Pulling out shrubs safely

[Eric102]

If you can get to the shrub or small tree with your tractor, forks are by far the quickest/easiest way to get them out of the ground. As mentioned above just stab the forks under the root ball and curl, the bush will usually pop out of the ground without any digging and you can haul it away on the forks without ever getting off the tractor to mess around with chains, shovels, etc.

I love my forks! My most used attachment other than the bucket.

 

[LHS Inc]

If you can get to the shrub or small tree with your tractor, forks are by far the quickest/easiest way to get them out of the ground. As mentioned above just stab the forks under the root ball and curl, the bush will usually pop out of the ground without any digging and you can haul it away on the forks without ever getting off the tractor to mess around with chains, shovels, etc.

I love my forks! My most used attachment other than the bucket.

Sounds like a good idea. I'll have to look into getting some forks. I assume you're talking about the quick attach to the FEL kind.

 

[bigtiller]

After reeding a long thread here a while back, I made this "A" frame from angle iron. It is about 4 feet tall and works the same way as Kennyd's truck rim would. If I ever make another one it will be about 6 foot tall so I can get a longer pull before removing the slack out of the chain.

 

[Big Wave D]

If you have hooks welded welded onto your bucket and depending on their style, I put the bucket in its full dump/down position, put your chain around base of shrub, get lip of bucket as close to shrubs base as possible, then hook as tightly to your bucket as possible, then use the bucket's controls to roll/push on the shrub at the same time by curling your bucket up.

It's sort of a double whammy. The chain is pulling up and back while the bucket edge is pushing forward and over.

The size of your obstacle dictates whether your hydraulics alone can do the job.

If not, then go with what the others have previously mentioned. They all have their time and place where one method seems to work better than the others.

Good luck on your project.

 

[Eric102]

Sounds like a good idea. I'll have to look into getting some forks. I assume you're talking about the quick attach to the FEL kind.

Yep, I've got the Frontier AL1240 for my 3320. Takes about a minute to remove the bucket and attach the fork assembly.

 

[chickenman]

i pulled out some small trees by cutting a piece of pipe large enough to slip the chain through and back in and hooking the chain to the other end so a loop of chain could be put around the tree and when pulled the chain tightens around the tree/bush

you get a better grip on the bush that way

 

[nforktractor]

I can't find it now, but I remember seeing a company on here that sold a chain, which had a scissors type of clamp with teeth, and the harder you pulled with your tractor the tighter grip it got on the shrub, does anybody know what I am talking about?

 

[SandburRanch]

I can't find it now, but I remember seeing a company on here that sold a chain, which had a scissors type of clamp with teeth, and the harder you pulled with your tractor the tighter grip it got on the shrub, does anybody know what I am talking about?

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Those have been posted on here somewhere but save yourself the aggravation and tie a clove hitch knot around it in 10 seconds or less using the two loop method.

Another advantage is I don't have to find another tool I forgot where is.

 

[rco]

I can't find it now, but I remember seeing a company on here that sold a chain, which had a scissors type of clamp with teeth, and the harder you pulled with your tractor the tighter grip it got on the shrub, does anybody know what I am talking about?

I saw those at Northern Tool and they are listed under log skidding on the web site. ( Log Hooks + Log Skidding Tools | Logging Accessories | Logging | Northern Tool + Equipment ) If I'm not supposed to post that, just tell me and I'll remove it.

Personally, I find that if I cut off the tree/shrub with a few feet sticking out of the ground for extra leverage, and then double wrap the chain so that when I put pressure on it, it digs itself into the wood I do just fine. That is assuming I actually have enough power and traction to pull the tree/shrub. And I know it's already been stated, but don't yank it, unless you like the idea of the chain upside the head. :confused2: