Single or Double lid grapple?

For anyone out there who has a grapple…..

I am getting ready to equip my tractor with its next attachment—a grapple.  I am considering making this move sooner than previously planned as my back is getting progressively worse, I a lot of heavy lifting to do and the grapple could prevent a lot of unnecessary injury acquired through work I would otherwise love to do by hand.

My dilemma comes down to whether or not to do a single or double lid grapple.


Single lid grapple

https://www.everythingattachments.com/Compact-Tractor-Single-Lid-Wicked-Root-Grapple-p/eta-slrg.htm


Double lid grapple

https://www.everythingattachments.com/Wicked-Root-Grapple-by-Everything-Attachments-p/eta-wrg-cmp.htm



I will be buying from this company.  I have bought from them before, multiple times, and their equipment is top notch, with a lot of attention paid to design details.  This is not the cheapest grapple, but it will be the last grapple I buy.

What I don’t really understand completely is which style grapple to buy.  A single lid stands out for being simple and picking up straight logs.

A double lid shines when picking up a great big pile of brush.  The double lid action helps to grab unevenly sized loads—like a pile of brush or a twisted branch.  

I figure that my grapple needs are about equally split between single logs and piles of brush.  The weight difference between the two types is about 40 pounds—double lid weighing more and therefore can’t lift as much.  The single lid will act faster, but that probably doesn’t matter.

So I would love to hear thoughts or bounce ideas off of others.  







Thanks in advance,



Eric

I haven’t used them much, but your quick assessment is about right from my experience.

The speed matters more than you think, but otherwise the double is more versatile especially for root balls. Most of my experience is on a skid steer, which is WAY better at grubbing roots than a tractor.

Most of my tractor use has been a combo bucket (grapple on a dirt or manure bucket) moving much and compost.  I REALLY like that combo on a tractor.

R Scott,

Just so I understand, and I am not asking you to tell me what to do, but you are suggesting that the double lid grapple is the better option?


Eric

It depends!

I think the double is more versatile, IF your machine has the capacity to use it. I don’t think any compact utility tractor really can take advantage of it unless you have a very specific use.  

I would buy the lightest one you think will get the job done. And be very careful about keeping the load even. Compact loaders are notorious for bending when loaded unevenly, let alone the tip hazard.

By capacity, do you mean hydraulic capacity and a properly weighted tractor?

Both. I think you need at least 3,000 lbs of lifting and handling capacity to take advantage of a dual top. Not that you will lift that much, but you need a lot of margin to deal with off center loads.