Stump Cutter rental

foggy1111 · Feb 25, 2009

I have over 100 stumps to grind this spring. All my stumps are just a few inches above ground and are red pine plantation mostly in rows - and from 8 to 12 diameter.

I have checked with the local rental yards on machines. The self-propelled choices available to me are a Vermeer SC252 25 hp machine.....or a Rayco RG1625 25 hp unit. Both are similar in rental fees and seem to operate much the same. The Rayco looks a bit heavier and has a wider stance. Anyone know if one brand is better operating than another? If all goes smooth

I may keep on chippin' more stumps....so......

ClearViewGroup · Feb 25, 2009

i have time on a SC252...its not the fastest machine around..but I was doing large oak stumps...on small pine like you are in it will do a good job...just make sure they dont rent it to you with worn out teeth...and depending on how long you have it we noticed that the belt tension needs to be check every so often

foggy1111 · Apr 21, 2009

So.....I rented a Vermeer one day and a Rayco (both as in post 1) on a different day. THe stumps were a little bigger than originally thought....probably avereaged 12 to 14".

I ground 80+ stumps with the Vermeer.....had to fight the 3 wheel manual steer and it got stuck allot....hard work to move.

I ground 120 stumps with the Rayco......had hydraulic steering and 4 wheels on the ground for much better stability and better traction too. Better (newer?) style grinding teeth (green tooth) so the productiviity seemed much better.

Neither grinder has great ergonomics or are very intuitive to operate. A good engineering job on the steering and handleing for in the woods would be real nice for these grinders.

I got one more day to grind....but i am going to put it off a week or so....pretty boring day....and you gotta stay focussed to get some productivity with these little grinders.

Still.....average about $1.50 cost per stump.....not bad as hiring somebody would have cost me 10 bux a stump or more.

Highbeam · Apr 23, 2009

Thank you very much for this post. I could maybe do the math but what was the daily rental fee for these things? Are they common at rental yards? The only ones I have seen are the manual ones with a single cylinder engine at the rental yards.

How deep did you grind them below grade?

foggy1111 · Apr 25, 2009

Highbeam said:
Thank you very much for this post. I could maybe do the math but what was the daily rental fee for these things? Are they common at rental yards? The only ones I have seen are the manual ones with a single cylinder engine at the rental yards.

How deep did you grind them below grade?

Both stump grinders rented by the half day or full day. Full day rents are about $155 for either machine. I think the Raygo was a few bux cheaper. Half day rentals are about 30% less....so a full day is the way to go.

Around here these are fairly common...but the rental yards have the smaller machines for the guy who only has a few stumps to grind. Those WILL provide a real workout.

I ground most of my stumps to about 5" below the grade......some a bit more....some less depending on where they were located. Most of 'em are in my trails and I want to be able to run a disc over them to seed in clover.

Put the Vermeer model number or "Vermeer" into youtube and you can see the operation.

Runner · Apr 25, 2009

I rented a Rayco last fall to grind about 10 stumps. It was $34 per hour and did a great job. I thought it was pretty easy to operate, but would be nice if you could ride on it. It was designed such that you walk beside it when it's moving. Actually, I tried riding on the hood, but it wasn't very comfortable.

The main problem with it was that it was very SLOW to move from place to place. I had one stump in the "south 40" and it was much faster to put it back on the trailer and drive it out there.

I did get it stuck once and had to use the 2520 to pull it out. My fault, got it into some soft soil by the creek.

That's the only one I've ever rented, but it worked out great and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again if necessary.

foggy1111 · Apr 26, 2009

Boy....do I agree with you on the s l o w comment. Walking along and steering is the pitts. I had to go over 1/2 mile this way....very tedious and I wish I could ride too. A swinging stool would be nice for the operator.

Having said that......I have one more day to chip stumps....and it will be the Rayco I rent.

foggy1111 · May 15, 2009

To update (and finish) my stump grinding "experience" for 2009: I again rented the Rayco as it was a much more efficient machine...and far easier to operate. On the third rental day my wife operated it over half the time. I now have access to all my land via my stump-free trails....and room to plant some food plots.

In total we removed over 400 stumps in three days of grinding at a total cost of $500. .....or about 1.25 per stump!!! If I wudda hired the work done....the cheapest price I have seen is $10.00 per stump. So I saved $3500 for 3 days of our labor. NOT TOO SHABBY!

tallyho8 · May 15, 2009

I rented the Vermeer SC 252 from Home Depot last year for $154 for 24 hours plus tax and a 10% damage insurance fee. I cut about 100 stumps averaging about 10" each, riding on the machine most of the time and never even got tired.

Last week the only one in town was broken and I rented the smaller Vermeer SC 130 from Home Depot for $102 plus tax and damage insurance for 24 hours. I cut 8 stumps with it and couldn't go anymore. It was extremely difficult.