Stump Digging

[nitrors4]

I have lots of stumps that need to come out, but I am too cheap to buy a backhoe. Would this work for getting out stumps? I mean heck I could dig out stumps and pickup brush for a good price.

Skid Steer Stump Grapple

Thoughts? Comments? Etc.....

Thanks,
Troy

 

[joes_427_vette]

Might work well on stumps 6" or less. The larger hardwoods seem to cling to the bottom of the earth. The large rams on my Bradco hoe work well dislodging roots and I have positive results. Some just take longer than others.
The larger hp skid steers may give this attachment a work out but I prefer digging to the grapple.

 

[nitrors4]

How large of a stump do you think I could get out with this in the 63" version?

Skid Steer Extreme Root Grapple

 

[Charlesaf3]

depends on the tractor or skid steer its attached to, and the FEL lift.

For me, with roughly 1000 pound lift, tough to do more than a 4inch oak stump with my grapple. Taproots are a killer. Softwood sounds easier, but I don't have much experience with it.

 

[nitrors4]

DUH...Should have posted that.

Kubota M5040 I think I have aobut 2500 lift.

 

[cityfarma]

As has been said, trees hang on when you want to remove them. I had a chain on the bucket of my L4400 and wanted to use it to remove some carob trees about 2" diameter. With filled rear tyres and a spring tyne harrow on the back, I was still lifting the back off the ground! I eventually decided to dig around and chop off underground.

Cityfarma

 

[Charlesaf3]

Grapples are great but you;ll be pushing it with stumps of any size. Still, its a great implement - you might check out the millonzi grapple, a number of us have bought it and its quite reasonable.

 

[RonMar]

The grapple in and of itself is VERY heavy, and will actually reduce your vertical lift force applied to the stump. You could apply more force tothe stump with a chain and your existing loader bucket. You will probably find as mentioned, your rear wheels lifting off, before the stump moves

You have a loader, not a bulldozer or lifter, and even 2500# is not much against an un-loosened stump of any size. Sorry to say, but if you have a lot of stumps of any significant size(6" and larger) pop for a backhoe, it is really the best tool for the job. 2500" pounds of rip force applied to a single root from a backhoe goes a lot farther. I just got one last fall, and I am already 2 dozzen stumps down now, without too much work involved. The biggest is a 30" fir I just got done rolling out of my front yard and into a burn pile(too heavy to lift and carry). As with all my tool purchases, I budget it into the first project that requires it. I will be using the hoe dig into the hillside for my new home foundation, so It is part of the house cost. The stumps are just a bonus

 

[Charlesaf3]

yep, some stumps are even tough going with my woods bh80 backhoe.

 

[nitrors4]

Sounds good......I will just rent a BH or stump grinder.

I cannot pull the trigger on a BH for my M5040.....Too much $$$$

 

[Charlesaf3]

I love my backhoe. But honestly, I'm not going to tell you to buy one - renting a mini-ex for the jobs you do will probably work out better. The backhoe is a bit of a luxury.

The grapple is quite useful, just not necessarily for stumps of large size. Once again, take a look at the millonzi lightweight ones - surprisingly cheap.

 

[nitrors4]

I can get the 48" for $1,300.00, but I am looking at 3-4 weeks. I think the local one will do just fine and I don't have to wait. If I don't get the mess out of my pasture and cut back the weeds my grass will be a thing of the past. LOL I have some super weed that grows 7 foot tall and turns into a mini tree. Very dense and kills all the grass.

I should be leaving from work around 10 to go get evertyhing.