grapple truck

I agree with Merle. A lot of things help spread knowledge and I agree my biggest advantage is having been in the tree industry for 13 years, this forum for 11 years (in 3 days!) and what I've read here, and seen in my travels. The relationships from the forums are assuredly what keep CES going!


Gorman, feel free to post here, start a new thread, have me start a new thread, PM, text, call, or email.


I head back down tomorrow to pick up the truck... looking forward to seeing it work in my market as well!
 
post some pictures of your truck Carl. Looking forward to seeing them. I might be calling you in a few days. Might be in need of a few things for our mini skid!!
 
Western Star 4964SX, 500hp 12.7L Detroit, 18 Speed Eaton, 20k/46k/20klbs axles on the truck, 22.5klb axles on the trailer. 27' Rotobec Loader and grapple. 74 yards in the truck, 79 in the trailer.


The trailer likely won't see much use, but the seller didn't really care to sell them separately... If I find someone that wants it more than me I'll sell it. I plan on taking care of some odds and ends like the dent in the stack's heat shield and the dent in the passenger side tank. I would like to paint the cab white, but that's not a priority at this point. The color is crimson for Alabama, which I live 60 miles from. I live 30 miles from their nearest rival and my alma mater, MSU, which is maroon. I don't care about sports, but I'm more likely to work around MSU than Alabama.

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My production is not through the roof but I'm eyeing used tandem cab and chassis to put either a kboom or a grapple on. The way I figure, if I can plum a grapple on a kboom I can load logs as well as use it as a crane. How much slower is a kboom? I was figuring about half speed but it seems like they can lift more.

I'd like to have around a 20k payload capacity but as powerful kboom as possible for lifting. It's just very difficult for me to talk to guys about kbooms in my area because no one used them for tree work. It's strictly stick booms and prentice grapples.
 
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David Driver (Xman) uses a Kboom for a crane.

Carl, .....you bought a trailer you're not planning to use too much???? Ha, and I thought I go heavy on options and add-ons when I buy something.
 
Gorman said:
My production is not through the roof but I'm eyeing used tandem cab and chassis to put either a kboom or a grapple on. The way I figure, if I can plum a grapple on a kboom I can load logs as well as use it as a crane. How much slower is a kboom? I was figuring about half speed but it seems like they can lift more.

I'd like to have around a 20k payload capacity but as powerful kboom as possible for lifting. It's just very difficult for me to talk to guys about kbooms in my area because no one used them for tree work. It's strictly stick booms and prentice grapples.
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There are plenty of people that use K Booms for tree work, but very very few that use K booms as loaders. I'm fixing to roll out, but the K boom is substantially slower than a loader. I would think your average cycle times would be substantially slower than 2:1. Also all of your exposed hydraulics, the extension cylinders, their hard lines, etc out to the tip of the boom don't make for something that's good at inadvertent contact.

The A frame Palfinger loaders have boom options out to 32'. The out and down style outriggers can get out to 42', but that longest model would be a bit unwieldy for using in the city.


Again, there's no way I would use a crane as a loader myself.


Haha Merle! If he doesn't want to split the package (or only give a pittance for the trailer), you've gotta buy what it comes with!
 
Ok. Not good for loading.
I plan on putting only between 5 and 7 thousand miles a year on it so I feel buying new is overkill. Looking at c&c trucks with between 150 and 200k miles on them. I have a good idea of what engines to avoid. The max force, and the Mercedes. Any others?
 
I figure I will put under 10k miles a year on my truck. Buying a new chassis doesn't make sense to me either at this point.

There are numerous less than desirable engines from most makers. You'll want a double frame although a heavy duty single (7/16") can work.

I prefer a pre emissions engine at this point, but it's hard to fine suitable chassis that have a pre 03 engine.
 
The guy I bought it from said he bought it from the original owner who lived in Missouri. I'll have to check out Cahaba, they're only 65 miles away.
 
One of the other problems of using a kboom as a loader is you wouldn't want to stuff and pack debris into the boxes the way you can with a loader. Lumberjack has it good because he can dispose of mixed loads, I have to have clean wood or chip loads, stumps and brush are really expense. But anyway to maximize space in the box you're going to have to push and pull, press and wiggle and none of that is going to good on a boom with alot of sections and elbows
 
I would just be loading logs into the back and maybe occasionally chip into it.

If I plumed a grapple like this, would I be able to rig picks to it like a crane with the grapple still on? I wouldn't grab pieces with the grapple and cut since shit could go wrong.
 
You'd be limited to the swl of the rotator then not the boom. Better to just remove the grapple, pic the tree down and put the grapple on to load. Worst case you have a pin and 4 quick connect hyd fittings
 
Here's a couple of trucks my shop built last year. We are the Barko Dealer for Florida. Our trucks are custom built to your request. The bodies are fabricated using Hardox steel. Check out the photos and feel free to call me! 877-664-6337
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So after searching EVERYDAY, up to 15 times PER DAY, for the last couple years to the point where I was having dreams about it on a nightly basis, I'm finally the proud owner of a grapple truck. 1995, F800 with tag axle, 8.3 cummins, 22 foot dump, 10 speed, Hood 7000 loader, etc. She's not a beauty queen but def not an eye sore either. And she didn't break the bank! Anyways, for anyone that MIGHT care, just had to post it.IMG_20170114_090732956_HDR1.webp IMG_17591.webp
 
Ha, good for you! That looks like it would really get the work done.

If I could get rid of the material cheaply here I would definitely go that route.

I see our county road crews cleaning up by hand into the back of a dump truck or the lucky few tagging a chipper behind the raised bed of a dump truck. I think, man, if they had one grapple truck being dispatched around...

Again congrats. :)
 
Merle - thanks a lot! Really appreciate it.
Just a thought....but maybe YOU should be the sub with the grapple truck cleaning up after the county guys. Jk.....but seriously

merle_nelson said:
Ha, good for you! That looks like it would really get the work done.

If I could get rid of the material cheaply here I would definitely go that route.

I see our county road crews cleaning up by hand into the back of a dump truck or the lucky few tagging a chipper behind the raised bed of a dump truck. I think, man, if they had one grapple truck being dispatched around...

Again congrats. :)
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