Pulling Large Shrubs

[Old_Wanker]

Egon - and anyone else thinking of using chain.

Go and look at the CDC web-site for stories of people killed by breaking chains with ag equipment.

http://www.ofswa.on.ca/near5.html

Heres one warning about tipping the tractor

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/ageng/safety/ae1051w.htm>http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/ageng/safety/ae1051w.htm</A>

 

[TonyC]

I have used a nylon tow strap for years. I think there is a picture of one included in one of the eariler posts. I have used it for everything you can imagine including pulling up shrubs. It is very light, easy to carry on the tractor, easier to "hook-up" and as safe as you can get. I have towed things, pulled up small trees, and dragged downed trees to the burn pile. Simple, quick and safe...the only way to go.

 

[AndyR]

Your rim hookup sounds like a slightly uptodate version of something they used to use waaaayyy back. When the Erie Canael was built in New York state, they used a 20 foot set of wheels with a large axel. They supposedly hooked up chain or rope to a stump, round the axel a few times, then on to a mule team or whatever pulling power they had. Supposed to have worked pretty well though I've never tried one myself.

 

[beenthere]

In your reference, it turns out it wasn't the chain but the 'stretchable snap strap' that caused the chain to be launched.
My point still remains. The chain being used in a steady pull, is not in itself dangerous (IMO). For those that want to be afraid of using a chain, I have no problem with that. I am not afraid of using a chain to pull with, but I would never hook it up with a stretchable strap or anything else that would build up energy.

 

[gerard]

My 2 cents - use a combination of the previous suggestions -hand dig a little all around the base, soak well, then try and pull. Your rim idea sounds like a good one - it will re direct the force to pull straight up which is the weakest area of resistance. If you still can't get it pulling a few times, then pushing with the loader and working it back and forth a little may help loosen it up. If you REALLY want to use some leverage use a chain fall pulley system to do the pulling. You can double or quadruple the pulling force that way.

 

[PaulT]

In my experience with pulling plants/shrubs/trees, I don't think static pull will ever get you there with the power range we are talking about. You will need to jerk it out, and for that, the tug-em strap is the tool of choice. I think a 4wd truck would probably work MUCH better than a tractor,s ince you can get these moving MUCH faster in the short amount of time (distance) before the strap tensions. This equates to a huge amount of momentum, compared to the force the tractor will generate. If you don't have a 4wd, or a friend with a 4wd, then follow the above suggestions.

 

[ket]

the best way I know to pull anything out of the ground (if your not wanting to save the shrubs) is find a old tire rim ( the larger the better) hook your strap(preferred) or chain to bottom of what you are pulling and then with the tire rim up against said object take the chain over the rim .. this will give a upward pulling effect,, and a folcrum(sp) effect .. you can darn near pull a electric pole out this way with alot less effort.. .. HEY it real does work
ket

 

[dmccarty]

ktctest6,

There was already a reference to a pulling stumps thread here
in TBN Land. I'm sure there are more if you search. Stumps
are interesting. Some come out of the ground real easy. And
some don't.

Yesterday I was clearing some trees from my DriveWayToBe. They
were all small, 5 to 12 inches. The Easter Red Ceder which was about
a foot in diameter I was able to get out of the ground with my
4n1 bucket. There was a 6 inch hardwood that took about 10 minutes
with the backhoe. The hardwood had a good two foot long tap root.
Thats a long way of saying your stumps may come out easy. Or they
may come out hard. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Most of the stump I have hit with the FEL just ain't moving without
digging. I have tried to pull large stumps, all but dug out, with a chain.
The only thing I did was get excercise playing with the chain and digging
trenches with my front and rear tires. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif My tractor has more HP
than traction.

My subdivision neighbor had some Red Tip shrubs along a fence line. He cut them
down. They grew back. He cut them back again. They grew back. He
rented one of those Orange tractors with a backhoe and dug them up. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Good idea but for the color of the tractor! Yuck! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Your best bet might be to rent a backhoe and play for the day. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Course if you are near a fence line maybe you don't want to do that
either! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Chain. I have some American made logging chain my JD dealer had. Its
good stuff. The usual chain in the stores is made in China and I was not
real impressed with its rating. I forgot which Mark made the remark years
ago, but he said he had had problems with made in China hooks and I think
chain. Anyway, when I needed more chain I ended up buying Grade 70
Transport chain. The stuff does not rust real easy, especially compared
with regular chain, and it has higher ratings as well. Its also smaller for
higher capacity so it lighter and easier to work with. The transport chain
I bought was at both Home Depot and Lowes. I think it was cheaper/same
price as the by the foot stuff, already had hooks, and was 20 feet long if
I remember right. It came in a plastic bag if that helps.

Hope this helps. Let us know of it goes.
Dan McCarty

 

[BayView]

Do you have a 3/4 ton 4 wheel drive pickup? I've pulled many large shrubs with the truck in 4WD lo range. My JD 855 appreciates not being abused. The truck doesn't care.
Just a thought.

 

[drcollie]

I've done a lot of this. But I've never used the tractor, always my Toyota Land Cruiser with a large, heavy duty 'snatch strap" tied around the old shrubs. Lock the diffs on the Gland Bruiser and simply get goin' forward. The Snatch Strap has 'give' to it, so it stores energy and doesn't yank the vehicle too badly. I pulled out twenty-two mature shubs this way two years ago, and nary a one was able to put up much of a fight. When I tried my tractor initially, it just spun....not enough hp or weight......240 HP and 5,500 lb (LC) beats 35HP and 2,500 lb anyday <g>