Tree spade?

[DougU]

ANyone had any experience using a tree spade with a compact tractor? I have a NH 35 with a 6' FEL and would like to have a spade to move small trees on our property. I have seen some that operate off the three point hitch, and ones that work off the front as a skidsteer attachment (with quick attach plate?).

I could move a lot of trees in the coming years and think this would be a good investment. Love to hear of anyones experience, pro or con. I do realize I would be limited to moving mostly 3" or under size trees.

 

[kuby]

looking for the same thing.

old post

 

[KennyV]

You are right about the tree size … may go a little larger. These have looked to be well made. And you can use them front or rear. http://www.qualityweldingservice.com/treespade.html . At $4500. looks good. I have some of their other attachments, Great Co. KennyV.

 

[texbaylea]

Take a look at TreeToad. www.treetoad.com. These are perhaps better suited to use with compact tractors. Manually set spades and foot operated jack but at a more reasonable price for homeowner use.

They seem to be having a sale on now.

Vernon

 

[OkeeDon]

There is a period in your URL that is preventing it from working. Try this: www.treetoad.com.

 

[BeeFarmer]

I used a treetoad the other day for about 10 trees... I was beat up and worn out by the end of the day. Thank goodness there were three of us!

 

[texbaylea]

Don

Thanks. Putting links in messages is sometimes tricky.

Vernon

 

[MossRoad]

(Thanks Don. I edited the original as well /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif)

MR

 

[MossRoad]

<font color="blue"> I was beat up and worn out by the end of the day. </font>

But the ad uses words like simple, fast and effortlessly... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[BeeFarmer]

Well, try pounding in three spades into hard clay and root to remove 6 ft + pines. We put vegetable oil on the spade to get them to slide in the clay. After you pound the spades in it is pretty much a done deal... remember you've got to open a hole first for a tree to go in... so you end up digging twice the number of holes.

 

[RobS]

We had a tree moved at our old house for an addition. The guy had a tandem axle tree spade truck and it was still a lot of work. He had me soak the ground ahead of time (more for the tree I think). His truck had a water tank which sprayed water onto the spades. Even with serious hydraulic pressure he had to work each spade up and down several times to penetrate deep enough. It was a lot of fun to watch.

The smaller tree toads probably work OK but I cannot imagine pounding the spades in on the larger models. And yes, that's twice per tree unless you're digging to pot them for sale /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Glenn9643]

Doug,
I've never used a tree spade, but moved a few oaks last year using my FEL pallet forks pushed together to form a wide "shovel". Set the forks at an angle to drive them down in and under the tree and dug all around it and then lifted it out and moved it to its new home. It worked very well, but probably wouldn't if the ground was really dry. With care you can retain most of the dirt around the root ball.