What Size Grapple Do I Need for My Skid Steer?
Choosing the right grapple for your skid steer is about more than deciding whether you want a 60, 72, 78, 84, or 96 inch attachment.
A wider grapple can cover more ground and handle larger piles, but it also adds weight farther in front of the machine. A grapple that is too heavy can reduce how much material your skid steer can actually carry. A grapple that is too narrow may not cover the machine's footprint or may be less productive for the work you are doing.
The best grapple size is the one that matches your skid steer's width and lifting capacity, the grapple's weight, and the material you plan to handle.
Here is how to narrow it down.
Start With the Width of Your Skid Steer
The first measurement to know is your machine's overall width.
For a wheeled skid steer, measure or look up the overall width with the tires installed. For a compact track loader, use the outside width of the tracks.
In many applications, a grapple that is approximately as wide as the machine is a good starting point.
Why?
If the grapple is substantially narrower than the skid steer, your tires or tracks may extend outside the path of the attachment. That can become inconvenient when clearing brush, working along fence lines, pushing into debris, or maneuvering through vegetation.
That does not mean the grapple must always be wider than the machine.
A narrower grapple can make sense when you regularly work through gates, wooded trails, barns, livestock areas, or other confined spaces. A wider grapple can make sense when productivity and coverage are more important than maneuverability.
Think of machine width as the starting point, not the only deciding factor.
48 Inch Grapples: Compact Machines and Tight Areas
A 48 inch grapple makes the most sense when attachment weight and maneuverability are major concerns.
This size is especially useful for smaller skid steers, compact tractors, and machines working in tight areas.
A narrower grapple can be easier to maneuver between trees, through gates, around barns, and along established trails. It also generally places less attachment weight on the front of the machine than a much larger heavy-duty grapple.
JST currently carries multiple 48 inch STORM grapple configurations, including one and two cylinder Root/Brush Grapples.
For compact tractors, the 48 Inch CID Everyday Workhorse Root Grapple is another lightweight option. The current JST listing identifies it for compact tractors up to 45 horsepower.
Shop the 48 Inch CID Everyday Workhorse Root Grapple
Browse JST Skid Steer Grapples
The important point is that a 48 inch grapple is not simply a smaller version of a 72 inch grapple. It can be the better choice when the machine itself is smaller or the job requires access to confined areas.
60 Inch Grapples: A Good Fit for Smaller and Mid Size Machines
A 60 inch grapple can provide a useful balance between coverage, weight, and maneuverability.
JST currently carries several 60 inch choices, including STORM Root/Brush Grapples and the 60 Inch Glacier Extreme Root/Brush Grapple. The Glacier model is currently listed at 859 pounds, so these two examples also illustrate an important point: width alone does not determine whether a grapple is appropriate for your machine.
Two grapples can both be 60 inches wide and still place very different demands on the skid steer.
Shop the 60 Inch STORM Root/Brush Grapple, 2 Cylinder
Shop the 60 Inch Glacier Extreme Root/Brush Grapple
That is why the next factor is just as important as width.
72 Inch Grapples: The Common Full Size Choice
For many full size skid steers and compact track loaders, 72 inches is a natural size to consider.
A 72 inch grapple gives you a six foot working width, which fits well with many machines in this class while providing enough coverage for brush piles, logs, storm debris, roots, and general land clearing.
JST currently offers several very different 72 inch grapple designs.
The 72 Inch STORM HD Root/Brush Grapple is currently listed at 520 pounds. The 72 Inch Glacier Extreme Root/Brush Grapple is a much heavier 929 pound attachment. That is more than a 400 pound difference between two grapples with the same nominal width.
Shop the 72 Inch STORM HD Root/Brush Grapple
Shop the 72 Inch Glacier Extreme Root/Brush Grapple
This is why asking only, “What width grapple fits my skid steer?” does not tell the whole story.
You also need to ask, “How much grapple can my skid steer carry before I put anything in it?”
78, 84, and 96 Inch Grapples: More Coverage for Larger Machines
Larger grapples can make sense on bigger skid steers and compact track loaders, especially when the primary work involves large brush piles, logs, storm cleanup, demolition debris, or commercial land clearing.
JST's Glacier Extreme Root/Brush Grapple lineup currently extends through 78, 84, and 96 inch models.
Shop the 78 Inch Glacier Extreme Root/Brush Grapple
Shop the 84 Inch Glacier Extreme Root/Brush Grapple
Shop the 96 Inch Glacier Extreme Root/Brush Grapple
The advantage is obvious: more working width and the ability to control larger piles.
The tradeoff is equally important.
As the grapple becomes wider and heavier, you need enough machine capacity to carry both the attachment and the load inside it.
For a large compact track loader doing commercial clearing, that tradeoff may be worthwhile. For a smaller skid steer doing routine property maintenance, the extra width and weight may provide little benefit.
Grapple Weight Can Matter More Than Grapple Width
This is one of the most important considerations when choosing a grapple.
Your skid steer does not get to use its full lifting capacity for the material you are carrying.
The grapple gets its share first.
For example, imagine a machine with a rated operating capacity of 2,500 pounds.
If the grapple weighs 500 pounds, you have started with a much different situation than if the grapple weighs 900 pounds.
That does not mean you should simply subtract attachment weight from rated operating capacity and treat the result as a guaranteed safe payload. Load position, machine geometry, stability, operating conditions, and the manufacturer's limits all matter.
But the principle is important:
A heavier attachment leaves the machine with less available capacity for the material being handled.
This is why a heavily built Glacier Extreme grapple may be an excellent match for a larger machine doing demanding clearing, while a lighter STORM or CID option can make more sense on a smaller machine.
Buy enough grapple for the work, but do not buy unnecessary attachment weight.
Think About What You're Actually Picking Up
Brush and Limbs
For loose brush, limbs, and storm debris, additional width can be useful because the material is bulky without always being extremely heavy.
A 72 or 84 inch grapple can gather a large volume of brush quickly if the machine has the capacity and the working area is open enough.
Logs
Logs can become heavy very quickly.
In this application, machine lifting capacity and grapple weight may matter more than maximizing grapple width.
A wider, heavier grapple does not help if it consumes capacity you need to safely lift the log.
Roots and Land Clearing
Root and brush grapples work well when you need to grab roots, brush, logs, and irregular debris while allowing loose dirt to fall through the tines.
For aggressive ground engagement, the construction and duty level of the grapple become especially important.
Rocks
If rocks are a major part of the job, consider whether a rock/brush grapple is actually a better tool than a conventional root grapple.
JST carries STORM and Glacier rock/brush grapple options specifically intended for rock handling and material separation.
Width Is Only Half the Question: What Type of Grapple Do You Need?
Before choosing a width, make sure you are shopping for the right style of grapple.
A root grapple is excellent for grabbing and carrying brush, logs, roots, and irregular debris.
A grapple rake is better suited when you want to rake through surface material, pull vegetation and roots, gather debris, then clamp and carry it.
A rock grapple is useful when you want to retain larger rocks and debris while allowing loose soil and smaller material to fall through.
A bucket grapple gives you a solid bucket floor with hydraulic clamping capability, making it useful when the material includes dirt, gravel, loose debris, or other material you do not want falling through open tines.
If you are deciding between the first two, our previous guide goes deeper into the differences:
Root Grapple vs. Grapple Rake: Which One Do I Need?
One Cylinder or Two?
On some grapple sizes, you may also have a choice between one and two hydraulic cylinders.
JST currently offers both one and two cylinder versions of several STORM grapples, including 48 and 60 inch models.
A dual cylinder grapple allows the grapple lids to react independently when grabbing irregular loads.
Imagine grabbing a large log on one side and a smaller limb on the other. Independent grapple sections can conform more effectively to an uneven load.
A single cylinder design can reduce weight, complexity, and cost and may be perfectly appropriate for lighter or more routine work.
Again, the more expensive or heavier option is not automatically the correct one.
Should the Grapple Be Wider Than the Skid Steer?
Not necessarily.
For general land clearing, choosing a grapple close to the overall width of the machine is a useful starting point.
Do I need to work through narrow gates or wooded trails?
A narrower grapple may be advantageous.
Am I working in open areas and moving large amounts of brush?
A wider grapple may improve productivity.
Is my machine relatively small for its width?
Pay particularly close attention to attachment weight.
Am I handling very heavy material such as large logs or rocks?
Preserving lifting capacity may be more valuable than gaining additional width.
There is no rule that every 72 inch wide skid steer needs a 72 inch grapple.
The correct size is the combination that lets the machine and attachment work effectively together.
A Simple Grapple Sizing Checklist
Before ordering a grapple, find these five pieces of information:
- Overall machine width, including the tires or tracks.
- Rated operating capacity and the manufacturer's lifting limitations.
- Grapple operating weight.
- Typical material, such as brush, logs, roots, rocks, or debris.
- Working environment, including gates, trails, barns, trees, and other width restrictions.
Once you know those five things, choosing between a 48, 60, 72, 78, 84, or 96 inch grapple becomes much easier.
What Size Grapple Should I Buy?
As a practical starting point:
48 inch: compact machines, compact tractors, tight access, and lighter property maintenance.
60 inch: smaller to mid size machines where maneuverability and attachment weight still matter.
72 inch: a versatile size for many full size skid steers and compact track loaders.
78 to 84 inch: larger machines, open work areas, and higher volume brush or debris handling.
96 inch: specialized applications on machines with the capacity and working space to take advantage of the extra width.
These are starting points, not universal machine ratings.
Two skid steers with similar physical widths can have very different lifting capacities. Two 72 inch grapples can also differ dramatically in operating weight and construction.
That is why the machine model and intended job should always be considered before the final selection.
Need Help Matching a Grapple to Your Machine?
If you are not sure which grapple belongs on your skid steer, compact track loader, or tractor, send JST Attachment Sales your machine make and model and tell us what you plan to do with it.
If you are clearing brush, handling logs, cleaning fence rows, moving rocks, or reclaiming property, tell us that too.
We can help narrow down the appropriate grapple type, width, and duty level without putting more attachment on the machine than you actually need.