Abstract: A grapple skidder for dragging a bundle of logs or trees from one location to a selected site. The grapple skidder comprises a boom and grapple assembly including a grapple suspended from an arched boom arm pivotally mounted to a linear main boom pivotable between forward and rearward inclined positions. A heel is directly mounted on the underside of the main boom to provide an arresting surface against which the butt ends of the trees abut when the boom and grapple assembly is operated to lift a bundle of trees over another bundle of trees lying on the ground. The arresting surface retains the grasped trees against pivotal movement due to gravitational forces, whereby pivotal movement of the main boom in a direction opposite to that which tend to be induced by the gravitational forces results in the trees being completely lifted off the ground.

Abstract: A grapple skidder for dragging a bundle of logs or trees from one location to a selected site. The grapple skidder comprises a boom and grapple assembly including a grapple suspended from an arched boom arm pivotally mounted to a linear main boom pivotable between forward and rearward inclined positions. A heel is directly mounted on the underside of the main boom to provide an arresting surface against which the butt ends of the trees abut when the boom and grapple assembly is operated to lift a bundle of trees over another bundle of trees lying on the ground. The arresting surface retains the grasped trees against pivotal movement due to gravitational forces, whereby pivotal movement of the main boom in a direction opposite to that which tend to be induced by the gravitational forces results in the trees being completely lifted off the ground.