Selecting the right Grapple Attachments for Skid Steers
Whether you’re moving rocks, logs or debris, there’s a grapple for any job. These hard-working attachments are designed to assist operators in picking and placing materials of all kinds with ease. However, It’s important to find the right style and size of grapple for your needs.
As with any attachment, grapple selection will depend on your application and your machine’s compatibility and capabilities. Knowing the size and type of material you’ll be handling is key in finding the right tool for the job. Since there are many different grapple it is important to understand which will be best for you.
If you’re handling loose materials like rocks, brush or debris, a root grapple is a good choice.
A bucket grapple combines the functionality of a bucket and a grapple, making it particularly versatile.
A rock grapple will help you handle larger rocks and heavier debris.
You will need to ensure that the grapple attachment is of correct sized to suit your skid steer loader. Consider the grapple’s weight, capacity and whether it can handle the materials you’ll be working with. Check the grapple’s hydraulic flow requirements and ensure that your skid steer loader can provide the necessary hydraulic power.
Grapples work in tough conditions handling all sorts of materials, so durability is especially important. Customers should consider the grapple’s steel thickness and yield strength. Operators need a strong attachment capable of handling materials, so the ideal grapple is made from durable materials such as high-strength steel for longevity and reliability.
If you’re considering a grapple with tines, the number of tines can impact the attachment’s ability to grip and secure materials. Consider the shape and design of the grapple’s tines or jaws as well. Some are curved for better gripping, while others may have serrated edges for improved traction.
While it might seem that a heavier attachment equals more durability, that isn’t always the case. Keep in mind that a heavier attachment can reduce your lifting capacity. Rigorous testing and smart engineering results in a balance between weight and strength by reserving more of the carrier’s rated operating capacity for lifting and transporting heavy materials.
Customer service and support after the sale are very important. Buyers should understand the grapple’s warranty and what’s all covered by the manufacturer. The availability of parts is another concern. Looking at maintenance, it’s best to select a grapple that offers easy upkeep and supported by a local dealer.
Fit Finder of Ignite Attachments offers a free, online tool that can help you quickly and easily identify the attachments that match your existing equipment. It is backed by over 10,000 specifications analysed to determine compatibility across most makes and models of skid steer loaders and mini excavators from all major manufacturers.
Grapple Types
General Utility Grapples: General utility grapples are suitable for light construction work and residential projects. These versatile grapples are popular due to their ability to handle a lot of different debris — from moving hay bales, as well as smaller rocks and logs. They’re also ideal for loading and unloading pallets.
Rock Grapples
This type of grapple is a dependable option for sifting and lifting rocks to clear sites with ease. A rock grapple sifts material with closely placed teeth, typically between 2 to 4 in. apart, leaving soil behind. With serrated edges made to scoop and clear rocks, rock grapples make it easy to keep up pastures and clear construction sites.
Industrial Grapple Buckets
Industrial grapple buckets are made to withstand the toughest, most demanding commercial jobs. Industrial grapple buckets are built with thicker, high-yield-strength steel and often have a much taller jaw opening to haul more material per load. Operators can choose between 60-, 66-, 72-, 78-, 84- and 90-in. widths.
Hardscape Grapples
Operators can handle bulky, heavy materials such as concrete, stone, bricks, pavers and other hard materials easily with a hardscape grapple. Some hardscape grapples may include features such as rubberized or padded grips to protect the surfaces of hardscape materials during handling, reducing the risk of damage.
Root Grapples
Working in forestry or land management applications? A root grapple may be for you. This attachment is a single-jaw grapple used for digging, raking, piling and loading debris.
Root grapples boast a superior clamping force to lift and move trees, logs, brush, stumps and other debris. They feature an open bottom that allows dirt to fall through, with slightly wider set teeth, typically 5 to 8 in. that are used to dig out roots, stumps and sift material. Root grapples are perfect for penetrating the ground, ripping up roots and leaving a clear surface behind.
Log Grapples
Safely transport logs and pipes with log or pipe grapples. These grapples apply even pressure to the load they’re carrying and are typically available in 48- to 72-in. widths.
Log grapples efficiently handle, lift and transport logs and timber. These grapples typically feature sturdy jaws or tines that can securely grip logs of different diameters. The design may include a wide opening for handling multiple logs simultaneously.
Log grapples are particularly popular in land clearing and site preparation tasks thanks to their ability to remove trees, logs and other debris and haul them onto trucks and processing equipment. The oil and utility industries are also using these durable grapples to haul mats.
Scrap Grapples
Need to securely capture and haul debris away? Scrap or solid bottom grapples are a great choice. These grapples excel in yard waste removal, demolition, recycling and scrap applications.
Beyond a Grapple
4-in-1 Bucket and 4-in-1 Power Rake can provide similar use as a grapple, but their benefits goes beyond that. They can be used as a bucket, grader blade, dozer blade and high dump bucket. The patented 4-in-1 Power Rake can also be used to leave almost any ground prepared and ready for a seed bed.
