Tree puller in action Bradco Jawz

Luke'sScreenName · May 25, 2015

So when I purchased my Kubota MX4800 I also bought a Bradco Jaws large model. I have about 30acres of overgrown woodland that was poorly logged in the past. Buying the tree and post puller was a major gamble because I was not sure how well it would work especially not being on a skid steer.
I'm sure a tracked skid steer would work better but I an truly amazed what it and my MX with loaded tires will pull up. Attached is a YouTube link and some pictures.
https://youtu.be/9rQS6wh7ZW8

https://youtu.be/9rQS6wh7ZW8

Luke'sScreenName · May 25, 2015

More trees: https://youtu.be/kVtu03glaiE

Steppenwolfe · May 25, 2015

WOW, that is really impressive, what a great implement. I don't think you can beat the MX series of tractors, they are just great tractors, all around. I'm going to take a closer look at that tree puller...

TripleR · May 25, 2015

What does a tree puller like that cost? Looks like something I might need.

rekees4300 · May 25, 2015

Very impressive! That would be perfect for my 40 acres of invasive Buckthorn. Thanks for sharing pics and videos. :thumbsup:

ovrszd · May 25, 2015

Appears to be very well built. The hinge pins are a bit short, but they appear to be large. Are they greasable?

Double jaw is great for clumps of small brush, wider bite.

You'll soon find yourself trying to pull trees that require some rocking back and forth to accomplish. Be very careful about applying compression loads on your tilt cylinders. You'll bend the rams.

Only attachment that I appreciate more than the tree puller is a Grapple. That'll be next on your shopping list!!!! Makes piling those trees a breeze!!!

CalG · May 25, 2015

Seems like that should go on the 3ph. Then with the grapple up front, Out and stacked in the same session.

C4Ranch · May 25, 2015

:thumbsup:

ishiboo · May 25, 2015

I wonder at what point a tree puller costs more money than a tree spade? Reason I ask is that birch would seemingly sell for a few hundred bucks from a nursery, not sure if those other things were good trees or just buckthorn/hybrid popular or something else invasive. But that is a lot of good-sized stuff that could be sold!

I wish I had that problem... having farmland means trees are few and far between.

ishiboo · May 25, 2015

BTW... the work done is impressive for that tractor. Is the soil pretty moist?

Don't forget a counterweight when you are doing loader work like that.

Luke'sScreenName · May 25, 2015

TripleR said:
What does a tree puller like that cost? Looks like something I might need.

I got a screaming deal from my bota dealer but everything attachments has then for $3300. Not sure if that includes hoses and the brick guard.

Thomas · May 25, 2015

That I like. :thumbsup:

Luke'sScreenName · May 25, 2015

ovrszd said:
Appears to be very well built. The hinge pins are a bit short, but they appear to be large. Are they greasable?

Double jaw is great for clumps of small brush, wider bite.

You'll soon find yourself trying to pull trees that require some rocking back and forth to accomplish. Be very careful about applying compression loads on your tilt cylinders. You'll bend the rams.

Only attachment that I appreciate more than the tree puller is a Grapple. That'll be next on your shopping list!!!! Makes piling those trees a breeze!!!

The hinge pins are greasable but the piston pivots are not. I wish they were because they are also down in the dirt.

Seemed to me that the way i was using it was fairly safe. Do y'all agree? I do hear what you are saying about compression forces. I'm also concerned about twisting force on the jaws. So far, so good.

Yes, I have a very heavy duty Land Pride root grapple that pairs very well.

Its funny that i don't really feel the need for rear ballast with the tree puller (I just keep it close to the ground) but with that heavy grapple... much more stable with 700 pounds of concrete on the back.

Luke'sScreenName · May 25, 2015

ishiboo said:
I wonder at what point a tree puller costs more money than a tree spade? Reason I ask is that birch would seemingly sell for a few hundred bucks from a nursery, not sure if those other things were good trees or just buckthorn/hybrid popular or something else invasive. But that is a lot of good-sized stuff that could be sold!

I wish I had that problem... having farmland means trees are few and far between.

Feel free to come pick up a few!

Luke'sScreenName · May 25, 2015

ishiboo said:
BTW... the work done is impressive for that tractor. Is the soil pretty moist?

Don't forget a counterweight when you are doing loader work like that.

It soil is fairly dry but it's not like they are in hard clay or solid bedrock either.

ovrszd · May 26, 2015

CalG said:
Seems like that should go on the 3ph. Then with the grapple up front, Out and stacked in the same session.

I built my tree puller. I've also got a Grapple. Considered adding 3pt tabs on the puller for that purpose. Just haven't done it because I don't think I want to be that close to the tree being pulled. Not because of danger. Just because of being poked and gouged by tree limbs.

ovrszd · May 26, 2015

TripleR said:
What does a tree puller like that cost? Looks like something I might need.

Larry, there's a welding shop here locally that builds single cylinder models like mine for $1275. You might do some research in your area. If you can't come up with anything PM me and I'll see if there's a way we can ship you one if interested. They are very well built and braced.

ovrszd · May 26, 2015

lukestafford said:
It soil is fairly dry but it's not like they are in hard clay or solid bedrock either.

I prefer the soil to be a little on the dry side. Let's you shake out a lot of the dirt. In moist or wet soil you go to the brush pile with a lot of dirt. I'm almost always pulling out of clay.

Luke'sScreenName · May 26, 2015

ovrszd said:
I built my tree puller. I've also got a Grapple. Considered adding 3pt tabs on the puller for that purpose. Just haven't done it because I don't think I want to be that close to the tree being pulled. Not because of danger. Just because of being poked and gouged by tree limbs.

Post some pics!

ovrszd · May 26, 2015

Okay. I didn't want to hijack your thread.

In these pics you can see what I talked about earlier with the double swinging jaws. I don't have near the bite width with just a single swinging jaw.

I started out using mine on a L4400 Kubota. My greatest caution was that I could pull trees that were large enough to upset the tractor if not properly handled. Now I use it on the M9540 and don't worry about that as much.