Mini/midi ex land clearing on slope

[Tomtint]

I have a MiniX with a rough cut mower on it. It works well, But if I were to mow a slope with it, I would start at the bottom and have the mower going up hill. My Mini is a KX121, I can't move and mow at the same time as the hydro flow required from the mower is too much to do both at the same time.

 

[farm boy00]

Could you simply help them find a company that specializes in land clearing? Would imagine the cost after renting a machine, paying you to operate, plus fuel would be similar to a company that has the setup and knows exactly how to handle the situation and might be less time on the job

 

[rademamj1]

A dedicated land clearing tracked skid steer with the mulcher head here in Texas, can typically clear 3-4 acres per day at $1500/day. Its incredible how fast these machines clear out trees and brush.

 

[Hay Dude]

Yes, but they are scared of strangers. They are in their 80s and VERY wealthy, but very cautious. Right now, the groundskeeper and his helper are trying to clear land with a small Kubota and chainsaws. Been working the same patch since August and only got a few acres cleared.
I agree they should hire a land clearing company, but they are scared they will tear the place up and take advantage of them. They know me and trust me.
I did make a call to a land clearing company and they want 1500 a day for metal tracked skid steer, mulcher head, operator, fuel per day. The land is is sloping, has creeks and large trees, so its not like you can get it done fast.

I really need to consider getting into the clearing business. I do it now by renting or using my 15’ bush hog. Depends on what’s being cleared. With all my farm fields needing edge clearing combined with others calling me for it, it feels like time to take the plunge. Just have lots of concerns with collapsing economic times ahead. Kids in college is a drain, too.

 

[dodge man]

Kids in college? They are about ready to graduate and then they will take care of you. I say that with extreme sarcasm since I have a 26 and 23 year old both college graduates.

 

[Hay Dude]

Kids in college? They are about ready to graduate and then they will take care of you. I say that with extreme sarcasm since I have a 26 and 23 year old both college graduates.

Both have 1/2 athletic scholarships and I still cant afford it.

 

[BackRoad]

Mr. Hay Dude,
Didn't see the size of the underbrush you need to clear:

I had a skidsteer with forestry mulcher come in to clear a few acres back in October. At $100 per hour, it was cheaper to pay someone, than rent one.

He left trees bigger than about 10 inches, mulched and cleared everything else.

Other than the larger sized trees it was able to take down, adjacent areas which I cut with my rotary cutter were as well mulched as the forestry mulcher did for anything under 3 inches. The difference was he could clear stuff I couldn't get between 3 inches and 10 inches.

I'm slightly north of you, closer to the NY border. I'm clearing another couple of acres of 20 year old overgrowth right now.

With temps up and down around the freezing mark, the ground has not frozen hard yet and the snow and rain we've received is not soaking in quickly.

The top inch or two might freeze over night, but it's soft underneath, so lots of slippage.

Finding it's pretty greasy and easy to leave ruts.

Not sure on current conditions in South PA, but temps might further influence your timing, based on the objective to not tear up the ground on the slopes.

 

[Hay Dude]

Its 1 inch of greasy thaw on top of firm/semi-frozen type ground and its a slope, so itll be very challenging.
I like the mini ex with mulch head because it will be able to sit & spin to cut brush. Might make less of a mess of mud/tracks.
I got a price for a Bobcat T870 with a Bobcat forestry package for a week.
$3500 + 6%tax + fuel.
I figure a 40 hour week at about 2-3 G per hour is about $250 in fuel.
Then Hay Dude needs to make some money, too.

The customer is also offering the possibility of ~50 acres of lower grade grass fields for hay and 25 acres of field mowing annually. I want to be as easy on customer as possible to curry favor for future land access for hay & field mowing.

Also placed a call to a buddy of mine that has a Kubota SL-75 high flow with some kind of brush cutter. May hire him to cut while I stay outside, look for rocks and pick up big pieces.

If it would deep freeze, and stay frozen during the day, I could use my CX-15 and farm tractor, back down the hills and shred the saplings & small trees, then climb back up the hill, move over & repeat. However, it hasn’t gotten real cold yet

Lots of possibilities, any of them could work, but which will work best is still being thought over.

 

[MoMower]

Without seeing it, CTL with a forestry mulcher first, then a mini for what that couldn’t get?

I usually can do about an acre in 5 hours or so, using my SCUT w thumb grapple and tooth bar,chainsaw, BH and BB.

This time of year the greasy ground is gonna be your biggest obstacle.

As far as tearing it up, mid summer you’ll never know you were there.

 

[Hay Dude]

I submitted bid for 3 days or 6 days with mulcher on tracked skid
I also submitted bid for 3 days or 6 days with ambusher on tracked skid

Initial feedback from farm boss was that land owner didnt react negatively on my mulcher price.
Really want the farmland for long term hay, but the brush removal is decent money and a way to actually expand the farmland into even more hay ground.

Edit: Have another customer with about a acre he wants cleared. Might be able to do both in a 1 week rental.