Stump Bucket?

[VTHartford]

Has anyone ever used a stump bucket? They look like a long skinny taper bucket and fit on the FEL. I have land to clear that has pine stumps(the larger one are pretty rotten), palmettos, etc. I think one of these would work well to slide in under the stump from a few side using a downward and forward motion to cut the root and loosen the stump. What do you think? Markhan welding make one call the Grubber.

http://www.markhamwelding.com/id6.html

Bill

 

[Justaplain]

Look at "rootgrapple.com". They have one that looks worth the money. I just ordered a set of forks from them. bsc[brattleboro 44]

 

[MX5000]

Unless the stumps are really small or your tractor is huge, I don't think I'd buy a special loader bucket to pull stumps. I have a 50hp. Kubota MX5000 and don't even budge the bigger stumps. I spent about 2 hrs. with the backhoe pulling a good sized stump on Saturday. I had to dig trenches about 5'-6' deep all around the stump and rock it loose. There was clay and big rocks all stuck to the underside of the stump. It was so heavy, I couldn't lift it out of the hole with the loader. I had to dig a ramp with the loader and drive down into the hole and drag the stump out. I broke a good sized tow strap in the process.

Howard

 

[MarkV]

Bill,
When you mentioned pine stumps my reaction was that the bucket would not deal with the large tap root. Then when you mentioned palmettos I thought of sandy soil like we had when I lived in N. Florida so maybe. I think it depends on the soil, stump size and tractor size.

A little more info in you profile would let people in your general region with similar size tractors give you a better idea based on local experience. Here in N Georgia with a FEL rated a 2200lbs lift that bucket would not get the larger pine stumps out of our clay.

MarkV.

 

[KiotiJohn]

I agree with MarkV that pine stumps and tractor size are going to make that bucket fairly useless.

I've done a lot of very large pine stumps with my backhoe, and the pines are very difficult to get out, digging down as far as the backhoe will allow all the way around, then rocking and pulling trying to get the tap to break.

The bucket might be okay for moderate oaks and others that have mostly near-surface support roots, but unless you have a substantially larger tractor, I think I'd save my money.
John

 

[VTHartford]

I am located in NW Florida. The land is sand mostly. The stump are about 10 -12" max. The tree standing or 6-8" max. Should I clear what I can and have an excavator come in and get the stumos?

Bill

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The stump are about 10 -12" max. The tree standing or 6-8" max. )</font>
That's what's sticking out of the ground, but they get much larger immeditately below ground. If you have very many, I'd get an excavator to get them out unless you just want the tremendous amount of seat time it will take to get them all out.

When I dig pines, I have to start quite a way out cutting roots where there are not as strong and moving in toward the stump. When you see what they're like below ground, I think you'll understand that a stump bucket would be great with a very big machine to push it, but not the average compact tractor.

I would make plans around the whole property and try to combine other jobs with the stumping and have it all done at once if that's possible.

Like a fool, I still attack my pine stumps and have spent as much as 15 hours on some of them with the backhoe. Mine are usually about 24" sticking out of the ground!

John

 

[Toolguy]

I did some pine stumping myself last fall and I will agree that the stumps take a lot of work to get out. Mine were about 16 to 20 inches in diameter and I had to dig down about 4 feet all around them to get them out. I rented a Kubota Excavator with a thumb. Thumbs Up to the Thumb! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MarkV]

Bill, I thought you might be in N. Florida. I lived in Tallahassee for a good while back when. Your soil is pretty easy to work but I still think the pines would be a bit much for that stump bucket. You would be able to get by with a backhoe I would think. Why not rent one for a weekend and see how it does?

MarkV

 

[Louisiana_John]

I have seen grubbers on big 35,000lb rubber tire end loaders. They are used on West Texas scrub brush.
John