How much land could this thing clear in a day?

[MossRoad]

From the few people I've known that rented.... purchase insurance from the rental company! I've heard of folks doing damage to the dozer (any equipment, for that matter), like throwing a track and you're on the hook for that if you don't have insurance. Also, have a plan to get it out if you get it stuck. You mentioned some steeper slopes.... how you going to get it out if it gets stuck or dies down there? Talk that all over with the rental company to see what you could be on the hook for.

 

[fishwhiz]

Any time you "brush hog" an area, you have to think into the future. Usually these things are like mowing the lawn. It's going to grow back unless you have a plan. On the other hand these machines make great habitat for browsers like deer if the deer can keep up with the growth.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I've run my dad's dozer and loader some back when he had it. I can tell you I am a fast learner but not a skilled operator at all. In all the years Pop had both I can tell you that stuff happens and seemed like we were always working on them with either maintenance or break downs. If you go the rental route like MossRoad stated make sure to get insurance and a way to get unstuck. I've got an area below my spring that is grown up and many years ago my dad tried to clear it with his D4D LGP dozer. Made one pass and got stuck. He was an experienced operator. Personally I would hire it out. I am fortunate that an old college buddy of mine does grading and clearing with a dozer, excavator, and FEL. He works very reasonably.

 

[FTG-05]

Thanks for the update. Your new plan might make sense. You can do a lot of damage with a dozer. By that, I mean you can either really muck things up, or really get a lot done. It depends on how proficient you are with a dozer. I've only played with them a bit,and it's tricky to know what's happening in front of the blade because it's not visible to you.

If you put me on that rented dozer, I would likely dig up a bunch of stuff, but I'm not sure how smooth it would be and heaven knows where the organic material would be. Last fall, I had to have some road work done, an they came with a new 100 hp dozer. I was worried about the cost, but it is amazing what a skilled operator can do with high capability equipment. It was a hydro with refined hydraulics, and a skilled operator that made every move count. I think he knew where that blade was within 1/2".

My point is that you might get as much done in one day with a great operator and a new dozer as I could do in a week with a rented dozer. That plan doesn't work if you get Bubba with a 10 year old dozer.

That said, I am excited for the property taming you are doing, and appreciate your updates.

There's always that trade off, isn't there?

I know that the "write a check" option is highly appealing: simple, easy, far less risk, and zero responsibility for machine failures etc. Just write a check.

On the other hand there is something to be said for doing yourself, some of the obvious reasons: might be cheaper, get done exactly what you want done etc. etc. etc.

There's also the less obvious reasons: getting to operate a big honking piece of iron, learning a new skill, getting to operate a big honking piece of iron, pride of doint it yourself and the thrill of getting to operate a big honking piece of iron.

Unfortunately this option is full of risks, which I'll discuss more in my next post.

Thanks for the insight, I appreciate it!!!

 

[FTG-05]

From the few people I've known that rented.... purchase insurance from the rental company! I've heard of folks doing damage to the dozer (any equipment, for that matter), like throwing a track and you're on the hook for that if you don't have insurance. Also, have a plan to get it out if you get it stuck. You mentioned some steeper slopes.... how you going to get it out if it gets stuck or dies down there? Talk that all over with the rental company to see what you could be on the hook for.

Now see this post right here? This is an excellent example of why this place is worth the price of admission. Bunch of stuff I've thought of, a lot more that I hadn't.

Yes, it's hilly (one of the reasons I need a dozer, make trails that aren't), but unless I try to work when it's raining or after a major rainstorm, I *shouldn't* get it stuck. However, I didn't think of a machine problem getting it stuck down there.

This almost happened with the mulcher operator. He got his new machine back from the dealer after a repair. About an hour later, he started getting error codes. Left the machine idling (thank God) and called the dealer back. They told him to NOT turn it off until he had it back on the trailer and to return it (yep that was the end of work for that day). He did and once on the trailer, he turned it off and tried to start it. DTR. If that had happened down in my back 20 "bowl" it would have been very expensive to get it out (+$700 by his estimate).

Never thought of insurance. Good point.

Track throwing: How often does happen? Assuming the tracks and running gear are property maintained and adjusted, under what circumstances would a dozer throw a track? The mulcher guy threw a track on his loaner skid steer and I watched them fix it for over an hour. And that was two guys who knew what they were doing. I can't imagine trying to do it with just myself and on a +18K lb machine to boot.

I'll take some more pics of what I'm trying to clear, pics of what was cleared so far and pics showing how hilly it is back there.

Thanks for the help, comments and suggestions, I appreciate it!

 

[FTG-05]

Any time you "brush hog" an area, you have to think into the future. Usually these things are like mowing the lawn. It's going to grow back unless you have a plan. On the other hand these machines make great habitat for browsers like deer if the deer can keep up with the growth.

Once cleared enough where I can get back in there with my tractor, I plan to bushhog it regularly. But before I can do that, I gotta drain the swamp, metaphorically speaking of course.

 

[FTG-05]

Anyone wanna see pics? We like pics right?? Right?

Here you go, but there's gonna be a pop quiz at the end, so pay attention!!!!





Alright Hotshot, Pop Quiz:

How many trees in those pics were NOT Tree of Heaven?

Any guesses?

 

[MossRoad]

The one with the yellow ribbon on it?

 

[Oldoak]

I have 10-15 acres of overgrown timber/woodland on my property that is pretty useless due to all the brush and especially the invasive Tree of Heaven. I'd like to have the underbrush cleared and I'm thinking of having it down with one of those brush grinder machine services, see picture below.

The questions I have are:

- About how much does one these cost on per day basis; this is a service, not a rental.

- About much land would one of these machine process in one days work?

Obviously, until I can get the guy out here for an informed quote I won't get an exact answer. Right now, I'm just looking for the "best guess" type answers.

Thanks,

After seeing a picture of what you want cleared, that is the only way I would consider going. Expensive, yes, but anything smaller is going to take a lot longer, not do as good as job, and end up costing the same or more than the right machine (with an experienced operator) to do the job would cost.

I have seen those forestry mulching machines clearing N.G. pipeline "right of ways" through hardwood forest here in PA. Equipped with carbide tipped tines, they go through like Tasmanian Devils eating anything in their path. You could follow them with a tractor or four-wheeler without fear of getting a flat tire from punchy sticks.

Roads could be carved out later with a bulldozer as time and finances allow.

 

[LittleBill21]

i rented a d3 dozer for snow removal on a farm this winter (drifts were 6 feet high), it was 84 horse and used 18.2 gallons of diesel in 7.8 hours. i had never driven one before, other then tearing up some lawns it went fine.

on a side note i was told the machine was covered for damage, i specifically asked maybe it depends on who you rent it from. 375 a day no fuel, 120 each way to pick it up

i also asked what happens if i get stuck, they said keep the blade on the ground and it won't. they said i could hire a tow truck (semi sized) or they would come with another dozer and pull it out with that one at the cost of a full day 375 +240. to be honest for renting my first piece of large equipment it went unbelievably smooth. we were getting quotes of 350 hour to clear the road. and it took me and a 2500 dodge plow truck 7.8, we saved a ton of money and i had a grin on my face the entire day.