seasalt
Bronze Member
Have two 300x150 tracts of mixed forest (tall and old, tall and young, and tall and dead) to thin, clean up, and in some areas clear, like for a modest pole barn, overflow parking area and some trails.
Small trees I can easily run over. Filling the holes shouldnt be a big deal. Thinking of cutting bigger trees to 6 foot level as suggested by one member and then pushing them over with a 300cx FEL or tieing up and pulling them over (3720 w/ filled large R-4-s). If the subject tree resists such influence, I thought I'd run a post hole or six around the base to loosen up the dirt, break a few perimeter roots and try again.
Not sure how I will fill the root ball holes easily without a manual shovel and tamp, which will cause me to have to get off the tractor! (Seriously, I have a back that is waiting for an excuse to cause pain hurt so wont be reverting to the old days and play linebacker with stumps, wheel barrows, axes, etc.).
I figure a 448 BH will do all this better and faster, (re: as 454shooter suggested - just break a few roots with the BH then push them over whole), but wonder if my more basic plan will work reasonably well, or is this simply a job (including sourcing the fill dirt, filling in and packing the holes), for the 448?
Would be interested in hearing about other meaningful uses you may have found for the BH also.
I have heard several of you say using a BH takes practice (to get it right). I have driven/used a few power/hydraulic devices but a BH is not one of them.
Talked to a couple of dealers about my interest / questions and heard various things that didnt really help. "..those things are for guys who work 8 hours a day digging holes.."..or "...I only sell about one of those a year..." or "...dont even have one to let you test - would have to call Billy or Tom and ask if we could borrow their model1959 brand X BH and let you play with it in the parking lot..."
Not exactly the most helpful notions a salesman could offer.
BTW I know renting a mini ex (over and over) would be cheaper, but sometimes just thinking of all the trips to pu and return / budgeting blocks of time to make good use of the rental for an entire weekend and hoping no one else intervenes on my plan, makes me feel tired. I wonder how much would actually get done, when and how long it would take. Not that I am trying to finish by any certain time but there is some price for convenience and if I am flat going about this wrong then I'd like to know sooner than later.
Would leave it to field test my FEL theory for myself, then buy a BH later if I thought I needed one, but I still have the now non-existent 36 mo 0% financing package open with JD and my 3720 has not yet arrived, so I could easily add a BH and extend the cost over the full 3years at no interest.
Could use the forum's feedback on this one as I am thinking...and thinking...but still not sure.
Small trees I can easily run over. Filling the holes shouldnt be a big deal. Thinking of cutting bigger trees to 6 foot level as suggested by one member and then pushing them over with a 300cx FEL or tieing up and pulling them over (3720 w/ filled large R-4-s). If the subject tree resists such influence, I thought I'd run a post hole or six around the base to loosen up the dirt, break a few perimeter roots and try again.
Not sure how I will fill the root ball holes easily without a manual shovel and tamp, which will cause me to have to get off the tractor! (Seriously, I have a back that is waiting for an excuse to cause pain hurt so wont be reverting to the old days and play linebacker with stumps, wheel barrows, axes, etc.).
I figure a 448 BH will do all this better and faster, (re: as 454shooter suggested - just break a few roots with the BH then push them over whole), but wonder if my more basic plan will work reasonably well, or is this simply a job (including sourcing the fill dirt, filling in and packing the holes), for the 448?
Would be interested in hearing about other meaningful uses you may have found for the BH also.
I have heard several of you say using a BH takes practice (to get it right). I have driven/used a few power/hydraulic devices but a BH is not one of them.
Talked to a couple of dealers about my interest / questions and heard various things that didnt really help. "..those things are for guys who work 8 hours a day digging holes.."..or "...I only sell about one of those a year..." or "...dont even have one to let you test - would have to call Billy or Tom and ask if we could borrow their model1959 brand X BH and let you play with it in the parking lot..."
Not exactly the most helpful notions a salesman could offer.
BTW I know renting a mini ex (over and over) would be cheaper, but sometimes just thinking of all the trips to pu and return / budgeting blocks of time to make good use of the rental for an entire weekend and hoping no one else intervenes on my plan, makes me feel tired. I wonder how much would actually get done, when and how long it would take. Not that I am trying to finish by any certain time but there is some price for convenience and if I am flat going about this wrong then I'd like to know sooner than later.
Would leave it to field test my FEL theory for myself, then buy a BH later if I thought I needed one, but I still have the now non-existent 36 mo 0% financing package open with JD and my 3720 has not yet arrived, so I could easily add a BH and extend the cost over the full 3years at no interest.
Could use the forum's feedback on this one as I am thinking...and thinking...but still not sure.
