Pricing for Root raking 3 acres

[flcracker]

Hello, I am new to the forum. I am a homeowner and I have been watching this forum for a while to get ideas for some land clearing I want to do. I figure though I better ask some questions.

I have about 3 acres that has palmettos, small hickory nut trees, and a few large pines. It is not dense and the ground is mostly sand type soil. I want to clear my land for pasture but I have gotten some wildly different bids from 5k to 20k for the same plot of land.
My first question is the obvious equipment to use would be a wheel loader with a root rake right?
Also I have been quoted different disposal options: Haul away, Burn piles, buried, and chipper. Obviously haul away being the most expensive. I was kind of wondering which would be the better option? how hard is it to get a burn permit?
The bottom line is I am trying to save money because after clearing I have to build a barn, lay grass down, and fence.

Is this something a person could do if say I rent a wheel loader for a week from a heavy equipment rental place? or is it not something I could do efficiently on my own? I have experience driving a loader but very minimal.

If you could offer some advice that would be great. Thank you

Anthony

 

[Carykong]

With a tight budget, I am thinking you can level the palmetto with a robust brush cutter. Small trees,too, under 3" in diameter can be disposed of with the brush cutter. The larger trees can be left standing to accent the pasture or go back with a chainsaw. Small brush piles are legal to burn in my county without a permit. I am describing a rather cheap option that implies you have some time to get the pasture established after the slash has regraded and been disced back into the sandy soil.

 

[flcracker]

Why is it that bush hogging is so much cheaper? Equipement is just cheaper to buy?

 

[Carykong]

"Cheaper" may have been a poor choice of words. A brush cutter will allow you to chop up the small stuff without the expense and time related to disposing of your slash. In s. Florida,the chopped organic material will rot fast and provide composting for your future pasture.

 

[flcracker]

Oh I see

 

[flcracker]

Now when hiring a bush hogger. Should I ask any praticular questions? Like size of bush mower? Rate per hour or flat price? Thank you for being so helpful

 

[MarkV]

A Bush Hog is not going to do anything for your stumps or roots. That doesn't leave a very good setting to plant pasture grass. With sandy soil I would think that a small dozer could clear everything except the largest trees in a short amount of time. You would have to check with your county about burn permits. That will vary by location.

MarkV

 

[Barnone]

Rent or hire a root rake on a loader is the way to go as far as I am concerned.

When I need to burn my burn pile, I just need to call the fire dept with my strap number here in Collier County,FL. No permit just notification with our FD.
I do need a water source and at least two pieces of equipment standing by when burning.
Call your local FD for requirements.

 

[flcracker]

That's the thing about hiring a guy. I called a few and there pricing was so wildly differant. What's an average cost per hour for a loader with a rake?

 

[foreman Etexas]

Roughly around $100 an hr for small dozer and 10hr minimum. I bought my dozer for $6500 cple years ago. I cleaned up 1ac.cple weekends ago and it took 2days and it was thick,so im going to say 5/6,000 if you burn the piles yourself and dont take out the big trees. It takes alittle longer to keep the dirt out of the pile having to roll the brush and everything,so pay attention if you get someone to clear it with dozer that he isnt just shoving crap in the pile.

 

[flcracker]

That seems fair. You have to do that otherwise the dirt will keep it from burning right?

 

[foreman Etexas]

That seems fair. You have to do that otherwise the dirt will keep it from burning right?

Yeah,its also alot of clean-up after burning it,I can get some photos of mine later,if you wont of how my pile is,should burn up 99% sometimes the bigger tree stumps have alittle dirt on bottum and dont burn up completely. I'll take a picture of my neighbors piles what not to do,when making brush piles(what you can look for. Just give me alittle bit for pictures..

 

[pjbci]

Etexas is right about the dirt in the pile. Get your dozer man to understand that you dont mind the extra time it takes to roll the dirt out. But even rolling out the extra dirt I think your initial estimates are extremely high. I do land clearing in south Ms. Rarely will an acre of extremely thick material exceed 7-800 dollars when just pushing into burn piles. Usually works out in the 450-600 an acre range.

 

[foreman Etexas]

Etexas is right about the dirt in the pile. Get your dozer man to understand that you dont mind the extra time it takes to roll the dirt out. But even rolling out the extra dirt I think your initial estimates are extremely high. I do land clearing in south Ms. Rarely will an acre of extremely thick material exceed 7-800 dollars when just pushing into burn piles. Usually works out in the 450-600 an acre range.

I would do it with yours for 450-600 in that a/c cab:laughing:
Just kidding with:thumbsup:

 

[flcracker]

Ok cool but something like 10 to 20k is outrageous for 3 acres medium density. Maybe they were quoting with haul away

 

[pjbci]

Yeah thats way too high. Burn in fire pits and bury onsite around here usually will runs 2500-3000. Haul away is just too expensive to even consider unless it a small lot inside city limits where burn isnt allowed.

 

[flcracker]

That's awsome. Im glad I signed up on here. Im definatly going to go with the burn. Just got to find a guy to do it.

 

[Artisan]

Why not look at your local rental yards, see what kind of equipment they have and get a price and do it yourself? Knock it all down, push it in a pile for disposal at your leasure. Backdrag to suit or A pickup truck dragging a chainlink fence gate / whatnot will do a lot of leveling ....or a quad/atv.

Post up some pics of the 3 acres.

 

[foreman Etexas]

Why not look at your local rental yards, see what kind of equipment they have and get a price and do it yourself? Knock it all down, push it in a pile for disposal at your leasure. Backdrag to suit or A pickup truck dragging a chainlink fence gate / whatnot will do a lot of leveling ....or a quad/atv.

Post up some pics of the 3 acres.

Just be careful pushing trees over,if your not use to it:thumbsup:
Think rental usually around $650day and $350 haul/pick-up JD450 no cab.

 

[flcracker]

Ya I saw rate for about that. Its actually cheaper to get it for a week. About $1500 for the week. When we do the burn do you normally call in a water truck or just drag hose from my well?