Need advice on removing brush

[rossco]

I need some advice on what attachment to add to my loader to help in removing brush (black brush, youpon, small quisatche, etc.). I was thinking a bolt on tooth bar might work if the tine spacing was ordered closer, or possibly the ratchet rake, or would a root grapple be the ticket? I have a JD 5083E with the 563 loader. I realize a dozer would be the best, but I would like to be able to be somewhat effective with my tractor, even if it's a much slower pace. I also don't want to damage the tractor by dragging off any lines underneath, so I don't intend to go barrelling off and plowing through it if it's too tall. I will most likely chemically treat as much quisatche as I can, so it won't come back. Am I asking too much of my tractor? Any real world suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[Tact]

I purchased my Ratchet Rake for this very purpose. I haven't had a chance to use it yet, but I can't wait. For $199 how could you go wrong? If you didn't like it I'm sure someone would take it off your hands.

 

[Case485Guy]

I have been using the Ratchet Rake with great results. For me the price and results is better than I thought. It is slow, well I should say I am slow as I only use low 2 gear and take my time so as to not tear up my tractor. I have cleared 8-10 acres brush like you mention here in S. Tx. I plan on discing and spraying new growth over the next few months to try and kill out new growth
Link to my post on what I did on vacation.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/231309-ratchet-rake-vacation-pics.html

 

[thegrouse]

Case,

Does the brush on your place look like this?

I am leaning towards a dozer.

 

[rossco]

Yes, some of it does. Not all of it is that thick though. Actually, I need to do work at two different properties. One is more grown up than the other. The one that is more grown up is more acreage, but I don't plan on doing it quickly. I will start around the main gate and cattle pens and work my way out. I just bought an old Bush Hog 305 that will need some deck repair, but I plan on hanging it off the back to shred some of the stuff other than Quisatche if I can't get some attachment to help on the loader. It is rated at a 3" cutting capacity, so with 65 pto hp it should eat some brush.

 

[thegrouse]

That black and white brush is some nasty thick stuff. I have not attempted it with my tractor. I will be watching to see how you do. I was going to have a dozer clear out my thick stuff. I cant imagine a rake being able to clear my brush out.

 

[Case485Guy]

Case,

Does the brush on your place look like this?

I am leaning towards a dozer.

Yea, thats what alot of mine looked like. Alot of the areas were that thick and 5-6' tall. Had base at ground 2-3", maybe upto 4" diameter. I just picked a spot and started pushing it, some of it I had to take smaller bite-not full bucket width. Some of the brush with a larger base I would raise the bucket about a 1' off ground, push it over, then drop bucket down on it and push some. Most of the time the root ball would start be exposed, then back up, get behind root ball and push it out. I also pushed alot of Mesquite trees over using the same method. Now if the tree is growing straight up/down, forget messing with it. If the tree leans, come from the side its leaning too and push, 99% of the time it will break over and expose the root ball, back up, get behind root ball and push. Sometimes I had to use an axe to cut larger roots and finish pushing it out. I am in a sandy loam soil and working the tractor slow, not slamming things around. If its to hard to push I move on to the next spot and keep working.

 

[TraderMark]

Here's what I used to clean up all the scrub oaks and other saplings up to about 3" in dia.
I built it about 10 years ago and it worked VERY well. Pulls up the trees by the roots 99% of the time and causes a lot less ground disturbance than a bucket or blade or even a rake.
Also leaves the rootball much cleaner so it's easier to burn.
It's easy to use. Once you get a tree/bush into one of the V openings, as you lift the 3ph, back the tractor up at the same time. The pressure from lifting increases the traction of the rear wheels and pushing against the tree/bush at the same time keeps it tight in the V. Smaller brush can be pulled up more than one at a time. Once you have the brush uprooted, lower the 3ph and drive forward to clear out the opening, or drop the rootball over another tree that's lying perpindicular to the tractor wheels and you can get out the more tightly wedged stuff.

It worked so well that when I got my skidsteer, the first thing I made for it was a larger version of this attachment.

Tree getter
Skidsteer version

Mark

 

[Case485Guy]

Here's what I used to clean up all the scrub oaks and other saplings up to about 3" in dia.
I built it about 10 years ago and it worked VERY well. Pulls up the trees by the roots 99% of the time and causes a lot less ground disturbance than a bucket or blade or even a rake.
Also leaves the rootball much cleaner so it's easier to burn.
It's easy to use. Once you get a tree/bush into one of the V openings, as you lift the 3ph, back the tractor up at the same time. The pressure from lifting increases the traction of the rear wheels and pushing against the tree/bush at the same time keeps it tight in the V. Smaller brush can be pulled up more than one at a time. Once you have the brush uprooted, lower the 3ph and drive forward to clear out the opening, or drop the rootball over another tree that's lying perpindicular to the tractor wheels and you can get out the more tightly wedged stuff.

It worked so well that when I got my skidsteer, the first thing I made for it was a larger version of this attachment.

Tree getter
Skidsteer version

Mark

I like that, good idea! I need to make one of those. How well does it work on larger diameter? I guess your limited to what your tractor 3pt can lift though.

 

[TraderMark]

The size of what you can pull up is relevant to lots of things, the size of your tractor and 3ph being the most prevelant. The species of tree/bush and soil type are big factors as well, not to mention whether the soil is wet or dry.

I have sandy soil around my place and on oak trees, with a 1720 Ford 4x4 in drought summer, I could pull up ~3" diameter 10-15' tall.

China berry trees in the same soil... I could push over 6" stuff since their root system is right on top of the ground. Then use the fingers to pull the stump the rest of the way out of the hole.

Pecan/hickory... fugeddaboutem. Couldn't do anything with those even down as small as 1.5 diameter. They'd break off at ground level before the roots gave up.

All in all though it's a pretty useful little tool.

Mark