“Poor Man’s” Grapple Fork Uses Chain, Tractor Weights
“It handles big piles of brush and weeds with no problem. Best of all, I didn’t spend a nickel to build it - just my time,” says Paul Bernier, Geyserville, Calif., who made his own “poor man’s” grapple fork using a chain and a pair of 70-lb. tractor suitcase weights.
He welded chain hooks to the corners on back of the 8-ft. wide bucket on his Kubota 50 hp tractor. A 12-ft. long chain is threaded through the 2 weights, which set side by side and are centered with the bucket as it’s raised above the ground.
To grab a pile of brush, Bernier drives forward until the weights are up and over the pile and then lowers the weights to the ground. He then backs up with the weights dragging along the ground, until they trap the brush inside the bucket.
To dump the load, he tilts the bucket down until the weights clear the pile and the brush falls out.
“The weights trap the brush on the lip of the bucket so it can be lifted up without anything falling out,” says Bernier. “When we’re done handling brush the chains can be quickly removed, allowing us to use the bucket for other jobs.
“My total cost was about $50, which was mainly for the weights and chain hooks. Other objects, such as an old engine block or a big tire, could be used instead of the suitcase weights.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Paul Bernier, 1720 Canyon Rd., Geyserville, Calif. 95441 (ph 707 849-7620; lreinreb@gmail.com).
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“Poor Man’s” Grapple Fork Uses Chain Tractor Weights TRACTORS Loaders “It handles big piles of brush and weeds with no problem Best of all I didn’t spend a nickel to build it - just my time ” says Paul Bernier Geyserville Calif who made his own “poor man’s” grapple fork using a chain and a pair of 70-lb tractor suitcase weights He welded chain hooks to the corners on back of the 8-ft wide bucket on his Kubota 50 hp tractor A 12-ft long chain is threaded through the 2 weights which set side by side and are centered with the bucket as it’s raised above the ground To grab a pile of brush Bernier drives forward until the weights are up and over the pile and then lowers the weights to the ground He then backs up with the weights dragging along the ground until they trap the brush inside the bucket To dump the load he tilts the bucket down until the weights clear the pile and the brush falls out “The weights trap the brush on the lip of the bucket so it can be lifted up without anything falling out ” says Bernier “When we’re done handling brush the chains can be quickly removed allowing us to use the bucket for other jobs “My total cost was about $50 which was mainly for the weights and chain hooks Other objects such as an old engine block or a big tire could be used instead of the suitcase weights ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Paul Bernier 1720 Canyon Rd Geyserville Calif 95441 ph 707 849-7620; lreinreb@gmail com
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