Best front end loader attachment for handling tri axle load firewood

Hi folks. Looking for information, input, experience with attachments to take pole length firewood off a tri axle pile & saw up. I currently own a set off pallet forks but find I usually am getting to many logs at once rolling on the forks & falling off one end or the other of the forks. We have a decent size tractor JD 5500 with 4wd. Suggestions?

 

Grapple

 

Farmchuck if you have decent loader capacity and third function hydraulics available, then a grapple is the way to go. But, beware of the weight of the attachment as it will eat up a portion of your loader capacity. Good luck and send pix!

 

I agree, plus lifting at maximum height can make the tractor unstable.

 

Find a friend with a mini-excavator that has a hydraulic thumb. Offer him a case of beer and a pickup load of firewood to help. We use that setup at the hunting camp it makes it very easy. Cutting at waist level improves speed and leaves much more time for drinking beer and clear whiskey.

 

I’ve been intrigued with trying a Frostbite style grapple for this. I think they are under 400lb, and you would not be left with a big piece of log within the jaws. I’ve heard that a mini excavator with thumb, and two guys with saws can make a pile disappear fast.

 

I was looking at those as well. I was just wondering if a root grapple would be better or not.

 

That’s the main reason I’d like to get one is to cut at waist height. My lower back gives me fits anymore when I cut for any length of time bent over.

 

Any particular brand or style of grapple your familiar with?

 

I’ve had a 6’ Landpride root grapple on my 50hp tractor, and was very impressed, but didn’t try it for this job.

 

What aspects of firewood production did you use it for?

 

We sprayed some invasive s one summer (bitter sweet, multiflora rose, etc). The next year we rented a mini excavator to tear out the invasives and make small piles, and then used the grapple to move the small piles to larger ones. I borrowed the grapple from an uncle. It is an excellent tool.

 

I’ve loaded Pine logs onto a flatbed with staked sides using my forks, and wish I had had a grapple for that job, also. You need one.

 

Farmchuck I would check out some of the EA (everything attachments) vids on YouTube as a place to start researching.

 

What about a 3 point backhoe and put a thumb on it? Best of both worlds.

 

2nd vote for EA. Everything attachment

 

Might just slip the log truck driver a $20 and have him spread the poles out on runners so you can get them on your forks square and not jackstrawed out of a pile.

 

I have both forks and a grapple. I thought it would be nice being able to lift a log and grapple it in place to buck it up. The problem is that most logs are 10-12' long, and the grapple is 6'. So you have 2-3' hanging out each side if you center it. Grab a bigger log off center too far and the tractor just tips. The biggest timesaver for the grapple is for lifting full length trees and have a guy cutting off each end. And also they work very well for relocating brush.
If all you wanted was to grab a log from the pile and lower it to safety, I'd stick with the forks and buy a cant hook and pickaroon

 

My thoughts were being able to take logs from the pike one or two at a time depending on how large diameter they were & holding them at waist height or so to buck them. I’m hoping to do things to ease lower back pain. I get what you mean about logs not centered tipping the tractor. Thanks for your insight.