A grapple hoist system for an agricultural vehicle is disclosed that includes a mast-mounted hoist including a boom arrangement and a winch and adapted to receive a main hoist cable and a grapple assembly including a plurality of radially-spaced, converging hook-shaped claws pivotally mounted about a common bulkhead and including a cable link attached to each of the hook-shaped claws, a plurality of cable link pulleys mounted on the common bulkhead, each cable link pulley adapted to carry an associated cable link, wherein the cable links are joined at the main cable beyond the cable link pulleys; and mounting devices for mounting the mast to an associated container or vehicle in a manner that enables it to rotate.