Dozer or excavator

[rustyshakelford]

Id hire a big dozer (d8 or up) with a kg plow. He will drop that into the ground and cut all the roots and roll the trees into windrows. Then use a dozer to pile up the stumps for burning or use a hoe. The benefit of a Dozer would be leveling the dirt the hoe could pile them better and higher. I would not use either machine for the tasks you've described without the plow running thru first.

Brett

Edit--most rentals are 40 hrs per week. 160 per month

 

[bcp]

I had to look up what a KG blade was. I've seen them, just didn't know they had a name.

Bruce

 

[Code54]

I had to look up what a KG blade was. I've seen them, just didn't know they had a name.

Bruce

I also didn't know what that was so thanks for posting a photo!

I also didn't know what that was so thanks for posting a photo!

 

[4570Man]

Instead of renting a machine and taking 15,000 dollar hit I would buy a used machine. Then use it at your leisure, no need to knock yourself out trying to get it done. Then when you get done sell the machine ( or convince SHMBO that the machine is far to useful to sell).

 

[moriboy]

Those were also known as a "rome plow" in Vietnam. Very effective for clearing mass amounts of jungle.

I have cleared land using dozers and excavators. My vote goes for at least a 30,000lb excavator with a thumb. The one advantage is that you end up with really clean piles (no dirt) which burn nice.

I also didn't know what that was so thanks for posting a photo!

 

[Ken45101]

If you rent a machine, you are at the mercy of the weather. Buying used and selling later takes the pressure off of the timeline. YMMV

 

[mar5690]

grind the stumps with a large grinder.no piling of stumps and minimal dirt moving

 

[MossRoad]

The downside of any used machine is its used. How much? Who knows? And if it dies, you have to repair it. And when you want to resell it, what if no one wants to buy it? Plus side of owning is you have it when you have time to work. But there'll be times you'll be spending time doing maintenance and repairs instead of operating. That takes away from your limited operating time. Lots to consider.

 

[LD1]

I too question your rental thinking of running 20 hrs a day. Most heavy equipment rentals are limited to 160hrs a month. (40/hrs a week, 4 weeks).

Seems your current plan, if you take weekends off, is gonna put you 400+ hours a month.

Your questions on how fast with a skilled operator...no possible way for anyone to judge. We don't know the size of stumps you are dealing with, type of stumps, how many per acre, or what size machine.

Smaller machine and big stumps = not too fast

Big machine and smaler stumps =pretty fast

 

[MattLynch]

I have a 5 tonne excavator but there is no way it would remove stumps at a reasonable speed. It moves the brush just fine. The first area I would like to clear was a hemlock stand with 24" average stumps, some much larger. I'm thinking a 20 tonne excavator with hydraulic thumb should do the job. Can clean up with little excavator and tractor after.