What to RENT to speed up my cleanup from mulching

[MossflowerWoods]

Guys,

I've got a number of threads in the past that cover this, but in brief, I had ~5 acres clear cut by loggers, I had a 300hp Franklin with a big 10.5' mulcher head come in and mulch much of it to burn pile sized stuff and smaller.

I've been turning it into horse pasture slowly.

Winter was WAY TOO WET and I made no progress. I'm now behind schedule and stuff is starting to grow again.

I need to rent something for a weekend that I can drive, and will easily help me shove all the debris out of the way or into burn piles I can quickly burn (Burn restricted to 4pm to midnight) so I can catch up.

My dealer suggested I rent a "Track Loader" I'm thinking with a 4-way bucket, or one I can pop my grapple onto, or ???

What do equipment would you suggest?

Also, My neighbor has a F-350 2wd and a 10K flatbed I can borrow soI can do self delivery.

Thanks in advance,
David

 

[tonyoz]

Have you thought about hiring an excavator with a grab to pile up your timber then using a CTL to do the final cleanup? That away there would be much less ground disturbance.

 

[Johndeere3720]

I was thinking renting either an excavator with a thumb or a Compact Track loader with a brush grapple.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Guys,

All the timber is long gone, over 100 log trucks full.

What I have left is slash and scraps, and mulching debris.

I have a 6' root grapple on my tractor now, but it is not effective as a bulldozer.

I have stumps ranging between ground level to maybe 1" tall that will catch on my FEL.

What I want to do is CLEAR the debris faster than I am currently getting it done.

I was thinking a track loader is closer to a dozer, and might be able to handle my SSQA Grapple (Or I will just rent a 4 way bucket) for the larger pieces.

For now, I am done hiring help. Now I'm looking to clear it enough that I can get busy with my stump grinder and start building more fence and enclosing more pasture area.

If for no other reason than I need somewhere for the horse poo...

Thanks,
David

 

[Johndeere3720]

Guys,

All the timber is long gone, over 100 log trucks full.

What I have left is slash and scraps, and mulching debris.

I have a 6' root grapple on my tractor now, but it is not effective as a bulldozer.

I have stumps ranging between ground level to maybe 1" tall that will catch on my FEL.

What I want to do is CLEAR the debris faster than I am currently getting it done.

I was thinking a track loader is closer to a dozer, and might be able to handle my SSQA Grapple (Or I will just rent a 4 way bucket) for the larger pieces.

For now, I am done hiring help. Now I'm looking to clear it enough that I can get busy with my stump grinder and start building more fence and enclosing more pasture area.

If for no other reason than I need somewhere for the horse poo...

Thanks,
David

With that said i think you are on the right track with a track loader. :thumbsup:

 

[MossflowerWoods]

With that said i think you are on the right track with a track loader. :thumbsup:

How big should I get?

Give me some specifics to shoot for please...

David

 

[Combustix]

I would go with the excavator in the 100 to 135 size, will make quick work of the stumps, then you can use your grapple to move the ones you can saving time on the big machine for pulling all the stumps and moving the larger ones.

 

[Johndeere3720]

How big should I get?

Give me some specifics to shoot for please...

David

From the largest CTL's to a 20,000 lb track loader. Around here, I have not seen a track loader in a rental yard, just CTL's and dozers.

 

[Carl_NH]

David,

A long time ago I thought the intent of the mulcher was to grind down the stumps 3-4" below grade leaving you with the slash and chips to rake up - not exposed stumps..

It sounds like you have most of them mulched but are left with a stringy mess of slash roots, some exposed stumps and woody debris?

The "track Loader" or CTL - compact track loader, is a skidsteer with tracks , and your tractor should be able to do the same thing. The full sized 70-100 HP track loader/skid steer with the right attachment will work - the right attachment depends on your situation..

You have a rachet rake, but that probably collects too much dirt and when you hit a stump you lose the crap in the rake..

I used a landscape rake and made windrows of brush and root and rocks then pushed this into several piles and let those sit for 6 months. Once this settles you can use your grapple to remove the wood and you are left with the dirt to spread.

Reclaiming land is not an easy process - patience, perserverance, and time is the best medicine.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

David,

A long time ago I thought the intent of the mulcher was to grind down the stumps 3-4" below grade leaving you with the slash and chips to rake up - not exposed stumps..

It sounds like you have most of them mulched but are left with a stringy mess of slash roots, some exposed stumps and woody debris?

The "track Loader" or CTL - compact track loader, is a skidsteer with tracks , and your tractor should be able to do the same thing. The full sized 70-100 HP track loader/skid steer with the right attachment will work - the right attachment depends on your situation..

You have a rachet rake, but that probably collects too much dirt and when you hit a stump you lose the crap in the rake..

I used a landscape rake and made windrows of brush and root and rocks then pushed this into several piles and let those sit for 6 months. Once this settles you can use your grapple to remove the wood and you are left with the dirt to spread.

Reclaiming land is not an easy process - patience, perserverance, and time is the best medicine.

Carl,

Excellent post sir. I was just going to ask what a CTL was

Yes, originally the ide was to mulch to ground level, use the stump grinder then to go an inch or two below grade, and burn all the mulch, slash stringy scraps. MUCH of the time that works, but in the heaviest slash areas, it appears the slash may have been up to 2 feet thick, there I am finding a much worse stuff buried.and I have something up to an acre of area that the mulcher just could not wade into which was the deepest, big piles of stumps etc. YES, most of the area is mostly covered in "stringy mess of slash roots, some exposed stumps and woody debris" and I am processing that pretty well, it is deeper and untouched areas kicking my fanny mostly.

The ratchet rake does VERY well in some conditions. It is awesome at the stringy mulch debris. I make little piles I can grapple to either a fire or a "leave it to rot" area, but the really woody, longer, thicker stuff, forget ti, the grapple is better there, Back drag and pick up a pile. BUt the grapple leaves all the little stuff behind.

It is a never ending process.

I mentioned to my dealer I was going to look for a dozer to rent, just to shove it all into big piles I can grapple away at my leisure and he suggested a CTL would be better.

I need something that will not stop or be damaged when I do hit the edge of a 1" high stump or a buried log. and I really just need to get as much bare dirt as possible so I can allow the grass I have to grow and seed some more.

This is going to be an iterative process. I am still needing to grind stumps and clear debris in the current active pasture the horses live in now. I will be at this for the rest of my life, or at least as long as I own this property.

I know that when I leave it, it will be WAY BETTER than I found it...

So, should I rent a Dozer? I just got my bonus, I'm ready to book a weekend but I got no ide really what to rent...

That summarizes my problem, sometimes I just cannot figure out where to start...

Thanks,
David

 

[bucktaker]

unless you have experience with a dozer hire it out. A good operator can do more in less time than a "learn while I do it approach"

Not really knowing what you have in front of you I would do one task at a time. like grind all the stumps, excavate all the buried logs etc use the dozer as a final grade/cleanup tool then amend the soil and seed. two.five cents worth

 

[Carl_NH]

David,

By the sounds of it you have moved on into the thick of the brush and stumps so yes, I would say find a dozer with a toothed blade or a ripper tooth.

The ripper could get the stumps out if thats what you want and also make a big pile you can let compost down and over time pick at it with the grapple.

As far as renting a 90-100HP dozer is $600 a day, $2000 a week (Sunbelt has them) so when I see these prices I would not rent but hire it done by a fellow/gal that has the right machine for the job.

Most owner/operators charge $700-1200 a day in our area - $700 for a small excavator 15K size then $1200 for a big one 40K machine. I would suspect a dozer with operator is in the middle $800 or so a day. If you also get loam from the same person, you may even get a better deal on the day rate.

The plus to hiring is you have an experienced operator that will maximize the time and you can follow along with them with the grapple/other tools and clean up.

While your at it, bring in materials/loam to spread as the dozer does a great job at this so sort of "once and done" and you seed grass in the area.

 

[scoutcub]

Guys,

All the timber is long gone, over 100 log trucks full.

What I have left is slash and scraps, and mulching debris.

I have a 6' root grapple on my tractor now, but it is not effective as a bulldozer.

I have stumps ranging between ground level to maybe 1" tall that will catch on my FEL.

What I want to do is CLEAR the debris faster than I am currently getting it done.

I was thinking a track loader is closer to a dozer, and might be able to handle my SSQA Grapple (Or I will just rent a 4 way bucket) for the larger pieces.

For now, I am done hiring help. Now I'm looking to clear it enough that I can get busy with my stump grinder and start building more fence and enclosing more pasture area.

If for no other reason than I need somewhere for the horse poo...

Thanks,
David

With this in mind, I would rent a good sized dozer. D5/650 etc. with a root rake. (if you can find one) The newer dozers are pretty easy to operate with joystick controls, small learning curve. And, you get some excellent seat time!:thumbsup:

Frank

 

[MossflowerWoods]

With this in mind, I would rent a good sized dozer. D5/650 etc. with a root rake. (if you can find one) The newer dozers are pretty easy to operate with joystick controls, small learning curve. And, you get some excellent seat time!:thumbsup:

Frank

That sounds AWESOME and like quite a bit of fun. Also likely $$$...

I will do some research, but I an sure that will be bigger than I can haul on my neighbors 10K trailer with his F-350.

I managed to get a couple hours in with the Ratchet Rake and back dragging the debris is fairly effective, but I end up with piles of dirt and mulch all over the place. I then switch to the grapple and grab the piles and haul them somnwhere, they don't burn well (too much dirt), and I'm not sure how well they will decompose (But right now that is what I am considering, making a compost pile of sorts from this stuff).

I cannot go forward very effectively, the RR digs in hard on float, and if I set the FEL it misses too much, and stumps are a sudden stop.

Really what I want to do is remove the stuff that potentially is hard on my bush hog, and expose the stumps so I can grind them, and seed the dirt.

I simply cannot see the stumps and the woody debris is fairly thick in many spots.

The larger debris that is good burn pile material is often either scattered all over and I end up trying to pick up 2-3 sticks with the grapple, then 2-3 more, and so on, OR it is the approx acre remaining of heavy slash and debris left from the loggers with piles of stumps and busted pine trunks, and jumbled tree tops. that stuff is impossible to drive over with my little 50 hp tractor and difficult to grab effectively with the grapple.

I am making progress, it is just SLOW. Maybe the answer is to invite a tractor buddy over to run the RR while I grapple piles or something like that.

Hmmm... What to do, what to do... Sems that is what I am always pondering...

Be well all,
David

 

[MarkV]

Sounds like work for a landscape rake to me.

MarkV

 

[xtn]

If you want to actually get the job done in a weekend or two instead of spending another year grinding stumps and tearing up your equipment, rent the biggest, meanest dozer you can find with a root rake blade and an operator.

He can literally scrape your land clean, either ripping stumps out or shaving them off below ground by the dozens, while you run backup with your grapple.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Sounds like work for a landscape rake to me.

MarkV

LstInThot and I tried his 6' landscape rake and it clogs immediately and then floats up over the debris. Even when he stood on it while I dragged it.

I passed on a 8' york rake on CL because it did not work...

David

 

[Bigfoot62]

David,
As some have said, a large bulldozer with a root rake would do the job.

CAT D6 with root rake.

My cousin has a large construction company. I've worked for him, off and on, for years. This is what we would use:

CAT 320 Excavator with hydraulic thumb.
Then, we would follow that with a smaller dozer, like a D4, to level everything out. You could handle it with your tractor from there.

Either way, I would hire the machine with a skilled operator. :thumbsup:

 

[MossflowerWoods]

If you want to actually get the job done in a weekend or two instead of spending another year grinding stumps and tearing up your equipment, rent the biggest, meanest dozer you can find with a root rake blade and an operator.

He can literally scrape your land clean, either ripping stumps out or shaving them off below ground by the dozens, while you run backup with your grapple.

xtn,

I hear you, I do... But my wife wanted me to buy the stump grinder EXACTLY so I would not be hiring that out all the time.

Also, I do not want to fill in the holes from popping the stumps. I just want them an inch or so below the dirt and rot in place over time.

If I make too much progress, too soon, I just run out of funds and it lies stagnant waiting for me to have $$for fence materials, seed, etc... So I have need for getting caught up, but a slower pace might be easier on my wallet.

I know... That makes me confusing and confused :confused2:...

What I am hearing in your post though is that a root rake will shear off an inch or so of a stump? Is that the right assessment? Will it also act as a dirt mover? I don;t want to rent a machine just to be changing attachments all day... Just trying to learn so I'm not uch a n00b...

Thanks,
David

 

[MossflowerWoods]

David,
As some have said, a large bulldozer with a root rake would do the job.
handle it with your tractor from there.

Either way, I would hire the machine with a skilled operator. :thumbsup:

HOLY COW!!!!!!! I'd LOVE to have one of those!
OOOH OOOH OOOH [Tim the Tool Man grunts]

BF62, Last time I asked a small dozer and operator was gonna cost me $4000 and all he was gonna do is pop the stumps and pile them up...

I just ain't got that kind of $$$

I'm splurging to spend $600 renting something I can deliver and drive...

Sux to be me some days...
David