Removing 30" diameter stumps for truck farm

[vantx50]

I am about to purchase 30 acs adjacent to my SE Texas farm. The land was clear cut timbered 3 years ago and has old pine stumps everywhere.
All of these stumps were cut about ground level, about 2-4" high on average.
Some of the larger pine stumps are probably 30-34" in diameter. While decaying on the surface, I am thinking that they still stout below ground.

We are a working farm and will be using this land for cultivation. The soil is mostly sand, no rocks.

To clear some densely wooded forest a few years ago, I hired a stump grinder, followed by a dozer root raking. While we did a good job, we are still finding tap roots occasionally which tend to shear bolts when plowing etc.

On this new acquisition, I was thinking of having a dozer clean the surface to locate the stumps and then renting a trackhoe for a month to dislodge the stumps, and then have the dozer return to fill, grade and level. But then I started thinking about purchasing a 4wd backhoe to substitute "somewhat" for the trackhoe with the idea that I'll keep the backhoe for use later on the farm.

Regarding using a V-blade, I was told by my dozer operator that a V blade would be good for making pasture land, but not for cultivation.

Questions:

Is backhoe a viable option and if so what size 4wd backhoe do you recommend for this kind of job.

Do I need to purchase skid plates to the underside for a backhoe.

Am I better off renting the largest trackhoe for a month and forgetting about the backhoe purchase?

Would you tackle this project differently? Yes I need to be budget minded.

FYI I have a kubota M4800 and Massey Ferguson 34 HP, both 4wd and with loaders that I use on our "truck farm"

any insight suggestions appreciated

thanks

 

[foreman Etexas]

Rent!!Trackhoe for a month will be 4 to 5 grand,it will take you alot longer with the backhoe attachment.Unless time isnt a issue,if its not then then 5 grand should cover the cost of a attachment(or be close),but gonna take you a while. I have cleared a many location and pipe-line and even with the cat backhoes the stumps take awhile to remove,if you do go with a trackhoe see if they have a thumb,alot easier to move the stump when removed and you can grab the rootsystems and pull them out and brush placement is much easier.Just my 2cents!!!

 

[woodlandfarms]

Rent a good sized trackhoe. Then dozer it when done/ You will never get rid of the roots the way you want, but it will be a lot better than either a dozer or a stump grinder.

But plan ahead, what are you going to do with all the stumps?

 

[vantx50]

thanks for the input,

I realize that stumps take a while to burn when fresh dug, so I intend on creating a windrow on a few acres and burning them in a year or so. perhaps by then it'll rain.

I spoke to a local CAT/Hvy Equip mechanic and he thought I could pick up a reliable 20 ton trackhoe for about $20-$25k. He lives and has a shop down the road about 1 mile.

 

[woodlandfarms]

I am not sure what your longterm plans are but isn't renting a lot cheaper?

 

[gabby]

Why not get bids from local land clearing guys? I bet they are hungry and if it breaks its theirs.

 

[kthompson]

If you will have future need then buy equipment, if not rent but would certainly take the last recommendation for bids. A different thought and don't have any idea on pine stumps in your world but SOME pines here turn into lightwood. It is uses in some manufacturing processes. If these have then you might find a company who will at least dig them for the wood.

If you consider buy an excavator be sure you know they move very slowly and need to be trailered a lot.