What size grapple saw

TTTE

TTTE

Location
Pittsburgh PA
What size grapple saw to get and do you really need 2 and what 2 sizes? I understand the limits of the crane affect there total performance. I’m getting a pk65002 and not sure what grapple or grapples to get. I’m thinking either the 220 by itself and a bigger one the 280 or the small 160 and the 280? Are you getting all the small stuff with the 160 then jump right to the 280 or just 220 and the go to slings? Any advice or input greatly appreciated.
 
I have no clue about grapple saws. But I’d guess it’s about the same for chainsaws. Plus’s and minuses to each.
I’d likely plan for two, and if I couldn’t get two right away I’d go for the larger one first. You can always use a 661 to remove a 12” tree, but you can’t use a 201 to remove a 36” tree.
 
That is an awesome crane. I am going out to Tiffin this week. I have the 160 and 220. My bro has the 160 and 280 . I have a bunch of hours running all of them on a couple different cranes. For me on the the 65 you want both. The 160 is great for tight crotched trees like pin oaks and those max picks so you still have capacity and less wear on the crane. It’s way more solid out at 100’. The 280 kills it in close and out to 70-80’ and for moving logs and busting down tulip trees that are light but still thick at 80 - 100’. Also once you start running these trucks you won’t want to be down a grapple head if something breaks. If cost is an issue an you can only get one the 220 is the ticket.I now stock lots of extra parts cause if you have it it won’t break and also have a spare head.
Good Luck with the build
Tiffin puts together a great build and their support is awesome.
 
Get ready for treework to be easy. This thing is a game and life changer. Super fun to operate. I use mine at least 4 days a week. Once you have it you will use it for everything. Oh get a man basket as well to further diversify this truck. When you need it it’s priceless.
 
I only run the Sg160, but at some point I'd like to get the sg280 for trunk wood (when working alone). For now, I just sling out the trunk wood or do bypass cuts.

The sg220 should come with a 20" bar, instead of a 18".
 
I have a 280 and 160. Almost never use the 280 anymore since I got the 160. Once I get into wood big enough for the 280 we are usually picking logs as a crane. We have a bunch of loggers who will pick up mill logs for nothing so most of my customers don't want a bunch of chunks of wood they have to pay to get rid of. I still like having both for those occasions they want the tree grappled all the way to the ground. Doesn't happen often though. I much prefer the 160 for the wear and tear on the boom.
 
We’re used to slinging everything with the stick crane and pretty quick. Due to cost might just go 220 to handle everything then sling big stuff. But being able to have that 160 be nice. I thought of man basket but haven’t got a price. My climbers would love having a 100’ bucket truck. We prune a lot of 100’ Tall oaks. The whole idea of having this rig is to eliminate climber as much as possible and time ect ect. So having the multiple size grapples is really the only way to do that. Having that bigger 280 could be the difference of having to rig down with slings or notch it at the bottom. Just dont want any regrets this time around. In past it’s always should’ve got the bigger chipper the taller crane ect ect. Breaking the bank this time. Keep it coming!
Mr Conley Saw you at the TCIA Pittsburgh crane class. Way to jump in and help out. I’m so glad to see our industry grow into so many more professionals out there doing the job! Setting a great example for our line of work.
 
I have spent a lot of money and time figuring this out. With only the 220 head on some trees , a lot in my locale I still needed to sling wood (sending a climber up) that’s why on my new build I will have the 160 and 280. Which will save me from any climbing on at least 65-75 percent of all my removals. The following 10 percent will be 1 pick with a sling or 2 grapple grabs and the remaining 15-25 percent of trees will need minimal sling work 4-6 picks or 8 or so grabs with the 280 no saw just grappling depending on the size and species of the tree . With only the 220 I would need to have a climber on at least 15 percent more of the removals. So at an extra 3 days a month at 400-500 a day For a great climber at the end of the 1.5 years it broke even and allowed me much more productively as well as better pickup of large logs. With these trucks their is minimal climbing work. A word of advice I would always have a good climber on site with these style cranes as I have had to climb up and get my grapple head twice in 1.5 yrs. Both times my fault one time I grabbed a branch and a twig got caught and caused my hydraulic attachment to disconnect but I was already grabbed on. I had to go cut the twig and reconnect to regain function.
In the end I would do treework no other way now that I know it can be done the Mek way.
Only you knowing the size and height of your forest will be able to determine what is the best size crane and accessories.
 
TTTE said:
We’re used to slinging everything with the stick crane and pretty quick. Due to cost might just go 220 to handle everything then sling big stuff. But being able to have that 160 be nice. I thought of man basket but haven’t got a price. My climbers would love having a 100’ bucket truck. We prune a lot of 100’ Tall oaks. The whole idea of having this rig is to eliminate climber as much as possible and time ect ect. So having the multiple size grapples is really the only way to do that. Having that bigger 280 could be the difference of having to rig down with slings or notch it at the bottom. Just dont want any regrets this time around. In past it’s always should’ve got the bigger chipper the taller crane ect ect. Breaking the bank this time. Keep it coming!
Mr Conley Saw you at the TCIA Pittsburgh crane class. Way to jump in and help out. I’m so glad to see our industry grow into so many more professionals out there doing the job! Setting a great example for our line of work.
Click to expand...
Thanks so much. Appreciate you attending.
 
Well that’s up to what the engineers can work out. I’ll know better after Friday. I will keep my 33002 for the time being and be adding a larger one.
 
I run the 220 on our PK110. We also have a 280 at the yard but when the wood gets that big I go to slings and by losing the head gain 800# of capacity on the wood picks. Also cutting both sides then reaching up grabbing the top and breaking the snap cut is a good option for bigger wood if a climber isnt available.
 
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