Anyone Use a stump grapple?

[indianaEPH]

HI:

I've got a lot of trees to clear and I dont want to leave a stump because I will likely till the area. Many of the trees and brush have been taken out using a standard from loader. However, now I'm facing a few bigger trees. The biggest is about 10" in diameter. Can I use a stump grapple (pictured). I have a 39HP TYM tractor that weighs about 5000lbs.

Has anyone used this type of equipment to dig out stumps? I just wondering how effect it would be? Alternatively I could rent a dozer?

Anyone have any experience with this type of attachment?

http://www.rootgrapple.com/stumpgrapple1.jpg

 

[kennyd]

I would suggest a dozer or mini-excavator for that work.

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

Kenny's right on as usual. There are some youtube video's that show tracked skid steer's with stump grapples. They have lots more lift and torque than cuts do. It's would work on smaller shallow rooted tree's but that's about it. I large dozer or mini ex would be the ticket for sure.

Matt

 

[k0ua]

If the "stump" was left at 5 or 6 foot, you could pull it over with the drawbar on the tractor. I always wait 2 days after a rain. so the topsoil is ok to drive on but down deeper it is still mushy, and you can pull 10 inch trees all day with that tractor and 40 foot of log chain, by hooking up high on the tree and just pull them over. but if the stump is already cut down low... well too late. The grapple is going to be slow going to get it out, maybe a stump bucket would work. Or backhoe. or if you got lots of time a regular bucket will dig em out, but you gotta be dedicated. Good luck

James K0UA

 

[IslandTractor]

As others have noted, it is easier to get 10 inch "stumps" out while they are still trees so you can use the leverage of the tree height along with gravity to pop the stump out rather than digging it out. I had good luck using a ripper attachment on a CUT TLB which cut through the lateral roots and then I could just push the tree over with the "stump" popping out by itself. I was able to take out several ten inch trees an hour and it is far more efficient than chain sawing and then digging out a stump.

A stump grapple is really more of a skid steer tool as those have more powerful loaders. I'm sure they would work with a CUT as well but not very much more efficient (and far more limited in other ways) than a standard 48" root grapple.

 

[indianaEPH]

Hey, thanks so much for the responses. The good news is that the tree are still standing. I will Try to pull them over after cutting the lateral roots with a ripper.

If that fails I'll rent something. I'll have pictures by the week end!

 

[indianaEPH]

Hey, thanks so much for the responses. The good news is that the tree are still standing. I will Try to pull them over after cutting the lateral roots with a ripper.

If that fails I'll rent something. I'll have pictures by the week end!

Well that did not work out to well. The first tree broke above the ground and the second tree, a maple, would not give. Back to the drawing board.

 

[k0ua]

Well, it looks like you didn't wait the required 2 days after a good rain. You cannot pull trees of that size rooted in dry ground. They either break off, or you run out of weight/traction to pull them.. by waiting until the top of the ground dries out some, you maximize traction, but the roots are still in mushy ground. On a 10 incher, make sure your chain is long enough the tree wont fall on you, hook up about 5 or 6 foot high, make sure no one else is going to be hit by the broken chain, only you. for extra safety you can put an old carpet draped over the middle of the chain or something to catch wind if the chain breaks. Then pull slowly and steady with increasing pressure, as the far side of the roots come up, you can go backwards (release pressure) if you need to to "work" the roots a little, it actually helps some. Keep pulling until it is out.I have never tried the ripper idea, but sounds like it would work well.

James K0UA

 

[magicheater]

Well, it looks like you didn't wait the required 2 days after a good rain. You cannot pull trees of that size rooted in dry ground. They either break off, or you run out of weight/traction to pull them.. by waiting until the top of the ground dries out some, you maximize traction, but the roots are still in mushy ground. On a 10 incher, make sure your chain is long enough the tree wont fall on you, hook up about 5 or 6 foot high, make sure no one else is going to be hit by the broken chain, only you. for extra safety you can put an old carpet draped over the middle of the chain or something to catch wind if the chain breaks. Then pull slowly and steady with increasing pressure, as the far side of the roots come up, you can go backwards (release pressure) if you need to to "work" the roots a little, it actually helps some. Keep pulling until it is out.I have never tried the ripper idea, but sounds like it would work well.

James K0UA

So this has to do more with technique/timing than equipment. I would imagine that the equipment used to tackle any task may have some some slight technique/timing enhancements applied while in use. Trying to do something with a small machine that usually is done with a larger one is what we ALL try to do here. A little more time perhaps but a lot more Satisfaction! Nice of you to share your experiences!

 

[indianaEPH]

Well, it looks like you didn't wait the required 2 days after a good rain. You cannot pull trees of that size rooted in dry ground. They either break off, or you run out of weight/traction to pull them.. by waiting until the top of the ground dries out some, you maximize traction, but the roots are still in mushy ground. On a 10 incher, make sure your chain is long enough the tree wont fall on you, hook up about 5 or 6 foot high, make sure no one else is going to be hit by the broken chain, only you. for extra safety you can put an old carpet draped over the middle of the chain or something to catch wind if the chain breaks. Then pull slowly and steady with increasing pressure, as the far side of the roots come up, you can go backwards (release pressure) if you need to to "work" the roots a little, it actually helps some. Keep pulling until it is out.I have never tried the ripper idea, but sounds like it would work well.

James K0UA

I just could not wait!

Actually I am in a rush. It has been very dry for about 6 weeks now. Im trying to prpare that area for a new garage.