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What You Didn’t Know You Could Use a Root Grapple for

What You Didn’t Know You Could Use a Root Grapple for

Posted by Lee Padgett on 19th May 2022

Spartan Equipment Mini Skid Steer Root Grapples are all made with top-quality ⅜” steel and feature greaseable pins and bearings at all hinge points.

These mini skid steer attachments are compatible with cylinder rod covers that protect the hydraulic cylinder shaft from debris and damage while the unit is in operation.

We produce these root grapples for a number of different models, including Bobcat, Vermeer, Ditch Witch, and others, so there’s a good chance we offer one that’s compatible with your mini skid steer.

Most importantly, Spartan Equipment Never Surrenders. So even if you don’t need a root grapple for ripping out trees (even though they’re good for that) if you’re crafty with your attachments, you’ll get your money’s worth.

Why Your Skid Steer Needs a Root Grapple
If you don’t have a root grapple yet, with a name like that, you might think the attachment is too specialized for your use, sort of like a bale spear or a tree boom.

The thing is, in the hands of an experienced operator, there’s so much more that a root grapple can do besides just pulling out trees.

You can use a root grapple for that, but there are plenty of other things you can do with one. Fortunately, Spartan Equipment Never Surrenders, so you can face tough obstacles and come out on top.

These are some of the most practical uses for our mini skid steer root grapples

The Obvious
Obviously, with a name like “root grapple,” it’s no surprise that you can use one of these to pull out trees and remove stumps. They’re big and tough enough to do so.

For instance, with trees that have fallen over and have exposed root balls, you can drive the lower tines of the root grapple directly into the ball, then firmly close the jaws over the top. Backing out can often rip the fallen tree right out of the ground. The same goes for stumps.

It’s also called a root grapple because it can be used to remove plant-based debris left over after bulldozing or demolition. Literally - you can “grapple roots” with one.

It’s no surprise then that you can also use a root grapple to remove logs, branches, and other fallen brush quickly and efficiently. It’s not a highly specialized tool, but it gets the job done, and if you choose a Spartan Equipment Root Grapple, it will Never Surrender.

But, despite the name, a root grapple for your skid steer is not simply for grappling roots. Nor is it simply for grappling stumps, logs, and other brush and vegetative debris. The limits of the root grapple are bounded less by equipment tolerance than they are by your craftiness. Here are some other jobs you can take a root grapple to and come out on top.

                   Root grapples

The Not-So-Obvious
Do you do demolition work? Root grapples can be just as useful for clearing construction debris as most other skid steer attachments and much more useful than many others.

The flexibility and manipulability of the jaws and tines make grapples like these much more practical than dozers and excavators attachments. With a pile of lumber, drywall, pipe, concrete, glass, and other materials, a grapple can absolutely be your best friend. This debris is irregular and tough to move - but a root grapple is great for it.

In the hands of a skilled operator, root grapples can also be used for the demolition work itself. There are even some posts out there about operators that use root grapples to topple trees. That’s two jobs in one - clearing land and then clearing the debris you left behind. With the right attachment, you can do both.

Root grapples can also be used for lifting and breaking concrete slabs. Just slide the tines under the edge of a slab and lift. If the slab doesn’t crack under its own weight, it can be repositioned and dragged away in the jaws of the grapple.

Much like a dozer bucket, a grapple can be used for loading and moving, too. The tines make it difficult to move loose particulate matter, but anything else goes. In fact, in some ways, the tines help with your grip on debris by increasing contact surface area.

Our Customer Service Team Is Here to Help
As you can see, root grapples are really much more than just “root” grapples and can perform the functions of many other attachments, such as dozers, breakers, loaders. We also carry a number of other specialized attachments, too, like grapple rakes (similar to root rakes), tree booms and tree spades, trenchers, and much more - and all of them Never Surrender.

If you have questions about the compatibility or specifications of our root grapples, visit the link above or contact us at 1-888-888-1085. Also, make sure to follow us on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter so you never miss out on news, developments, and releases.