What's the best tool for removing top soil & leveling ground. I'm looking to build a 6 stall pole barn on an area covered in small spruce trees. Once I remove the trees, I figure I'll need to scrape off the top soil at the very least, maybe more & level out the area. My plan will be for a concrete center aisle w/ clay base in the stalls. I have access to a plate compactor. Also whats the best way to remove the trees? Most of them are about 20' tall. do I have to cut & stump or is it possible to chain & pull them intact root ball & all? Thank you in advance!
scraper or box blade?
- Thread starter shvl73
- Start date
tc35dforme
Platinum Member
I'd vote for a boxblade. It's far more efficient at moving material than a straight scraper blade.
If I had the option, I'd use a small dozer and be done with it right quick like /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
If I had the option, I'd use a small dozer and be done with it right quick like /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
BB_TX
Veteran Member
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A scraper or rear blade is made to do leveling. It is not made to dig in and move large amounts of dirt. It will also not do much with hard packed soil. You need a box blade with scarifiers (rippers) to do any serious leveling and dirt moving. Then raising the rippers, you can do the final leveling.
dltimmons
Bronze Member
shvl73
As far as removing the trees is concerned, consider using a backhoe. You will need to remove the majority of the rootball if it is under any concrete, foundation, or area where future settling woud be a problem. If you just cut them off, and grind the stumps down, the rest of the tree under your building will eventually rot, and leave a void that can cause lots of problems. If you dig them up and get the major roots out, you can fill the hole back in with structural fill, (roadbase, recycled asphalt or concrete), compacted to give you a good firm surface to build over.
If you decide to try pulling them out, cut the top off about 5' above ground first, that way you still have good leverage to pull with, but don't have 20' of tree falling on your head when/if it comes out. Also allows you to use much shorter chain, less chance of whip over if it comes loose. Do not use a nylon tow strap. They stretch and can be very dangerous if they break or come loose under load.
Also, consider clamping a couple of pieces of stout steel angle or box stock across the back of your rops to act as a shield should something come loose and snap back at you.
Be careful and have fun.
DT
As far as removing the trees is concerned, consider using a backhoe. You will need to remove the majority of the rootball if it is under any concrete, foundation, or area where future settling woud be a problem. If you just cut them off, and grind the stumps down, the rest of the tree under your building will eventually rot, and leave a void that can cause lots of problems. If you dig them up and get the major roots out, you can fill the hole back in with structural fill, (roadbase, recycled asphalt or concrete), compacted to give you a good firm surface to build over.
If you decide to try pulling them out, cut the top off about 5' above ground first, that way you still have good leverage to pull with, but don't have 20' of tree falling on your head when/if it comes out. Also allows you to use much shorter chain, less chance of whip over if it comes loose. Do not use a nylon tow strap. They stretch and can be very dangerous if they break or come loose under load.
Also, consider clamping a couple of pieces of stout steel angle or box stock across the back of your rops to act as a shield should something come loose and snap back at you.
Be careful and have fun.
DT
normde2001
Elite Member
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- Mar 10, 2002
- Messages
- 4,143
Do yourself a favor and hire a dozer/operator for a minimum job to push over the trees, pile up for burning, fill in the holes with your topsoil and roughly level for you to finish with your blade. I did that in NW Ga. for $200.
Tree removal. Your tractor will easily do the needed work. Place your bucket up high on the spruce tree, then drive forward while lowering the bucket. The tree will topple right over and expose most of the root system. Back up and place the bucket on the ground. Then drive forward and scrape the tree and root ball out all in one swoop. Push the tree on a pile and do the next. I've done 30 foot spruce and 50 foot aspen using my Kubota 3130 and this method. Once you get the tree moving forward, it takes very little effort to topple the thing. You bought that tractor to do the work yourself.......so go use it! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Larry_Van_Horn
Gold Member
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Easy, I too vote for the box blade, you can just keep making circular passes as long as you have a long enough run out area and away you go. Best of luck,
Larry
Larry
rmonio
Platinum Member
Go with the Box Blade - it is more versatile and is a nice complement to your loader/bucket. A blade is great for leveling, but you can do that with the box blade when the scarifers are raised.
I agree on using a dozer to move the trees though. The tractor is nice, but the dozer can do it faster and then you can address the cleanup with the tractor (unless you really want to spend the time doing it with the tractor which will be longer).
Good luck!
-Bob
I agree on using a dozer to move the trees though. The tractor is nice, but the dozer can do it faster and then you can address the cleanup with the tractor (unless you really want to spend the time doing it with the tractor which will be longer).
Good luck!
-Bob
grandad
Platinum Member
There are differences of opinion about the trees. A 20' tree has, what, maybe 5-8 inch trunk at the base? If your soil is not frozen solid or hard-pan dry, you should be able to take down trees like that with your tractor and the loader, like others have said. Don't beat it to death, nudge gradually with one or the other side of the FEL bucket, not smack in the middle. The tree will soon give. You can get the same effect pulling with a log chain hooked around the tree 6' or more up.
You are doing things one tree at a time, and hiring a dozer guy will get you to the same end result quicker, but he has all the fun, not you. Your choice.
You are doing things one tree at a time, and hiring a dozer guy will get you to the same end result quicker, but he has all the fun, not you. Your choice.