3-Point Grapple VS Farmi Winch

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What are the pros and cons of each given one were operating on fairl level, dry terrain.
<img src="http://www.woodlanddirect.com/3-Point-Tractor-Grapple-image.jpg" /img><br>
<img src="http://ezforestry.com/images/productimages/Farmi%20JL501%20001.jpg" /img><br>
I could see where the winch would do well to grab a tree out of a snag, or perhaps from the far side of a soft spot, but off and on the machine to hook all your logs takes time, where the grapple is hook and go. A chain or cable could do the same as the winch with just the tractor pulling those that needed it. Input from users please......:popcorn:

Also, is the blade on the winch made to use or more as an anchor...?
 
First, let me start from saying that I do not own and have never used a 3pt grapple or winch. But, I do pull logs and firewood with my 40 horse tractor with cables and chains. At the end of a day using this method I would say that anything is better than cables and chains.

I've looked at both and the cost is similar. The grapple looks good if you know you can back up close to every stem. But, what if you can't? That's where the winch comes in. Sure, you have to get off and hook all of you're hitches, but you can pull more than just the couple trees that the grapple can hold in every turn.

So, your land is flat. Does it have any swampy/wet areas that eat tractors for lunch? If so, the winch is the ticket. Watching a tree pushing everything out of its way coming towards your tractor, the sound of branches and small trees breaking and yielding to the power of the winch is almost a religious experience. All at distances of 150+ feet away.

The blade is an anchor, but you can also use it for decking logs, back blading skid trails (handy if your machine is not equipped with a loader) bucking through snow drifts and anything else you think it could do.

Grapples can hold the tree higher off the ground so it doesn't get as dirty. They can also squeeze, compress, and move those pesky slash piles that nobody likes to deal with. They are probably faster in a clear-cut situation, where, as mentoned above, you can back up to every butt.

You should check out Turkeyslayer's New Tractor and Winch thread. He makes a pretty good case for the winch.

I have been wanting to get into firewood sales for a while now. When I do, my first purchase is going to be a skidding winch. I don't think they can be beat by anything in their class. I look forward to the evolution of this thread.
 
I have plenty of time with a Farmi but none with a grapple .
I think that the Farmi would be more versatile due to the fact that you can skid multiple logs , winch and use it as a back blade .
Setting up and unhooking the logs may take a little more time than the grapple but in my type of condition and terrain the Farmi is the choice .
I think you should get them both so you could give us a review :laugh: .
 
My vote is for the Farmi Winch, More versatile. The back blade is used for more than just anchoring the winch when pulling. You can use it like a dozer blade, plowing snow , moving brush piles, decking logs. I would reread TurkeySlayers post. lots of good info on there about using a winch and lots of Pics to boot.

The grapple has its place if you can get right up to the log, but dosen't help out when you have one hung up, winch can be used at a safe distance away. Plus You need 2 hydralic spools to run the grapple. One for the grapple and one for grapple rotation. Most tractors don't have two spools. Farmi winch requires no hydralics, as long as you have a 3 point and 540 pto your good to go.

I will be watching this thread as I am looking at getting a winch myself.


Beefie
 
Been reading a bit more on the winches, and found one brand that spools 230' or more of cable on their units. Impressive. I could see using one on a property other than my own where the land owner wanted a minimal "footprint", and the winch would allow you to work from an existing road or trail.
 
Been reading a bit more on the winches, and found one brand that spools 230' or more of cable on their units. Impressive. I could see using one on a property other than my own where the land owner wanted a minimal "footprint", and the winch would allow you to work from an existing road or trail.

Yeah. I'd pretty much say that you summed it up right there.
 
Been reading a bit more on the winches, and found one brand that spools 230' or more of cable on their units.

At 230' you'd be amazed how many times it'll fetch up in roots and stumps and the walking back and forth to get unstuck gets a little long :msp_mad: .
I'm pretty sure you loose line pull strength with all that cable on the drum but on flat level ground and an open forest it would work , around here 100' is a stretch with a clear line of site .
 
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265' with 3/8 cable if you need reach .
 
You'll need lots of front weights to use that grapple, unless all you pull is stick size logs, one at a time. Get the winch, never regret it. As testimony to the 3 point winches, you don't see many used ones for sale. Those that get one won't part with it.
 
GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE...........Grapple.

Mount a 12K electric winch to the grapple frame. Both in one.
 
GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE GRAPPLE...........Grapple.

Mount a 12K electric winch to the grapple frame. Both in one.

Now that is a new twist...seems easy enough with a bit of fabrication. :cheers:
 
I can't elaborate on the winch, never used one. But I skid most of my tops with 48hp JD 4wd tractor, I use something similar to the rear grapple although fabricated in my shop, same principle just manual log hook up vs. hydraulic squeeze. I'm more in hilly terrain. I love dragging out the logs and tops with the grapple style attachment, I would think it is much faster than the winch. Secondly it lifts up the front of the log about 3' into the air, it minimizes the length of the log contacting the ground, keeping dirt out of it and it minimizes ground,grass damage. I mainly cut on other people's property so keeping the footprint minimal is critical. I don't even have to add weight to the front of the tractor for ballast, but I have a front end loader on the front with forks for picking up logs if needed.
I have watched skidders winch out logs, it is a fairly slow process and they plow a trench when being dragged. If you think about it most skidder operators would much rather grap with a grapple and go vs. winching, or at least thats the way loggers prefer to do it here in this area. I think with a grapple like you have pictured the productivity would be 3-1 over the winch. Now if you were in steep, hilly really rugged terrain where mobility was a concern, a winch would be the safe bet. I'd have to say grapple on level ground, I know I wouldn't even consider a winch in my operation, too slow. I've had a 10k warn on the truck before and really didn't use it that much, too easy to hook the tractor on and pull. But as another person mentioned you could rig up a winch on a simple 2" truck receiver mount on the grapple, you could keep it on or remove it as jobs dictated.
 
the 3 point pto winchs are alot faster than any truck winch. you need a good size tractor to run a 3 point winch.
 
What size tractor?

My 35hp will only pick up about a 1K that far out if I was using the grapple, and I would be wheel braking it all the way to the house. I have alot of steep hills so I use my winch alot as there is no other way to get the wood, also I can't pull much up a hill as I pretty much flip over.

A set of forks works better for me, cut logs into 6-8ft lenths, then I can back up the hill and not flip over.
 
I've never used a grapple but have used a Farmi for years. If I had both the grapple would not be used that often. It's hilly around here and I pull alot of logs out or ravines that are hard to even climb out of. I have a 47 HP Kabota with forks and a Farmi 501. Hard now to imagine fire-wooding without them!
 
What size tractor?

My 35hp will only pick up about a 1K that far out if I was using the grapple, and I would be wheel braking it all the way to the house. I have alot of steep hills so I use my winch alot as there is no other way to get the wood, also I can't pull much up a hill as I pretty much flip over.

A set of forks works better for me, cut logs into 6-8ft lenths, then I can back up the hill and not flip over.

Bucket ballast, young Jedi...800 pounds- counterwieght it will! Pour a concrete ballast block you must!

yodaraves.gif
 
I use an old 3 point hitch ditch digging bucket for my "grapple". I removed the scoop off of it and welded on 4 or 5 hooks to the top of the frame and pull using different lengths of chains. Works nice as it keeps the log up out of the dirt, away from my tires and with multiple hooks I can pull a few logs at a time if they are dropped close enough. I don't have pics because it's at my brother in laws place, you know it's a good tool when everyone is always borrowing it. With the grapple you need to be able to back right up to the log, sometimes the stump or other trees will be in the way and then you will be using chains anyway. I do have a grapple but it's way too big for my tractor so I've never used it. There are picturees of my grapple on my thread titled "My firewood tools"
 

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