Need advice on a machine to manage timberland

[Longleaf man]

Hello all, I am new to this forum. I manage 4000 acres of timberland in middle Georgia for my family. We have miles of dirt roads that need attention and I need advice on the most versatile piece of machinery to do the forest tasks we have at hand. The machine needs to be able to do road maintenance and create firebreaks for prescribed burns. The third party contractors that we hire use primarily small bulldozers to create fire breaks and replant seedlings. My past experience is primarily with ag tractors so a bulldozer would be a steep learning curve for me. The other problem with a small bulldozer is that it would require an expensive upgrade for a capable trailer and truck to move the dozer for maintenance and repair. I am retired so I have plenty of time. We can hire a bulldozer to do road repairs but that can quickly become cost prohibitive hence my questions here. I have looked at the New Holland Woods Boss but they are $80,000 new and used ones have been beat to hell and back by right of way companies. The dozer could work roads and pull implements to create fire breaks but they are also expensive, ($70-$80K) and would require the truck and trailer upgrades. Are used dozers a good option? Ideas on where to look?

Thanks in advance for your help and insight.

 

[airbiscuit]

I would get a 60hp compact tractor and a used road grader

or this

 

[airbiscuit]

Some pictures of the "roads", steepness of the hills, size of the trees, other tasks to be done... would help

 

[edgarrian]

If its steep. I would look into some sort of track machine. Especially with timber. You can learn how to operate. Watch videos, take ur time. Tractor is going to be the easiest to operate but in my opinion with how much you have to keep up with. Track is the way to go.

 

[oldnslo]

You might require more than one machine for those tasks since not sure a farm tractor would doze trees for a fire breaks. Maybe a twin track ag tractor would depending on tree size. These potentially would require significant branch guards to protect hood, windows, underside, etc

Probably be in 250 HP to get weight to do work and not sure if there are smaller production machines available.

Not sure how well rubber tracks would work if driving in brush or over roots and stumps.

 

[M59]

Hello all, I am new to this forum. I manage 4000 acres of timberland in middle Georgia for my family. We have miles of dirt roads that need attention and I need advice on the most versatile piece of machinery to do the forest tasks we have at hand. The machine needs to be able to do road maintenance and create firebreaks for prescribed burns.

Longleaf man,
Please elaborate on what is involved with creating a firebreak on your property of 4000 acres. Firebreak width, length and do trees ( what dia and height) have to be pushed over and away?

A TLB tractor ( Tractor-Loader-Backhoe), of sufficient weight and hp, would be suitable for maintaining existing roads BUT is probably not suitable for creating firebreaks as I understand them.

 

[airbiscuit]

Please describe what you mean by create fire breaks. Is it just discing a perimeter, or is it pushing over trees and removing stumps? My friend couldn't wait to get a bulldozer. After difficult and expensive maintenance, he was very happy when he sold it.

 

[2manyrocks]

I know two different men who thought bulldozers were fantastic machines for clearing brush off farms until a piece of brush came through the operator's station putting each one of them in the hospital.

 

[Drstrangeglove]

I know two different men who thought bulldozers were fantastic machines for clearing brush off farms until a piece of brush came through the operator's station putting each one of them in the hospital.

They still are good for that. Just need to equip them for the job. I would drive through anything in my d6. It was an open cab with a nice cage around it.

 

[airbiscuit]

We need more information about what the timberland managment you will be doing.

Are the roads in good shape, or a work in process?
Are there more roads to be built?
Do you have fire lanes that need to be mowed?
Are there more fire lanes to be built?
Do you have timber harvesters do any of this as part of their contract?
How long have you been doing this?
What kind of vegetation burning in a prescribed burn?
How many acres in a prescribed burn?
Pictures?

 

[hslogger]

Hello all, I am new to this forum. I manage 4000 acres of timberland in middle Georgia for my family. We have miles of dirt roads that need attention and I need advice on the most versatile piece of machinery to do the forest tasks we have at hand. The machine needs to be able to do road maintenance and create firebreaks for prescribed burns. The third party contractors that we hire use primarily small bulldozers to create fire breaks and replant seedlings. My past experience is primarily with ag tractors so a bulldozer would be a steep learning curve for me. The other problem with a small bulldozer is that it would require an expensive upgrade for a capable trailer and truck to move the dozer for maintenance and repair. I am retired so I have plenty of time. We can hire a bulldozer to do road repairs but that can quickly become cost prohibitive hence my questions here. I have looked at the New Holland Woods Boss but they are $80,000 new and used ones have been beat to hell and back by right of way companies. The dozer could work roads and pull implements to create fire breaks but they are also expensive, ($70-$80K) and would require the truck and trailer upgrades. Are used dozers a good option? Ideas on where to look?

Thanks in advance for your help and insight.

The most dangerous machine in the woods is a farm tractor. Timberland, 4000 acres? Get a cat with a drum, six way blade, and removable brush rake. quit trying to talk yourself out of one.

 

[Cycledude]

With 4,000+ acres You will definitely need more equipment than just a big dozer !
Probably better off putting the work out on bids first to see what kind of bids you actually get and what kind of equipment they intend to use.

 

[airbiscuit]

We really don't know the level of steroids needed for the job that needs to be done. t=The OP needs to update us. with words and pictures.

 

[M59]

We really don't know the level of steroids needed for the job that needs to be done. t=The OP needs to update us. with words and pictures.

Airbuscuit,

You beat me to it. The OP appears to have lost interest or is lost in that 4000+ acres of timberland. Just being snarky BUT the participants need more input otherwise we are just flappin our gums.

 

[stevem5215]

4000 acres requires equipment that costs BUCKS. You will not get away cheap. Hiring it out will be even more expensive.
My suggestion is to buy the biggest thing you can afford in several groupings. One would be a regular tractor with a bucket for normal maintenance. Secondly would be a "skidder" which is a tree machine with a blade and is heavy duty and can plow timber roads in the woods on sides of hills. Third would be a flat blade excavator. You will spend a pile of money upfront for this stuff. 4000 acres is no joke to maintain.

 

[CoyPatton]

In my opinion and limited timber experience, you need several pieces of equipment.
1) a tractor, to mow and maintain existing roads with several implements and a loader
2) a dozer to create firebreaks. Large enough to push down trees by the root ball. Install a cage around the operators station to attempt to prevent limbs from entering. Also some attachments for breaking up the undergrowth
3) skid steer with grapple to deal with moving brush piles. A forestry mulcher with this would be very helpful in keeping cleanup beyond the ability of a tractor and brush cutter.

 

[JRH02]

If I could win the lottery I would have a mid sized dozer with a backhoe. We have forest land to maintain and most of it is quite steep. A winch would also be nice but I think the backhoe would eliminate the addition of a winch - I've never seen a crawler setup with both.

 

[Redbug]

I agree with hslogger about the dozer with a 6 way blade. Roads need a crown to stay in any good shape. With the dozer you might need a forestry disk for firebreaks. Or...maybe not...the land I used to manage I used the services of the South Carolina Forestry Commission and their dozers. They can cut firebreaks at cost. Once done firebreaks are easy to maintain in the future. A removable rake up front would be needed. Loggers do not have the equipment to fix the roads nor the firebreaks. They tear everything up.
Here's a good start to get a plan:

Management Plans & Advice | Georgia Forestry Commission

There are many reasons why it is helpful to have a forest management plan for your property. Primarily, a forest management plan helps you: Understand and organize the resources on your property. Consider what you might do on your property to improve its condition. Save time and money, and avoid...

gatrees.org

 

[M59]

I agree with hslogger about the dozer with a 6 way blade. Roads need a crown to stay in any good shape. With the dozer you might need a forestry disk for firebreaks. Or...maybe not...the land I used to manage I used the services of the South Carolina Forestry Commission and their dozers. They can cut firebreaks at cost. Once done firebreaks are easy to maintain in the future. A removable rake up front would be needed. Loggers do not have the equipment to fix the roads nor the firebreaks. They tear everything up.
Here's a good start to get a plan:

Management Plans & Advice | Georgia Forestry Commission

There are many reasons why it is helpful to have a forest management plan for your property. Primarily, a forest management plan helps you: Understand and organize the resources on your property. Consider what you might do on your property to improve its condition. Save time and money, and avoid...

gatrees.org

Redbug's guidance is the most informed to date.

 

[airbiscuit]

The OP posted once and left. We don't know a lot about his specifics, and we don't know his budget. Maybe he's taken another job to be able to afford all this.