Truck VS Tree

[Wal]

I haven't done this before, so tell me if I'm crazy. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif
I am just starting to clear an area for a 10x16 equiptment shed on our new five acres of woodland. I need to remove several white oak trees of about 3-6 inches in diameter at the base. Here is what I have in mind. Cut the trees off at about 3 feet high, then hook up a logging chain towards the top of what is remaining and pull the stump out with my Dodge Dakota (I don't have a tractor yet /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif I was thinking I could attach the chain to where the trailer saftety chains normally go on my cat. 3 hitch. Unfortunately, my Dakota does not have 4wd, but it does have a limited slip differential. Does this have any possibility of working???

 

[Bird]

<font color=blue>Does this have any possibility of working???</font color=blue>

That's one of those "may or may not" situations./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif You'll never know until you try it; depends on type of soil you have, how much moisture is in it, just how big the tree is, etc. In your situation, I'd go for it and find out.

Bird

 

[cowboydoc]

Wal,
Be careful. I once saw a guy do that and pulled his bumper right off of his truck. Also if you use chains make sure and put a blanket or something over the chain so if it snaps it doesn't come through your back window and knock you in the head.

 

[ejb]

I doubt it will work...you would be suprised how much more pulling power a tractor has, even a relatively small one, versus a pickup. Sure the truck will have more hp, but the low gear ratio on a tractor gives it the edge...no harm trying though.

 

[Wal]

Cowboydoc,

I'm going to be attaching the chain to the safety chain holes on the hitch, not the bumper.
If I pull my hitch off, I'll REALLY be unhappy. /w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif What I'm kind a'thinking is that
I will lose traction and spin my wheels before I do anything
serious to the hitch or chain. I just hope the tree gives up first /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[TerryinMD]

Wal,

I would suggest that you either get a rental backhoe or a contractor to get those stumps out. Oak trees have a pretty good tap root and can be a pain to get out.

Look around where you have your property to see if any contractors are doing work. If they have equipement in the area, ask them to remove the stumps. This will save you the drayage charges. I just had a small area cleared on my property and did what I just suggested. $65/hr for the backhoe and $15/hr for a helper to watch. $80-$120 to remove some Box Elders and Black Oak trees and stumps.

How much will it cost to repair your truck if something breaks??

Good Luck!!!

 

[Joesgoats]

Walter, I have a Ford F150, 4wd which I used to pull out some overgrown forsythia (sp?). These were very old bushes, and each one was about 10 ft. in diameter (the branches I mean, the trunks were about 1-2", but each bunch had many small trunks).

What I found is that I would have to make a running start to get the mass to move, then it pulled OK. But I was slipping quite a lot even so. And they have very shallow, but broad roots.

I would worry that by attaching high up on the tree you will be pulling up on your rear end and increasing the chances of slipping.

Joe

 

[Gomez]

I've pulled out many small stump with my F150, 4x4. Here's a few things I've found that help.
As Joe noted, a running start is usually required. Of course, be extremely careful when doing this. I use a snatch strap which has some elasticity to it. I'll idle forward until the line tightens up, back off and do it again, repeat this several times. You should get a feel if the stump is moving. Another thing I've done is take a pressure washer to the roots and try to get as much root to dirt contact washed away as possible. Also, cut whatever roots you can get to. Finally, it helps if you have a good (1/2 ton) amount of weight in the bed.

Make sure any spectators are well away.

Good Luck

 

[JonE]

I pulled out a half dead crab apple tree about 4" in diameter with my toyota 4x4. The truck was on pavement and in low range. I still spun all tires. Then I backed up (a little) and it came out. I would be impressed if those oak trees came out with a p/u truck. But you have the right idea, leverage.

 

[Youare]

Years ago before the days of trucks and tractors stumps were pulled by animals. One of the ways they used to do it was place a large diameter wheel next to the stump to be pulled, run a chain over the top of the wheel down to the base of the stump. As the chain is pulled the wheel transmits the lateral or horizontial force to vertical lift as well as a little side pull. Most tree stumps will resist a laterial or horizontial pull but can't withstand the vertical force.

I have also used what is called a handyman's jack with good results. You have to dig around one of the larger roots, wrap a length of chain around it and the lifting tounge of the jack. I place a large piece of wood under the foot of the jack to keep it form sinking too far into the ground. I have removed several hardwood stumps of trees which were over 12" in diameter.

Good luck.

 

[MarkV]

Wal,

I think I would wrap the chain around the ball rather than us the saftey chain points. I am thinking that if you make a running start that the saftey chain hook points may not take it. I could be wrong, but I would hate to see you screw up your hitch.

MarkV

 

[pdxman]

Wal, I've done quite a few alder tree stumps the way you are describing. The difference though is I have a 1 ton diesel which has more torque to work with and alder trees somewhat weaker in the root system. I've done maples though too and are probably equivelant to an oak. Anyway, my recommendation from what I found works best is to have your pulling stump higher than 3'. I'd leave mine around 5-6' and chainsaw yourself a notch on the backside to keep your chain from slipping down. I also found it works best if you can have some firewood or other weight in the bed which helps the pulling...especially if you can go downhill. When all hooked up and ready to go, if you put pressure on the chain and give it a slight pulls, you can have a buddy watch from a safe distance to see how it is moving. sometimes this slow rocking will really loosen it up and make it easier. If it still is rock solid though, it'd probably best to give up before doing any damage. I've done about 20 or so of my trees around 8-10"" in diameter and no mishaps so far. Those first few small tugs though will tell you what your in for.

 

[Hillbilly]

I seriously have my doubts,like Bird said try it and find out,but be careful,you will probably need some weight in the bed if you want to even have a chance of success,I have pulled a lot of stuff with a pickup 4x4,you might manage to get a 3'' sappling out of the ground,but a 6 " I do not think so,You would be ahead to hire a dozer to come in and do the job in about an hour or two at the most.A two wheel drive pickup is likely to set there and smoke the tires.A 4x4 you could damage your driveshaft(like I did one time).

 

[Joe_W]

I'll tell you my experience doing what you are thinking about. I hooked my chain to the drawbar on my Kubota 2910, wrapped the other end around the 5" diameter walnut tree at about 3' off the ground (i had previously cut the tree off at about 4'). I pulled several times and didn't make much progress, so I opened the throttle and got a running start. The chain peeled the bark off the stump, slid up and off the top, and I got a very brief glance at it as it came straight for my head ( it only took an instant to happen). The only thing that saved my life was the chain had to wrap around my boxblade before it could get to me. I promptly coiled the chain up and put it away, then checked my shorts for skid marks. The stump still sits there mocking me as I drive past it. This fall when they start building our house, I will have the last laugh as I let the backhoe operator rip it out.

Revenge is sweet !!

Joe W.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

You are crazy (you asked). It does not have any possibility of working, unless you free the stump roots first. Dig down around the stump (at least on the opposite side) and chop the roots off down at least 18 inches. But don't mistreat your truck this way. Those roots are VERY tough, as they had the strength to hold that tree in an upright position. Follow Hillbilly's recommendation, and get the right equipment to do the job.

 

[kerr]

Cut em off short,add 1 small bag charcoal.Burn out the stumps.

 

[Tdog]

Wal,
I've done what you describe several times using a heavy chain and a come along. But first, as several have suggested, get your ax and a shovel & cut as many of the roots growing out from the base as you can. You'll have to dig a bit to expose them. I've taken down larger trees than 6". Some were in the 12"+ range. Also, I leave the tree intact when I do this. I'll throw a rope up as high as I can into the crown of the tree & get it tangled up there - - with enough roots cut, you can sometimes pull the tree over by rocking it by pulling on the other end of the rope - - without using the chain & come along.
If you can't tell, I don't have a tractor yet, either. Someday.

 

[RobertN]

When I was a kid, we were out four wheeling in the Jeep, and came across a guy that had stuck his 2wd toyota. He asked for a pull, and my Dad said sure, no problem. The guy already had a chain attached. My Dad securely attached the other end of the chain to the Jeep, and gave the guy a tug. Presto! Off came the Toy bumper!

Always use a frame connection, never th bumper, or spring hanger...Unless, of course, you don't like the bumper you have...

RobertN in Shingle Springs Calif

 

[RobertN]

Don\'t hook chain to trailer ball!

I have read here, and in 4x4 magazines, to never, never, never ever hook a chain around a ball hitch and pull. Apparently, althought they can support a lot of wieght, they do not have much shear strength, and will bust. Maybe one of our resident engineers could elaborate...

RobertN in Shingle Springs Calif

 

[RPM]

Re: Don\'t hook chain to trailer ball!

It's the bending that causes the problems. Much better off using the pin to hold the chain in the receiver. Or much much better still use a strap. Chains are evil things.