New Log Truck- PALFINGER

[Ryfe]

I agree and understand. Our other 2 logtrucks have bypass grapples. This was a new try. We also have a bypass coming for it (mecanil) that will possibly stay on the truck most days.

Curious about the quick disconnect concept you used?

Tomorrow when I’m at work, I’ll snap and post a pic of the quick disco and componentry.

There’s a tree service in our market with a mecanil. Though I’ve always been curious... is that piece of equipment used primarily for removals? Or is it able to make a clean finished cut for pruning as well?

 

[Crimsonking]

Tomorrow when I’m at work, I’ll snap and post a pic of the quick disco and componentry.

There’s a tree service in our market with a mecanil. Though I’ve always been curious... is that piece of equipment used primarily for removals? Or is it able to make a clean finished cut for pruning as well?

It’s not good for finish cuts. Either set a climber in the tree or have one already posted for the finish.

 

[Ryfe]

I kinda had that feeling.

 

[Fivepoints]

We use a clamshell grapple. We normally chip the brush and mainly load logs in the grapple truck. I've use both bypass and clamshell. I loke the clamshell better for all around tree work. Its great for that huge pile of pine needles and pine cones left after removing several good sized pine trees. A bypass is pretty worthless in this situation. A clamshell will clean up a pile of wood chips very well as well. Its surprising how few fall out of the open ends when they are all compressed together. We frequently set our grapple on the ground closed and throw a bunch of rakings and small sticks in them as we are cleaning up.

It is really nice to be able to haul brush if your chipper breaks down. This has saved my butt a couple of times. Had an employee roast a clutch in our chipper at a storm job one time.

That looks like a really nice truck.

 

[Ryfe]

(Apologies if the images are balloons.)

Images 1 and 2 show the quick disconnect setup. That bracket with those fittings were installed by the lads at Palfinger. Prior to this installation it was straight hydraulic lines. Image 3 has the sealed caps that cover each hydraulic fitting when the bypass head is off of the truck/boom. So you’ve got 4 caps for the boom itself, and an additional 4 caps for the bypass grapple head hydraulic attachments. We use the caps because they do a good job of keeping the fittings clean and crud free. Lastly, is Little Red Riding Hook. After bypass head is off, the hook rides on the beefy horizontal pin (image 1).

Let me know if these images are unclear.

 

[Mark Chisholm]

View attachment 74964View attachment 74965View attachment 74966

(Apologies if the images are balloons.)

Images 1 and 2 show the quick disconnect setup. That bracket with those fittings were installed by the lads at Palfinger. Prior to this installation it was straight hydraulic lines. Image 3 has the sealed caps that cover each hydraulic fitting when the bypass head is off of the truck/boom. So you’ve got 4 caps for the boom itself, and an additional 4 caps for the bypass grapple head hydraulic attachments. We use the caps because they do a good job of keeping the fittings clean and crud free. Lastly, is Little Red Riding Hook. After bypass head is off, the hook rides on the beefy horizontal pin (image 1).

Let me know if these images are unclear.

We have almost the same setup for our knuckleboom. Works great.

 

[Mark Chisholm]

After getting some tips from others with this same truck, we took the mudflaps off and cut them down in size. Everyone before me said that they had theirs rip the fenders off and bend the brackets all to hell. It's good to have friends!

 

[oceans]

Just got this truck built and am wondering how many of you avoid chippers and use the trash grapple instead? I'm used to bypass grapples and am wondering if I should just swap it now?

View attachment 74761

Dope truck,Mark! Once mine is finished, I’ll be using the chipper as little as possible. Mine will be pulling a trailer for added capacity.

I can’t say I’d want a trash grapple for logs either. Just something light and quick when the need arises. My plan is to fab up some removable plates that turn a bypass into a trash style, but only for lighter materials.

 

[Cereal_Killer]

There is another company in Dayton Ohio that runs several crews (10+???). I had heard the owner speak at a conference a few years ago...he said they have one chipper and the crews get mad when they have to use it. Just pulled up an aerial photo on Google Earth. They have 13 trucks with trailers (also about that big) sitting in their lot in that photo.

That's us, we dont chip shit.
We also regularly use the grapple to pick wood after we brush out removals. Eleminates lawn damage and a lot of bigger rigging (yes I realize there's rigging in the below photo but only till we had the wood low enough to grapple out). The good old Prentice 2124 picked the 10' tall trunk whole and maneuvered it down, a good operator helps immensely with super heavy picks like that.

Never get any cool action shots cause I'm busy but here's yesterday's job.

 

[VenasNursery]

That's us, we dont chip shit.
We also regularly use the grapple to pick wood after we brush out removals. Eleminates lawn damage and a lot of bigger rigging (yes I realize there's rigging in the below photo but only till we had the wood low enough to grapple out). The good old Prentice 2124 picked the 10' tall trunk whole and maneuvered it down, a good operator helps immensely with super heavy picks like that.

Never get any cool action shots cause I'm busy but here's yesterday's job. View attachment 76647View attachment 76648

Tell Eric I said Hello