How much land could this thing clear in a day?

[FTG-05]

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.

Two problems with the mulching machine - this according to a professional mulching machine operator:

- Won't get rid of the stumps, especially the big ones that I need taken out; no carbide teeth, get used to stubs and pungi stakes.

- Won't do diddly squat to make my trail level or move dirt at all. Which is what I need now that we can actually get back there and see how the ground is.

I'm out in the sticks, coming up with someone with a mulching machine is one thing; someone with a mulching machine that uses carbide teeth (read $$$) is something else. Might as well use something that will do both at once.

 

[FTG-05]

The one with the yellow ribbon on it?

Nope, sorry no yellow ribbons. Any ribbons (pink) I did put up, I made sure to tie to that POS ToH.

 

[tractorshopper]

I hate that that mulcher didn't have carbide teeth. When my property was done, it obviously had carbide teeth because it literally mulched everything up right down to the dirt. Basically looked like it had been tilled soil, with a handful of sticks laying around per acre that must have been thrown away from the machine while it was devouring everything in it's path. I had a very different result than you got or wouldn't have recommended the mulcher in the first place to anyone. I didn't know there were different levels of adequacy with those things. Guess I just got lucky.

 

[Oldoak]

I hate that that mulcher didn't have carbide teeth. When my property was done, it obviously had carbide teeth because it literally mulched everything up right down to the dirt. Basically looked like it had been tilled soil, with a handful of sticks laying around per acre that must have been thrown away from the machine while it was devouring everything in it's path. I had a very different result than you got or wouldn't have recommended the mulcher in the first place to anyone. I didn't know there were different levels of adequacy with those things. Guess I just got lucky.

Not just lucky. The RIGHT MACHINE was used for the desired results you were looking for. Just what I was giving an example of in my post, #49.

Naturally it won't get rid of larger stumps and level the land like the O.P. wants. That is a job for an excavator and or a bulldozer but will leave a lot more debris from all the under growth that won't be ground up to be dealt with. One machine alone is not going to give the O.P. the desired results he is looking for and the job is going to cost $$$ no matter how it is tackled. :confused3:

 

[ericm979]

This may be a dumb question but what's wrong with doing the underbrush clearing with a combination of chain saw, brush cutter and rotary cutter? I mean other than taking longer of course. From the pics it looks like you could operate the tractor between trees, maybe after taking some out. It doesn't look too steep for a tractor.

That won't do the other things you want like stump removal and making a road. Can you work on the road with the tractor or is it too sloped to operate on?

However you clear the underbrush you'll need to keep it clear. To me that means brush cutter and rotary cutter but maybe I'm missing something.

 

[FTG-05]

Not just lucky. The RIGHT MACHINE was used for the desired results you were looking for. Just what I was giving an example of in my post, #49.

Naturally it won't get rid of larger stumps and level the land like the O.P. wants. That is a job for an excavator and or a bulldozer but will leave a lot more debris from all the under growth that won't be ground up to be dealt with. One machine alone is not going to give the O.P. the desired results he is looking for and the job is going to cost $$$ no matter how it is tackled. :confused3:

The one machine I need is the one I don't have: A bulldozer.

Once the bulldozer is done, I can groom the trails (no stumps) and use my rock rake and/or grapple to get rid of the debris i.e. use my tractor. i don't need to pay someone for that.

 

[FTG-05]

This may be a dumb question but what's wrong with doing the underbrush clearing with a combination of chain saw, brush cutter and rotary cutter? I mean other than taking longer of course. From the pics it looks like you could operate the tractor between trees, maybe after taking some out. It doesn't look too steep for a tractor.

That won't do the other things you want like stump removal and making a road. Can you work on the road with the tractor or is it too sloped to operate on?

However you clear the underbrush you'll need to keep it clear. To me that means brush cutter and rotary cutter but maybe I'm missing something.

This day in 1955. I'll let you do the math.

I can move dirt and groom a trail with my tractor and BB. But I can't do it where I need it with all the stumps, some big, most small.

The hill is not too steep, but it's not something I want to get into and then be forced to go sidehill. The other fear in this dense thicket is the possibility of puncturing a radiator or worse. Anyone want to give me an estimate on how much clearing I could pay for vs. a brand new radiator (this assumes, of course, that engine doesn't get trashed). And again, if I haven't mentioned it before, there are parts of this forest I need machines I don't have and parts I can do myself via the bushhog etc. I'm not asking anyone to do that for me; just the stuff I can't or won't do for the above aforementioned reasons..

Once it's cleared, keeping it clear won't be any different than what I'm already doing on my front 20 acre hill, see pics below.



Good discussion, thanks!

 

[Marvelor]

I think it could finish few hundreds of acres in a day. Despite its age, it still look wonderful.

 

[airbiscuit]

It looks to me like you know what you are doing. What a beautiful view by the way.

(What is the reference to 1955?)

 

[FTG-05]

It looks to me like you know what you are doing. What a beautiful view by the way.

(What is the reference to 1955?)

Clearing underbrush + cutting hundreds if not thousands of trees + on the side of a hill + a typical TN summer + with a chainsaw + 62 years of age = Ain't happenin'.

That type math.