[MNLI]

Can any and every one give me there opion on nursery jaws.I see that tere are about four differnt kinds.We move b&b and pots in just about all sizes up 65'' B&B and up to 100g pots. They seem to be the things to have just not sure witch ones would be best:

[jwholden]

I can tell you that I have a Nursery Jaws 1 and I use it on a Bobcat 763. I don't use it a ton, but it has saved my butt when trying to plant 10-12' B & B Spruce with only two guys. I got the longer jaw option, at their recommendation, so I can reach across a truck to pick up materials.

On the one hand, it is a lot of extra hardware to bring for planting under about 10 trees. On the other, I don't fear blowing out my back when muscling around trees because someone didn't make it to work or I'm trying to get too much done in too little time.

I have the set for my Toro Dingo as well with longer Jaws 42"? than you can get from Toro 30"?. Those jaws are great for unloading a truck when planting a boxwood hedge or moving around Blue Hollies. I have used them to move boulders and logs that three men could not muslce into my truck. I will admit that the holes on the plate for the smaller jaws don't match the Dingo as well as I would like, and I am getting better at jiggling the jaws for a better fit when putting them on.

Nursery Jaws are the difference between coming to work and saying, "Crap, I've got to plant a bunch of large B & B material.", and saying, "Awsome, I get to plant a bunch of large B & B material!".

I can't tell you what is best for you. I can say that they are a great product and I highly recommend them if you are in the business for the long haul.

[johnkeegan]

When you bring the "jaws" can you basically leave the pallet forks at home? We use the forks alot on sites to remove or transplant trees, shrubs, boulders or to loosen hard soil (clay, shale) before grading. Would the jaws be able to handle those projects as well? I admit I've always been interested in the product when I see them advertised.

[jwholden]

I leave my bobcat, pallet forks, and backhoe on the trailer for storage. There is no room for the Nursery Jaws on that trailer due to weight and the size of the trailer. If I am going to use the Jaws I have to put them in the back of the truck to bring them.

I would stick to pallet forks for transplanting trees and loosening soil. Pallet forks will slide under a tree much better.

The Nursery Jaws excel at moving big awkward B & B stuff that you normally need a guy holding the tree while you place it with normal forks. Once you get the hang of it unloading trucks and placing plants in holes is like childs play. I often end up with trees sliding off pallet forks when I try to place them in the hole, the Nursery Jaws put the tree exactly where you want it and no moving.

[HRLand]

JW, how long of a learning period did you need to get good with those? The nursery I go to most often uses them and some guys are a little rough with 'em. I've had to return trees that had loose root balls from being squeezed too hard.

[treedoc1]

Speed and inexperience equals a tube of toothpaste being squeezed out. I make the wholesale nurseries load my trucks with forks...no jaws...after I pick through and put aside the loose balls from their unloading of inbound trucks.

If you are the operator or only have one person accountable, then it's doable...after the learning curve.

I'm old school...forks are faster and gentler.

[jwholden]

I've had the jaws a couple of years and haven't had trouble with squeezed balls. It takes a while to get the hang of picking up trees at an angle so you can place them in the hole without having to drop them.

[r schipul]

I saw something called the
ProLine Grabber at the MANTS show last month. Comes in both mini models and full size. Similar to the nursery jaws but gives you a couple of different setups with a pull of a pin unlike the NJ. I think they were a lot easier on the wallet but I could be wrong. It looks like they don't have a website but you can see them at Amleo.com

[MNLI]

The web site nurseryjaws.com is a good site to see the different kinds. They range in price from 2k to 5k . I will need a big set that can handle a lot of wight. Just not sure witch ones would be best the jaws or the ones with fork option.

[MNLI]

Bought some jaws. ihave tied to use them but are not really much help for what that are. forks are a lot more usefull. i'll keep trying to use them maybe my 4500.00 toy will find a use o well.

[NCSULandscaper]

i have a boom extension that i use on my pallet forks for my B&B material, since we have tall sides on the dump truck, the 8' boom extension reaches over in the truck easier, and i can plant the trees easier with it as well, even existing beds i can usually place the tree without having to run in the bed with the skid............

[Greensmith]

I like them when an experienced operator is at the helm. Nothing kills more more when I buy a nice tree and then watch the new guy throw the full close button on the NJaws and he squashes the ball to smithereens.

The other thing we had problems with is damn power wire gets killed when you load/unload a truck at the pinch points.

[scl]

I've got on of those bucket type tree spades that I use to rough out the holes, then pickup the trees like you do with forks. You can slide a tree in pretty accurately, and scoop it back out if you have too. I looked at the NJ's also, but more for placing boulders and stuff. Lotsa $ for the amount of times I'd use it.