There are many types of skid steer grapples. The most common are brush grapples, root rake grapples, rock bucket grapples, mat grapples, log grapples and pallet fork grapples. There are also barrel grapples, stump bucket grapples and scrap grapples and bale grapples.
Brush Grapple
Brush grapples have a flat bottom made up of tines spaced an equal distance apart, usually 5 or 6 inches. The spacing allows small rocks, soil and leaves to fall through the tines, leaving only larger items in the grapple. These grapples can have either a single grapple the entire width of the unit, or two smaller independent grapples, each with its own hydraulic cylinder.
Root Rake Grapple
Root rake grapples are designed with curved bottom tines. They have a greater spacing between the tines than a brush grapple and can have a single or double grapple system. These grapples are designed to dig into the ground and remove roots and rocks, but can also be used to move brush, logs or stumps. These are ideal if you are clearing land.
Rock Bucket Grapple
Stone fork (rock bucket) grapples offer the advantage of two attachments in one. With the grapple arms raised, you have a rock bucket with 2.5” spacing between the tines. Using the grapple arm you can move logs, stumps, rocks, etc. The down side of the stone fork grapple is that it has sides on the bucket to collect rocks which makes it harder to move items longer than the width of the bucket.
Log Grapples
Log grapples are specifically designed to pick up logs. They are not as wide as other grapples but can also be used to pick up rocks and concrete.
Pallet Fork Grapples
Pallet fork grapples are available in single or double. These grapples can move logs, stumps or large rocks. They are an option if you only need a grapple occasionally.
Choosing the best grapple for your machine.
Are you cleaning up junk in a scrap yard? Cleaning up brush on an acreage? Are you moving logs? Are going to be using the grapple for a variety of jobs and want the best all-round grapple? Unfortunately, there is no all round grapple, so you will need to decide which grapple will work best for you.
Once you have decided on the type of grapple, the next decision is the grapple width and whether the grapple will be heavy duty or standard duty. These decisions will partially be determined by the size and weight of your skid steer or tractor. The optimal width of the grapple should be slightly wider than the machine it is attached to. If the grapple is wider than the skid steer you will not have to make two passes over the same area and will not be packing down brush that you rolled over with the skid steer tires.
The other consideration is the weight of the grapple vs the weight of the skid steer. An HLA 84” wide heavy duty brush grapple weighs 930 pounds. This grapple would need to be matched with a large skid steer capable of lifting the grapple plus the contents of the grapple. A 54” light duty HLA root rake grapple suitable for a small skid steer or tractor only weighs 425 pounds and would be a poor match for a large skid steer.
Check out the grapple section of our website for more information and call or email GLC if you have any questions.
