Good evening, Eddie.
<font color="blue"> One of the things I like about you is your ability to plan and your attention to detail. </font>
Well, you are kind to say this, but my questions really just come from total ignorance. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif What is almost a natural instinct to many of you is totally foreign to me. I struggle with what to many are very simple tasks. One thing I've learned from this thread is that there are many ways to cut a trail. My goal (beyond providing a safe riding place for my kids) is to do it with the least amount of risk to me. Therefore, avoiding the use of a chainsaw was a high priority. Cutting down trees big enough to put a serious lump on my head is another. Therein lies my interest in "safe" ways to clear the trail.
As a result of all of the feedback on this thread, I am now the proud owner of chainsaw (haven't cranked it yet) and a cordless sawzall (I did use it the other day) and a heavy-duty lopper. I've marked the trail with surveyors tape and spent about 2.5 hours clearing maybe 150'. I now realize that this approach will not work for the entire trail. Its time for heavy equipment.
I would love to use my NH 29D and bushhog to just drive through and mulch everything in one pass. However, there are too many trees that exceed the 2" capacity of my brush cutter. There's alot that it could cut, but right in the middle might be two or three 4'-6'ers. I can't recall anything over about 8' that's going to be cut down.
So, now I'm thinking about the skidsteer rental idea. I think it could push most of the stuff over very easily, leaving me with a minimal amount of chainsaw work. If I also rent a grapple bucket or rake, that should make moving the stuff to a burn pile a little easier. The kids can get some work in moving the sapplings into managable piles on the trail, and I can come back and pick them up with the grapple. Then, once I get the tractor over there, I can use the BH to dig out any troublesome stumps and maintain the trail with the bushhog and loppers. So, anyone see a problem with this plan?
<font color="blue"> Your fear of a chainsaw is well founded. They terify me as well. Everytime I use one, I think of all the things that could happen and how bad it's gonna hurt. Hopefully this fear keeps me cautious and it never happens. </font>
This reminds me of your "respect" of heights and how Steph jumped in to do some of the roofing work on your house. You think we could get Steph to give my wife a call and talk her into being the chainsaw babe for me? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Might work.
<font color="blue"> You really suprised me with your reluctance to buy a trailer. ... How about culverts, pipe, lumber, furniture, ATV's, vehicles, plywood and just about anything else. </font>
Eddie, Eddie, Eddie. You flatter me. Other than the ATVs (which is a totally new experience for me) I'm not very likely to need a trailer load of anything on your list. I wish I had the inclination, skills and smarts to take on the kinds of projects that you (and many of our other fine TBN friends) do and that would justify / require transporting those kinds of materials. But, its probably not going to happen. My projects are small. Laying a pallet of sod is a major undertaking for me. Now, I have looked at trailers (I'm getting prices of over $2K for new 16'-18', dual axle w/ electric brakes around here). But, with my tractor, FEL and BH, I'd be pushing the limits of my little F150's towing capacity. I can get a lighter weight 12'er to haul the ATVs and anything else I might find myself in need of. I have a 10'x6' utlity trailer that I use now and it has served all of my needs thus far. But I can't get all 3 ATVs on it so I'll probably get rid of that one.
You are a good guy, Eddie. I appreciate you.
To everyone else who has taken the time to offer suggestions. I thank you as well. As you can see, thanks to many of you, I now have more power tools. And chaps. And a logger's helmet. Keep your suggestions coming. This has been an informative and fun read for me, however costly.
<font color="blue"> One of the things I like about you is your ability to plan and your attention to detail. </font>
Well, you are kind to say this, but my questions really just come from total ignorance. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif What is almost a natural instinct to many of you is totally foreign to me. I struggle with what to many are very simple tasks. One thing I've learned from this thread is that there are many ways to cut a trail. My goal (beyond providing a safe riding place for my kids) is to do it with the least amount of risk to me. Therefore, avoiding the use of a chainsaw was a high priority. Cutting down trees big enough to put a serious lump on my head is another. Therein lies my interest in "safe" ways to clear the trail.
As a result of all of the feedback on this thread, I am now the proud owner of chainsaw (haven't cranked it yet) and a cordless sawzall (I did use it the other day) and a heavy-duty lopper. I've marked the trail with surveyors tape and spent about 2.5 hours clearing maybe 150'. I now realize that this approach will not work for the entire trail. Its time for heavy equipment.
I would love to use my NH 29D and bushhog to just drive through and mulch everything in one pass. However, there are too many trees that exceed the 2" capacity of my brush cutter. There's alot that it could cut, but right in the middle might be two or three 4'-6'ers. I can't recall anything over about 8' that's going to be cut down.
So, now I'm thinking about the skidsteer rental idea. I think it could push most of the stuff over very easily, leaving me with a minimal amount of chainsaw work. If I also rent a grapple bucket or rake, that should make moving the stuff to a burn pile a little easier. The kids can get some work in moving the sapplings into managable piles on the trail, and I can come back and pick them up with the grapple. Then, once I get the tractor over there, I can use the BH to dig out any troublesome stumps and maintain the trail with the bushhog and loppers. So, anyone see a problem with this plan?
<font color="blue"> Your fear of a chainsaw is well founded. They terify me as well. Everytime I use one, I think of all the things that could happen and how bad it's gonna hurt. Hopefully this fear keeps me cautious and it never happens. </font>
This reminds me of your "respect" of heights and how Steph jumped in to do some of the roofing work on your house. You think we could get Steph to give my wife a call and talk her into being the chainsaw babe for me? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Might work.
<font color="blue"> You really suprised me with your reluctance to buy a trailer. ... How about culverts, pipe, lumber, furniture, ATV's, vehicles, plywood and just about anything else. </font>
Eddie, Eddie, Eddie. You flatter me. Other than the ATVs (which is a totally new experience for me) I'm not very likely to need a trailer load of anything on your list. I wish I had the inclination, skills and smarts to take on the kinds of projects that you (and many of our other fine TBN friends) do and that would justify / require transporting those kinds of materials. But, its probably not going to happen. My projects are small. Laying a pallet of sod is a major undertaking for me. Now, I have looked at trailers (I'm getting prices of over $2K for new 16'-18', dual axle w/ electric brakes around here). But, with my tractor, FEL and BH, I'd be pushing the limits of my little F150's towing capacity. I can get a lighter weight 12'er to haul the ATVs and anything else I might find myself in need of. I have a 10'x6' utlity trailer that I use now and it has served all of my needs thus far. But I can't get all 3 ATVs on it so I'll probably get rid of that one.
You are a good guy, Eddie. I appreciate you.
To everyone else who has taken the time to offer suggestions. I thank you as well. As you can see, thanks to many of you, I now have more power tools. And chaps. And a logger's helmet. Keep your suggestions coming. This has been an informative and fun read for me, however costly.