Dealing with thorns and tires

[kj3]

I think this is the best topic to post under though really I'm just wanting to bush hog more rather than bale anything.

My issue is that the previous land owner had about 10 acres cleared with a tree hog and among that area were a few Osage trees. Last year I asked a local guy if he would bush hog and later I found he decided to skip it because being a small job he was concerned some of the thorns might cause him more flats than the pay. I can understand reasoning like that but I'm still left with an large area to be cut. How best to get this done without blowing a fortune in tractor tires?

I can figure using slime but then I read on here where it may fail due to freezing temperatures and leave the tractor sitting on flat tires. Plus I might need to drain the tires before sliming them, yet since the area is hilly I might need to put water back in to lower the cg. Is that even possible or will it ruin the slime?

Are plugs a viable fix or will I be out numbered by holes. Should I just plan on buying new tires and mow as fast as I can, how long will thorns be an issue?

Personally I don't think there are many thorn issues on most of the land since I walked much of it while it was still ankle high last spring. Of course if there is even a smallish area with a few branches then passing back and forth several times could introduce 4 tires to many opportunities.

Sorry for so many questions in my first post, words from experience will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks

 

[blueriver]

Are you talking Osage Orange also known as Bois De Arc trees .. The ones that produce the big green apple deals known as Horse Apples?

 

[Redbug]

About the only option I can think of would be to have the tires foam filled. Then you could drive over just about anything and the foam would add ballast weight, too. It's expensive but permanent.

 

[bajabum]

Might be cheaper to Rent a tracklayer that has a pto.

 

[Industrial Toys]

We have Hawthornes up here. Things that will go through your shoes and boots. Always have been nervous about them, but in truth I can't say that we ever really had much trouble. I mean, I don't go driving over them on purpose. Even my little Steiner with it's thin skinned tires hasn't succumed to them. I've seen many a tractor tire with these things stuck in them and broken off, but never a flat.

 

[kj3]

Are you talking Osage Orange also known as Bois De Arc trees .. The ones that produce the big green apple deals known as Horse Apples?

Yes, that is the one.

Part of my land still has a mess of them growing that eventually I will cut down. They're about 3-6 inch diameters so I figure buying fence posts will not be necessary for a long while.

 

[cowski]

poison them with a hand sprayer and remedy.

 

[Jd5203]

We are dealing with 300 acres grown up with honey locust trees. There is a product that replaces some of the liquid in your tires and it has little pieces of fiberglass in it. We have it in both of our tractors now and have not had a tire leak, when you look at the tires on the little tractor, there are about 20 thorns in a square inch. Before we got this product we were filling up all four tires once a day, we put this stuffing and haven't filled one yet. Don't get me wrong it's expensive, but worth it. I don't know what the name is, but I think it was $400 for a bucket I think. But in the long term, it's cheaper, we would have gone through three sets of tires.

 

[longgun]

Simiar to jd5203 recommendation. Tire Shield from Midwest Equip is pumped into the tire via the valve stem. It uses kevlar fibers to seal and repair the puncture. I use it on all of my equipment as our place is covered with hedge and black locust trees. I have not had a flat on any piece of equipment that I have treated. It is more pricey but it sure works. They have some interesting videos about the product on their website.

 

[lt190b]

kj3. 1 option would be to rent a compact track loader and brush cutter. Another would be get some AMERESEAL TIRE SEALANT. I bought (in 2009) 2, 5 gal.pails and pump to treat my tc35d tires and new tires on a ls160 skidsteer. This product is great. I also put some in my farmall 40 when I traded tractors, in 2010,and havent hade any flats or leaks. I mow a site twice a month during mowing season where we demoed several old barns,buildings and sheds,there are many thorn trees there also. I considered foam fill but didnt want that much weight on my tractor drive train + the cost. At that time the sealant and pump delivered was 435.00. I think it was worth it. lt190b