moving fat palm trees

[stumpy]

Hello everyone,

Subjects in question:

grove of palms

detail for scale

I have been lurking here for quite a while and have really enjoyed reading and fantasizing about a tractor. And now, the opportunity has possibly come! As you can see from the attached images, I have about 50 fan palms that need to be moved (house resale – they are blocking our ocean view). A professional tree mover with tree spade wants $200 a tree to move them. This is pretty much the market rate here(hawaii). Standard backhoe operators don't want to bother with the job, easier money is to be made elsewhere, as building is hot here right now.

The money goes to either Bob’s tree spade or Kubota/Deere/???. And if it goes to the tractor, there are so many other things that can be done besides just the trees. I have two acres with about 1 acre of very happy grass, and a long list of other fun projects. I was thinking of a BX-23.

I had also considered renting a tool to do the job, but liability insurance is required and I cannot get this through my business.

For doing it myself, these are my reservations-

Trees are big- look at photos

Somewhat close together

I am thinking traction will be the biggest problem. Maybe a winch?

Possibly dangerous?

Time it will take for 50 of them

On the plus side we have the obvious benefits of owning the tractor, the trees are tough as nails and will survive the process, they have no tap root, I am very patient, etc.

Has anyone done something like this? Is it at all feasible? Any suggestions of procedure?

 

[billbobtlh]

Stumpy those things are really heavy. Maybe you can get one of the landscapers to buy them. Or place an ad in the paper.
Find out what they sell for.

 

[SnowRidge]

<font color="red"> (Find out what they sell for.) </font>

You bet! If you are in Florida, you should be able to sell them to a commercial palm operation, and perhaps elsewhere. Let your fingers do the walking. Find a buyer.

SnowRidge

 

[KiotiJohn]

I suppose selling them in Hawaii is not that easy? Palms go for big bucks here in Florida, and one can always find someone who'll come take them out AND pay you for them. There is a LARGE ball under the ground, they are very heavy.
The trouble with using any small tractor is contol of the tree after spading. I doubt that a sub CUT could handle these heavy trees, but perhaps someone else has done so. Unless you're willing to use a BH, dig them out (being very careful as to felling location) or cut them down and then dig the stump, I suggest you'll need a professional to save them. John

 

[Richard]

I'd tend to agree with Kiotijohn that a CUT might not be able to lift/move them...and especially, not do it very safely.

I've got a full sized loader/backhoe with a lifting force of something like 6,000 or 7,000 lbs. This spring, I moved some trees. One I moved was a Dogwood with 5 trees coming out of a single rootball. The rootball WAS big, and probably 1/2 of the rootball extended out in front of my bucket (leverage working against me)

none the less, to move this tree(s) I had to extend the backhoe ALL the way out behind me like a bee stinger to help counteract the weight of the tree I was carrying. Otherwise my rear wheels would lighten up & lose traction every now & then as I teetered on front wheels. Absolutely no doubt in my head, these trees you are looking at weigh more than what I was carrying.

Additionally, you have the tip factor. I'd also carryed some single trees (meaning, no cluster) that were near 25' tall, carried them fine up until their top heavyness made them fall to the side and by rubbing on the bucket and the chain I was holding them with, simply butchered their bark. Had they fallen "backwards" towards me, they were "small" and I was in a cab, so in my case, that wasn't making me nervous... yours? I'd be nervous.

Kinda made me wish for 2 more chain points on my bucket so I could have helped "lock" them in the vertical position.

Dont' think there's ANY way I'd want to try to carry your trees upright in my bucket...much less a smaller machine.


Now... all that said...

Hawaii?.... beachfront??? "BAD" views???

I DO hope you are not looking for any sympathies??? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif


Edit: But let me add that I'd like to be the first one to volunteer to come out & help you providing you have a place where Brutus can sleep at night? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Brutus likes those pillow mints at night and promises to not get much hydraulic fluid on your carpets....

 

[polecat]

What would happen if the trres were wrapped in a thick layer of burlap...then a layer of 2x4's lashed around them for protection and then a rope attached to the "near" top with a small 4 part block with 3/8 cotton rope and then anchored to the butt of a fellow tree with a heavy strap for lowering to the ground with possibly 2 side ropes to control side swing and then the butts carefully dug and then drag the trees whole....on the ground flat to where ever u want them..and then pulled or pushed or both... up on trailer using a few heavy planks ( probably 6- 8 footers min) Your cut does not necessarily have to handle the whole load...personally i think that it would be very simple this way and would love to help!!! Always more than one way to skin a cat.. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Send me 2 round trip plane tickets from maine to hawaii and back for one week and i'll gittem outa yer way!!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Todd Hall from maine!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gifseriously

Will need a tent to sleep in though!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Did i mention that i'd work for plane tickets!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Sorry Richard but i want this job!!!..But this one was my idea /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
And one last request please ...is there any way this can be put off till jan. when there is 4' of snow here !!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif............

WELCOME TO TBN MY FRIEND!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Henro]

Stumpy,

I would want a tractor MUCH bigger than a BX23 before I attempted a project like that!

Remember the BX loader is only rated at about 400 lbs lift. I'll bet some of those palm trees weigh over 1,000 lbs. NOT INCLUDING what is under ground. Maybe less without the coconuts... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I doubt I would finish a job like that with my B2910 Kubota, and it has about double the loader/backhoe capacity...I said "finish" because I would probably try it and learn why...since I already have the tractor... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

My vote goes to paying someone with a tree spade to do the job. Maybe you can shop around and get a break on price per tree since you are dealing with 50 trees...or maybe that $200 per tree is already discounted...

Let us know the final solution! Along with picture of your ocean view, hopefully... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Of course, you could use the job as an excuse to buy the tractor, find out that the job is a little too big for a BX23, and still have the tractor to do other things with after the job is done... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif... Now THAT sounds like a plan to me... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[SnowRidge]

Sorry, missed the mention of Hawaii in your original post. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

SnowRidge

 

[Richard]

hmm..embarassement alert... I did not origionally look at your scaled picture, just the other one.

Upon looking at the scaled pic with shovel... I DO think I'd try those with my backhoe...furthermore, I think it would do it, presuming traction is there.

You might look into renting an industrial sized backhoe for a weekend and dig the receiver holes (50 is gonna be a bunch) and then do as can... or rent it next weekend again, for tree movements?

Any combo of above

In retrospect of looking at the tree, it seems MUCH shorter than I'd though from first pic.

Yep... sry Polecat... this is a job for BRUTUS!!! I call dibs on the plane tickets.... (you may still sleep in a tent if you wish) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Really Stumpy... around here, I think you can rent a loader/backoe for couple hundred/day. Might be worth the gamble of a single days rental to see if you can move ANY that day, if so, you might be on your way.

I'd be sure to lash it to 3 points on the bucket. Center to keep it IN the bucket, and then on both sides, to keep it from falling to the side. (as per my hard learned lesson where I BUTCHERED a BEAUTIFUL dogwood tree /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif )

Best of luck

Richard

 

[Richard]

Another thought for you Stumpy... When I bought Brutus, I did NOT plan on owning it "long term". I bought it to get some things done around house on MY terms... then I was going to resell it (which I still may)..

My logic was, I bought a big machine, it's hardly being used to it's capacity (until I start on my rock project /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif). So I'll buy it, use it then sell it. I HOPE to break even, or for what all we've done with it, I can actually lose 95% of my money on it, and I'm STILL way ahead.

Point being... consider buying an industrial sized machine for a year... do it bit by bit as you can, then sell the machine. You might not make all your money back, but you WILL enjoy it (that I can guarantee) and you will probably be "net" dollars ahead by doing it that way, then you can "trade down" and buy a smaller CUT (as I was planning)

The above idea, presupposes machine in decent shape and nothing breaks down (which will probably happen)

 

[ManofMystery]

I think I'd approach this with a large track hoe. If you had your boxes prepared in advance, you could pop a palm out and drop it into the box. In California, you can get the hoe and an operator for less than $1000 a day, and the job would likely last less than four days. Tracks have a lower center of gravity and are easier on the ground than a TLB.

I don't know the situation in Hawaii, but in California, free palm removal is the least you can expect. Free removal and $5/ft in your pocket is more typical.

 

[SPIKER]

I agree with the others, the BX is probably too small, and like was mentioned buy a bigger unit and re-sell it after the move is done. also here in ohio we can rent by the month from dealers selling new equipment for aobut 2 grand for a NICE unit! This is probably the best way... remember rental fees can be a tax deduction for a buisness as you mentioned that you're insurance does not cover it, well the rental companies have insurance too! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif buy it (the insurance) as an add on to the rental and have it (loader/backhoe) delivered and work till done and return it. they will train you too for a small fee but usually a go over is included.


Otherwise I would find a different tree removal company and price it aginst one a nuither for better price...

also I would fly out to help or for a visit just send the ticket to me!

Mark M /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[polecat]

nope!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gifbuy acut...then dragem all on the same path and it'll b done...

......then use the cut to repair damages .... send me the tickets and i'll help u learn how to rig...run yer cut and we'll both have a great time...make new friends and in the end u git the cut...save a buncha $$$ .....and own the cut with the $$ u save and have someone round that knows how to git yer job done!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

either that or just stay tuned to tbn and watch the rigging sting i've started and u can learn how to do all the above ..and keep the ticket $$ and git an extra attachment..and i'll jist have to stay here and move snow round this winter...unless of course ..if u want a slave for a couple of days!!!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[dmccarty]

Stumpy,

There was an article in the Wall Street Journal today about the buying and selling of palm trees in CA. A company would find the palm trees in yards, buy from the owner for a few bucks and then sell the tree for 3,000 to 20,000 dollars. The owners just wanted the trees gone becuase of they where a pain.

Before your eyes get big on the dollars, these where tall, and old Canary palm trees which you ain't got. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

But as others have said people buy these things for there yards. I sure would think there is someone in your area that would be willing to pay you for the trees or remove them at no cost.

Later,
Dan McCarty

 

[mrpistol]

As some have said, in Florida those would go for big bucks and they do the work.

You have another option (this would be my choice). Buy a chain saw, trim the sides down (almost to the green), and cut the tops to about a foot in length. Pick up the leavings and clean it up a bit.

This will greatly increase the value of your property and open your view. With it picked up and ferns or vegetation planted it would make a nice shady retreat.

You may want a landscape architecture's advice on the best way to make your own private park.

That grove in Tampa Florida would be almost priceless.

BTW Wife is a landscape architect, son is a tree 'surgeon'. For a fee we'd be glad to come out and asses the situation. LOL

 

[KiotiJohn]

Stumpy, you're not going to be a one post wonder are you? Haven't heard how your situation has turned out? Did you get rid of any palms yet? John