Help me manage my expectations for this tree puller, please

[FTG-05]

Please help me understand how big a tree this tree puller will pull out of the ground. Yes, I know that will depend on a great many factors, including but not limited to: tractor size and power, tree species and age, wet or dry soil, etc. etc. etc. I have a ton of that crap Tree of Heaven (Alanthus Altisima) that I need to get rid of. Most of them are in the 2"-8" in size or so.

This tree puller implement is up for local sale. It appears to be a Titan Attachments tree/post puller, see pics and web site:

Titan site: Tree Fence Post Puller Skid Steer Attachment Quick Attach Bobcat Kubota Case

From TractorData. com, here are the specs for my FEL fo my Kubota L4330 tractor:

Loader type: Kubota LA853
Height (to pin): 113.6 inches [288 cm]
Clearance, dumped bucket: 89.8 inches [228 cm]
Dump reach: 20.1 inches [51 cm]
Dump angle: 45
Rollback angle: 40
Breakout force (lift): 3,125 lbs [1417 kg]
Lift to full height (at pin): 2,374 lbs [1076 kg]
Lift to full height (at 500mm): 1,764 lbs [800 kg]
Bucket capacity: 0.5 cu yd [0.4 cu m]
Bucket width: 72 inches [182 cm]


Thanks for your help!

 

[nybirdman]

l have a very similar tractor/loader combination(L4240/854).I have spent ten years clearing our over-grown property;manual cutting,hiring large Ag Tractors with big bush-hogs,building a tree shear ect.
Best thing I did was to hire a Skid Steer with a forestry head;he did more in four days than I did in ten years;plus no brush piles.Expensive but finally done.
On the post puller;I would be very concerned with pulling larger trees and them being top heavy and flopping your tractor over(if you were able to pull them at all).

 

[flingwing1969]

l have a very similar tractor/loader combination(L4240/854).I have spent ten years clearing our over-grown property;manual cutting,hiring large Ag Tractors with big bush-hogs,building a tree shear ect.
Best thing I did was to hire a Skid Steer with a forestry head;he did more in four days than I did in ten years;plus no brush piles.Expensive but finally done.
On the post puller;I would be very concerned with pulling larger trees and them being top heavy and flopping your tractor over(if you were able to pull them at all).

Called a masticator - for chewer-upper.

 

[CobyRupert]

I think the most definite answer you're going to get is: It might work.

Doing some quick math: Say a tree has a 3' wide root ball. Ignoring depth (which you shouldn't) that's 1018 square inches of area you're pulling up.
If your max breakout force is 3125lbs (at pins?!), as long as the roots don't resist at more than 3 psi you should be good!

 

[FM504]

I doubt it will do much good for you, maybe on the smaller ones after a good soaking rain. Skid steer with a stump bucket is what I use. I have a 100hp new holland that weighs about 11k and it won’t do anything compared to the skid steer when it comes to getting rid of brush or trees bu the roots.

 

[4570Man]

I'd say 2-3 inch trees is about the limit of what it can pull. That obviously depends on the tree type and conditions. I can pull 6" trees with a puller on a Kubota CTL. My puller doubles as a stump bucket and I could get an 8-12" oak tree in a minute or so.

 

[Coyote machine]

Depending on how close the trees are, you could cut each tree with a saw at about 3' dropping it on the ground. Then use the 'puller' to remove the short stalk and root ball. This way you don't risk the bigger trees falling back toward the tractor and you can use the puller to bring the tree to a place to burn or cut into smaller pieces, safely..
I have a Titan tree shear, and it is a powerful tool. It has a 5" diameter cylinder to close it's jaw and cut up to 12" trees, but it needs to be carefully positioned, and wind has to be taken into account, as well as topography to make sure nothing comes back at the operator/tractor. Having a canopy and tilting the shear away from the tractor helps protect the OP, but things can get away from one quickly...

What is the seller asking for the puller and why is he selling it?

Also, if you buy it, put any tree you're pulling as close to the back of the jaw/upright, (fence) as possible to give the most control over the tree you're pulling, and give a downward tilt to the front of the jaw - away from the tractor to provide control over which way the tree leans. Test out the open/close time so you know in advance the recovery time- in case you need to let a tree fall away from you/your tractor as needed.

 

[Aquamoose]

Watching... I’m really considering buying one to thin out my pine saplings to healthy levels. Mine’s a Branson 3520h w/ 2k breakout force.

I’m considering doing what Coyote suggest, drop the top before pulling it out. I wonder if building a contraption with an old, large tractor rim with a chain pull type arrangement to pluck them out of the ground. (Rim upright, chain draped over the rim for leverage)

 

[Egon]

The force applied depends on what the tractors hydraulics are rated for.

 

[ovrszd]

I built a puller. Next to the Grapple, it's most used FEL tool. Wouldn't be without one. A new one locally built here can be bought for $1200.

Here's an example on my old L4400 Kubota.

I built it to also be used on 3pt. Would be very easy to add that modification to the one you pictured.