Big Dave Review: Fecon Rotating Grapple

If you're looking at a Fecon Rotating Grapple for a skid steer or compact track loader, the first thing I look at isn't just how big the grapple opens. I look at what machine you're putting it on, how much the grapple weighs, and what you're actually trying to pick up.

The Fecon FFG60 is a serious 360-degree rotating grapple built for logs, timber, rocks, tree sections, firewood, and other heavy, awkward material. But there are several configurations, and choosing the right one matters.

Big Dave's Take: Light Duty or Heavy Duty?

The FFG60LD Light Duty Rotating Grapple weighs 940 lbs., while the FFG60HD Heavy Duty Rotating Grapple weighs 1,070 lbs. Both provide a 60-inch grapple opening and full 360-degree rotation.

So why would I choose one over the other?

If you're running a lighter skid steer or compact track loader, that 130 lb. weight difference matters. Every pound hanging on the front of the machine is capacity you don't have available for the log you're trying to pick up.

If you're handling heavy timber every day and have enough machine underneath it, I'd lean toward the FFG60HD. For mixed cleanup, occasional log handling, and machines where operating capacity is more limited, the FFG60LD lets you keep more lifting capacity available for the load.

What About Bobcat Skid Steers & Track Loaders?

Fecon offers the FFG60HD-BC specifically for Bobcat carriers. It weighs 1,070 lbs., has the same 60-inch jaw opening, and provides the same 360-degree rotation as the standard Heavy Duty model.

If you have a compatible Bobcat machine, ask about the FFG60HD-BC Bobcat Rotating Grapple so you're looking at the correct mounting configuration rather than trying to adapt a standard grapple.

Is the FFG60 a Good Grapple for a Mini Skid Steer?

No, this is where I would go with a different Fecon grapple.

Putting a 940–1,070 lb. attachment on a mini skid steer uses too much of the machine's available lifting capacity before you've even grabbed a log.

For a mini skid steer or compact tool carrier, Fecon's Red Line Mini Skid Steer Log Grapple is the better-sized option. It weighs about 375 lbs., opens to 57 inches, and still provides 360-degree rotation.

That's a much better weight-to-capacity combination for a compact machine.

What Can You Pick Up With the Fecon Rotating Grapple?

This is where I really like a rotating grapple.

A bucket works great until you're trying to hold something round, long, uneven, or awkward. Forks have the same problem. They'll get underneath a log, but they don't actually clamp it.

The Fecon grapple uses heavily serrated contained plates to secure the load. It can hold logs parallel or perpendicular to the loader, which gives you a lot more control when moving timber.

I'd look at this grapple for logs and timber, firewood, tree sections, rocks and boulders, land-clearing debris, and other solid materials that need to be securely clamped.

Why Does 360° Rotation Matter?

If you've never run a 360-degree rotating log grapple, it's easy to underestimate how much time rotation can save.

With a fixed grapple, you're constantly positioning the entire skid steer to get the load pointed in the right direction. With a rotating grapple, you can turn the material instead of turning the machine.

Pick up a log facing one direction, rotate it, and place it square on a trailer. Grab a tree section at an awkward angle and rotate it before stacking. Pick up a landscape boulder and turn it until you've got the side you want facing outward.

For logging, land clearing, tree service, and material handling, that additional control can be a major advantage.

Is It Better for Logs or Brush?

I consider the Fecon Rotating Grapple primarily a clamping grapple for solid, heavy material.

If most of your work involves logs, timber, rocks, tree sections, or firewood, this design makes sense.

If you're primarily grabbing loose brush, limbs, roots, and general cleanup debris, I'd look harder at a brush grapple. Open tines allow dirt and smaller material to fall through instead of carrying everything with the load.

Match the grapple to what you handle most often, not just the biggest thing you might pick up once a year.

Big Dave Questions & Answers

What is the difference between the FFG60LD and FFG60HD?
The biggest difference for machine selection is attachment weight. The FFG60LD weighs 940 lbs., while the FFG60HD weighs 1,070 lbs. Both have a 60" opening and 360° rotation. The HD is aimed at heavier-duty timber handling, while the LD saves 130 lbs. of attachment weight.

How wide does the Fecon Rotating Grapple open?
The FFG60 models have a 60-inch grapple opening, giving them the capacity to grab large individual logs or bundles of smaller material.

Does the Fecon grapple rotate 360 degrees?
Yes. The FFG60 provides full 360° rotation, allowing the operator to reposition the load without constantly repositioning the skid steer or compact track loader.

Will the Fecon FFG60 fit a Bobcat?
Fecon offers the FFG60HD-BC for compatible Bobcat carriers. Confirm your exact Bobcat model before ordering to make sure you get the correct mounting configuration.

Can I use the FFG60 on a mini skid steer?
I wouldn't recommend sizing the FFG60 to a typical mini skid steer. At 940–1,070 lbs., the attachment itself can consume a substantial amount of a mini loader's lifting capacity. Fecon's lighter Red Line Mini Skid Steer Log Grapple is designed for that machine category.

Can this grapple pick up rocks?
Yes. A rotating grapple can be useful as a rock and boulder grapple because it lets the operator clamp, lift, rotate, and position solid material instead of balancing it on forks or inside a bucket.

Is a rotating grapple good for firewood?
Yes. The ability to clamp irregular pieces and rotate the load makes it useful as a firewood grapple, especially when handling bundles or short logs that don't sit securely on forks.

Why are serrated grapple plates important?
Logs are round and naturally want to move. The serrated contained plates provide additional grip, helping secure logs and other solid material during lifting and transport.

Why do attachment weight and rated operating capacity matter?
The heavier the attachment, the less capacity you have left for the material you're trying to carry. That's why I wouldn't automatically put the heaviest grapple on every machine. You need to consider the carrier's rated operating capacity, attachment weight, load weight, and how far that load sits in front of the machine.

Big Dave's Fitment Tip

Before ordering a Fecon FFG60 Rotating Grapple, have your machine make, model, rated operating capacity, hydraulic specifications, and primary material ready.

Those details tell us a lot more than simply saying you need a "log grapple." The goal is to match the rotating grapple to both the carrier and the work you're actually doing so you have enough grapple to get the job done without unnecessarily giving up machine capacity.