A log grapple for a skid steer is the single attachment that changes what a loader can do. Without one you are pushing wood around with a bucket; with one you are picking it up, stacking it and loading a trailer by yourself.
This page covers what a skid loader log grapple costs, how to match jaw opening and tine spacing to the wood you actually handle, and the three build details that separate a grapple that lasts a decade from one that folds in a season.
Grapple pricing tracks steel thickness and cylinder count far more than brand. A 72-inch single-cylinder root grapple and a 72-inch dual-cylinder log grapple can look nearly identical in a photo and differ by $1,200 for good reason.
These three names get used interchangeably online and they are not the same tool. Buying the wrong one is the most common attachment mistake we see.
A log grapple has a solid or near-solid lower jaw so round wood cannot squirt out sideways. A root grapple has widely spaced tines top and bottom so dirt and rock fall through while roots stay. A brush grapple sits in between with tighter spacing for limbs and debris.
Match the grapple width to the machine width, not to the biggest log you own. A grapple wider than the loader catches on everything in a treeline and levers the mounting plate every time you twist.
Weight matters more than width. A grapple hangs at full reach, so its weight comes straight off your rated operating capacity. On a stand-on or small skid steer, a 900 lb heavy grapple can eat most of what the machine could otherwise lift.
You cannot see any of these in a listing photo, which is exactly why budget grapples keep selling.
A skid steer log grapple runs roughly $1,400 for a light single-cylinder unit up to about $3,600 for a heavy dual-cylinder grapple with 1/2 inch tines. Most buyers land between $1,900 and $2,600 for a dual-cylinder grapple that will hold up to regular firewood and land-clearing work.
Match the grapple to your loader width — 48 to 60 inches for stand-on and mini loaders, 66 to 72 inches for compact skid steers, and 72 to 84 inches for full-size track loaders. Keep the grapple weight well under your machine's rated operating capacity, since the attachment hangs at full reach.
No. A log grapple opens and closes on standard auxiliary flow using two hydraulic lines. High-flow is only needed for continuous-duty attachments like mulchers, cold planers and snow blowers.
Every grapple we sell uses a universal skid steer quick-attach plate, so it mounts to any standard skid steer, track loader or stand-on loader coupler regardless of brand. Call us with your model and we will confirm the flow and capacity before you order.
Buy a log grapple if you mostly handle cut round wood, since the tight lower jaw keeps logs from sliding out. Buy a root grapple if you are pulling stumps and clearing rooted material, since the wide tine spacing lets dirt and rock fall through instead of riding along.