Heavy Construction Equipment Made Simple

Posted on: 30 September 2019

From gripping onto large logs to picking up a load of trash, the grapple bucket is probably one of the most valuable attachments you can get for your skid steer. If you haven't yet invested in one of these attachments for your heavy equipment, it may be time to start considering doing so. However, before you get started on the shopping process, you should know that not all grapple buckets are made quite the same. Here is a look at some of the features and attributes you should be looking for in the best-built grapple bucket you can buy. 

Make sure the grapples are made from top-quality steel. 

The grapples are responsible for holding onto the materials you are picking up, so the strength of the hold is only as good as the grapples themselves. One of the main things you should be inspecting when shopping for your grapple bucket is what the grapples are made out of. For the most part, it is best if the grapples are made out of high-quality steel that is nice and thick with a reinforced structure. For example, the best grapple buckets are made out of top-quality steel with a dense design. Anything less can break or bend rather easily. 

Make sure there are bushings with grease fittings on each hinge. 

The fact that the grapple bucket has these teeth-like forks that flex and move is what makes the attachment so functional when in use. Maintaining this function means everything for the long term, but the only way you can do that is if the grapple hooks actually have grease fittings in the bushings at each hinge. This will allow you to add grease directly to where it needs to be on the unit so you won't run into problems with them getting hung. 

Make sure the grapple bucket comes with hydraulic lines necessary for operation. 

Grapple buckets move thanks to hydraulic cylinders, which have to be connected by lines and couplings. Some grapple buckets actually do not include the hydraulic lines and couplings that are necessary for proper connections; you will have to buy them separately. Buying the pieces separately is not only expensive, but it can also pose some problems when making the actual connections. Finding the grapple bucket that has all that you are going to need to actually get started working is always going to be the better deal in the end. 

For more information on grapple buckets, contact a company in your area like Steves Equipment Attachments.