What equipment to use on sloped land?

jhwillis8384 · Aug 6, 2013

I'm looking to clear a slope of about 20% to plant some grass for a small horse pasture. It's about 180' wide and 550' long. There is a steeper part, but it seems to be doing just fine with existing trees and vegitation so it will probably stay. The main question is, what kind of equipment would I use to clear it? Mostly 4-6" hickory saplings, with a few larger (20" diameter) trees (maybe a dozen) and a few larger pines. Mostly underbrush and saplings. I can cut most, if not all, with my chainsaw and spray or cut the underbrush with a brush cutter, like a weed eater on steroids. I'm hoping to clear the area and plant shortly after to minimize erosion. Ground is mostly sandy, but there is a lot of organic matter due to being overgrown for so long. There will be a path for a few horses, but it will be a backwards "C", instead of straight up and down. The slope is only for about 150' of the 550' of length. I have no idea what to use though. Mini excavator, or a small bulldozer? There really isn't room right now to get any large equipment in since there is only a walking trail down there now. Looking to start this winter when the chiggers and ticks aren't as thick. Any help is GREATLY appreciated folks!!!

redprospector · Aug 6, 2013

Is the slope 20% or 20 degrees? Big difference.
I treat 20% pretty much the same as flat. I don't know how thick it is, but mulching might be the ticket.
Other than that, I'd say a small dozer would probably do good too.

Andy

jhwillis8384 · Aug 6, 2013

20% slope. For 200 feet of run, it drops roughly 41 feet. 50 in one spot, but I will leave that with the existing trees. Its pretty thick with brush. Mainly wild shrubbery and vines. Those and up to 6" diameter saplings make up 90% of the vegetation. I can't find any mulching companies around here, or who rent mulching equipment. I have seen some videos on YouTube and like the idea, but I don't think there is any around here. What is the going rate for man and machine? Hourly or by the acre?

Ken45101 · Aug 7, 2013

Your best bet is a dozer, IMO. An experienced operator can probably do it for the same price that it would cost you to rent a dozer and do it yourself. For those bigger trees, you probably want a medium sized dozer.

As for mulchers, check with a couple of Bobcat dealers. The local dealer rents a tracked skid steer with forestry mulcher. Five years ago, that rented for $2000/wk. I don't know the current price. But at that price level, you could probably have someone come in with a dozer and do it for a lot less.

redprospector · Aug 7, 2013

Sometimes when you compare the cost of different treatment options, they tend to get compared apples to oranges.
A dozer is a fine piece of equipment for this kind of project, but you have to consider that when he's done you still have all of the material that he pushed up to get rid of.
If price is the only consideration, then you need to figure that when the dozer pulls out you are only 1/2 done. So if the dozer is 1/2 the price of a mulcher, can you get rid of everything and still come out ahead?
I'm not saying that mulching is the only way to fly. I just did a job in the desert where mulching wasn't a viable option. Everything was grubbed up, and piled to wait until the burn ban is lifted.

Andy

stuckmotor · Aug 7, 2013

Red,
That's my idea of what a desert ought to look like. On my one trip out west, I was surprised to see red soil all over the place.

jhwillis8384 · Aug 7, 2013

I do believe you hit the nail on the head. I was originally thinking of a dozer, but I'm not sure if I can burn everything in a reasonable amount of time (1 month or so?). Not only that, the lot is fairly narrow and I'm not sure how I feel about a big slash pile with only 184 feet of width to work with. The only concern I have with mulching is the residual stump left in the ground. I'm not sure how big a sapling root ball is, but isn't there the possibility of depressions left later? I do have another small pasture if I needed to re-grade several years down the road that I could turn them in if need be. I do like the idea of having a bunch of mulch left over to use as a slow-releasing fertilizer of sorts. Thanks to all the replies so far. Very helpful in making a decision. Redprospector, do you charge by the acre or hour in NM?

jhwillis8384 · Aug 7, 2013

I want to also add that most of the trees will be re-used as trail borders as much as possible, leaving just stumps and brush.

jhwillis8384 · Aug 7, 2013

Just got off the phone with a local company that rents them. The drum head mulcher with skid steer was $3000 per week (I'm guessing 40 hours?). The also said they have an eco head which is like a bush hog with a circular saw blade instead of swinging blades. That was $2500 per week, machine and head. Those things sure are spendy.