Grapples are one of the most versatile attachments on any skid steer or CTL. They're also one of the most commonly misbought. This guide covers every decision point — type, width, hydraulics, brands, and what to avoid — so you buy the right grapple the first time.
If you run a skid steer in Canada — clearing land, managing brush, moving debris, handling logs or bales — a grapple will change how you work. The right grapple for the right job on the right machine is a force multiplier. The wrong one is a frustration that limits your machine and costs you twice when you eventually buy the right one anyway.
This guide covers everything a Canadian buyer needs to make a good grapple decision: the types available, the specs that matter, hydraulic requirements, machine sizing considerations, brand comparison, and the three mistakes buyers consistently make.
There are six main grapple types for skid steers. The categories have real functional differences — a root grapple is not a brush grapple is not a grapple bucket. Here's how they break down:
The workhorse. A root grapple has parallel tines (typically 4–6) on both the upper and lower jaw that interlock when closed. Designed for grabbing stumps, root balls, brush piles, rocks, and debris — anything you need to pick up, squeeze, and carry without losing material through the tines. This is the right choice for land clearing, acreage development, and general debris management. Brands like Blue Diamond, Virnig, Berlon, and IronBull all anchor their grapple lines around root grapples. It's the most versatile grapple type on the market.
A standard bucket with a hydraulic grapple claw mounted above it. The bottom is solid — you can scoop like a bucket and clamp material from above. Best for mixed loading jobs: moving loose rock, demo debris, mixed soil and material, anything where you want the retention of a bucket combined with the hold-down force of a grapple. Berlon, Blue Diamond, HLA, IronBull, and TMG all make grapple buckets. Common in demolition and site cleanup contexts.
Wider tine spacing and a higher jaw opening than root grapples. Designed to grab large volumes of brush, tree limbs, and slash — material that's bulky but not dense. The open tine design lets debris fall through while retaining larger material. HLA, Paladin FFC, and Berlon make dedicated brush grapples. If you're clearing bush and moving it to a burn pile or chipper, a brush grapple moves more material per cycle than a root grapple. Not ideal for rocks or compact material — the wider spacing lets them fall through.
Curved tines designed to grip round or square bales without damaging the bale wrap. Also used for hay accumulation in field operations. HLA has a broad hay and bale grapple lineup (bale grapples in 72", 84", 96" widths), as does Blue Diamond (hay accumulator) and Conterra. Farm-specific attachment — not a general-purpose grapple. If bale handling is part of your operation, a bale grapple pays for itself quickly in wrap preservation and handling speed versus a loader bucket.
Heavy-duty, widely-spaced tines designed specifically for rock handling. The skeleton design allows dirt, fines, and small debris to fall through while retaining rocks. Tines are typically heavier gauge than standard root grapples. HLA, Berlon, IronBull, and Virnig all produce skeleton/rock grapples. Essential for rockpile clearing, pit operations, and material separation. Not suitable for brush or fine material — that's not what it's built for.
High-clamping-force grapple built for demo work: concrete rubble, rebar, structural scrap, heavy timber. Often reinforced pivot points, heavier cylinders, and higher breakout force ratings than standard grapples. Virnig's V60 Demolition Grapple and Bobcat's Industrial Grapple fit this category. If you're running demolition regularly, the standard root grapple class isn't built for it — the structural loading is different and wear is accelerated.
When comparing grapples, these are the numbers and construction details that actually predict performance and longevity:
How wide the grapple opens from fully closed to fully open. A larger jaw opening lets you grab bulkier material — large stumps, logs, big brush piles. Standard root grapples typically open 24"–36". Brush grapples often open 36"–48" or more. If you're handling large-diameter logs or oversized stumps, jaw opening is a meaningful constraint. Check this spec against the material size you're commonly handling.
How hard the grapple can squeeze. Higher clamp force means better grip on slippery, irregular, or heavy material. This is a function of cylinder bore, cylinder count, and hydraulic pressure. Most manufacturers publish clamp force in lbs. For light land clearing and brush, lower clamp force is acceptable. For demo, rock, or heavy timber work, you want higher-rated clamp force — look for this spec explicitly. Budget brands often don't publish it; that's itself informative.
Single-cylinder grapples (one cylinder driving the upper jaw) are common on budget and mid-tier units. Dual-cylinder designs (one cylinder per side) provide more even clamping force across the jaw width and are more mechanically robust — less torque on the pivot when clamping asymmetrically. For heavy work on wider grapples (78"+), dual cylinders are strongly preferred. Virnig and Berlon use dual-cylinder configurations on their HD lines. Check whether cylinder rods are chrome or chromed; bare rods rust and fail faster in Canadian wet conditions.
Closer tine spacing retains smaller material; wider spacing is better for volume handling of brush. Root grapples typically run 6"–10" tine spacing. Skeleton/rock grapples run wider. Tine count affects both material retention and structural rigidity — more tines distribute load across more points. Heavy-duty units typically run more tines in the same width. When comparing two similar grapples, more tines in the same width usually means better construction.
The hinge point between the upper and lower jaw is the highest-stress point on the grapple. Look for through-hardened pivot pins (not just surface-hardened), grease zerks at the pivot and cylinder pins for regular lubrication, and reinforced weld quality around the pivot mount. Premium brands like Virnig and Berlon invest here noticeably. On budget units, this is where failures start — worn pivot pins lead to slop, uneven closing, and ultimately jaw failure. If you're buying used, inspect the pivot pin first.
Most grapples are standard-flow attachments — they operate on your machine's standard auxiliary hydraulics without needing high-flow. This is one of the reasons grapples are a good first attachment for operators who haven't upgraded to high-flow: the attachment works on what you've got.
The vast majority of root grapples, grapple buckets, brush grapples, hay grapples, and skeleton grapples operate on standard flow: typically 12–25 GPM and 2,500–3,500 PSI. Two hydraulic lines (supply and return). Single or dual cylinder designs both operate in this range. Check that your machine's aux flow is within the grapple's specified range — too high a flow doesn't help and can overheat seals.
Some heavy-duty and industrial-class grapples specify high-flow requirements — typically 25–40 GPM. These are less common in the grapple category than in mulchers or cold planers. If a grapple specifies high-flow, your machine needs the high-flow option installed. Verify before purchasing.
Standard grapples do not require a case drain line. Case drains are needed on high-RPM motors (like mulchers and cold planers) to prevent back-pressure damage. For grapples — which use cylinders, not motors — you typically do not need a case drain unless the manufacturer specifically requires it for a specialty hydraulic motor-equipped model. If a grapple spec sheet mentions case drain, verify the specific reason and ensure your machine has the port.
Grapple width is the decision that trips up more buyers than any other. The logic seems simple: wider grapple grabs more, so bigger is better. In practice, this is wrong.
Rated Operating Capacity (ROC) is the key constraint. Every pound of grapple and material the grapple holds is weight at the end of your arms. A heavier grapple reduces the usable load you can safely lift. A 78" grapple on a compact machine (say, 1,500–1,700 lb ROC) may weigh 700–900 lbs in itself — leaving you 600–1,000 lbs of usable ROC for material. Now factor in that grapples typically carry wet, heavy debris. You're over capacity quickly.
As a rule: grapple width should match or modestly exceed your bucket width (which is already sized to your machine). Most manufacturers publish compatible machine weight ranges. Use them.
| Machine Size Class | Typical ROC | Appropriate Grapple Width | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (Bobcat S450, Cat 236) | 1,200–1,700 lb | 48"–60" | Stick to 60" max; attachment weight matters |
| Mid-size (Bobcat S650, Cat 262) | 1,800–2,600 lb | 60"–72" | 72" is comfortable here |
| Large (Bobcat S870, Cat 299) | 2,700–4,000 lb | 72"–84" | 84" works; 96" possible for light material |
| XL / Track Loader (Cat 299D3) | 4,000+ lb | 84"–96" | Full-size grapple range appropriate |
Check the grapple's published weight and subtract it from your machine's ROC before calculating what you can actually carry. A 72" heavy-duty root grapple from a premium brand can weigh 700–950 lbs. A budget 72" unit might be 550–700 lbs. Weight varies significantly by construction quality and steel thickness. If a manufacturer doesn't publish weight, ask before buying.
The Canadian grapple market includes brands from premium US manufacturers, Canadian manufacturers, and value-tier imports. Here's where the main brands play:
| Brand | Types Available | Quality Tier | Approx CAD Price Range | Right For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berlon | Root, grapple bucket, hay, skeleton/rock, log, scrap | Premium | $3,500–$7,000+ | Contractors wanting US-built quality; excellent tine and pivot construction; broad type selection |
| Blue Diamond | Root (light, standard, severe duty), grapple bucket, rock rake, log, hay accumulator, grapple rake | Mid–Premium | $2,800–$6,500+ | Operators wanting a wide duty-level selection; severe duty line for heavy contractors; good Canadian dealer network |
| Virnig | Root/rake, log, bale, demolition, grapple bucket | Premium | $3,500–$8,000+ | High-use contractors; excellent build quality; purpose-built demo grapple; US-made; strong warranty reputation |
| IronBull | Root, grapple bucket, log, rock | Value–Mid | $1,500–$3,500 | Budget-conscious buyers; lighter use; farms and acreages; acceptable quality for intermittent use |
| TMG Industrial | Root, skeleton, log, grapple bucket, pipe, specialty | Value | $1,200–$3,000 | Entry-level buyers; farm and acreage; broad width selection (48"–96"); Canadian company (Ontario-based) |
| HLA | Root rake, brush, bale/hay, rock, skeleton, scrap, grapple bucket, industrial | Mid–Premium | $2,500–$6,500+ | Operators needing specialty types (bale grapples, industrial); Canadian manufacturer (Ontario); strong dealer support |
A few notes on the brand table: Price ranges are approximate and will vary by dealer, province, and attachment width. Wider grapples cost more within each brand. HLA is a Canadian manufacturer with strong dealer representation across Ontario and the Prairies — parts and support are genuinely local. TMG Industrial is also Canadian-based and has a wide retail network, though their quality tier reflects their price positioning. Virnig and Berlon are US-manufactured and need to be sourced through US or Canadian dealers who import them.
Used grapples are widely available in Canada — through Ritchie Bros. auctions, local classifieds, Facebook Marketplace, and equipment dealers. They hold their value reasonably well, which makes inspection important before purchase.
This is the most common error, especially first-time grapple buyers. A 78" or 84" grapple looks impressive but it reduces the effective ROC on smaller machines, creates tipping risk when loaded, and is difficult to manoeuvre in tight spaces. Match grapple width to your machine class. The width table above is a reasonable starting point. If you're unsure, go narrower — a 66" grapple on the right machine outperforms a 78" grapple on a machine it's too big for, every time.
Most grapples are standard-flow attachments, but not all. Some heavy-duty or specialty grapples specify minimum flow requirements. If your machine's standard aux flow is below the grapple's specified minimum, the grapple will cycle slowly, clamp weakly, or cause heat buildup in the hydraulic system. Always match the grapple's flow spec to your machine's aux output. This is a five-minute check that prevents ongoing frustration.
A grapple bucket is not a root grapple. A brush grapple is not a rock grapple. Buying the wrong type and expecting it to perform like the right one is the second most common disappointment in grapple purchases. A brush grapple will drop rocks through its tines. A root grapple can't carry as much bulk volume of brush as a brush grapple can. A hay grapple has no business in a rock pile. Identify your primary job first; buy the grapple type that does that job. If you have genuinely mixed needs, a root grapple is the most versatile type and handles more application variety than any other.
Canadian grapple buyers have several options depending on brand preference and location:
Ready to compare models? Browse our full Canadian grapple catalog with specs, widths, and dealer information for all major brands.