Thinking about getting a grapple for my 70hp Kubota. Any advice or thoughts on the different styles/brands would be appreciated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTaiLlRCTaM&list=PLYvsvaHjh47Kaddsn06YzHkGXwLy5g1ML&index=53

He has more videos on it if you scroll through. His family owns a logging company over in Columbus MS. He has several attachments for his mini.

I bought a MTL for $1000ish shipped about 3 years ago. Done everything ive needed it to do. I went with a dual lid long bottom. Im moving more brush and tree trunks than anything.

Id suggest not getting one too wide and not getting the HD heavy skidsteer models. Too heavy. You can spend anywhere from $900-3000 depending on which brand ya choose.

https://www.mtlattachments.com/attachments/72-mtl-hd-root-grapple-yjpd2

The loader manual will tell you what quick attach attachments comply. If your going to be moving heavy stuff, put something heavy on the three point hitch.

My opinion is don’t get a flat bottom type, get one C shaped so that brush rolls up into it. Mine is called Brush Raker and is very, very tough. https://www.brushraker.com/br-series-tractor-rakes

The reason I prefer the c shape is to roll brush to get dirt out.

Can do the same with long bottom. Just curl it forward and the tines do the same.

Ive used both styles on skid steers and tractors. I went with the long bottom because it cradles the load like a pitch fork. Short bottom has to clamp or crush it to hold onto it. With the short bottom I left trails of broken small debris behind when moving brush piles unless they were green.

Also I like the dual lids better for uneven loads. I can pick up a stump ball on the left side. and then the right side will clamp on down on something smaller on that side.
When I did that same type load with a single lid model the root ball would stop the lid from clamping any further down, and anything on the other side would just fall out because the lid wouldn't go any tighter. Resulted in more trips back and forth.
Most long bottom are dual lids. Most short bottoms are single lids.

Best money you will ever spend!

They definitely are a back saver. My $1000 investment in one has saved me probably $3-5k in work (or rentals) id have had to hired out with out it.

Rmart30 has used one before I can tell.. Good advice. I've used several styles too.

The only reply to that is for a mountain of the long bottom grapples on the market, curling them forward to use the tines like you do means the clamping arms (wide open) are pushing the ground or have cylinder fittings very exposed to the brush you're pushing, or both. I sold my long bottom because I didn't think it worked as well for me in my situation (which is a lot of yaupon holly). The one I had with triangular gusset plates on the tines also would not truly "rake" like a root rake. But, I know every situation is different and I agree if all you're doing is scooping and toting, the long bottom has its place for sure (like after something is root raked, using that grapple to move the piles).

Correct, its all going to depend on what the end user wants to do with it, Both styles have their place and better suited tasks. Ideally id have one of each and a quick tach tree puller.

We have 2. One on our 3032 and 5055e and we have gotten our money back on both with hurricane sally and zeta. I will always own one.

Just dont get one too heavy. Mine is over 900 pounds which takes away from your lift capacity. I use it on a m7040. I like the two cylinders on it for the clamshells. Also a root grapple is the way to go.

Dual jaws. I've had a Construction Attachments grapple for a decade now and love it. I recently had my first issue with it, a leaking rod seal on one of the cylinders. I was able to get up with their service guys and have seal kits shipped UPS-Red. When I had a question late on Friday, one of their guys called me from home on Saturday. That doesn't happen so often anymore.

Thanks to al for your input.