Clearing land, stupid or crazy?

[Rob-D]

Oh and don't think the Big companies will be more expensive - I tried a small crew first then figured out the big companies got big because they are good. To be fair I have also had a real good experience with a one man operation (real fair and honest just never sure when he was going to show up or how long he was going to stay when he got here.) When your with a big company they usually try to fit you in between big jobs so your at their mercy that way.

Yep! Build your own house, you'll learn a lot of important things very fast or you'll sink like a rock!
Rob

 

[logan97]

Those machines are incredible - How much an hour are they?

Thanks.

$100. per hr some of the best money spent. We have got into BIG TROUBLE with dozers on more than one occasion. Unless you know their (referenced) work history IMHO avoid them. Stumps and brush piles can last for many years.

 

[bigbull338]

you have to make it clear to them what is tobe done.an how to disspose of the brush,either burning it or buring it.i preffer having it buried.an you have to stay an watch them an make sure they are doing what you want done.but if your a greenhorn an never had land cleared it can be hard on both parties.

 

[funwithahoe]

$100. per hr some of the best money spent. We have got into BIG TROUBLE with dozers on more than one occasion. Unless you know their (referenced) work history IMHO avoid them. Stumps and brush piles can last for many years.

Wow - For $100/hour they seem like a deal. I wouldn't be surprised if they could multiple days work of one man and a tractor in one hour. In addition, it looks like they do a way better job than you could and way better than a dozer.

To the OP - I would try to find one of these hands down!!

Oh and I agree - big machines make BIGGER messes in the wrong hands. On the other hand, a skilled operator makes those same machines dance. It is easy to make them push over a tree - Tough to make it look nice.

 

[dodge man]

When I reread the original post, it sure doesn't sound like some thing a person can't do with a tractor. It depends on your free time and how good of shape you are in. If its a lot of chainsawing, I would hire it done. If its a lot of brush hogging, go for it. I did maybe a half acre with my BX and turned part of it into a gravel parking area. It had some larger trees, like 24" dia, and it took a lot of work with a chainsaw, but the BX could push even some larger pieces of tree around and really helped. I would thing a 40hp tractor would do a pretty good job.

 

[Redneck in training]

Boy, I know exactly what you're talking about!! I've had both too and this is a small town.
Get a contract before they even move an inch of dirt. Make sure they're bonded, be there when they start the job (I've seen kids go nuts with a dozer) and make sure you know where the brush pile is going to be left if they are not taking it. Brush is something that costs a lot to deal with and if you can do it you'll save a bunch.

I second that. We hired a bulldozer to prepare site for new barn. The first guy started moving the dirt the easy way for him but not the way we wanted to maintain water flow from the building. We called owner of the bulldozer outfit and he sent us another operator that did that exactly how we wanted it done and in it was done quick. In fact it was the same guy who removed trees from our land. The skill of the operator is the key. We got charged only for the work of the guy who did it right. When I will need to remove trees from another part of the property I will ask for the same guy.

 

[crazyal]

My question is how fast do you need this done. It sounds like a 4740 would do what you want done and if you take it easy you'll have a nice tractor for what ever you plan to use the land for after it's cleared.

I cleared about 1 1/2 acres of large hardwoods. To do it I bought a Case 580k backhoe and a well used case 450 dozer. I got the standard line of "hire it out" and when I had $18k worth of equipment the standard line of "for that kind of money you could get a lot of work done". Well once you start to add in things like digging a foundation for a house, trenching for electrical, septic, and water, and building a road I would have spent about the same. But now I have a dozer and a BH that I could have sold and got at least 2/3 of my money back so I came out ahead even when you add in things like repairs and fuel.

Would I do it again, h^ll yes. Some of the most fun I had was spending an hour digging up a 3' diameter oak stump, seeing the land go from dense woods to open land, and the experience that goes with it. Everyday when I come home there's something inside me that says "I did that". When I think I want to change something I just do it.

From what is sounds like to me you have it easy. If somethings too big chop it off with a chainsaw as close to the ground as you can and forget the stump and burn the rest. I have a Honda 4 stroke weed wacker that came with a saw blade that will cut a 6" maple in less than a minute, no bending over, between it, a chainsaw, and a GL4x40 with a nice brushhog I bet you'll reclaim that land in no time and be proud of your work.

 

[SurfriderNC]

I haven't read all the post, but in the last month, I've cleared 1 acre (thick pine trees, some hardwoods and devil inspired vines) with my little BX25, a Kawasaki 4x4 and a chainsaw. All done after work, a couple hours at a time.
I use the BX for knocking the smaller trees down and digging up by the roots with the back hoe. The larger trees are cut with the c/s. I use the four wheeler to drag as many as 5 trees away to my dumping point at the other end of the property.
It's amazing how that little back hoe will dig up a stump in minutes.

I got an estimate of 5k to "manicure" my land. That was all it took to decide to buy the BX and do it myself. I figured once the land was manicured, I still had to maintain it, so I would of had to buy a tractor anyway...right?

This is NOT hard work by any means. It's FUN work.

I don't know about you guys, but my tractor is more fun than any toy I ever had.

 

[Reg]

Welcome to TBN.
Where are you located ?
For $10K I can head out there tomorrow (-:

Seriously, for that kind of money buy either a full sized used hoe or dozer while equipment prices are still DOWN.
Use it, abuse it, sell it on when the economy and construction biz picks up (I should say if/when).
I would expect AT LEAST even money, a $1K loss in the worst case.

DO NOT put your learning curve onto NEW and un-depreciated equipment.
Sorry; but yes, I am calling "Newbie" on Ya (-:

EDIT:
Sorry, I just re-read your root post.
For a horse farm that has already been cleared and is merely a dozen or so years overgrown/neglected...
Yeah, I'm even more enthusiastic about coming out there for $10K (-:

You shouldn't need to doze or ex it - this should be rough mowing at the very worst.
I would back into most of the high stuff with a raised flail mower.
Perhaps a chain around a few saplings that need to be tugged out, little/no sweat.
It is already graded, most rocks are gone, I am GUESSING that you don't have any overwhelming desires to re-contour the land, etc.
I still suggest something used for your learning curve.
:END EDIT

 

[Rob-D]

I haven't read all the post, but in the last month, I've cleared 1 acre (thick pine trees, some hardwoods and devil inspired vines) with my little BX25, a Kawasaki 4x4 and a chainsaw. All done after work, a couple hours at a time.
I use the BX for knocking the smaller trees down and digging up by the roots with the back hoe. The larger trees are cut with the c/s. I use the four wheeler to drag as many as 5 trees away to my dumping point at the other end of the property.
It's amazing how that little back hoe will dig up a stump in minutes.

I got an estimate of 5k to "manicure" my land. That was all it took to decide to buy the BX and do it myself. I figured once the land was manicured, I still had to maintain it, so I would of had to buy a tractor anyway...right?

This is NOT hard work by any means. It's FUN work.

I don't know about you guys, but my tractor is more fun than any toy I ever had.

You mean you got a tractor that wasn't a toy? You must have gotten one of the last ones left!

Rob