Thanks for all the advice. None of the trees are bad enough to warrant cutting from the top down and most all can just fall where they may except a 12" hickory leaning over my shop. The rest are away from anything that I care about. I think I'll just cut about 4' high, let them fall where they may and clean up the tops, leaving the stumps for the dozer. I was thinking of hiring a dozer instead of a track hoe so that they can smooth out the grade/holes for future planting. That make sense or should I get the track hoe and smooth out the holes w/ a box blade?
Removing trees
- Thread starter rem40x
- Start date
- Views: 10970
Steve C
Platinum Member
You have no use for the wood? Put an add on Craigs List.."free wood" bring your chain saw and insurance papers........the problem will probably go away without you breaking a sweat. There are plenty of competent unemployed people who need to keep warm and have more time than money. It is a win win situation. I would be there in the morning with my truck, trailer and 5 chain saws if you were within 100 miles of me.
Obed
Elite Member
Yes you can do that. However, if you are thinking of hiring a dozer, you'll probably save money by letting the dozer push over the tree before you cut up the tree. Here's why. If the tree is still standing, the dozer can cut the surface roots and then push on the tree. Once the tree starts leaning when the surface roots have already been cut, the weight and wonderful leverage of the tall tree will pull the stump right out of the ground roots and all. If you cut the tree 4 ft from the ground, it will take much longer for the dozer to dig out the stump and will cost you more money. Whenever I want a tree removed including the stump, I always wait to cut up the tree until after the tree has been pushed over.
I had one scenario where we had an 18" to 24" tree close to the powerline. We were able to get the electric company to cut down the tree. We asked the utility company to leave us a tall "stump". They cut down the tree but left the stump about 10 or 15 feet tall. The guy building our driveway was able to remove the tree and stump with his excavator easily because he could push against the tree 10 to 15 feet above the ground. If we had cut the tree 4 ft above the ground, it would have taken the excavator much longer to remove the stump because he would have to dig out the "entire" stump instead of just cut the surface roots and push it over.
As a kid growing up on the farm, I would help my dad remove decades old stumps. We didn't hire dozers because they cost too much for Dad to afford. So we would blow them up with dynamite then work like dogs with axes cutting the remaining roots. Stumps don't come out the ground easy, especially large ones.
Obed
Egon
Epic Contributor
Contact the fellows who you will be hiring for the dozer/excavator? work and see how they would like the site prepared before they start their work. 
A 30" tree stump may take a big dozer.
What about roots left in the ground?
For one acre consider cutting the trees down just leaving a short stump. Then get the excavator to dig out the stumps and pull roots and generally level the area with his bucket. This will leave you with roots to pick and lots of loose dirt to move around leveling things.
3/4 in cable slings ain't know fun to pull around and work with. They build Character!
A 30" tree stump may take a big dozer.
What about roots left in the ground?
For one acre consider cutting the trees down just leaving a short stump. Then get the excavator to dig out the stumps and pull roots and generally level the area with his bucket. This will leave you with roots to pick and lots of loose dirt to move around leveling things.
3/4 in cable slings ain't know fun to pull around and work with. They build Character!
I vote for Obed's suggestion.
If there are just a couple trees that make you nervous, the guy with the 'dozer is the one to ask.
He'll have them on the ground like it was child's play, so trying to tackle it yourself makes no sense, in my opinion.
If there are just a couple trees that make you nervous, the guy with the 'dozer is the one to ask.
He'll have them on the ground like it was child's play, so trying to tackle it yourself makes no sense, in my opinion.
AlanB
Elite Member
At my place, while we had a big track hoe / excavator out doing some digging, literally as he was driving by some 60-75' trees that needed to go I thought of asking him to remove them.
In just minutes they were down, the entire root ball out and dirt backfilled, then he piled up the trees with rootballs attached where I asked him too.
If I had to clear more, an excavator would definetely be my tool of choice over a dozer.
But as is obvious from the responses we all have slightly different views on this.
Good luck whatever you do, and if you do decide to cut, be careful, the unkown parts of cutting tree's can be scary and dangerous.
In just minutes they were down, the entire root ball out and dirt backfilled, then he piled up the trees with rootballs attached where I asked him too.
If I had to clear more, an excavator would definetely be my tool of choice over a dozer.
But as is obvious from the responses we all have slightly different views on this.
Good luck whatever you do, and if you do decide to cut, be careful, the unkown parts of cutting tree's can be scary and dangerous.
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
I'm with Obed and Egon.
The more of the tree that you have to work with, the easier and faster it is to get the stump out. While leaving the trunk as tall as possible is better then cutting it short, leaving the entire tree intact is even better!!! I've taken out tens of thousands of trees on my place with my backhoe and dozer.
I can get the biggest tree out fairly quickly with either machine, but every stump is a struggle. Some have tap roots, others have several massive roots that go out just under the surface.
And then there are those that are in dirt that's more like concrete. Soil conditions play a HUGE part in how easily a tree will go over. In the wet months, I can push over most trees with one try with my dozer. It's a Case 1550 that's comparable to a Cat D6 or Deere 850. It weighs 40,000 pounds and has 169hp. It's a beast, but when the soil is dry, the size of tree that it can push over goes way down. I've snapped off trees that just a month earlier would have pushed over easily.
Ideally, an excavator is the best choice for tree removal. They are sized in metric tonnes. A 12 tonne machine will get the job done, but it's on the small side. 15 to 16 tonne are very common and a much better choice. They weigh around 35,000 pounds and are easily transported without permits. Same with the 20 tonne machines, but they are allot more money to run. Obviously, the bigger the machine, the more power it will have and the faster it will take out the trees. A 20 tonne machine will pretty much be able to pull out and stack most anything that you have. Anything bigger is getting towards the overkill side of things and probably too expensive to deal with.
While a dozer will get the job done, I've found that I can take out the larger trees faster with my backhoe then I can with the dozer. I can dig around the roots and push it over with less digging then the dozer requires. Digging out roots with the dozer blade, then building a ramp to get up high enough for the leverage to push over a big tree takes allot of dirt to be moved around. It's just not the best choice for tree removal.
With just an acre of land to mess with, the excavator can pick up and stack the wood in a burn pile that will be very clean. It has to have a thumb on it, but that's a given if they are doing land clearing. The dozer, even with a rake, will push dirt with the trees. Dirt doesn't burn, and even worse, it quickly adds up to a very large mound at the burn pile.
I now have a grapple on by loader that is perfect for picking up the trees and carrying them to the burn pile. It's fast and clean.
The dozer is best for cleaning up the area after everything is done. Since it's just an acre, your tractor could do just as good a job with a little more time.
If it was me, and I was going to hire it out, I'd start interviewing guys with excavators. I'd talk to as many as I could find. I'd want to know how old their machine is, what they charge and when they could start. If they are out of work and real hungry, I'd be nervous about hiring them. The guy who is busy is keeping clients happy and there's probably a good reason he's working while the other guy isn't. Cheaper isn't always the less expensive way to go.
When hiring an operator, be sure to have his rate written down and agreed to before hand. Some will charge by the hour, others by the job. Either way can work out well for you, but you can also be taken advantage of either way. If it's by the job, it's going to be high in order to cover unexpected suprises. For a small job like yours, it shouldn't be too bad. If by the hour, you have to make sure you are not being charged for hours not worked, or hours fixing the equipement.
Older equipment allows a guy to operate for less money because the machine should be paid for, or it cost less to buy. It also means that it will break down more often and down time can become a real issue. Newer equipment is very expensive, but it gets the job done and it shows that the owner of it is more prone to buy the better machine for his business. I've never run into problems with guys who have new or newer machines, but always have problems with guys who have old, worn out, machines. How they take care of their equipment is also a big factor, and a good indicator of how your job will turn out.
Ask for references and go to the job they are currently working on. Look to see how clean it is and find out if the references are happy.
Good luck,
Eddie
The more of the tree that you have to work with, the easier and faster it is to get the stump out. While leaving the trunk as tall as possible is better then cutting it short, leaving the entire tree intact is even better!!! I've taken out tens of thousands of trees on my place with my backhoe and dozer.
I can get the biggest tree out fairly quickly with either machine, but every stump is a struggle. Some have tap roots, others have several massive roots that go out just under the surface.
And then there are those that are in dirt that's more like concrete. Soil conditions play a HUGE part in how easily a tree will go over. In the wet months, I can push over most trees with one try with my dozer. It's a Case 1550 that's comparable to a Cat D6 or Deere 850. It weighs 40,000 pounds and has 169hp. It's a beast, but when the soil is dry, the size of tree that it can push over goes way down. I've snapped off trees that just a month earlier would have pushed over easily.
Ideally, an excavator is the best choice for tree removal. They are sized in metric tonnes. A 12 tonne machine will get the job done, but it's on the small side. 15 to 16 tonne are very common and a much better choice. They weigh around 35,000 pounds and are easily transported without permits. Same with the 20 tonne machines, but they are allot more money to run. Obviously, the bigger the machine, the more power it will have and the faster it will take out the trees. A 20 tonne machine will pretty much be able to pull out and stack most anything that you have. Anything bigger is getting towards the overkill side of things and probably too expensive to deal with.
While a dozer will get the job done, I've found that I can take out the larger trees faster with my backhoe then I can with the dozer. I can dig around the roots and push it over with less digging then the dozer requires. Digging out roots with the dozer blade, then building a ramp to get up high enough for the leverage to push over a big tree takes allot of dirt to be moved around. It's just not the best choice for tree removal.
With just an acre of land to mess with, the excavator can pick up and stack the wood in a burn pile that will be very clean. It has to have a thumb on it, but that's a given if they are doing land clearing. The dozer, even with a rake, will push dirt with the trees. Dirt doesn't burn, and even worse, it quickly adds up to a very large mound at the burn pile.
I now have a grapple on by loader that is perfect for picking up the trees and carrying them to the burn pile. It's fast and clean.
The dozer is best for cleaning up the area after everything is done. Since it's just an acre, your tractor could do just as good a job with a little more time.
If it was me, and I was going to hire it out, I'd start interviewing guys with excavators. I'd talk to as many as I could find. I'd want to know how old their machine is, what they charge and when they could start. If they are out of work and real hungry, I'd be nervous about hiring them. The guy who is busy is keeping clients happy and there's probably a good reason he's working while the other guy isn't. Cheaper isn't always the less expensive way to go.
When hiring an operator, be sure to have his rate written down and agreed to before hand. Some will charge by the hour, others by the job. Either way can work out well for you, but you can also be taken advantage of either way. If it's by the job, it's going to be high in order to cover unexpected suprises. For a small job like yours, it shouldn't be too bad. If by the hour, you have to make sure you are not being charged for hours not worked, or hours fixing the equipement.
Older equipment allows a guy to operate for less money because the machine should be paid for, or it cost less to buy. It also means that it will break down more often and down time can become a real issue. Newer equipment is very expensive, but it gets the job done and it shows that the owner of it is more prone to buy the better machine for his business. I've never run into problems with guys who have new or newer machines, but always have problems with guys who have old, worn out, machines. How they take care of their equipment is also a big factor, and a good indicator of how your job will turn out.
Ask for references and go to the job they are currently working on. Look to see how clean it is and find out if the references are happy.
Good luck,
Eddie
scoutcub
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2008
- Messages
- 2,286
- Location
- Ohio
- Tractor
- Yanmar LX4900//Cub 7532//Cub Yanmar SC2400//Komatsu D38//Cub Volunteer//Cub SZ60/CAT 289C/CAT 308
I also support Eddie, Obed and Egon's position. I recently started clearing out some land for a home in Ohio. Did some research on getting the trees down, and read some posts on pushing them over versus cutting down/removing stumps. I bought an 18,000 lb. dozer and have pushed over numerous trees thus far. (Not too mention lots of great seat time)
A few thoughts - If you're clearing out 1 acre, the dozer might be a better choice assuming you want a level/graded food plot....the dozer can knock the trees over, refill the holes, and push the trees/stumps to a central location for cutting/burning, and grade the plot. Maybe have him dig out a burn pit to stack the stumps. Perhaps you can cut off the stumps after he knocks the trees over. Pushing the stumps will remove some of the dirt, but probably not all of it.
An excavator is a better choice for pure digging, guess it depends on quantity and size. Was your 30" max tree size circumference? I have some pics attached for reference, trees are cherry, oak, poplar, and walnut.
I just looked at a 28,000 lb excavator yesterday, I need to get one for the property because before I bought it it was logged.....so I keep running into stumps. (lots of em) The dozer can remove them, but with a lot more effort and time. (and wear and tear if you own it)
Another option if you have the time/inclination is to rent a dozer yourself...get some great seat time, and these new dozers are pretty simple to operate. If unsure, hire the operator, and watch him for the next time!
For the leaning trees, a STRONG & LONG rope tied to the dozer will get em down. That is, if the dozer cannot get an angle to push the tree in the desired direction.
Eddie makes some great points if you do hire it out - check the guy out. Walk the area, and be as specific as possible. Write it all down. There are several posts on here that are tales of woe between owner/contractor.
Whatever you do - take your time, be safe, and have fun! (and take pics)
A few thoughts - If you're clearing out 1 acre, the dozer might be a better choice assuming you want a level/graded food plot....the dozer can knock the trees over, refill the holes, and push the trees/stumps to a central location for cutting/burning, and grade the plot. Maybe have him dig out a burn pit to stack the stumps. Perhaps you can cut off the stumps after he knocks the trees over. Pushing the stumps will remove some of the dirt, but probably not all of it.
An excavator is a better choice for pure digging, guess it depends on quantity and size. Was your 30" max tree size circumference? I have some pics attached for reference, trees are cherry, oak, poplar, and walnut.
I just looked at a 28,000 lb excavator yesterday, I need to get one for the property because before I bought it it was logged.....so I keep running into stumps. (lots of em) The dozer can remove them, but with a lot more effort and time. (and wear and tear if you own it)
Another option if you have the time/inclination is to rent a dozer yourself...get some great seat time, and these new dozers are pretty simple to operate. If unsure, hire the operator, and watch him for the next time!
For the leaning trees, a STRONG & LONG rope tied to the dozer will get em down. That is, if the dozer cannot get an angle to push the tree in the desired direction.
Eddie makes some great points if you do hire it out - check the guy out. Walk the area, and be as specific as possible. Write it all down. There are several posts on here that are tales of woe between owner/contractor.
Whatever you do - take your time, be safe, and have fun! (and take pics)
Attachments
rharkins
Member
Putting anything 'free' on Craigslist will bring the roof down, then 90% of the callers won't show up. I'd suggest asking some small fee, just to make sure the person is serious about removing the wood. I've got a guy hauling 10+ cords of wood off my land, and he was happy to pay the $100 I asked. He's been great and seems to respect my land. I've been using the tractor to help him load, and I know he appreciates it.
