Trying out a Brush Grubber

[nikdfish]

After running the rotary cutter over all the saplings I dared to drive over, I still have a bunch that were too thick to try that - & a bunch of stumps that have been a pain to try to grub out with box blade scarifiers & FEL bucket.

I thought I'd try a different tack and look into pulling rather than pushing. I had to send back a defective Christmas gift that had been purchased via Amazon. Rather than wait for the same item to come back in-stock, I used the store credit to pick up a BAC Indus. BG-08 brush grubber.

It works as advertised. I hooked one end of the chain to the front of the frame, the other to the grubber. The main thing is getting enough traction. Some of the areas I had been working in have the sod scrapped off & sandy loam makes for spinning wheels! The approach that worked was to use additional length(s) of chain to get the wheels on firm ground. The biggest hassle was constantly dismounting & getting back on the tractor.

I put a short vid on youtube.

Nick

 

[Markcuda]

This has some close ups of the item.
YouTube - Brush Grubber Tree Tongs

 

[nikdfish]

sorry about not providing a close-up in the first post ...

The version they are shipping is a little different from the manuf. web site. The ones being shipped appear to have cast components on the "arms" rather than bar stock.


Nick

 

[Markcuda]

On Youtube, there are lots of videos of this gizmo

 

[Carykong]

I guess ya know that you will get a lot more traction if you attach your grubber to the drawbar and go forward rather than back up

 

[nikdfish]

I guess ya know that you will get a lot more traction if you attach your grubber to the drawbar and go forward rather than back up

Probably a good idea, but no drawbar ... haven't put one on yet

(also not real good at looking back over my shoulder - too many fused vertibrae in my neck )


Nick

 

[Carykong]

use your boxblade as a drawbar and get a mirror. good luck with the back

 

[wally hamma]

Would a chain work just as good? I would use the fel to play bull dozer,no
bigger than that was.

 

[nikdfish]

Would a chain work just as good? I would use the fel to play bull dozer,no
bigger than that was.

The FEL was what I tryed first. It took way too much digging before there was enough leverage to get them out working from the bottom. Way too limber to just push from up higher - they act like a shock absorber & the root just stays put.

The advantage over just the chain is that the grubber clamps on firmly & doesn't slide. Generally the trunk is horizontal for a while before the root even starts to break loose.


Nick

 

[nikdfish]

use your boxblade as a drawbar and get a mirror. good luck with the back

Actually my original intent was to do just that... I ended up hooking up in front cause it was quicker & easier at the time, especially when carrying the chains & grubber around in the bucket between trees. I'll give the rear pull approach a try next time out.

I really do appreciate any & all observations & tips!

Nick

 

[Kays Supply]

If you get a tree bigger than you can handle you will slip going backwards, but you can flip over going forward. Just a word of caution.

 

[nikdfish]

Thanks for the reminder. I have the box blade mounted & figured I would be running the chain underneath it. If it is lowered to just above grade (the scarifiers aren't down) my assumption is that it should serve as a safety device in regard to the potential for flip-over.

Nick

 

[wally hamma]

If you google tree shears, they mount on a fel or 3 piont hitch. they look like
a neet toy then you sell it after you are done. No holes,just spray stumps with brush killer. Let me kwow how they work.

 

[TripleR]

Thanks for posting this, I have been considering buying one; looks like a good product.

 

[jake98]

I've used mine a few times and it worked fine.

 

[wally hamma]

has any one tried a tree shear?they look like they would be the ticket, but they wiegh so much. the big 20'' wiegh 2000 lbs, thats getting close to my limit on a deere 5525.

 

[k0ua]

The tree-grabber looks cool and may be faster, but I have pulled dozens of little tree's like that with just wrapping the log chain around them 3 or 4 times and hooking it to itself. It rarely slips, it nearly always bites in and yanks them right out.! Of course you need a "groundman" to keep from getting on and off the tractor all day.



James K0UA

 

[studor]

Is there not a place to put a tractor hook on the bottom of the rear axle? I use a hook on mine and just put the chain on it -- way easier than a drawbar and as low as possible on the tractor from a safety standpoint. Even pulling from the rear I lose traction when pulling spotted alder

 

[JohninCT]

I think you might find it more effective if you attach it low on the tree (at ground level) and route your chain up over a wheel or a post notched on top to give you an up pull instead of a sideways pull on the tree For a wheel, look to get yourself an old wooden cable reel or a large steel car or truck wheel from a junkyard. Or just use a 4 x 4 post with a notch cut in the top to guide the chain.

Watch this vid and see how this small lever grubber does it Same principle.
YouTube - Metal-handled Brush Grubber Demonstration

 

[JohninCT]

The biggest hassle was constantly dismounting & getting back on the tractor.Nick

Yeah this could be a real drag if you have lots of trees to pull out and no ground helper to connect/disconnect.

That's why it think something like this is a good idea
Tractor Forks, Bucket Forks, Loader Forks

Several people on TBN have built similar tools based on the same concept Do a TBN search for "tree getter" and you'll see many good ones