Tractor vs Tree: how do I win?

Investorguy · Mar 4, 2006

There's the tree, that is my tractor. I don't have a BH.

Tree needs to go. What's the best way to go about getting rid of it?

beenthere · Mar 4, 2006

Dig around it with the bucket and try to cut some of the roots. When you can get under some top roots with the bucket lip, then curl the bucket back, push forward, and the tree should begin to topple over. If not, go on the other side and to the same thing. Eventually you will pop it out of the ground.
You get a lot of upward lift by curling the bucket.

BamaRob · Mar 4, 2006

I would agree with everything beenthere said, but, in addition, after you dig around it and cut a few roots, put your bucket up on the tree about 4' or 5' from the ground and push. Often, you can push on the tree a little higher up like this and get it to push over some. When it pushes over some, if things go good, it'll expose the roots (maybe even the tap root). Then, you can drop the bucket and get your cutting edge in there on the tap root, then curl up as beenthere described. If it doesn't pop loose, go to the other side and repeat this process. Keep working it back and forth cutting roots as you go. It'll finally turn loose.

Good luck,

BR

1948berg · Mar 5, 2006

Chainsaw, and some roundup on the stub. Old chain and cut along the ground. No fun, but the fastest and safest way.

Egon · Mar 5, 2006

You can also back up to it and see if the three point lifts it.

Egon

JerryG · Mar 5, 2006

I have taken out a lot of trees that size by just putting the bucket on the tree about 4' up and pushing. Then they usually go over enough for the root ball to pop up on one side. Put the bucket under that side and take the tree out. It does help alot if it isn't really dry.

MarkV · Mar 5, 2006

You will get better results if you add a load to the 3 pt. for traction.

MarkV

1948berg · Mar 5, 2006

If you have many trees like that, and you need to have the roots out as well, you can make a super lifter; Replace the bucket with a long vertical hydraulic cylinder, put a "foot" on it , find a way to attach a chain to it, then drive with your FEL close to the tree, fasten the chain to the tree and start lifting, no strain to the lifter or the tractor, just follow the tree as it rises. Super for poles as well.
New project?

Glenn9643 · Mar 5, 2006

I had to remove a chinese tallow about that size last year. A toothbar helps with getting under some of the roots around the tree to break them loose. Do you have forks for your FEL? My forks are sharpened at the ends, and I pushed them together to make a flat blade about 10" wide. Used the end of the forks to cut through some of the deeper roots that I couldn't get to with the bucket. Without that I don't think I would have been able to get the stump. Tree species have various root systems and some are easier to remove than others. I would have thought the chinese tallow would be pretty easy but learned different; it was about as bad as trying to dig out a locust!

EddieWalker · Mar 5, 2006

I'd dig around it to create a shallow ditch. Then I'd wait for a good rain. Go out there as soon as the ground is dry enough to drive on it and give the tree a good push as high as you can. If it doesn't go in one direction, try another.

Trees fall over ALLOT easier when the ground is wet. They also have one direction that they fall over easier than any other.

Eddie