is it safe to use a tractor to pull over a tree

[KennedyDiesel]

Hi roermo,

That tree does have a serious lean to it, but is certainly no behemoth...

I would cut that tree... I'd aim it directly away from where you were standing to take the picture... 1" Samson rope (nylon braid, good for about 10 tons) at about the notch/roof height tied with tension, then a come along as high above the tree notch you can get.

The goal is to tie ABOVE the balance point of the tree (i.e. heaviest part of the tree is on the bottom.

Tension up the come-along, then re-tie the rope tight again under the come-along (midshipman's hitch is good one). I would possibly use the tree in back of the shed (looking at the picture) to apply sidewards force as well, at the same height as the first, but on the overhanging branch... if that tree is more than 90 degrees from your big one in back of the fence, I'd look for another suitable anchor behind the fence for the pull on the hanging branch, then use the same method to tension your guide lines.

That's using the trees in the background--NOT your tractor!

You can also apply a rope just above your cut with tension to guide the trunk in the direction you choose.

Once your "vector" is set notch it 1/3 of the way pointing between your 2 tension directions, then make a slightly DOWNWARD cut towards the hinge, then be ready to run!

I just took 2 maples leaning over my Mom's place & power lines last week using just the rope, with a smaller rope to coax the trunk to land where I wished but had larger trees in "the bunch" right there to tie to.

Everybody loves the chains & cables, but this kind of tree work is not an application I'd use them for (so darn heavy & hard to secure!)unless I was using the winch... you need that tree to be guided right where you want it to fall/held from falling where you don't.

If it makes you nervous to cut it, then absolutely do not--hire it out.

Of course, maybe I'm just crazy & lucky to have made it this far!

Very well put. Add a pulley for some mechanical advantage even. Good advice for others considering such a project.

 

[JHTFarmer]

Lose the thought. Move the shed with the help of your tractor, then cut down the tree.

My thoughts as well.

 

[Charlesaf3]

I've "pulled down" a lot of trees with a kubota L and professional tree guy. Its why I'm buying a tractor. The key is a lot of rope, put high up so there is no chance the tree can land on the tractor while you've got the rope under tension. You are using the lever effect, as was said - of course just about any tree outweighs a tractor. But you want a reasonably balanced tree, not something like that mulberry, which clearly needed to come down in top roped sections.

Never seen chain used for pulling over trees, only for dragging them after.

 

[Houndsman]

Timber, you need to weigh in here. v/r mark

 

[Egon]

Using snatch blocks for extra leverage and placing your tractor out of harms way will work in some cases.