chain-attached grubbing "plow"?

HomeBrew2 · Feb 15, 2006

Re: chain-attached grubbing \"plow\"?

I just have to ask ... you said the slope was ~25%, and the pic seems to support that and the area seems to be free of boulders, stumps, etc. I don't think anybody really considers 25% to be too bad of a slope when working in the direction of the slope. Across the slope, yes, too steep. I know I'd try driving down the slope and try popping them with the bucket. A toothbar would probably be a big help.

As far as the choker: I use a 4" nylon truck load strap. Mine were discarded due to being freyed in the middle. One end had a sewn loop. The other end I folded in half, back about 2', than tied a bowline in it.

Cheers!

PILOON · Feb 15, 2006

Re: chain-attached grubbing \"plow\"?

As mentioned a straight line downhill run is quite safe.

What could work also is a 'root ripper'.

Essentially the bars that are on boxblades, but without the blade.

I made one using 3 box blade rippers and a 2 ft length of 3" x 3" square tubbing.
Cat 1 pins at both ends and a 16" vertical to accept the top 3 point adjustable link.
The tubing has square slots to accept the boxblade shafts and a nut and bolt locking arrangement.
Works good for roots and bush stumps.
Also pops under 12" rocks nicely.
Operator simply backs the tractor and drops the 3point beyond the rock/stump/roots and drives off.
Not unsimilar to a bulldozer ripper but limited to the tractors pulling ability.

For a picture I'd have to remouve about 5ft of snow which is not about to happen until the sun does it for me.

tillerkiller · Feb 15, 2006

Re: chain-attached grubbing \"plow\"?

I'm just gonna make a general comment here, in light of the ( we took delivery on our first tractor ) statement. Working around hills is generally _not_ safe, I can speak from experience here, I cannot count how many times I have slid down a hill with my rears locked up. I am getting quite good at it frankly. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

When you are pointed down a hill then almost all of your weight is on the fronts so if you are not in 4 wheel drive you are about to have a real experience. It is not fun the first few times, I garontee that you will not be able to figure out what to do next the first time that it happens. If you get your rear implement off of the ground sometimes you will get enough traction to slow down, other times you are just gonna have to ride it out. I have also slid down wet grass (that I thought was dry) so look out for that too. Not trying to scare you here, just don't want to read about how you got to sliding down a hill and then got crossed up and rolled your tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

slowzuki · Feb 15, 2006

Re: chain-attached grubbing \"plow\"?

I do have exactly what you are talking about. We call it a alder ripper but it was built for pulling small brush stumps with a horse.

Esentially it looks like a big fishing treble hook with one hook replaced with a shovel handle to lift and drag the thing back after a pull.

So you hook the root with one or the other tine and pull. I hope to set it up with the logging winch to get a little more control.

miles2go · Feb 15, 2006

Re: chain-attached grubbing \"plow\"?

I have to agree with Tillerkiller: we aren't taking the tractor onto the slopes I have been talking about. Heck, I don't even like running the DR Trimmer Mower on those slopes. Any solution for these particular slopes is going to involve a chain running from the tractor (on level ground) down to the brush in question.

(In the picture I posted earlier, downhill to the left of the picture, the slope increases to 40%. Not going anywhere near there on the tractor.)

miles2go · Feb 15, 2006

Re: chain-attached grubbing \"plow\"?

Slowzuki has hit the jackpot: the alder ripper sounds exactly like what I was envisioning. I even figured the technology would go back to horse-drawn days.

Do you have a picture of the alder ripper? Is it home-brew, or can most of the unit be purchased somewhere? Thanks!

Panache · Feb 15, 2006

Re: chain-attached grubbing \"plow\"?

What about chemicals?

miles2go · Feb 15, 2006

Re: chain-attached grubbing \"plow\"?

( What about chemicals? )

If I catch the manzanita with Roundup when it's only a year or two old, that would work. But by the time it is 5 years old and taller than a foot, killing it just makes it a worse fire-hazard. I need to remove it.

Small manzanita that is dead can be pulled from the ground by hand after it has had 5 years to rot. But I don't want to wait that long.

LarryD · Feb 15, 2006

Re: chain-attached grubbing \"plow\"?

 Nearest level ground for tractor is 30-40 feet away in this example 

Well that's not too much chain to have around. Several smaller lengths for what-ever can quickly make a long chain with quick links.

I'm not sure what the device in the attachment was originally intended for but it sure makes a nice choker for exactly what your're doing. I wrap the chain around base of Huckleberry stands and feed it through the ring. I get it as tight as I can by hand then hook it to the tractor. It gets a good bite on the brush and only occasionally slides up over the plant. Sometimes I add a 2' 6x6 near the plant to provide a little upward leverage as I tug.

You have my sympathy though. My FIL just moved away from Grants Pass and he used to cuss the Manzanita he removed from the property. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif