NorTrac Tractors

[wkpoor]

That grapple looks like the quick claw. I looked at them before going with the BoDozer by Borford mfg. You say that weighs 1000 and it looks lighter duty than mine that weights 800.

 

[gink595]

No I never heard of quick claw. It's a 72" Here's a better pic. The manufacturer I can't think of the name at the moment.Some off brand made in North Carolina. I have since welded in 1/2 X 4" flat bar in the bottom to keep from little debris and logs to drop through that alone was another 100#'s to it. I believe the shipping tag had 950 on it and it was on a pallett.

Regradless it's not a light duty grapple, I've been pretty hard on it picking big rocks and such and haven't seen a hint of strees on it. It is heavy, what size is yours? if it's a 66" I can see 800#'s. Everything on mine is 1/2 steel and has gussets in the front teeth.

 

[hornett224]

i'll take this on my Mahindra 3215 anyday.

http://wrlonginc.com/

not near the turf damge of a skid steer and i can have an implement on the back.my loader capacity is 1400 at the pins and the grapple weighs about 350lbs.i also have pallet forks which work great on large logs.if i can't lift it,i get out the 395xp and make it smaller.

 

[gink595]

Nice pic hornett, I hear alot about tearing up grass and such, which I agree they do, but what exactley are you all doing with these things, mowing the yard. I have a lawn mower for that. If it is to gather wood and such where is this taking place? Someone's lawn. I'm just curious because that seems to be the major complaint. I use mine to assit in firewood and I don't really care about the rough fields and woods I go into. I would love to have a tractor GTG and cut some wood, that would be a learning experience for all, since I just don't get what is so great about compacts and have even used them and still just don't get it. Maybe I could finally use someones and understand the greatness of them. I would be happy to let someone use my loader and see first hand. I guess my uses are different than most here, maybe I just don't see all of the other things they are being used for that the skidsteers can't do easily and faster. Except brush hogs, I'll give ya that one. Please what are they being used for?

 

[wkpoor]

I drive mine in the grass behind the house everyday to get to the field or where I do my processing of firewood plus I have a real nice gravel driveway out from the garage where I store the tractor. A steer just wouldn't be practical for everyday use and as I said before especially in the winter months I would have this place all tore to heck and back with a steer. And yes it is a 66"er. Sometimes think it should have been a 60" when I'm trying to lift 30"+ logs. This grapple can handle up to 48"

 

[gink595]

How do you like that style of grapple? Sometimes I wish I had that solid front to pick up the real little stuff. It seems that might be a pain to grab more than one log at a time though or trees with crotches. The 72 is a little big for my machine, the guy I bought it from only had 72 and 78. I paid 1900.00 for it new, well actually about half that since my buddy went in half to do some work for him. From other places I looked new grapples were running 4-5000 range. So I live with the 72".

 

[wkpoor]

I thought long and hard about it. Went to several shows and even to Louisville farm show. I couldn't find one that could do big and real small both till I happened on to the Bo Dozer. Sometimes the separate clamp would be better but most of the time I pinch the logs to pick them up and can even do that on the end. So really I've found it doesn't matter if is forked or crooked. I just find a spot to clamp on the finger ends instead of a full grasp. This grapple can hold any size even 1" stuff except you have to be careful with the pressure applied.

 

[Marc]

Yes they do with a hydralic driven PTO motor. I have a lot of hours runnig a skid steer and have never needed to get pulled out. You can use your bucket to push yourself out in most situations, not saying you can't get one stuck but I have yet to do it and have been in some deep muck with it. You also can get oversized tires that will give them lots of clearance.
http://www.deere.com/en_US/cfd/cons...skidsteer_attachments/skidsteer_3pthitch.html

If your getting a skid steer stuck you will defiantley have been stuck long before with a little Utility with the skinny front tires. I'm not sure of the weights of the utilities but my B-cat weigh around 6000#. the only thing I hate about the bobcat is it tears the sht out of yards.

Yup, that's the kind I got stuck. I didn't want to use the bucket to push myself out because it was full of silage at the time and would have made a mess.

 

[hornett224]

we use it for a tree service.

loading logs,moving brush,pulling bushes and stumps,clearing lots,brush hogging.i mow my lawn with a 21" honda but i may get a finish mower for the tractor.also i can pull that tractor with a half ton pick up.

i'll try and get pics of my setup later.

 

[CLEARVIEW TREE]

Hahaha, Just want to say this is fun, no harrasing insults but fun.... See thats the problem your not bring the right equipment. I use a grapple bucket. So it goes like this:
1) load grapple and stump grinder on a trailer with grapple on machine. drive to site.
2) Throw gate down. Jump in and start (let warm up, very good practice) and then procede to grab stump grinder with grapple bucket take both attachments to the exact site.
3) Cut tree (assuming it was still standing) and buck into logs.
4) Grab all logs at once and take to load truck without ever leaving machine. Disconnect grapple and drive back to site.
5) Attach grinder. You know the drill.
5) Grind stump, bobcat beats Kubota. (I don't know)
6) Drive back to trailer and load the machine up.
7) close gate. here's the the real time saver.
8) throw 16d nails all over by Compact owners truck and haul as> home.
I haven't tried method 8 yet, but i can load a lot of stuff with a grapple bucket and never leave the cab. That to me is a time saver. Not to say you can't get a grapple for a utility but the manuverability isn't there. I loaded 11 cord of wood in a field with my truck and dump trailer in 4 hrs. and that was driving it to my house a feew mailes away. It took longer for the round trip than it did to load up. Good fun though and conversation friend!

I bet your grapple can load a lot of material too, but my machine has both tools installed and usable at anytime! Loader on front, grinder on back! Har Har, take her ezopcorn:

 

[wkpoor]

A couple of years ago I bush hogged a lot for a neighbor. The weeds were so high we used a 773 steer to run ahead of the tractor with the bucket on the ground to mash them down so the tractor could get through. There were a couple of wet areas in the field and the steer had trouble or got stuck and had to use the bucket to work his way out. The tractor drove through with no problems. I've found them not the greatest in deep mud. If you are moving loose material a steer is the best machine for the job and no doubt in the right conditions can load out firewood fast.

 

[CLEARVIEW TREE]

I once cleared a few acres for a friend who's a GC. He had a bobcat loader that got stuck on countless stumps that were around 10 inches tall. I spent a lot of time freeing his machine with the kubota and it's 15" of ground clearance!

 

[gink595]

I once cleared a few acres for a friend who's a GC. He had a bobcat loader that got stuck on countless stumps that were around 10 inches tall. I spent a lot of time freeing his machine with the kubota and it's 15" of ground clearance!

I don't know of your conditions but you should be able to free your self with the bucket, especially if it's hung up on a stump. Sounds like operator error. I have around 1000 hrs of running a skid steer and have never needed any one to free me. There was one time last winter plowing snow I got greedy and pushed a little to far in the ditch and my front tires dropped in it. That was the only time I thought I was Fked. I don't have tracks on mine either, thats a whole nother argument there!

 

[CLEARVIEW TREE]

I don't know of your conditions but you should be able to free your self with the bucket, especially if it's hung up on a stump. Sounds like operator error. I have around 1000 hrs of running a skid steer and have never needed any one to free me. There was one time last winter plowing snow I got greedy and pushed a little to far in the ditch and my front tires dropped in it. That was the only time I thought I was Fked. I don't have tracks on mine either, thats a whole nother argument there!

mmm, skid steer with tracks. Can anyone say climb mt everest? Tracks are awesome!

 

[beerman6]

This is a sad thread...skid vs.tractor.I have to do all that type of work with my back.

One day I will have a compact with a loader.

 

[gink595]

This is a sad thread...skid vs.tractor.I have to do all that type of work with my back.

One day I will have a compact with a loader.

Haha, Hmmm...Ever consider a skid steer:jawdrop:

 

[beerman6]

nah,dont want to tear up the lawn.

 

[BlueRidgeMark]

This grapple can hold any size even 1" stuff except you have to be careful with the pressure applied.

Now, see, if you have those fingers spaced at, say, 16", you can use this to make kindling for the firebox out of the small stuff. Just grab and crunch!

 

[avalancher]

Ed, get in touch with a good friend of mine, Chris Hinchey- Sales Coordinator at Tri-County Power Equipment, Jefferson City(865-475-6025). I've bought lots from him and was there yesterday and he's got at least 30 tractors that are nice pre owned units, some newer and some older! He's reliable, honest, and professional. Tell him i sent you. Also check out tractor house mag publication. It's free at the Newport farmers co-op!

Thanks for the heads up! I have checked the local John Deere dealer here, as well as the shop in White Pine, and their prices are a joke. The dealer in White Pine had an old Kubota 4wd with no loader, tires worn out, etc and wanted 19K!
I might have a chance later this week to run over to Jefferson City and take a peek.
Will be glad to get some muscle on this place, its getting real old dragging this wood by hand!
Thanks again!

 

[gink595]

nah,dont want to tear up the lawn.

LOL, I knew that was coming... Ahhh, never hurt to ask!