Grapples for mini skid steers

DLT

DLT

Location
Milford, New Hampshire
Does anyone have experience with the Beaver Squeezer (BS) 54" rotating grapple for miniskids?
I need to replace the grapple for my new Dingo 425TX miniskid. I am selling my older Branch Manager (BMG) from TNT Equipment and will likely buy another. But want to consider a rotating grapple.

Will the BS rotate the load while suspended? How easy to use? Other than the additional weight over the BMG (about 100 pounds), and extra cost (double), any other disadvantage of the BS?


Dave, can you add a rotater to the BMG?

Any other grapples out there?
 
You've used Dave's and you think you need a rotator?

He can put a rotator on there, but unless you're doing something special, it's not needed. For me it'd be cumbersome for more than just the weight.

Does your machine have dual aux circuits? If not, you'll have to have an electic valve to alternate between the grapple and the rotator.
 
I haven't tried the BS grappel, but I would think the extra weight and having to switch hydraulics might be too much of a negative to outweigh the ability to rotate a load. Not to mention the extra loss of height from the rotator itself. Anyone?
 
The switching of hydraulics, even with 2 circuits would stink unless someone got creative in how they mounted the second circuit's lever.

The increase in head height (top of the frame to the top of the inside of the grapple) wouldn't be any help either.

In the long run, money doesn't matter IF it's something that would help. I don't remember a time I got off the mini to position the grapple or rotate the load.

When moving a load that is dragging, the grapple needs to rotate back and forth as the mini turns. The rotator could prevent that, depending on what kind of valve it operates.


Aside from placing the grapple for a pick, I don't know where I might find use for a rotator on a mini's grapple.
 
You guys are reinforcing my present feelings. I have not tried a demo of the BS. They tell me they use an elec switch to alternate from grapple to rotate. This allows it to be used on machines with only 1 auxiliarry hydraulic attachment, like my Dingo 425.

So far, everyone seems to use the BMG like we do, move the machine, "bump" the grapple on the load to position, or step off and take 3 steps to move it by hand. They all work.

One negative is the tight turns with a tracked machine is harder on the turf. And I considered that the rotator may make it easier to feed brush into the chipper, but that may not be the case.

Is there anyone with practical use of the BS that can chime in.

I do not have an overwhelming reason to change without good input from a BS operator.
 
[ QUOTE ]

One negative is the tight turns with a tracked machine is harder on the turf. And I considered that the rotator may make it easier to feed brush into the chipper, but that may not be the case.


[/ QUOTE ]

Oh man Dan we always fed the chipper at the street on asphalt never on grass, I don't think that a rotator is going lessen any turf damage when feeding a chipper with any mini track or wheel. Now an articulating machine is a different story, as said B4 no Turf damage
 
If I can Blow my BMG horn

The Branch Manager is the lightest mini grapple with the largest opening, it is the only one with a handy Rope Bollard
BMGropeBollard06.jpg


AND It is the only grapple with a 6' rake option, comes in mighty handy on the right jobs
Rake10_8.jpg
 
I work all over, doing more more than tree work. Doing demo in suburbia can be quite profitable on the small scale if you have the eye for it. Generally less than ideal conditions though.

I wonder how those tracks would do on wet grass.

ETA Totally unrelated, but that picture made me think and grab a picture of my usual work area. The red marks the area I do ~90% of my work, probably ~75% is done in the yellow box.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v639/10mmsheepdog/Trees/WorkArea.jpg
 
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