Grapple for Full Size TLB

Hello All,

As some of you know, I started a thread about which piece of equipment to buy first. well, it was decided that a backhoe would be most useful at this point. Anyhow, during the discussion it was suggested that I get a TLB with a 4 in 1 front loader bucket. I thought this was a great idea in that I will be carrying some trees that will later be cut into rounds for firewood. Anyhow, I have been searching the listings, and very few machines have a 4 in 1 front bucket. Then I was thinking, how about adding the grapple arms that I see on many of the skid steers. So, I did several searches, and found bolt-on grapples, but they mostly seem to be made for the smaller TLB's. I also did a search of this forum, and came up with nothing. The grapples that I saw for the smaller tractors looked like the would work awesome as an add on to a larger unit it they were substantially stronger.

So, all the above stated, does anyone have any experience with a grapple attachment that could be added to the stock front bucket of a JD401e or New Holland B95 sized unit?

A quick Google image search came up with a few. Like this one. Awful pricey tho !
If you wait a while John Deere's come up for sale with 4 in 1 fel's. A 410E with a 4in1 would be a nice unit.
A thumb on a backhoe would be a cheaper alternative. Not as versatile tho.

http://www.excavatorthumb.com/mojo/mojo.php?attachment=backhoe+grapple+4&model=g72&gallery=usaa

I know it's not nearly as handy, but I can be not handy for as expensive as that grapple and the 4 in 1 buckets I've seen are, I've just dragged a lot of trees around the yard with a real beefy ratchet strap. I've not worried (too much) about weight on the loader side lifting the machine up or relatively narrow areas to move a very long (or wide, if it were grappled) tree through. I learned a lesson from watching my neighbor move some 25 foot long trees with his skid steer and forks that just barely cleared a couple areas width-wise. Though its a little unwieldy dragging them places hasn't been too bad, and I've dragged stuff that is probably 75 feet long. I'd love to have a thumb, just to organize my pile a bit better but the hoe side does that ok as is.

Now that I've posted this it's got me thinking about moving full trees in this direction... Anyone tried 2 straps and picking up a tree horizontally like this? I'm thinking pull the loader up close, run a strap and hook around the trunk, then up to my hooking hole, then do the same thing a few feet down the way?

I'm well aware of the luxuries of not getting off the machine but there may be some use to make piles nicer. Again, especially at the several thousand dollars of grapples or 4 in 1's.

If you get one please let me know of your experience, it sounds like we are using our machines for pretty similar purposes.

Tinkerer,

Thanks soo much for the reply. That is exactly what I was talking about. I use Bing to search, and found nothing but similar units for small and mid size tractors with loaders. The price starts to make me wonder, maybe I should price a 4 in 1 add on.

I am in the early stages of looking, but not many I have found locally have the 4 in 1 option. I really want to inspect what I am going to purchase prior to purchasing, that is why I am limiting my search to local.

If you had a heavy duty thumb on your backhoe, aighead, you could maneuver long trees n logs very easily with it. I have no desire for a 4n1 since I installed my thumb.
They are super handy for stacking a burn pile. Even when its burning.

aighead,

The chain hookup may be an option if I dont find a 4 in 1. The grapple that tinkerer found is quite spendy. To be honest, production is not the key in my work...heck, I will be retired soon and will have lots of time.

Thanks for the reply!

For wood cutting I use a thumb and a 12" bucket. A 24" bucket is okay, but you're left with a piece in the center that has to be cut up on the ground.

Chroniekon,

That is good logic about bucket size. For my application, I will be using the front loader to carry logs long distances. The thumb will be another thing to look at in the future. I am like a kid in the candy store with machines.

I can carry a log or two if I bring them along side and run them parallel to the tractor. Not as good as a setup like you're thinking though.

I welded a 10" cutting edge on my front bucket . With it I can pick up full trees or logs and pile them up. Smaller logs I can pick up 2 or 3 at a time. Never wanted a 4 in 1 because of reduced volume weight and if your not careful grabbing a rock or stump in the center can bend it.

Go online and check out treetrader.com. Many companies making attachments advertise there to get nationwide exposure. There are some good brush/timber handling attachments listed.
Jeff

Billrog,

Thanks for the info. It does make sense to not have a 4 in 1 at times I guess. I am so glad I joined this forum! The members here make you really think things through.

Mowingman,

That is quite the site...I am going to have to go through that site when I have some serous time...after the new year for sure.

Thanks for the response.

I purchased a set of 4' long clamp on forks for my front bucket for picking up logs and moving brush/slab wood it works quite well the only problem is you can't see what you're doing over the front bucket but with practice you can get pretty good at it.I believe I paid around $200.00 with shipping from Titan mfg.

Tinkerer said:

If you had a heavy duty thumb on your backhoe, aighead, you could maneuver long trees n logs very easily with it. I have no desire for a 4n1 since I installed my thumb.
They are super handy for stacking a burn pile. Even when its burning.

Click to expand...

Just make sure and fill the loader bucket full of dirt or something before hauling anything with a backhoe thumb.

geminijo,
I know exactly what you mean about the forks. I have a set that clamp on my front loader on my New Holland TC33D. They are just ok to me. When I first got them they didn't want to stay straight. I welded a plate on them to drop in behind the bolt-on cutting edge, and now they stay straight. However, you are correct, you cannot see them over the bucket very well. I haven't used them enough to get proficient with them. I damn near ripped off my handrail at my house before I realized they hit them...luckily the wife didn't see it . The ones I purchased will not suffice for a full size loader, as I think they were only rated for a couple thousand pounds.

On the same thought, perhaps a HD set that they make for a full size loader, the ones that mount on a bar mounted to the top of the bucket would suffice. I mean, I wouldn't be doing precision work, so seeing them is not that important like it would be if I was moving a pallet.

Thanks for the suggestion!

NH575E;
Good advice for some machines.
The Case 680 class front end loaders have a 1 1/4 bucket and sometimes have an optional ballast welded on it. Mine has the ballast.
I haven't had a problem with carrying anything with the thumb.
That would include some big trees.

https://www.na-attachments.com/product/excavator
I have gotten grapples and other stuff from these guys. Ask for mike. They usually have a good price and a heavy duty product.

The last one i did on a loader bucket came with weld on mounts. Can still be removed when not in use by just pulling the pins out and unhooking the hoses.

Do you have the third function on your loader to run the 4 in 1 or grapple bucket?

Tinkerer,
Are you saying that you grab a large log and carry it a good distance (like acres) with the thumb on the backhoe. I would assume if you are, then rotate the boom to the side as cheroniekon talked about. I never thought about this for distance. It seems the weight over one side would make the tractor unstable?

farmerlund,

I do not have the tractor as of yet. I plan to purchase it in the first half of 2020. I am just researching options at this point. In another thread, we were discussing how useful the 4 in 1 loader bucket is, however, in my search for machines, they are not that common, so I was looking at other options to grab logs or stones, hence the discussion on grapples.

I like the idea of being able to remove the grapple when needed. Prolly a good idea to use quick connects on the hydraulics if I do install one to make it easier to remove if need be.

Thanks for the post!