what is better

[wally hamma]

I have about 75 ac. of over grown trees and brush. What would handle a shear better a skid steer(tire or tracked) or excavator also what size? Trees are hedge , thorny locuss, elm, wild cherry,and lots of brush in there also.
land around is is about 3000 an ac. for hunting.

 

[SandburRanch]

I have about 75 ac. of over grown trees and brush. What would handle a shear better a skid steer(tire or tracked) or excavator also what size? Trees are hedge , thorny locuss, elm, wild cherry,and lots of brush in there also.
land around is is about 3000 an ac. for hunting.

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The Hedge and Locust pretty much rules out pneumatic anything on the ground and watch where you step too.

 

[treman]

WH,
Have you considered having someone come through with a brush grinder/fecon and remove everything smaller than say 6 inches this may cost some money but would be well worth it in my opinion. I spend my winters at work clearing fence lines and the amount of time it takes to clear out the small stuff is easily 60-70% of the time spent clearing overall. another positive note to this would be that your left with only firewood sized trees and not have to bother around with the brushy stuff.

 

[fishfactor]

treman is right. A mulcher would be your best bet. If you do decide to get a skid steer, a tire machine is useless if the ground is even remotely soft. You can put the steel tracks over the tires but be sure they are solid or foam filled.

 

[jbooth]

I run a heavy duty bush hog and a saw on my skid steer. The bush hog will handle up to 3-4 in stuff and then the saw will take anything up 24". Saw will cut the smaller trees up to 14" in one pass, but anything bigger will require working 2 sides of the tree. I'm in KS. and cut the same hedge, locusts, and etc. that you mentioned. With the hedge and locust be prepared to spray and respray for 2-3 years after initial cutting. My saw will actually cut below ground level but pulls harder with dirt involved. Agree with fish factor about the soft ground and skid steer being helpless. We generally have either enough dry weather or frozen ground in KS that I can have a pretty good run. I also run the sealant in my tires as the locust thorns will puncture about any tire out there. Originally experienced trouble keeping air in the tires but since the sealant, it is no problem. The solid puncture proof tires or tracks would be nice but I can't justify them.