Bolt On Electric Grapples

Bolt On Electric Grapples: Everything You Need to Know

If you’re a hobby farmer or small acreage owner, you know the frustration: you’re moving brush with your tractor bucket, and halfway to the burn pile, half of it slides off. Again.

Or you’ve spent an entire Saturday cutting up downed tree limbs into bucket-sized pieces, when you really just wanted to move them and get on with your day.

Here’s what most compact tractor owners don’t realize: you don’t need expensive hydraulics to add a grapple to your tractor.

 

The $3,000 Myth: Why You Don’t Need Third Function Hydraulics

When most people research grapples, they hit the same wall: “You need to add third function hydraulics.”

That means:
– $2,000-$3,000 in parts and installation
– Hauling your tractor to a dealer
– Waiting days or weeks to get it back
– Being without your tractor during your busiest season

So most hobby farmers just… keep struggling. They waste time making multiple trips. And wreck their backs hand-loading. They use a quarter of their bucket’s capacity because anything more falls off.

There’s a better way.

 

Enter the Bolt On Electric Grapple Kit

An electric grapple kit bolts directly onto your existing bucket and runs off your tractor’s standard 12V battery.

No hydraulics needed. Or dealer visits. No weeks of waiting.

You can install it yourself in 1-3 hours this weekend.

 

“But Isn’t Electric Too Slow and Weak?”

This is the #1 misconception, and it’s understandable. Cheap electric linear actuators ARE slow and weak.

But…an electro-hydraulic actuator is completely different:

Cheap Electric Linear Actuators:
– Slow (30+ seconds to close)
– Weak gripping force

Electro-Hydraulic Actuators (What ViperBite Uses):
– Closes in 3 seconds
– 3,200 lbs of gripping force
– Runs on your tractor’s 12V battery
– Powers a real hydraulic cylinder

It’s the best of both worlds: the convenience of electric with the power and speed of hydraulics.

 

What Can You Actually DO With a Grapple?

Brush and Storm Cleanup

After an ice storm or when clearing fence lines:

Without a grapple: You’re cutting everything into small pieces, or trying to balance awkward loads that drag and fall off.

With a grapple: Drive into the pile, push with your tractor, pile it high (38″ of opening), clamp it down, and go.

Some logs literally can’t be moved with just a bucket – they’re too long or wide. The grapple makes the impossible possible.

The Time Savings Nobody Talks About

With a grapple, you drive into the pile, pile it high, clamp it down tight, and here’s the kicker: you can often go back and grab ANOTHER load on top of what you already have.

You’re making 3-4 trips instead of 10-12. That’s your entire Saturday afternoon back.

Other Real Uses

– Barn and pen cleanup (manure, bedding, stalls)
– Firewood and log handling
– Moving large square bales
– General property maintenance

One customer ordered it specifically for his wife to clean goat pens. If you can drive the tractor, you can use the grapple.

 

Bolt On Electric Grapple vs. Complete Grapple Bucket

Complete grapple buckets sell for $1,500-$2,000, so why pay $2,395-$2,495 for an addon?

Complete Grapple Bucket:
– Replaces your entire bucket
– You lose bucket functionality
– Often heavier (built with heavy mild steel)
– Stuck with ONLY grapple function

Bolt-On Grapple Kit (ViperBite):
– Adds to your existing bucket
– Keep full bucket functionality
– Lighter weight
– Built with hardened steel tines

The Versatility Factor

With an addon grapple, your typical day looks like:
– Morning: Move firewood (grapple clamps it secure)
– Afternoon: Backblade driveway ruts (bucket function)
– Evening: Clear brush pile (scoop dirt, then grab brush)

You never leave the tractor seat. You never change attachments.

With a complete grapple bucket, you’d spend half your time swapping attachments.

 

Installation: Easier Than You Think

Total time: 1-3 hours in your driveway

Mechanical Installation (30 minutes):
– Bolt the grapple to your bucket
– No welding, no modifications

Electrical Installation (30 minutes to 2 hours):
– Hook up to your tractor’s 12V battery
– Route the wiring
– Mount the switch

If you can change your own oil and use a drill, you can install this.

What comes on the pallet:
– The grapple
– Electro-hydraulic actuator
– All wiring and electrical components
– All brackets and hardware
– Detailed instructions
– Switch for your tractor

 

Will It Fit Your Tractor?

If you have a compact or subcompact tractor under 50 HP, it’ll fit.

Any brand: John Deere, Kubota, New Holland, Massey Ferguson, Kioti, and more.

45″ ViperBite Grapple
– Fits bucket widths: 46-56″
– Weight: 98 lbs
– Opening: 38″
– Gripping Force: 3,200 lbs

55″ ViperBite Grapple
– Fits bucket widths: 57-72″
– Weight: 110 lbs
– Opening: 38″
– Gripping Force: 3,200 lbs

Just measure your bucket width and pick your size.

 

Durability and Maintenance

Built with:
– Hardened steel tines (5/16″ spring steel equivalent)
– Reinforced pivot points
– Heavy-duty steel construction

Maintenance required: Zero. No greasing, no adjustments, no routine service.

Expected lifespan: Years of solid use for typical hobby farm work.

Warranty and Support:
– 1-year warranty
– Lifetime after-sale support
– Same-day response to questions
– Fast parts shipping (usually next day)

You’re dealing directly with the manufacturer, not a customer service department.

 

Why ViperBite?

-Proven Track Record – Hundreds sold since 2015
– Real Power and Speed – 3,200 lbs in 3 seconds
– Built Strong, Stays Light – Hardened steel that doesn’t eat up lifting capacity
– Direct Manufacturer Support – Same-day responses, lifetime support
– No Dealer, No Waiting – Ships to your door, install this weekend

 

The Bottom Line

You can spend $2,000-$3,000 adding hydraulics, haul your tractor to a dealer, and wait weeks.

Or you can spend $2,395-$2,495 on a bolt-on electric grapple that ships to your door, installs in a few hours, and starts saving you time immediately.

You’ll make 3-4 trips instead of 10. Plus, you’ll move logs that were impossible before. And you’ll keep your bucket functionality while adding grapple capability.

Ready to Stop Wasting Time?

We ship across Canada. Delivery is typically 3-5 business days.

Contact Swantech Industries:
– Phone: 519-871-7958
– Website: swantechindustries.ca
– Grapple Info: addongrapple.swantechindustries.ca

Have questions? Call or email

Because your weekends are too valuable to waste making 10 trips when you could make 3.