Skeleton grapple vs rock bucket vs log grapple
Three attachments with nearly the same name that do genuinely different jobs. Pick by what falls through the gaps and whether you need to place the load or just move it — those two questions settle it faster than any spec sheet.
Brush, slash and demolition
Skeleton grapple
Picking up tangled material and letting the dirt fall through.
Sifting rock out of soil
Rock skeleton bucket
Rock picking and screening, where you keep what is too big to fall through.
Logs, placed where you want them
Rotary log grapple
Handling logs and firewood rounds, stacking rather than piling.
| Skeleton grapple | Rock skeleton bucket | Rotary log grapple | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is for | Brush, slash, demolition debris | Rock picking and screening soil | Logs and firewood rounds |
| Tine spacing | 3" | 4" | Solid jaw, not tined |
| Does it rotate? | No | No | Yes — 360° |
| Can you place a load precisely? | Only by moving the machine | Only by moving the machine | Yes — turn the load to suit the stack |
| Lets dirt and fines fall through | Yes | Yes, coarser | No |
| Hydraulic flow | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Mount | Universal quick-attach | Universal quick-attach | Universal quick-attach |
Rows in grey read the same across all of them — worth knowing, but not what decides it.
Which one should you actually buy?
If you are cleaning up after land clearing, buy the skeleton grapple. The 3" gaps drop dirt and small debris while you carry the brush, so you move wood rather than soil and your pile does not turn into a mound of dirt by spring.
If you are picking rock out of a field, buy the rock skeleton bucket. Wider 4" spacing sifts rather than grabs — you keep what matters and leave the soil where it belongs.
If you are handling logs, buy the rotating log grapple and do not talk yourself out of the rotation. Everything else can pick a log up. Only this can turn it, which is the difference between a stack and a pile, and between one pass and three.
Buying one for everything? The skeleton grapple is the most generally useful. It will handle logs adequately; it just cannot place them.
Common questions
- What is the difference between a skeleton grapple and a rock bucket?
- Tine spacing and intent. A skeleton grapple has 3" gaps and a clamping arm, built to grab tangled brush while dirt falls through. A rock skeleton bucket has wider 4" spacing and is built to sift — you drive it through soil and keep what will not fall out.
- Do I need high flow hydraulics for a grapple?
- No. All of these run on standard flow, roughly 15–25 GPM, which is what the great majority of skid steers have. High flow is only needed for mulchers and cold planers.
- Is a rotating log grapple worth the extra money?
- If you handle logs regularly, yes. Rotation lets you set a log down aligned to the stack instead of repositioning the whole machine for every piece. If you lift logs occasionally and mostly do brush, it is not worth it.
- Will these fit my skid steer?
- They are built on the universal quick-attach plate, which is standard on Bobcat, Case, New Holland, Caterpillar, John Deere and Kubota skid steers and most compact track loaders. Send Tim a photo of your mounting plate on 780-853-0056 if you are unsure.
Other comparisons
STILL NOT SURE?
Tim has run all of them. Leave a number and he'll tell you which one suits what you are actually doing — including when the cheaper one is the right answer.