Bush hog myself or hire it out?

[namesray]

A little background...I recently purchased my first tractor, a 2wd, geared Kubota MX5100 with FEL, RT, and BB. This thing is awesome! Who knew?!

Previously, I've had a little experience operating a tractor.
To my wife's satisfaction, we have finally purchased some land to go with the tractor. The ten acres that we purchased, have 6 years worth of scrub trees to clear.

The 4-5 acres of densely, packed 1/2" to 3 1/2" trees are my concern. While I plan to purchase a rotary mower, I'm debating on hiring out the job. Should I a) purchase a very heavy duty mower and do it myself or b) hire out the job.

My concerns are the extreme stress that comes along with clearing these trees. I will just have normal land maitenance after the primary land clearing. Is it likely that I would damage the tractor or mower with the size and scope of this job?

Did I mention, I'm hard on equipment and typically pay for my mistakes and brashness...lol Otherwise, I would love to do the job just for the satisfaction and added seat time.

Any input would be greatly appreciated. As a side note, I've been addicted to this site (to my wife's chagrin) and have purchased a ratchet rake thanks to the posts.

since you are new to equipment, i would hire out the first clearing. 4-5 acres of densley packed 1/2" to 3 1/2" trees is quite alot. having only 2wd isn't going to help much either trying to up root those stumps. also if you chop all those stumps, they will be sticking up, big chance of flat tire off one of them. get a dozer in there and be done with it. the dozer can level the stump holes better and quicker then the loader tractor and clear the brush to piles. then buy a regular duty bush hog for the yearly mowings/maintenance. you will save money on not having to get a heavy duty bush hog too.

 

[MarkV]

I am with the hire it out crowd. I would also hire a mulcher or a dozer rather than someone with a rotary mower. That 31/2 stuff is almost too much for a mower particularly if it is hardwood. The difference in the cost between a truly heavy duty mower and regular duty maintenance mower would pay for the clearing. The advantage of having cleared with the right equipment is you will not have thousands of little stumps to deal with for years.

Congratulations on the new land and tractor.

MarkV

 

[TripleR]

Very good information and advice so far and as always opinions will vary with none being wrong.

Personally, I love this kind of stuff and do it every year as we rotate wildlife cover on about a 3-5 year cycle on our properties. I use a L5030 with LP2672 and M8540 with Woods DS1260 both 4WD and do a combination of cutting and pushing trees down. Not always, but sometimes I will bend something, but I can fix it and I am sure one of these days I will break something, ruin a tire etc. We run cabs, but even then it is pretty darned noisy in the heavy stuff with a lot of debris in the air, not to mention bees, hornets, mosquitoes and the crap you will inhale on an open station tractor. So I guess the question is can you do it or should you do it?

My opinion only, based on your equipment and experience is to pay someone else to do it and buy a lighter duty cutter for maintenance/upkeep.

(For those out there who tackle this stuff gladly on an open station tractor with a smile on their face, I certainly understand that, I'm just to old.)