Mini/midi ex land clearing on slope

[Hay Dude]

Sounds like a job for manual labor then. Maybe a crew of 15 people with saws and follow up with goats?:goat:

That could work. We discussed it. In fact, they are doin that now, with 5 men and saws. Progress is too slow.
But if you were actually on site, like me, not 1000 miles away like you, youd see a small track machine is what will work. :thumbsup:

 

[LouNY]

I like the idea of the mid sized excavator with a forestry mulching head,working a semi circle would reduce the travel time com pare to mowing/mulching time.
From what I have seen around here the final job by a mulcher unit is much neater and cleaner then the same job by a brush hog.
The main problem I have seen with the mulchers is when they catch a dang rock it can tear up teeth awful fast.
A mulcher or brush hog on a tracked skidsteer has to drive every were it cuts where as a boom mounted unit can reach out aways for steep banks or draws.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

No, he doesnt. You are out of your league.

No more so than you are if you don't know which piece of equipment to use, or... how to even do the job. Perhaps honesty with the potential client is in order; tell them what you are telling us. :confused3:

 

[ruffdog]

That could work. We discussed it.
But if you were actually on site, like me, not 1000 miles away like you, youd see a small track machine is what will work. :thumbsup:

BTW...I agreed with another poster (post 21) that a CTL with a mulcher head is how that job is done here. :thumbsup: Have fun!

 

[Hay Dude]

I like the idea of the mid sized excavator with a forestry mulching head,working a semi circle would reduce the travel time com pare to mowing/mulching time.
From what I have seen around here the final job by a mulcher unit is much neater and cleaner then the same job by a brush hog.
The main problem I have seen with the mulchers is when they catch a dang rock it can tear up teeth awful fast.
A mulcher or brush hog on a tracked skidsteer has to drive every were it cuts where as a boom mounted unit can reach out aways for steep banks or draws.

This was my original thought and title for the thread. Nobody will rent them in my area, so I’m limited to rubber track skid machine with mulcher or brush cutter.
I am looking for someone in my area who owns a mini/midi with mulcher head I can supervise for them. Moved on from that to tracked skiddy.

 

[Hay Dude]

No more so than you are if you don't know which piece of equipment to use, or... how to even do the job. Perhaps honesty with the potential client is in order; tell them what you are telling us. :confused3:

My original question shows I know EXACTLY which piece of equipment to use, but its not rentable. Its not like when you moved out of the city and bought your first piece of land and had no idea what to do and I helped you. You are projecting, again.
I know exactly how to do and handle the job. Done more land clearing that you have ever dreamed of.
You are out of your league lil fella.

 

[pmsmechanic]

Are you joking? :laughing:
I have a Deere CX-15. We are well past the capability of a garden tractor with a 5 light duty cutter. :laughing:
Im clearing 30 foot tall autumn olive and sweet gum with 4-5 inch bases. Your residential duty field mower would be destroyed in an hour. Your tractor would be stuck before that. I can稚 even get a 150HP farm tractor with 4wd and AG tires in there. :laughing:

You told us you were going around the trees, not mulching through them. If your going to clean up trees then what I showed is definatly not going to work.

You need to get off your high horse for a bit instead of insulting all the people who are honestly trying to give you ideas.

 

[Hay Dude]

You told us you were going around the trees, not mulching through them. If your going to clean up trees then what I showed is definatly not going to work.

You need to get off your high horse for a bit instead of insulting all the people who are honestly trying to give you ideas.

Did you read the first post of the thread?
Here it is, just for review. This is the first sentence in post #1:
Customer wants 12 acres of autumn olive, vines and small sweet gum cleared.
If you did, youd see why your suggestion is irrelevant. I will be clearing small trees (30 feet tall and 3-4” diameter and working in between large trees). Your machine is nice, but not designed to do that.
I have taken the sensible comments and ideas made by others and Im using them! I get you want to help, but the mere suggestion of using a light duty field cutting machine shows more of a lack of understanding on your part.
Hope you understand, no offense intended and appreciate your contribution-I just cant do it with what you are suggesting or I would use one of my tractors and CX-15s. They can cut stuff up to 3-4”, but the slope it too steep :thumbsup:

 

[4570Man]

On the subject of mini excavators and hills it seems like not putting stabilizers on them like the larger wheeled excavators have is a missed opportunity. After purchasing a mini I very quickly missed the ability to level itself on most hills like a backhoe can. For that matter not offering a mini with wheels seems dumb. More times than not being able to move faster than 2 mph would be better than the flotation offered by tracks.

 

[Hay Dude]

On the subject of mini excavators and hills it seems like not putting stabilizers on them like the larger wheeled excavators have is a missed opportunity. After purchasing a mini I very quickly missed the ability to level itself on most hills like a backhoe can. For that matter not offering a mini with wheels seems dumb. More times than not being able to move faster than 2 mph would be better than the flotation offered by tracks. View attachment 684254

Good observation. Blade is only stabilizer and not all that wide. All I could do is face uphill and work, but not sideways on the steep slopes.
The railroad guys in my little town have a wheeled loader on rail gear they use for clearing ROW brush & branches.

 

[fried1765]

On the subject of mini excavators and hills it seems like not putting stabilizers on them like the larger wheeled excavators have is a missed opportunity. After purchasing a mini I very quickly missed the ability to level itself on most hills like a backhoe can. For that matter not offering a mini with wheels seems dumb. More times than not being able to move faster than 2 mph would be better than the flotation offered by tracks. View attachment 684254

That is EXACTLY why a mini, though nice, would never appeal to me.
The reason a TLB is best for me, is because it can DRIVE, rather than crawl!

 

[Hay Dude]

That is EXACTLY why a mini, though nice, would never appeal to me.
The reason a TLB is best for me, is because it can DRIVE, rather than crawl!

Had 2 backhoes back in the early 2000s, Case 580 Super M and a New Holland 110. They were nice when you had a lot of running around to do. Cant beat the track for traction tho.

 

[ruffdog]

Probably why Feller Bunchers have the ability to stay vertical on steep grades. They will also install grousers or cleats on the tracks to keep from sliding.

 

[4570Man]

That is EXACTLY why a mini, though nice, would never appeal to me.
The reason a TLB is best for me, is because it can DRIVE, rather than crawl!

Well I have both now and the mini is so much better than the TLB I’m considering trading it for a 210 Deere with a blade on the back, no hoe but 4 corner stabilizers and the ability to go faster than 2 mph would be big improvements to the mini.

 

[4570Man]

Good observation. Blade is only stabilizer and not all that wide. All I could do is face uphill and work, but not sideways on the steep slopes.
The railroad guys in my little town have a wheeled loader on rail gear they use for clearing ROW brush & branches.

They make these but I doubt you could get one in this country and they’re about too specialized for everyday use. Dyer All Terrain: Walking Excavator on Mountain Side - YouTube

 

[fried1765]

Had 2 backhoes back in the early 2000s, Case 580 Super M and a New Holland 110. They were nice when you had a lot of running around to do. Cant beat the track for traction tho.

Only acres and acres of sandy soil here!
No rocks, no clay, no mud, no hills!
Even my old Ford 3400 TLB with 2WD was just fine.
I don't need no mo stinkin traction!

 

[4570Man]

Had 2 backhoes back in the early 2000s, Case 580 Super M and a New Holland 110. They were nice when you had a lot of running around to do. Cant beat the track for traction tho.

The rubber tracks aren’t great for traction. I haven’t chained them together for a scientific test but I would bet on my M59 out pulling my KX040 in most conditions. If it was a complete mud hole and the contest was drive in without clawing yourself in and making a huge mess the 40 would win by huge margins. The metal trackhoe tracks aren’t much better. They don’t have anything close to the grousers a dozer does. On the plus side you can drive them on the road without much damage.

 

[Hay Dude]

Yeah, but I like the way rubber tracks float and get great traction together. Its like a combination of assets that are better than the other options. My backhoe would be stuck on this particular job site in minutes.
If the brush was smaller, I could use my CX-15. I cleared smaller brush on Friday for another customer and although itll get the job done, you just know a skid or midi with a forestry mulcher is the tool of choice.

I have to tread lightly- cant be a mud bowl upon completion or the hay ground goes to someone else-and its a lot of hay land!

 

[fried1765]

Yeah, but I like the way rubber tracks float and get great traction together. Its like a combination of assets that are better than the other options. My backhoe would be stuck on this particular job site in minutes.
If the brush was smaller, I could use my CX-15. I cleared smaller brush on Friday for another customer and although itll get the job done, you just know a skid or midi with a forestry mulcher is the tool of choice.

I have to tread lightly- cant be a mud bowl upon completion or the hay ground goes to someone else-and its a lot of hay land!

Might be really good if you could do that work about now, when the ground may actually be surface frozen.

 

[Hay Dude]

Might be really good if you could do that work about now, when the ground may actually be surface frozen.

Pretty cold here now. Mid-upper 20’s.
As usual, you are correct young man.