What's your technique for removing trees/brush with your grapple? Here's mine....

[Piston]

This is the first post of this thread from 6-11-2013 by Piston:


Bumping it to get some more methods from others.

I’ve adapted my methods since then

 

[Xfaxman]

 

[BackRoad]

^^^^^
If knocking down trees was addictive...you're like hooked on crack!!! (he says respectfully!)

Most measure tree knock-down diameter in inches...you can measure them in feet...

You took it to a whole new level!

Nicely done - I seldom have equipment envy, but you did it right!!!

 

[masscity]

Easy way to open up a picture without having to back out is to middle click on it and open as many as you want. I usually open at least 6 at a time. Plus you can middle click on anything to open

it in a new window.

Also middle click and hold and it will scroll slow or quickly.

 

[FTG-05]

I’ve adapted my methods since then

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Andrew Camarata is that you???

 

[My Hoe]

Cool..


BTW - Center Button push (mouse wheel) with also open in a new tab

Midniteoy,

Seven years after you wrote this and yet I still had never heard this until you suggested it! As I'm currently resting an overworked arm, your "Center Button Push" (on the mouse wheel) couldn't have come at a better time!

Great discussion on pushing trees over, too, by everyone! I'd heard (and forgotten) about the added dangers of pushing over dead trees, as pointed out by "Piston," (IIRC) which is something I could have (otherwise) seen myself just doing without thinking about it first.

Great thread! P.S.: Piston's big excavator, in the snowy, piney woods looks like a scene out of the Discovery channels's "Goldrush." Parker Schnable--is that you? LOL

 

[Xfaxman]

This is the first post of this thread from 6-11-2013 by Piston:

Piston said:
I had a member ask me about how I use my grapple for removing trees and grubbing brush. I figured rather than keep it a private conversation, I'd start a thread on it so other's could benefit as well. Not only that, but I'd like to be sure that what I tell him, is considered safe and effective among other grapple users as well. In addition, I'm always open to learning new ways of operation!
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I hope this post benefits someone and starts a chain reaction for other's to post their methods. I'm always willing to learn new ways of doing things.

Bumping it to get some more methods from others.

Time for another thread bump for the members that have not seen it.

 

[Rockbadchild]

wow I am impress, I would've never thought you could remove trees this big .... I utilize two different technique, for smaller trees 6 to 8inch diameter I basically use the same technique as you but since they are small trees I bend the tree with the grappler open (just like you ) the loader is 4 to 5 feet high ( taller the tree higher the bucket like you demonstrated ) drive forward and culling the bucket up with the tilt... for shrubs since they are flimsy I have to go for the roots once they are on their side then I close the grappler on them and rip them off...

 

[Xfaxman]

Time for another thread bump for the members that have not seen this thread.
Adding tree stumps to the list in the title of this thread.

This old cedar tree stump measured 10 inches across:

Grappled it with the center tines of the Gorilla Grapple:

Raised the boom and the rear wheels came off of the ground:

Retracted the boom, drove forward, raised the boom and the stump came up:

 

[Rockbadchild]

I took my tractor and grappler in the bush a few weeks ago, doing some trails widening and cleaning. I also pushed a few dead trees down. I was fully aware of the danger of this task but yet despite my best effort get the best angle and height every tree I knock down seem to snap in half and fell back on itself towards the tractor it was the most uncomfortable and scared I've been in a while... my advice is, it's not worth it.

 

[Richard]

Nice thread.... don't think I've ever seen it.

I use my hoe to dig up part of the root ball and leave part of the ground untouched to (hopefully) act as a hinge to keep tree from falling a direction I don't want.

My wife's cousin lives next door. Had a tree that was too close to the house, wanted it down....didn't trust himself with a Stihl... I said what about digging it.... he thought that was interesting.

I've shared these before so if you've think you've seen them, you might have.

 

[Richard]

Best part was, I got to make the mess, drop the tree..... when done, I got to go home. He & his helper used his smaller tractor/loader to cut it up and dispose of it.

 

[two_bit_score]

I use my JD110 TLB front bucket or even pallet forks to push trees over. Depending on the ground conditions and the age/size of the trees I may also use the backhoe to push them over.

 

[WranglerX]

Don't have grapple.... Chain saw, 1/4 X 30 foot chain and DIY brush forks that fit FEL....

 

[BnRidge]

Pushing over trees with the grapple here would result in dead limbs falling onto the tractor, and onto me. And leave behind a pile of tangled roots still on the ground. I would just as soon not repeat that. I prefer cutting larger stuff off at the ground, into 15ft or 1500lb chunks and grappling it away. Stuff that's hung up gets a chain and pull. 3-10ft chains are versatile and gets me out of the way. On another note, I was able to witness the construction of a commercial building from our nearby office. With the right equipment (excavator and dozer), they were able to make very quick work of a forest of trees by knocking them over and crunching them into dump trucks. I don't have that kind of equipment.

 

[Richard]

I use my JD110 TLB front bucket or even pallet forks to push trees over. Depending on the ground conditions and the age/size of the trees I may also use the backhoe to push them over.

(late, I know)

So in a sense, you are "driving" over the tree to push it down with your loader?

I thought about that because "I can keep driving" (pushing) BUT... I also felt/feared that you risk the root ball popping up UNDER the front of your machine. My belly has no protection so if that were to happen, I'd be at risk of something getting smashed or snagged. Also, that puts me closer to the tree so if something falls, (my thinking is) if I can be 10/15 feet away from tree and a (thin) roof over me, I have a bit more protection than if I'm closer to the tree.

Ultimately, my real concern is the root ball popping up under the engine. Has that ever happened? I would think you might get more pushing power by driving over but, I don't know that to be factual.

 

[2manyrocks]

I may be misunderstanding what is being said, but my assumption is that you have more force available by using the hydraulic boom on the BH than by trying to drive over or push over a tree with the tractor. Using the boom certainly allows for more visibility to see what's going on.

To me, one risk of using a backhoe is that you're right under the tree canopy where dead limbs can fall on the operator's station. One of my relatives has a tree cutting service. If he isn't sure about how about a tree will fall when near a house, he has a long cable that he uses to pull the tree with a 100HP or so tractor. The tractor isn't under the tree canopy this way, but the operator has to be sure to maintain tension on the cable so the tree doesn't jump in a bad direction.

 

[two_bit_score]

(late, I know)

So in a sense, you are "driving" over the tree to push it down with your loader?

I thought about that because "I can keep driving" (pushing) BUT... I also felt/feared that you risk the root ball popping up UNDER the front of your machine. My belly has no protection so if that were to happen, I'd be at risk of something getting smashed or snagged. Also, that puts me closer to the tree so if something falls, (my thinking is) if I can be 10/15 feet away from tree and a (thin) roof over me, I have a bit more protection than if I'm closer to the tree.

Ultimately, my real concern is the root ball popping up under the engine. Has that ever happened? I would think you might get more pushing power by driving over but, I don't know that to be factual.

I don’t drive over the tree. I put the bucket high on the tree and lower the bucket and drive forward a little. Then reposition the bucket on the tree and push/drive forward some more.

By this time I can tell if the tree is going to Easily pop out or not. I can try to break it out with the loader bucket or if it’s stubborn I may back up and drop the out riggers and break some roots with the backhoe. Just keep working at it until I get it loose.

I never drive the Tractor over the tree.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

.

 

[two_bit_score]