Best Way To Remove This Tree

[Timber]

Looks like a good project to learn to use your hoe with. There is only one way to learn.

 

[IslandTractor]

Question for those of you with experience taking trees down with a hoe: What size hoe and tree combo are you talking about?

I know the big excavators are the tools of choice for tree clearing in many (most) situations but I had never thought a <35-40lb CUT TLB set up was appropriate. I've been in the cut then dig camp but am intrigued by this new option.

I have a Kioti CK20 KB2365TLB. TLB weight is arount 3500lbs and BH Dipperstick force is about 1750lbs. Full extension is a bit under 9feet so I could probably reach 10ft up a tree. Would you try to tackle a tree similar in size to the one discussed in this post?

 

[EddieWalker]

I have a New Holland 555E backhoe. It's a full sized machine with 80 hp. There is no tree that is too big for me to take down with it. My biggest are over three feet thick at the trunk and heavier than I'd care to think about.

My neighbor has a guy who does jobs for him who has a pretty new Cat 315L trackhoe. He has enough reach with the trachoe that they rarely dig out around the roots. He just drives up to most trees, puts the bucket up high and pushes them over. It's a whole different world when you bring out the big machines.

I realize that my backhoe doesn't compare to a CUT, but this isn't a very large tree. If it was two feet thick through the trunk,then I'd tell him not to learn how to take out a tree with a CUT. This tree looks to be a good size that is well within his machines capabilities.

Earlier somebody mentioned learning on a different tree. If he has other trees of this size, or smaller out in the open, than I'd agree. Get some experience first if you can.

As for cutting it up high and leaving some up for leverage to dig out. Why? Its just as dangerous to cut a tree down up high as it is down low. That danger is the same either way. Digging the stump out with 4 to 6 feet of trunk in the air will give some mechanical advantage to taking out the stump, but if the tree is whole, than it provides all the weight needed to take out the stump all at once.

There is no advantage to cutting down the tree with a chainsaw if you are going to take out the stump. If you are a logger, than cutting with a chainsaw is faster, but getting that stump out becomes a big job.

One thing to be careful off is small trees. The have been the most dangerous. The trunk on sapplings and trees that are just a few inches thick are still very flexible. If you do anything wrong, they will wip arond and come right into the cab. I've had more busted knuckles from two inch thick pines than any construction job I've been on. Even down, they wip around and sanke there way into the cab, or parts of the tractor until they find a weak point, then break it off. They have also caused me more damage to my dozer than any other thing I've done with it. Be very careful when working around sapplings!!!!

Good luck,
Eddie

 

[DAP]

There seems to be two camps here. Those who like chainsaws and those who like backhoes. I've done both and the chainsaw way scares me.

I've heard all sorts of stories of injury or damage from a tree that's cut down with a chainsaw. The best and most experienced people with a chainsaw will all have stories of close calls, injuries or of those who died from cutting down a tree this way.

I'm sure there are the same stories of those who take out a tree with a backhoe, but as of yet, I haven't heard a single one. It would take dozens and dozens of stories to just equal all the ones I've heard about cutting down trees with a chainsaw.

I would ask those who recomend using the chainsaw to take down the tree as the better way, Have you ever taken out a tree with a backhoe, or seen it done?

Eddie ... I for one, have seen first hand someone attempt to push a tree over with a backhoe. The main trunk on the tree was either rotten, took a lightning strike or was just structurally weak. The hoe pushed the bottom 50% right over, but the top 50% landed on the bonnet of the tractor. There were minor injuries to the operator from splintering. He could have easily sustained worse. He got very lucky methinks. There is/was no way to predict this was going to be the case. Common sense must prevail. Smaller trees? No problem. Trees 30% taller than your hoe can reach? I think you're asking for a do-over.

That being said ... I'll take the chainsaw with a mindful of safety practices with me everytime. Everyone has to know their limits or risk paying exacting prices.

 

[EddieWalker]

Eddie ... I for one, have seen first hand someone attempt to push a tree over with a backhoe. The main trunk on the tree was either rotten, took a lightning strike or was just structurally weak. The hoe pushed the bottom 50% right over, but the top 50% landed on the bonnet of the tractor. There were minor injuries to the operator from splintering. He could have easily sustained worse. He got very lucky methinks. There is/was no way to predict this was going to be the case. Common sense must prevail. Smaller trees? No problem. Trees 30% taller than your hoe can reach? I think you're asking for a do-over.

That being said ... I'll take the chainsaw with a mindful of safety practices with me everytime. Everyone has to know their limits or risk paying exacting prices.

Doug,

When you say that it landed on the "bonnet" I'm assuming you mean the part of the tractor that covers the engine? I must not understand you, because that would mean that the person you speak of was pushing the tree with his Front End Loader (FEL) and not the hoe stick on the back of the tractor.

I've also had this happen to me. Dead and rotten trees are about as dangerous as there is. When it happened to me the first time, I was on my my backhoe and did exactly that. I eased up to it with the bucket up high. My plan was to push it over real easy with the FEL. It snaped almost as soon as I touched it and the bottom half fell over like I wanted it to, but the top half came straight down like a spear towards the earth. It hit one of my loader arms and shot off to the side. I wasn't hurt, nor was the tractor damaged, but it sure scared me real good!!

The second time it happened, I was on the dozer. I figured it was too dangerous to do with the backhoe, so the dozer would be better. I went in low and slow and got the blad down to the roots. I pushed and lifted the blade at the same time. the results were almost identical. The tree started to go over just like I wanted, but the top part of it broke off and came down on top of me. This time it hit the tracks on one side with the rest of it landing on the ROPS. Branches broke off all over and several hit me. Fortunately they were very dry and not very heavy.

Two strikes was enough to learn that lessson. Right now I have two trees that are like this that need to come down. I had three, but one fell over in a storm. I'm gonna wait for those other two to fall over also.

There is no way that I'd try to take them out with a chainsaw. To me, it seems even more dangerous this way. I hope you are not recomending to take out dead and rotten standing trees with a chainsaw??

My advice to use the backhoe was directed at the tree posted in this thread. Not towards any other trees.

Thanks for letting me clarify that,
Eddie

 

[Renze]

Renze, FOUL .There are tulips in Holland! We're talking TREES Man !

Did i just p*ss in your cornflakes or something ???

My neighboor worked 30 years this way, trimming trees around electricity poles.

 

[Obed]

I agree completely with Eddie on this one. I have taken down larger trees than that with my smaller tractor and BH. Since stump removal is required in this instance why waste the leverage the tree gives in helping to remove it? Also, I think you have more control over the tree at ALL times using his method. There is nothing worse than having a tree cut off at the bottom, but standing nearly vertical stuck in nearby trees. As with any job, think twice before acting and be safe! Jason

Jason,
Your tractor is very similar to mine. That gives me hope that I can tackle this tree. Thanks for the input.
Obed

 

[Obed]

Obed,

You have the ultimate tree remover. Your backhoe.

I've taken out hundreds and hundreds of trees with it and consider one your size just a ten minute job. Of couse, the first time is always the toughest.

Eddie,
Thanks for the detailed instructions. I also looked at your post about creating your property entrance where you showed pictures of knocking over that huge pine tree with your backhoe. I tried my luck on a small tree yesterday following your instructions. Your method worked really well. I'll post pictures of my work. I have one more tree that is a little bigger to practice on before I tackle the tree that is the topic of this post.
Obed

 

[mjarrels]

I once saw a guy push a silo over using a large dozer... guess where it fell? Yep... right on the dozer.

mark

 

[Obed]

Obed, since you don't have any experience start small and work your way up to the tree in question. I'm sure there are other smaller trees that you will need to take out on your road and property. Taking out some of the smaller trees first will give you some experience and confidence in how the whole process works.

dirtworksequip,
I took your advice and removed a smaller tree yesterday with the backhoe. I'm glad I did because I learned alot.
Obed