3-Point Hitch use a Grading Scraper

[jim41]

Hi guys: I have a new Holland TC-40 D and just had loggers thin out 90 acres of woodland. This has left me with about 2 miles of Skidder logging trails which I want to now keep open . I was thinking of purchasing a 62 grading scraper attachment to try, ( over time), to turn the Skidder roads into something a bit more like a passable dirt road. The roads have lots of 1 ｽ to 3 diameter 6 stumps everywhere, Is this the best attachment to get a handle on this project ?? thanks for your help on this jim up in Maine

 

[oosik]

Jim - a land plane grading scraper can level out your logging trails nicely. However, this implement is not designed to remove stumps. You are going to have to remove the stumps, that are in the trails, before using the LPGS. There are a few methods for removal/pulling these stumps - look for threads here on TBN for stump removal.

You could also use a box blade but, generally speaking - the box blade will require more practice. The stumps will need to be removed first before using a box blade.

 

[94BULLITT]

You could rent a stump gridner and grind the stumps for less than what someone would want to do a couple.

 

[Rustyiron]

Renting a mini-ex for a day would be the best way to loose those small stumps, but depending on what your long term plans are for your woods, you might be busy killing all the stump "sucker" growth on those 90ac.first. Especially the Beech. If he cut them low enough (in the skid trails) to drive over, mowing the small stump sprouts in your road (that WILL come) all summer long, will eventually kill the stump and make it easier to remove and it might be possible when it is very dry out to rip them out with a grading scraper. If you had a forester involved and are concerned about the stump sprouting that never yields much but firewood and eventually will compete with better crop trees, see what he likes to spray on them. Glyphosate is easy to get (TSC), cheap and I have had good luck with it.

 

[fried1765]

Renting a mini-ex for a day would be the best way to loose those small stumps, but depending on what your long term plans are for your woods, you might be busy killing all the stump "sucker" growth on those 90ac.first. Especially the Beech. If he cut them low enough (in the skid trails) to drive over, mowing the small stump sprouts in your road (that WILL come) all summer long, will eventually kill the stump and make it easier to remove and it might be possible when it is very dry out to rip them out with a grading scraper. If you had a forester involved and are concerned about the stump sprouting that never yields much but firewood and eventually will compete with better crop trees, see what he likes to spray on them. Glyphosate is easy to get (TSC), cheap and I have had good luck with it.

TSC also sells "Gordons Brush Killer" which has 2-4D in it.
Only a little more expensive than Glyphosate, and much more effective on ALL woody plants.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

TSC also sells "Gordons Brush Killer" which has 2-4D in it.
Only a little more expensive than Glyphosate, and much more effective on ALL woody plants.

Yep. Glysosphate works better as a foliar application.

 

[jeff9366]

Hi guys: I have two miles of Skidder logging trails which I want to keep open.
The trails have 1-1/2” to 3" diameter stumps everywhere.
Is this the best attachment to get a handle on this project ??
jim in Maine

Two miles is considerable distance.

First you need to consider the potential for erosion and what grading, crowning and ditching may be necessary to prevent erosion before removing earth holding stumps. For two miles of woodland trails I would have someone with road building experience take a look at the skidding trails and give you some professional grading advice. Hopefully, grading, crowning and ditching will be limited to a few areas.CONSIDER POTENTIAL EROSION FIRST.
EROSION IS AN EVIL GENIE YOU DO NOT WANT TO LET OUT OF THE LAMP.
VIDEO: woodland trail erosion - YouTube

I would consider a tractor Three Point Hitch mounted stump grinder insufficient for the number and size of stumps you have, which could number 8,000. You need a wide forestry mulcher grinder mounted on a tracked skid steer. VIDEO: forestry mulcher skid steer - YouTube

With the limited information provided I recommend an excavator. An excavator will remove the stumps and most of the trailing roots in a few pulls but the trails will have a stump-hole wherever there was a stump, which will need filling in after the excavator passes and topping up several years later as the ground settles.
VIDEO: mini excavator removing stumps - YouTube

I have had more success killing brush with 2-4,D based products than with Roundup/Glycophospate. I would visit Tractor Supply Company and read the labels on three 2-4,D products: TSC Barrier, TSC Brush Killer and Gordon's Brush Killer.




What uses do you plan for your trails?

 

[jeff9366]

One of the first tractor attachments you will need is an FEL Ratchet Rake. Nothing better for removing brush and light grading. NOT for stump removal.

ratchet rake brush clearing - YouTube

 

[Thomas]

Give the stumps year or so you should be able to pop them out w/your front loader...will take time tho.

Small dozer will make short order of that task,than rear blade for finish touches.

 

[jim41]

Jim - a land plane grading scraper can level out your logging trails nicely. However, this implement is not designed to remove stumps. You are going to have to remove the stumps, that are in the trails, before using the LPGS. There are a few methods for removal/pulling these stumps - look for threads here on TBN for stump removal.

You could also use a box blade but, generally speaking - the box blade will require more practice. The stumps will need to be removed first before using a box blade.

(thanks for the quick reply oosik ... yes, its the stumps that are the biggest problem, and must be taken care of first... guess i will be doing this slowly over the next few years as time and workload permit... and i will do the final work with a scraper see ya ... jim

 

[jim41]

thanks for the quick reply oosik ... yes, its the stumps that are the biggest problem, and must be taken care of first... guess i will be doing this slowly over the next few years as time and workload permit... and i will do the final work with a scraper see ya ... jim

 

[Egon]

For starters work with your present equipment before spending money.

For the stumps try popping them with your loader first. Dig into the stump and then curl for lift while pushing. One of toothed attachments as has been shown would be ideal. The grading scraper should be fine for finishing off the road.

As you progress on the job you'll find you get fussier about making a nice trail.

Ideally, a road grader would be the ideal machine. It would take out the stumps, grade the road and leave a windrow of stumps on the side. A doser would be the next choice. A couple of passes and the stumps would be loose letting you use your grading scrapper to finish the trails.

 

[Gordon Gould]

I had the same situation about 20 years ago. The skid trails I inherited were really rough. Some still are. They are evolving into good tractor roads over time. I work on them slowly. First I made them into 4 wheeler roads so I could get around. I removed the downed logs and slash and cut the stumps as close to the ground as I could to do this. Just needed a chain saw. Once I could get the wheeler around I started mowing them with a trail mower to keep the berry bushes and stump sprouts under control. That thing can go a lot of places a tractor and bushhog can't.



Then I just started using the roads with the tractor if I could. ( I had boulders, holes, skidder ruts, and steep side hill slopes to deal with also which stopped the tractor ). After a few years all those little stumps just sort of disappeared or got pulled up skidding logs over them with the tractor. I ended up with trails like this





I finally bought a small dozer to fix the problems on the roads I couldn't get the tractor on. The rake makes the small stumps easy to deal with. If you really want to get your small stumps out rent or hire one of these.









This is just what I did. Maybe you can get some ideas from it.

gg





If there we

 

[TSO]

If you are planning to build a road over top of stumps, you would be better suited to rent a backhoe and dig them out then to use a stump grinder or chemical. The reason is, as the stumps rot under the ground over time, they will cause holes and depressions to form in your road.

 

[jim41]

I had the same situation about 20 years ago. The skid trails I inherited were really rough. Some still are. They are evolving into good tractor roads over time. I work on them slowly. First I made them into 4 wheeler roads so I could get around. I removed the downed logs and slash and cut the stumps as close to the ground as I could to do this. Just needed a chain saw. Once I could get the wheeler around I started mowing them with a trail mower to keep the berry bushes and stump sprouts under control. That thing can go a lot of places a tractor and bushhog can't.

View attachment 496957

Then I just started using the roads with the tractor if I could. ( I had boulders, holes, skidder ruts, and steep side hill slopes to deal with also which stopped the tractor ). After a few years all those little stumps just sort of disappeared or got pulled up skidding logs over them with the tractor. I ended up with trails like this

View attachment 496958

View attachment 496959

I finally bought a small dozer to fix the problems on the roads I couldn't get the tractor on. The rake makes the small stumps easy to deal with. If you really want to get your small stumps out rent or hire one of these.

View attachment 496963

View attachment 496964

View attachment 496965

View attachment 496966

This is just what I did. Maybe you can get some ideas from it.

gg





If there we

great pictures Gordon ... looks a lot like my place ... i have a backhoe that fits the back of mt TC 40 i will use it on the big stumps .. i also have a tree shear which i can get the smaller stumps down to about an inch high .. i think most folks agree that if i use a grading scraper ( over time ) it will make things smooth enough for me to make passes with the brush hog ... rocks and stump holes are part of life up in Maine i just need to be able to get in and grab wood when i need it ... thanks again ... jim <><<

 

[jim41]

thanks for the input jeff .. i am just going to use the roads with my tractor with brush hog for wood ... good tip about avoiding erosion ... thanks again ... jim

 

[jim41]

Hi Egon .. yep ... im just trying to get it done with what i have ... i will be the only one using the roads.. thanks for the advise ... see ya .. jim

 

[Looking4new]

If you are going to jerk the stumps out of the ground, you could put them around the property line piled up as high as you want as a 'stump fence'. Saves burning them. They will rot down over time.

 

[Xfaxman]

jim41, I recommend a combo 3 point and front end loader tree puller, read this thread by LouieJunior: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/318149-tree-puller-pleased-my-new.html?highlight=

 

[airbiscuit]

A lot of loaders have been bent or broken trying to pull out stumps. I had about 80 acres cut off in a patchwork.

a. I told the loggers I wanted some trails. They dragged fully limbed trees down their skidder trails to clean them up. They were at least 8' wide with no stumps so I disked and dragged them. Planted roadside mix and maintain them with a rotary cutter.

b. I tried to make my other trails where the stumps weren't

c. In those areas with stumps, I cut the stumps off as close to the ground as I can and maintain with a rotary cutter.

d. I wish I would have had one of these: