Mini/midi ex land clearing on slope

[Hay Dude]

Kinda looks to me like Haydude came on here and asked if anyone had used a mini excavator with a mulching head, then people joined the thread just to insult him. Maybe since the politics thread got shut down this is how people find another way to take its place. I read these threads just to learn but try to hold my advice unless I can add something useful. I have read enough of Haydudes threads to know he has a lot of experience and never got the impression he was on a high horse.

Thanks, Dodge man and thanks, Fried....
I appreciate the honesty and sensibility you guys bring to this place.

 

[Hay Dude]

Surprised no one has mentioned a brown tree cutter. Can easily take out and shred the trees and brush you mentioned. Used to restore fields, pastures and trails. 50hp+ 4x4 tractor is pretty nimble and easy on the ground. Chained tires if necessary. Be a good complement for your hay business. Tree encroachment and evasive plants is a big problem in the south. Clearing gradually and maintaining the new growth over several years if you had a hay interested might be better for both parties. Kinder, gentler way than shock and awe.

I have access to a Brown Tree cutter! Heres the trouble with it: the slopes are steep and the type of brush Im cutting has a plume shape to it. You cant get the cutter to the trunk of the saplings because these autumn olives are about 30 feet wide at cab level. So in order to use my tractor and borrow a Brown tree cutter, the cab would have to have a forestry package on it, on my cab will be damaged by branches before the blade touches the base of the brush.
The other issue is the ground is basically one long hillside down to RR tracks. I have some concern about getting stuck.

I did briefly think it could work though and I appreciate your well thought out suggestions.
I really need a midi and a mulcher head.
Trucking is no problem. I haul 10 ton excavators, tractors, etc on my trailer easily. I just rent them.
Dont have *quite enough* business to justify the expense, but Im really close. Already have over 1/4 million in hay farm machinery. I don’t know if I want to take on much more.
I figure anything over 12,000lbs with HVAC aux hydraulics and a mulcher head has to be north of 40k, and that would probably be 10 years old and 3500 hours. Which would be fine for me.

 

[Hay Dude]

So just as an update, the customer accepted my proposal. Now I have to wait on the weather. Rental place has T870 and Bobcat mulcher ready for 2/8.
Now to prepare......

 

[fried1765]

I have access to a Brown Tree cutter! Heres the trouble with it: the slopes are steep and the type of brush Im cutting has a plume shape to it. You cant get the cutter to the trunk of the saplings because these autumn olives are about 30 feet wide at cab level. So in order to use my tractor and borrow a Brown tree cutter, the cab would have to have a forestry package on it, on my cab will be damaged by branches before the blade touches the base of the brush.
The other issue is the ground is basically one long hillside down to RR tracks. I have some concern about getting stuck.

I did briefly think it could work though and I appreciate your well thought out suggestions.
I really need a midi and a mulcher head.
Trucking is no problem. I haul 10 ton excavators, tractors, etc on my trailer easily. I just rent them.
Dont have *quite enough* business to justify the expense, but Im really close. Already have over 1/4 million in hay farm machinery. I don稚 know if I want to take on much more.
I figure anything over 12,000lbs with HVAC aux hydraulics and a mulcher head has to be north of 40k, and that would probably be 10 years old and 3500 hours. Which would be fine for me.

So...oooo you need to go just go quickly and find a used one of those, and buy it, or you may loose the whole works to a different "hay dude".
Whatever machine you might buy will likely rise in value, (5 yr. old used machines have no Tier lV, and are sought after) and you can resell if need be.

 

[Peter 315]

Hey if you need help I can pickup the old guy and we can come down to help......:laughing:

 

[Hay Dude]

Hey if you need help I can pickup the old guy and we can come down to help......:laughing:

That would be fun. Bring lacrosse or ice hockey helmets. Flying debris :laughing:
He’s not old, hes well seasoned :thumbsup:

 

[Hay Dude]

So...oooo you need to go just go quickly and find a used one of those, and buy it, or you may loose the whole works to a different "hay dude".
Whatever machine you might buy will likely rise in value, (5 yr. old used machines have no Tier lV, and are sought after) and you can resell if need be.

They accepted my proposal. All I gotta do is just do it now.
The issue with me buying a used machine is the time it’ll take until the next clearing job. Could be weeks or months. I would have to work at getting more work.

 

[fried1765]

They accepted my proposal. All I gotta do is just do it now.
The issue with me buying a used machine is the time it’ll take until the next clearing job. Could be weeks or months. I would have to work at getting more work.

"IF you build it ....they will come"

 

[Hay Dude]

"IF you build it ....they will come"

Right about that, wise man....

And there’s also the midi ex for digging out rocks from my hay fields.
Don’t even get me started on excavating again......I just sold backhoe, dump and trailer to get the he!! out of that crazy business.
I bet I could make it break even first year and make money within 2-3 years.
Realistically,,, I will probably look for one, but actually buying one? Well,,, I already bought a RAM5500, a 35’ gooseneck trailer and a new round baler in 2020. I need to rest the checkbook. :laughing:

 

[dodge man]

Good to hear you got the job, it sounds like it will lead to future work with them.

I’ve attached a pic I took of splitting wood. In the background you can see an area on the right, maybe a 1/3 of an acre, that I cleared the undergrowth. On the left you can see an area that is still overgrown, I picture the ground you are going to clear looking like that. The area I cleared took quite a bit of time to get it cleared, sort of leveled, and then seeded. I imagine one of the mulcher heads on a skid steer is pretty sweet. That’s what I see them using on the power line easements around here.

The road crews around here use a pretty good sized excavator but it is wheeled instead of on tracks. They have a head on it that is more or less a brush mower to clear the road right of way. It works well but they work from the pavement.

Good luck with the project.

Forgot the pic.