Grapple or Brush Hog?

[Muddybuckeye]

Thumb on the bucket and brush hog mIgor be the way to go

 

[Muddybuckeye]

Yes I was thinking of renting a brush hog also

 

[Muddybuckeye]

i Would have taken pics this past weekend but there was 2’ of snow everywhere. Also now that there’s been some recall of my days there in the summer I’m leaning more towards grapple because I could probably just play with the tractor grappling without getting out of the seat. I know brush hogging is the same but doesn’t seem as much fun! Lol. It’s probably going to come down to availability because I‘m sure I can acquire a brush hog easier than the grapple I’ve been researching.

 

[buck12]

Do you have the third function installed on your FEL or a rear remote? If not factor that into your cost.

 

[Muddybuckeye]

I’ve got one just not installed yet.

 

[mcfarmall]

Get the hog first. I prefer the "dovetail" back cutters over the round back. The straight edge in the middle is great for backing into saplings and cutting them off. Backing into standing brush with the cutter will also help prevent sticks through the radiator, oil filter(s) punctured, electrical connectors and the like from damage. Crawl under the tractor and see all the wonderful places for damage to occur. I've lived with just a hog for 30 years and bought my first root rake grapple in 2020.

 

[Jchonline]

Brush hog and forks would be my first choice. While not a grapple, forks and a chain go a long way.

 

[RalphVa]

I've trails I maintain across our property and 2 other neighbors. Gotta have a bush hog. Don't have a grapple and plenty of autumn olives. We declared war on the AOs, oriental bittersweet and green briars last winter. Wife had to cut up a bunch of downed trees to get at some of that stuff. We cut back all the AO, OB and GB and painted the stumps with glyphosate, but the damn stuff has come back. I'm no good on my feet any more and wife cannot tell the green stuff from a pickle; so, we plan to hire someone this spring to go spray some of the small, new growth.

Wife (and I some) loaded cut up stuff into the FEL and carried to gullies we have on the property and piled up. Really small stuff got chipped up. Got a new, slightly bigger chipper now: going back and chipping up some of that in the piles.

 

[buck12]

Get the hog first. I prefer the "dovetail" back cutters over the round back. The straight edge in the middle is great for backing into saplings and cutting them off. Backing into standing brush with the cutter will also help prevent sticks through the radiator, oil filter(s) punctured, electrical connectors and the like from damage. Crawl under the tractor and see all the wonderful places for damage to occur. I've lived with just a hog for 30 years and bought my first root rake grapple in 2020.

Good point. If you plan on working in a wooded area protect the underside and grill. I have learned to protect both areas the hard way.

 

[Muddybuckeye]

I’m going with the brush hog. i know it’ll be a great tool to use. Glad to hear from Ralph on the Olive infestation and the problem they can be. I’ve declared war on them too! I call them the scourge!