Can a tractor clear this?

[chsdiyer]

Sea2summit - I had hoped to justify this task as a means to purchase my own tractor but since we don't live on the land yet, and it appears it will be a while still, I wasn't able to do that. I don't even have a driveway where I live and I'm not sure my truck could tow a trailer that often. I was also hesitant to put that much wear on my own tractor as well, but as I was cutting this weekend, I think you're right, if i took it slow it wouldn't be too hard to do with a tractor. A lot of the gum trees I was able to pull over my self and pop the roots with the shovel. The wax myrtle was even easier to dig up. It just took a while to do it that way. There are also some bigger trees in there and some where there are clusters of 3-4 growing in the same spot that proved resilient.

I'm thinking to just rent the larger equipment which is about $850 for a week and clearing out 1-2 acres (hopefully getting all the roots out). I'm intending this area to be our future home site and a place we'd want to plant new trees, garden, etc. I've heard people around here charge about $4000/acre to clear so that's out of the question for me. I figured with a mini excavator or a back hoe I could uproot the trees and put them in a pile to burn and dig out any stumps.

 

[MESSMAKER]

You can get an operator and machine for $150 per hour or less. The amount of work they can do in 1 day will amaze you. You can do a lot with a loader with a tooth car and a rotary cutter, if you can get around. You can clean up property with just a chain saw,axe and a burn pile but it takes a LOT of man hours.

 

[kthompson]

chsdiyer, if you are in Charleston SC there was a person in Mount Pleasant who dealt in used excavators. I do not have his name all but he was very helpful to me. If he is still doing the same business he might would rent you a use machine. He did stock them on at loading dock where Hwy 41 crosses Wando River. Wish had his name he was a great person and helped me greatly. I found him on ebay under used excavators. At that time he had some machines also in two other locations. If you stop at that location ask about him for his family did own it.

 

[DieselBound]

Not sure what those trees are, what kind of root systems, but I've rented an 18k lb excavator and it's been able to knock over trees of that size (alders). Pushing stuff over is a lot faster than digging. Keep in mind that cutting/felling/digging is only a part of the entire operation- there's still lots of cleaning up work!

 

[adventure bob]

I justified my tractor by the amount of land I had to clear vice hiring it out. There's also the satisfaction that comes from the work. No dollar amount on that but I enjoy it. Over the quoted prices to clear the 9 acres, my tractor nearly pays its own way. When I add in the other stuff I do with it, spraying pastures, snow clearing, mowing, seeding, driveway maint, it definitely pays for itself over the payoff period of the loan when compared to having someone else do it. It also makes a great mower lift and heavy stuff mover.

 

[DieselBound]

When I get my grapple functional (need to install hydraulics) I'll be able to swoop up a lot of brush/stumps and dispose of them in various places on my property. For really big stumps I end up burying them in-place. But, it's the final clean-up that really seems to be the most work.

 

[chsdiyer]

Mr. Thompson, thanks for the tip. I'll definitely have to see if that guy is still around. Where abouts in SC are you?

Diesel bound - they are mostly small gum trees. I only found one where the root when straight down. Then rest, if they were by themselves and less than 4 inches about, I could pull over and the roots usually were shallow and ran parallel to the ground.

I haven't thought too much on the clean up other than I plan to burn the wood. The big trees I hope to mill. I'll probably smooth the ground the best I can but let the foundation guy take care of the most of it when we get to that point. It'll probably be a while before we're to that point so now i'm just hoping for a place we can go to let the dog run and the kids play (without tripping on stumps).

 

[jenkinsph]

I suspect the cheapest way to get the clearing done for the house site and drive is to hire it out. Spend a little time to find someone qualified with good references and has the equipment to do the job efficiently. I recommend you have this contractor remove the stumps and fill holes. Have them grade it smooth with the clearing ready for a construction site.

From your description that can be about an acre for the driveway and house site combined. After you build and move in you should have a lot better idea of what you want to do with the rest of it. I would reevaluate what needs to be done at that point. You will also have a better handle on finances and be there fulltime to deal with it.

 

[kthompson]

I am located between Conway and Aynor if you know the area. If not just think 20 miles west of Myrtle Beach.

 

[square1]

If you get up enough speed and set the takeoff ramp incline correctly, yes