Pulling Bushes with a FEL

[Farwell]

A draw bar is made for pulling, a FEL is made for digging, moving and lifting. I have found that I have much better luck with the draw bar or 3pt hitch than my FEL. I have pushed quite a few trees over with my FEL. IMO pulling with a FEL puts your tractor at risk for damage.
Farwell

 

[Botabill]

I've had tons of experience pulling bushes/small trees and support the recommendatioon to forget using the FEL. The 3 point hitch and draw bar is the only way to pull the bigger ones. Use a chain wrapped around the trunk low and bind tight to the draw bar. Then lift and pull. You may have to go around to the other side it it won't pull from the first side you try. Roots can be weaker depending on the direction you are pulling from.

 

[knute_m]

Several years ago I had to take out some really nasty "bushes" that were from the cedar or juniper family. The trunks of the main plants were about 4 -6 inches in diameter. And big fat roots - probably 2 inches in diameter, went everywhere and intermingled with other bushes of the same kind. It formed a rather intense hedge in front of the house.

With lots of weight on the front of my tractor, the front end just came up when I tried to lift and/or pull with the drawbar.

There wasn't space to swing an axe or hatchet to cut the roots. But, I found some 12 inch "Axe Blades" made by Milwaukee Tool for my Sawzall. The pack of 5 blades was about $20, but I only needed one. The blades are meant for wood demolition work where there are lots of nails and brackets. They are tough.

They did a good job of getting through the slightly buried roots where there were also a lot of small rocks.

The bushes came out, and then I was able to pull the roots out separately.

Good luck,

Knute

 

[RobJ]

Just because we have a tractor that doesn't mean it's the best thing for the job. It's probably better to hook up a strap to the hitch of a truck and give them a yank. No water no digging. Just did this for some neighbors who only had a car. Then used my wifes burb for some of ours. Barely off idle. These were 3-6" wax leaf lugustrims (sp?). If they were planted in a properly prepared flower bed, it'll be easy. Use a long strap to stay on the driveway.

But I bet you fel will pull them out no prpblem.

 

[daTeacha]

The suggestions given are all good. The solution for you will depend on several things -- the type and size of the bushes, the location with respect to your buildings, the size and strength of your tractor/loader, and so on. Look at each post carefully and see what most closely resembles your situation. If you just have a couple of them near the house, I'd go with pulling either by tractor or truck with a long strap or chain to allow you to sit on pavement or at least a driveway so you don't tear up the lawn. If you're worried about the lawn and can't use the above option, do some digging first, water it all down good, and try the FEL methods.

For me here in the glacial moraine mix of soil types, Multiflora roses are the problem. Small ones yield to the FEL and teeth dig/pop method. Larger ones need a cable noose around the base attached to a chain and then to the drawbar and pull out fairly easily. My soils are mostly sandy clay loam, with some clay loam, some broken sandstone, etc. None of it is heavy soil like pure clay or gumbo.

 

[AndyMA]

This is why I'll never not have a backhoe. Seriously now, if you can push up high on the shrub and use the trunk as a lever. If you can push it back and forth enough times it should come loose. With a front loader, I don't think you 'll ever get a ggod size tree with a tap root out. Good luck.

Andy

 

[BB_TX]

I would have to agree with Farwell and Botabill. I pulled 8 or 9 6' tall shrubs from next to my house. I tried the FEL first but all that happened was the front end dipped and the rear end rose. I turned around and hooked a chain to the draw bar and the base of the trunk and in lowest gear, 4x4, and little more than fast idle pulled them out with little effort. My tractor weighs about 3000#.

 

[DOUBLEG]

I did pull bushes and small trees with my old JD2120. However with Task Master 438 which weighs just over 3,500 lbs I have managed to scare myself twice just pulling small trees. When the rear right tire lifts off the ground it happens quick and you feel like the whole tractor is going over. From now on I am using the drawbar for pulling.

 

[willfick]

And remember, attitude is everything.
Wm
http://www.wimmark.com/stoney_oak_2.JPG

 

[Timber]

well use the Fell to drop a load of dirt in the pickup and then 4 weel low will do the trick