seeking suggestions for tree removal...

[/pine]

Not exactly the typical tree problem...

This tree originally fell across the river in the early fall almost 2000' upstream.... high water this past week deposited it in my swimming/fishing hole and it has to go...

I have only seen the river come up as high as it did a couple of other times in over 40 years...so waiting on the next flood won't do...The river widens and gets shallower just below the downstream end so it is not going to move on its own naturally...

The tree is probably close to 80' long and is about 24" diameter at the base...

here is the problem....there is no way to get a bigger machine (than my compact tractor) to lift or pull it out and the tractor I have is way too light to move it as is...

My first inclination is to get a pneumatic chainsaw and cut it into manageable size pieces and drag or winch it out in pieces...but I doubt I can find/rent a pneumatic saw within 100 miles of here...

So while waiting on the river to get back to normal and it gets a little warmer I am looking for some ideas to get it out...

BTW...the normal depth of the water at the base end of the tree is close 5'-6'...it seems to be suspended some by the upper end so I may be able to swing the base end closer to the bank but that does not really solve the problem...(also BTW...it snowed today)

 

[SPIKER]

I would say wade out & take off some of the small branches off the top, the tree would be great cover for fishing Now as long as it is not full of hooks you could even play out on it when swimming...

if you REALLY have to move it out try & get off the roots and sections in chunks to lighten it up and pull out in sections for firewood or even maybe haul out to local logger for some sunken boards. might have to let them have it just to get rid of it though.
Calling someone might also help but be aware working in creeks river etc can require government OK in many areas...

Mark

 

[/pine]

I would say wade out & take off some of the small branches off the top, the tree would be great cover for fishing Now as long as it is not full of hooks you could even play out on it when swimming...

if you REALLY have to move it out try & get off the roots and sections in chunks to lighten it up and pull out in sections for firewood or even maybe haul out to local logger for some sunken boards. might have to let them have it just to get rid of it though.
Calling someone might also help but be aware working in creeks river etc can require government OK in many areas...
Mark

As I mentioned there is no way to get a machine capable of removing it as is out of there otherwise I would just hire a crane...I do want to use it for firewood (oak)...
As for working in the stream...the law states I can treat the river (bottom) the same as the rest of my land...I own both sides of the stream so it's not an issue...

The neighbor upstream had already removed what limbs he could...beavers have given up on it as far as I can tell...

 

[Ken73]

Just a thought, and I'm by no means anywhere close to an expert, but - can you wade out there, put a winch on the root area and bring it to the shoreline? Chop the stump off, winch a little more in, chop a little more, repeat until it's manageable?

 

[/pine]

Just a thought, and I'm by no means anywhere close to an expert, but - can you wade out there, put a winch on the root area and bring it to the shoreline? Chop the stump off, winch a little more in, chop a little more, repeat until it's manageable?

probably what I will first attempt...I have a 6 ton elec. winch that mounts on my tractor but not sure I want to use it that way...I'm considering ways to anchor the winch to a bigger tree...

 

[tractchores]

Doesn't look too bad for a compact tractor to move if you can cut it in half or a couple of times and then get a chain or cable around it. I move pretty large trees with my B2920 that way, the key will be to try and hook it up so that the end lifts up a little and doesn't catch on stuff. A 3 pt logging winch would be a possibility to get it out too.

In a pinch you can also use a come along, I've moved big trees in tough places that way too. You just need something to anchor it to and a lot of patience. I use a 3 ton one with a 6 ton chain (so I don't break it and have it snap back)

 

[/pine]

Doesn't look too bad for a compact tractor to move if you can cut it in half or a couple of times and then get a chain or cable around it. I move pretty large trees with my B2920 that way, the key will be to try and hook it up so that the end lifts up a little and doesn't catch on stuff. A 3 pt logging winch would be a possibility to get it out too.

In a pinch you can also use a come along, I've moved big trees in tough places that way too. You just need something to anchor it to and a lot of patience. I use a 3 ton one with a 6 ton chain (so I don't break it and have it snap back)

Will probably do something like that with a combination of my winch and some come alongs as well as the tractor...the steep bank is going to be an issue I'm afraid...

 

[Rustyiron]

Ya got room to pull it downstream? Throw a cable on it and leave it ready until you have just enough "extra" water to help your tractor at least to get it out of your "hole" and maybe closer to the bank.

 

[/pine]

Ya got room to pull it downstream? Throw a cable on it and leave it ready until you have just enough "extra" water to help your tractor at least to get it out of your "hole" and maybe closer to the bank.

immediately downstream on this side the bank flattens out and is very soft for about 75' inland...it also belongs to my neighbor who keeps a really nice lawn and it would make a big mess (even if I didn't keep getting stuck) I could possibly do that from the other side but the closest ford is 3-4 miles south by road...there is a closer ford to the north but can't get to the tree from there without cutting a new road over land I don't own...

 

[jerrybob]

Can you float it?? We removed a tree (probably about 3/4 size of yours) a few years back by using straps and plastic 50 gallon drums. Once we got it off the bottom....we pulled it to shore and cut it in shorter pieces. We then winched the pieces up the bank. Worked for us.....good luck.

 

[/pine]

Can you float it?? We removed a tree (probably about 3/4 size of yours) a few years back by using straps and plastic 50 gallon drums. Once we got it off the bottom....we pulled it to shore and cut it in shorter pieces. We then winched the pieces up the bank. Worked for us.....good luck.

I've not ruled out using some big tire tubes and trying to float it...but I think the canopy end of the tree (larger limbs) may be a problem...but if I could float the trunk to the surface I may be able to cut it down to manageable size pieces...

 

[jerrybob]

I've not ruled out using some big tire tubes and trying to float it...but I think the canopy end of the tree (larger limbs) may be a problem...but if I could float the trunk to the surface I may be able to cut it down to manageable size pieces...

Even if you can get it up off the bottom....doesn't take much....you might have some luck pulling it to shore. I agree those longer limbs will need to come off but if you can get even a little lift.....you can roll it and remove some of the limbs. The drums worked for us but we needed quite a few......like 10 or 12. Luckily.....a buddy had the drums.

 

[MossRoad]

That's a really nice looking place you've got there. :thumbsup:

Winch and cables is going to be your best option. Don't forget that you can use straps to temporarily put pulleys on trees near the bank and not harm the tree bark. That may make it easier for you to get closer than you think you can.

What ever you decide to do... take pictures. We love this stuff! :fishing:

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

Don't re invent the wheel , just throw a chain around it with a snatch block tie off one end to that tree I see there and the other to your truck hitch and pull it out you could be done in 1/2 an hour or talk about it for weeks

 

[KTurner]

My first inclination is to get a pneumatic chainsaw and cut it into manageable size pieces and drag or winch it out in pieces...but I doubt I can find/rent a pneumatic saw within 100 miles of here...

How about using a man powered saw? You could do a awful lot of sawing by hand in the time it would take you to go get that pneumatic saw and return it.

Keith

 

[Ted Summey]

Seems that you have a couple of trees big enough to attach a block and tackle to. With a 4 to 1 or 5 to 1 advantage you should be able to use a tractor to pull the tree to the bank and up enough to cut the thing into sections that can be removed.

No matter what you plan it looks like somebody is gonna get wet

 

[MarkV]

I think I would wait until the water was lower and cut it up with my regular chainsaw. They cut ice with a chainsaw all the time so as long as you have a long enough bar to reach the tree at low water you will be fine.

MarkV

 

[MotorSeven]

That's a really nice looking place you've got there. :thumbsup:

Winch and cables is going to be your best option. Don't forget that you can use straps to temporarily put pulleys on trees near the bank and not harm the tree bark. That may make it easier for you to get closer than you think you can.

What ever you decide to do... take pictures. We love this stuff! :fishing:

This is what I would do. I have to get into my creek all the time to cut up snags and yours is how they start, one long tree, then everything piles up against it. Before you know it the creek says,"I'm going around this thing" and cuts a new creek in my pasture.

Dump out your bar oil, & put Canola Oil in your chainsaw oil reservoir. The Canola works fine for bar lube while you cut the tree up and yes you can stick your bar under water(not the powerhead) and it will cut. When your all finished, dump out the Canola and replace with bar oil, then run the saw until the bar oil is back on the chain. Canola left in the saw for too long will congeal and clog the oil pump.

 

[Piperflyer]

This is the way to go

I think I would wait until the water was lower and cut it up with my regular chainsaw. They cut ice with a chainsaw all the time so as long as you have a long enough bar to reach the tree at low water you will be fine.

MarkV

 

[rekees4300]

The best way to eat an elephant is one piece at a time. Wait until summer for the water to go down then simply use a chainsaw to cut it into manageable pieces.