My wife and I have recently purchased a 12 acres old horse farm. The previous owner stop taking care of it over 10 years ago and it is now very over grown. It is mostly brush, thorns and small trees (pine). We are wanting to clear out the underbrush of about 8 acres, which to us means leaving trees about 1 ft in diameter and larger. I've received estimates from dozer guys all around $10,000 to do the job. But since I have not purchased my tractor yet all I can think about using putting that $10K into an even better tractor. I have not purchased my tractor yet but would be getting a Kubota Grand w/cab either L4240 or L4740 4x4 w/HST, FEL, 6' bush hog and 6' ft box blade. If you were to do this job would you suggest grapple, reinforced blade on bucket, teeth on bucket, or the dozer attachment??? Or am I just flat out crazy? I'm not scared of hard work and know this would take some time. Suggestions...... Thanks in advance and don't be afraid to really let me have it if I sound like a crazy man.
Clearing land, stupid or crazy?
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Degolyerent
Gold Member
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Get a real good heavy duty bush hog like a landpride RCR 2672 you will not regret the investment, also a good heavy box blade, and a backhoe to bury roots and grass & weed clumps, small stumps etc. With that combination you can take it on in good shape and if you have the cash a grapple is great!
WayneB
Elite Member
Just curious as to where you are located? I agree you can do most of the work with a tractor and time. Get heavy equipment though as mentioned by Degolyerent
20 20
Elite Member
go with your own tractor, plus it is an investment that keeps giving back to you.
we have 24 horses.If you think you may be getting some just fence around the trees you want to keep,they will make short work of the rest.By heavy bushhog he means an actual bushhog with a clutch and chain skirt,mine will eat any tree my fel will push over.If you do let the horses do the land clearing ensure none of the tree species name starts with black such as black walnut.
k0ua
Epic Contributor
I think the tractor you described is big enough to take care of the brush and less than 1 foot trees.. sure it will take a long time.. but it almost fun., well actually it is fun, when you are an office worker like me,, it is therapy.
James K0UA
James K0UA
nybirdman
Super Member
I tried a dozer...huge mistake..pushed off all the top soil.If you are going to hire out;use a bobcat with a forestry head(mulcher).I am in the process of doing 90 acres(long term job for sure) with my L4240,grapple,tooth-bar and brush-hog.Chain saw the larger stuff.We are leaving the mature trees that we want,trimming the apple trees etc,using the junk trees for firewood.
Plow or boxblade the open areas and plant buck-wheat.(buck-wheat kills the brush root systems and adds nitrogen to the soil.
Plow or boxblade the open areas and plant buck-wheat.(buck-wheat kills the brush root systems and adds nitrogen to the soil.
TripleR
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I am pretty much in agreement with Degolyerent and use a Land Pride RCR2672 with out L5030 HSTC and it is very tough and will cut just about anything. I believe it is supposed to cut 3", but I have cut thicker stuff with it though I acknowledge it is not a good idea to do so regularly.
We have found it more economical to rent an excavator when needed rather than spend the money on a back hoe attachment. We have come to this point by owning a back hoe and literally running out of things to do with it. For some a BH is essential, but for us it is not. We have also rented a tracked skid steer a time or two which really came in handy.
I agree, clearing land, at least for me is enjoyable and is doable with the right equipment.
We have found it more economical to rent an excavator when needed rather than spend the money on a back hoe attachment. We have come to this point by owning a back hoe and literally running out of things to do with it. For some a BH is essential, but for us it is not. We have also rented a tracked skid steer a time or two which really came in handy.
I agree, clearing land, at least for me is enjoyable and is doable with the right equipment.
Fxfymn
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Do the math on cutting 8 acres 6 feet at a time. To say you will be there a while is an understatement.
Another option would be to contract out bush hogging the property for the first cutting. Let someone who has the heavy duty cutter that is wide enough to do the job in a reasonable amount of time get it knocked down for you. After that the combination of whatever critters you keep and your cutter can try to keep it under control.
Another option would be to contract out bush hogging the property for the first cutting. Let someone who has the heavy duty cutter that is wide enough to do the job in a reasonable amount of time get it knocked down for you. After that the combination of whatever critters you keep and your cutter can try to keep it under control.
Jay4200
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Don't even think about it. Really. That is a dozer/excavator job. You'll spend 2 months and destroy your tractor in the process. A dozer will do the job in a couple of days. Regardless of what some may say around here, a tractor is a ground maintenance tool, it is NOT good at raw site work.
Do yourself a favor - spend the $10k and BUY a small dozer. Use it to do your job, then sell it for the same $10k. THEN go out and buy your tractor.
JayC
