residential construction as a kid cleaning up job sites for the ol' man. Smaller, multiple containers would make it easier to clean up and keep clean, the subs might accidentally throw their trash in them.

I saw a company in Dallas that was using a front load truck and boxes for job site clean-up. I just think that the bulky type construction wastes would play hell on a front loader. The grapple and box combination would be superior IMHO.

surfer-joe said:

Wow! That's an awful load of ties on that truck! Not too often you see a tandem flatbed bowed down in the middle.

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Yes, that load is slightly overloading the truck. What makes the noticeable bow in the bed and frame is the Hy-Rail system. It greatly extends the wheel base of the truck, making it bow much easier. When the company is getting paid by the tie, you have to move as much as possible, as quick as possible. My normal loads are piled even with the truck racks, and that greatly reduces the swag.

CM1995 - There's nothing wrong with buying used but do your homework. Like OneWelder mentioned, check the frame for cracks where the grapple mounts. I know of a Mack truck with a overpowered Hood loader that the frame has been broke/patched repeatedly simply because the loader is way too stout for the truck. Also check the entire front suspension for excessive wear or breakage. Some numbskull operators will run the outriggers out so far that they lift the rears off the ground, then drop heavy loads into the bed. This put a lot of weight and stress on the front suspension. A 20K front axle is much better if you have that option.

I actually wouldn't recommend buying a used railroad-use truck just because of the heavy loads they are subjected to. A ready-to-go refuse truck will likely be a better bet because they are rarely loaded anywhere near as heavy as a railroad-use truck.

Here is another idea my partner in the business came across -








To me it looks like alot of crane for a hook lift platform.

CM1995 said:

Here is another idea my partner in the business came across -


View attachment 25116



View attachment 25117

To me it looks like alot of crane for a hook lift platform.

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definatly gives me some ideas for a simple hook lift .I think they are getting as popular as bobcats are .

Grab lorry / truck

In the UK we call um Grab lorries and they are a very big business, never seen one on a demount / roll-on-off though !

AtlasRob said:

In the UK we call um Grab lorries and they are a very big business, never seen one on a demount / roll-on-off though !

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Yeah that was the first time I have seen that type of set-up as well.

On my travels through Europe I noticed that the articulating crane is very popular. I don't think there is a flatbed or dump truck in Germany or Austria that does not have a Hiab.

It seems you guys get maximum utilitization from the truck cranes with buckets, forks, rotators, etc attached. One of the things I like about the articulating crane is it's ability to fold up behind the cab out of the way. No need to move the crane to dump the box. If there was a quick attach for a grapple attachment, you could fabricate a place to store the grapple on the truck and have it when you need it. Of course weight would be an issue when hauling heavy boxes but there is always a third drop axle.:cool2

Not having any experience with this setup, I wonder if the articulating crane would be as efficient as the 2 piece "boom type" loader I posted above?

What type of articulating crane is the most popular in the UK?

For the service u are thinking of here, we have a special solution here in Norway.

The transport firm got some trucks with 4 axles, often a triple at the back.
Then they got some boxes with console holes at the back.
A timber crane with a grapple on is mounted on a console and mounted into the box.
Hydraulics is prepared with quick couplings at the back of the truck frame.
Often the same as the ones for a trailer dump.

A trailer is towed adding extra payload.
If u need to empty the box u just park the crane on its legs and with the arm on the cround.
Empty the box and connect the crane again.

Found a example of the solution.
Wount say that this is the most common wheelbase and crane.
But it shows the solution, the console and the consept.
Normaly they use a bigger box, a timber crane with a seat up on the crane and another type of truck.
And this solution only adds a hydraulic line to the back, if its not there already.
Here's also a pic of a parked crane, and the guys connecting one.
Takes minutes to park/reconnect it.

CM1995 said:

Not having any experience with this setup, I wonder if the articulating crane would be as efficient as the 2 piece "boom type" loader I posted above?

What type of articulating crane is the most popular in the UK?

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I didnt even register that it was a boom type loader, then I see that is what MKTEF has in his post.
I would say Palfinger, Atlas & Hiab are the most common or at least the ones that spring immediately to mind and all knuckle booms as you call them.
An 8 wheeler I have been loading this week is a grab wagon and the first I have encountered where the bucket has been left in the yard and the arm folded out of the way behind the cab.

CM1995 said:

Not having any experience with this setup, I wonder if the articulating crane would be as efficient as the 2 piece "boom type" loader I posted above?

What type of articulating crane is the most popular in the UK?

Click to expand...

Around here u will rearly see a boom type on a crane truck.(they use folding types)
The boom type of cranes are used on boxes like i posted and on timber trucks.

The boom cranes are far quicker than the others. Like a turtle and a rabbit.
Surch for timber loading on youtube and then u get to see some loading action with those type of cranes.
Those type of cranes is also more stable when parked on the ground, because of the weight stretched out laying on the ground.
Drawback is reach, as the timber lays close to the road u don't need reach to load it....

And Rob; the ones i've posted is folding cranes.

Here is a short clip:
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=vNMvScV4ieQ

grab lorry

here is one i pilot sometimes at weekends
sorry about the quality it was taken with my phone
this has a hmf crane which is designed for this type of work
cheers graham

MKTEF, that is a pretty slick setup, I have never seen anything like that before, thank you for the pictures and info. :thumbsup Now you have me thinking.............

I know you guys "across the pond" have more experience with this concept and I appreciate the info.

Of course more pics of the lorry grabs, please.

DowneyC&E said:

Yes, that load is slightly overloading the truck. What makes the noticeable bow in the bed and frame is the Hy-Rail system. It greatly extends the wheel base of the truck, making it bow much easier. When the company is getting paid by the tie, you have to move as much as possible, as quick as possible. My normal loads are piled even with the truck racks, and that greatly reduces the swag.

Click to expand...

I found some pictures of my old hi-rail truck and that was one thing that I liked was where the front gear is mounted on it. I also found one of a load of logs I took off of a log car on its side. I thought I had one of it loaded with ties also but I can't find that one.