3 Things to Know Before Buying a Root Grapple

by Kevin Smith Author

Everyone who has had to clear a piece of land of brush and debris knows that the chore can be brutal without the proper equipment. A skid-steer implement certainly makes the task a little easier. But without the proper attachments, even the best equipment can produce fruitless results and lead to slow progress and frustration.

If you’re clearing brush and prepping land, one of the most useful implements you can have in your skid-steer toolbox is a root grapple. It is a true labor saver that can make short work of tough, resilient root systems and allow you to easily move piles of debris quickly and efficiently. A root grapple can be extremely effective so long as you choose the right one. Read on to learn more about choosing the proper root grapple for your needs.

Uses

A root grapple is a must-have tool when your job includes removing not only piles of brush, but their accompanying roots. They are perfect for raking the ground to uncover massive root balls, and they have the gripping power to remove them as well. Another common use for root grapples is to move piles of brush, debris, or storm refuse around a site so that is can be loaded for disposal.

Arms

When shopping for a root grapple, you should figure out which implement will best work with your machine. Grapples come in both single arm and dual arm configurations. For smaller jobs featuring compact brush, a single arm root grapple may do the trick. These grapples usually feature a single hydraulic cylinder. But for heavier work, a double-arm grapple with two cylinders will provide more power and allow you to handle a wider variety of loads.

Tines

When shopping for a root grapple, you also need to consider the tines that will function as the teeth of your implement. Try to match the spacing of the tines to the type of loads you typically encounter. If you’re dealing mostly with the compact brush, less space between tines is better. For coarse brush, the tines can be wider without causing you any problems. A good all-purpose tine spacing would be 6 to 9 inches. You also want to look for grapples that offer reinforced tines and high-quality steel. For light loads, grade 30 steel is adequate. But for heavier duty, you will need steel that is grade 50 or better.

If your work involves moving brush or preparing the new ground, a root grapple could be a handy skid-steer implement to have in your equipment inventory.