Clearing Trails

Cottonhawk · Apr 22, 2006

I hired a contractor to cleared two blackberry and brush fields with brush cutter. It's six feet pass instead of eight and it costed me $150 per dour. The brush cutter is very impressive but it can not get into the woods as it's too steep and too wet.

bmac · Apr 25, 2006

Eddie,

<font color="blue"> you should really look into hiring a tractor shredder.
</font>

I think you are right. This is like the equipment that Fl Cracker used at his place. However, I can't seem to find a place that rents them here and I don't know where / how to search for an operator wo may own one. Do you have any suggestions on how to locate a company who might have one of these beasts?

Turkeyman · Apr 25, 2006

No place in SC rents them due to the liability. Try checking with a local utlility at they often know contractors that clear their ROW lines. There is at least one dealer in southern Georgia ( think it is Jones JD) that has several used Brown Tree Cutters that will mow thru 6"+ inches of pine trees. Problem is you would need to do that in reverse. Used mowers were about $3000 for a 6 ft model.
Good luck

FL_Cracker · Apr 28, 2006

Try calling your local tractor dealer. If you find a dealer that sells the Posi-Trac with the Magnum Heads they will know they sold them to and who does contract work. Mason Tractor in Blue Ridge stock the units ready to go for sale and rents them. I know this is a little far but they sell to all of North Georgia....

Good Luck

EddieWalker · Apr 29, 2006

bmac,

Any luck on finding a land clearing machine? LOL

I was reading my weekly free classifieds and saw two adds for those land clearing machines in the farm section. Maybe you have an American Classifieds paper or Thrifty Nickel paper????? Something similar?????

Good luck,
Eddie

bmac · Apr 29, 2006

Eddie,

Yesterday, in my local newspaper, I saw an ad for an outfit that may be what I'm looking for. "Soggy Bottom Timber Boys" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Says they do mulching of underbrush. Pic in their ad looks suspiciously like the hardware I need.

Haven't called yet. Had another guy come tour the site yesterday afternoon. He's got an 85 HP Cat skidsteer with what sounds like a tree spade. He said he'd just drive around and pluck out the trees I don't want and set them aside for me to dispose of. He's supposed to call me next week with a quote. He estimated a day and a half to do the job, but wanted to think about it before giving me his price.

I'll call the Soggy Bottom Boys Monday.

Thanks for the tips on papers to look in. I don't know what we have around here, but I'll keep my eyes peeled.

EddieWalker · Apr 29, 2006

The Soggy Bottom Boys sounds like a character from the movie Oh Brother Were Are Though, or something like that. hahahaha

I would wonder how a tree spade pulling them out of the ground will be a benifit to you. I'd think he'd be creating more work. You have to fill the holes and still get rid of the trees.

If you were thinking about going that route, you might want to check with a medium dozer operator too. He'll push right through and build burn piles for you to take care of after they dry out some. I'd guess it would be cheapet too.

But if your gonna hire it out, I thing the best bet is a tree shredder that just grinds everything up downto the groun. No dirt is desterbed, so you dont have an erosion probem and the debris acts like mulch to cover the ground. Win-win all the way around.

Of course, what they charge is the real question.

Good luck,
Eddie

bmac · Apr 29, 2006

<font color="blue"> The Soggy Bottom Boys sounds like a character from the movie Oh Brother Were Are Though, or something like that. hahahaha
</font>

I was thinking Bluegrass Band.

I think shredding sounds like the ideal way to do this. Will continue searching.