trail clearing technique and tools

   / trail clearing technique and tools #1,451  
And here's something else to think about. You have an ATV and use that a lot for a variety of tasks. Consider NOT buying a tractor, and instead get a mini excavator. Not one of the tiny piece of $hit things, but a 4-5 ton kubota or other quality brand. Dealing with that downed log in your picture would take literally seconds. You can dig, grade, and ditch trails, install culverts, reach up and grab hanging limbs, pull out or knock over trees that are in the way or growing into your trails. And an excavator works sooooo much better than a tractor mounted backhoe. For all my property maintenance, including miles of trail maintenance, I use an excavator for 5-10hrs for every hr that I use my tractor. The only way I use my tractor for trail maintenance is with the rear rotary mower to keep grasses cut. And you could potentially do that will a pull-behind mower and the ATV.

Only you can figure out what the right answer is for your needs, but give some thought to the above. The only down side to an excavator is that you need to track it everywhere, and the tracks chew up the ground more than a wheeled tractor, but that's not the end of the world unless you are on a finished lawn. And with some practice, you can do a lot of maneuvering with minimal ground damage.
 
   / trail clearing technique and tools
  • Thread Starter
#1,452  
And here's something else to think about. You have an ATV and use that a lot for a variety of tasks. Consider NOT buying a tractor, and instead get a mini excavator. Not one of the tiny piece of $hit things, but a 4-5 ton kubota or other quality brand. Dealing with that downed log in your picture would take literally seconds. You can dig, grade, and ditch trails, install culverts, reach up and grab hanging limbs, pull out or knock over trees that are in the way or growing into your trails. And an excavator works sooooo much better than a tractor mounted backhoe. For all my property maintenance, including miles of trail maintenance, I use an excavator for 5-10hrs for every hr that I use my tractor. The only way I use my tractor for trail maintenance is with the rear rotary mower to keep grasses cut. And you could potentially do that will a pull-behind mower and the ATV.

Only you can figure out what the right answer is for your needs, but give some thought to the above. The only down side to an excavator is that you need to track it everywhere, and the tracks chew up the ground more than a wheeled tractor, but that's not the end of the world unless you are on a finished lawn. And with some practice, you can do a lot of maneuvering with minimal ground damage.
How does one plow snow with a excavator?
 
   / trail clearing technique and tools #1,453  
Get a plow for the 3/4 or 1 ton truck youll need to buy to haul it? 😂
 
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   / trail clearing technique and tools #1,454  
How does one plow snow with a excavator?
You don't, at least now very well, even if it has a blade. I thought you had a plow on your ATV? I was thinking you could use that.
 
   / trail clearing technique and tools #1,455  
Suppose this is a tool that can be used for trail clearing. DeWalt 20 volt cordless pruning shears better half really likes it so do I. Super light easy to use even has an led light. Beats manual loppers and sheers even like it better than my newer cordless 8" top handle cordless pruning chainsaw for smaller brush and limbs.
 

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   / trail clearing technique and tools #1,456  
Some trees blew across my sister's driveway last night. I'll be taking my Echo CS2511TN to do it. At 5.2 lbs, Arly should treat himself to one if he gets that camp property.

 
   / trail clearing technique and tools #1,458  
Seen on the trails today. Hope to clear it tomorrow. View attachment 3519445
On dirtbike trails we liked to leave fallen trees like that in place. We’d cut a section out if diagonally across a trail on a hillside (a bit too much of a challenge for some). We figured something straight across a flat trail was a welcome challenge to ride over. Also it kept ATVs and SxSs off our trails.
 
   / trail clearing technique and tools
  • Thread Starter
#1,459  
On dirtbike trails we liked to leave fallen trees like that in place. We’d cut a section out if diagonally across a trail on a hillside (a bit too much of a challenge for some). We figured something straight across a flat trail was a welcome challenge to ride over. Also it kept ATVs and SxSs off our trails.
These are hike, mountain bike or snowshoe trails.
 

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