The Different Types of Skid Steer Grapples

Skid steers, important pieces of machinery on practically all worksites, are versatile and compact, making them effective for getting a job done. Whether you are a farmer, rancher, construction worker or agricultural worker, a skid steer is the right tool for you to use for everyday tasks, including dozing, digging and transporting. When it comes to these essential tasks, you can’t afford to rely on ineffective or inefficient equipment.

Skid steers have different grapple attachments that perform various tasks, adding ease to a hard workload. With the right attachments, you can improve the quality and speed of your work, increasing your work rate and letting you end your day a little early. Below, we’ll discuss the different types of skid steer grapples, how to choose the right one for the job and the numerous benefits of this type of machinery.

Different Types of Skid Steer Grapples

A skid steer grapple is an attachment that secures into the skid steer bucket with the purpose of picking up and transporting material and debris. Skid steers have multiple different grapple attachments, each one used specifically for different material and debris.

Here are some of the different types of skid steer grapples you may want to consider:

Rock Grapples

One of the most common skid steer attachments is the rock grapple because of how multifaceted it is. Helpful with landscaping, construction, demolition and logging, rock grapples and their serrated edges are good for sifting debris and lifting large or awkward items.

With sizes anywhere from 48 to 88 inches, rock grapple attachments can lift large amounts of weight and a variety of materials.

Root Grapples

Root grapple rake attachments are an important assistant in getting multiple jobs done. Their front tines make them a versatile attachment that forces the skid steer to push materials further and lift larger scoops.

The root and brush attachment is very functional and can help with diverse tasks, including land clearing, demolition, clean up and loading and unloading. They can lift roots, stumps, logs and storm debris, among other common land materials.

Rock and Root Combination Grapples

Rock and root combination grapples combine the best features of rock grapples and root grapples. These attachments have serrated edges and upgraded tine spacing that can improve your skid steer’s efficiency.

Coming in sizes from anywhere between 60 and 91 inches, rock and root grapple buckets have many uses, such as clearing land, transporting materials for agricultural crop management, preparing ranch land for grazing and clearing and sorting debris in construction sites.

Tine Grapples

Another important skid steer attachment is the tine grapple attachment. The tines are multifunctional, with a focus on the needs of ranchers and farmers for use around farms.

Designed to pick up common farm materials, the tines effectively move manure, corn stalks, hay, leaves and brush. The tine attachment can help double the load of an average material bucket. Coming in a variety of sizes, large tine attachments can hold over 1,000 pounds at once.

Demolition and Scrap Grapples

Mainly used in the construction industry, demolition and scrap grapple skid steer attachments allow you to hold scraps in their solid bottoms or are compatible with picking up material and scraps larger than the bucket itself.

The heavy-duty nature of demolition and scrap attachments make them reliable for high-capacity grappling and material handling.

Choosing the Right Grapple for You

With so many grapple options, it can be difficult to know which one will work best for you. Grapple attachments are versatile, with many functions both broad and specific to their intended functions. That said, it is important to pick an attachment that will optimize your workload and help you finish it more quickly.

This optimization is even more important based on today’s labor crisis. Some contractors say that having different skid steer attachments compensate for the lack of laborers. Having more of the right equipment can reduce the number of crew members needed from eight to five.

This improved efficiency can drastically change your work environment. Because of this, choosing the proper skid steer for your needs is key.

Here are a few things to consider when deciding what attachments will work best for you:

Know Your Work Needs

The type of work you do affects what grapple attachment can best optimize your work. The first thing to ask yourself is what you plan on doing with your skid steer.

Consider what materials and debris you most often work with and base your decision on that. For example, if you are a farmer who works with manure and brush, you should consider the tine grapple skid steer attachment. If you work in construction and demolition and you rely on your skid steer to clean up heavy debris, you may want to look into demolition and scrap grapples.

Determine a Size

Skid steer attachments are not universal or interchangeable. While you may be able to mount most attachments, they may not work cohesively with your skid steer.

Bigger is not always better, so just because your skid steer can mount a large attachment does not mean that you should. Using an inappropriate size mount for your skid steer leaves you susceptible to decreased productivity and possibly unsafe work environments.

Recognize Your Capabilities

Before making a purchase, you need to make sure you know your skid steer’s capabilities and your comfort level. You need to look at your skid steer and ensure your purchase will mount on your skid steer and will do so safely.

Avoid overworking your machine by acknowledging the loader capacity of your skid steer and following these guidelines. Purchase a grapple attachment that you are comfortable working with and that properly fits your equipment to avoid underutilization or overloading.

Research Your Options

When making a purchase that can directly affect your work, make yourself aware of all your options. Consider all makes, models and sizes.

When you go to purchase skid steer attachments, do not hesitate to ask questions. Professionals are there to help ensure that your purchase is safe and successful.

Benefits of Skid Steer Attachments

Skid steer attachments are an important part of any workday for construction workers, farmers and ranchers. They have multiple benefits that make them a worthwhile investment for multiple jobs requiring high amounts of manual labor. Below, we’ll discuss the cost-effectiveness, versatility, service life and practicality of skid steer attachments.

1. Worthwhile Investment

Skid steers and their different attachments benefit worksites in many ways, making them a valuable investment for farmers and construction workers. With a myriad of attachment options that vary in size and duty, there is an attachment that will help get the job done for practically any worksite job. Skid steers minimize the necessary labor force to complete a job, allowing sites to require fewer workers or complete more work in the same amount of time.

2. Great Versatility

Part of what makes skid steers such a worthwhile investment is how versatile they are. Instead of needing completely different equipment for every worksite task, skid steer attachments allow workers to use one machine with different attachments to complete multiple jobs. For example, on a construction site, different skid steer attachments can help with numerous jobs, including demolition, roadwork, excavation, backfilling and loading.

3. Relatively Long Service Life

The service life of an average skid steer is 5,000 hours. This lifetime means that if you buy your skid steer new and keep its maintenance up to date, your skid steer may be able to last you years. However, the service life will depend on the terrain you use it on and the work that you perform with it, so if your work is more aggressive or difficult, your skid steer may not last as long as skid steers that perform only light work.

Either way, you can get your money’s worth in your investments. Skid steer attachments that are well-made can also have long service lives, so if you take care of the attachments as well, they may even outlast your skid steer.

4. Practical Size

Another thing that makes skid steers good equipment for different jobs is its size. Skid steer loaders have rigid frames that are sleek and allow workers to maneuver tight spots. Also, the wheels of a skid steer are rugged, allowing them to run on both flat and rugged terrain.

They are quick machines that allow their operators to navigate quickly and precisely to get the job finished in a timely manner. Skid steers also have differential steering, which lets the operator perform zero-degree radius turns, which helps the skid steer’s precision and accuracy.

About Stinger Attachments

At Stinger Attachments, we offer online ordering nationwide. We are based in Minnesota and sell quality-made, long-lasting skid steer grapple attachments. Our equipment is all made with a minimum of 50-grade steel to optimize your skid steer load.

Here are some of our most popular skid steer grapples: