Backhoe vs Stump Grinder

NewbieUgh · Jan 28, 2018

My name is accurate. I'm a city kitty who moved to rural GA on 30 acres, but with the help of this forum I'M GETTING IT DONE! With your guidance, when I got hit by pine beetles bad--got rid of the New Holland 33 and bought an LS 55 with new 6 foot bush hog, Carolina attachment grapple and FEL. I wasn't able to carry anything in the NH fel, and the change has been dramatic and love my blue mule! Now here's the question you almost need to get a second mortgage (!) to get rid of the stumps after tree removal of the dead pines. I'm tired of it--2 years in a row I've had close to $7000 in stump grinding. Not paying it anymore. (my house is in between 2 large former horse pastures) where all the stumps are that I care about. I live in a community and you can see them from the street--POA stuff etc. The ones in the woods, don't care.

So here's question: should I get a backhoe to try to remove them (and what's involved in putting that on the back), or something else since I had tractor fitted for button to work grapple effectively on the front? or stump grinder. . . .but everything I read on these pages says grinder will tear up tractor at some point. does that hold true for backhoe?l

Newbie grateful for your thoughts . . .

CincyFlyer · Jan 28, 2018

I bought a tractor with backhoe and a Woodland Mills stump grinder (with a straight PTO shaft to the disk, requiring tractor motion to cut), and a tree puller, as I was paying a fortune for tree work. This is what I've learned: it's much quicker to use a stump grinder to get things out of the way. Yeah, in a few years you'll have a little sinking where the rest of the stump rots, but it's nothing—if you have an FEL.
Still, there are some I dig out, especially on property lines where I am grading; there, it's worth the time.
Even though I have a shuttle shift, I have no real issues with my grinder, as I usually have a slight slope for the tractor to coast down, and I control the speed with the brake. Otherwise, I "roll" the bucket to move the tractor. It would be easier with a hydrostat, of course.
If you are grading (we've removed some dead pines and ashes along a property line, where we're making a two foot drop off into a gentle slope) you'll have to bite the bullet and dig 'em out. I figure that for 12" stumps, I can grind up to ten in the time it takes to properly did out a stump.
And those are my thoughts!

Code54 · Jan 28, 2018

I am guessing they are pines (pine beetles?) so how big are they? How many? Want to do 100's at a time or just one here and there?
If you have a lot you maybe better served to rent something like a 30T excavator and just drive along and pull them out. A backhoe will get them out but tractor mounted hoes are not great for taking out a lot of stumps and it is hard on the tractor.

NewbieUgh · Jan 28, 2018

Cool on the grinder. Talk to me about the woodland mills grinder! What is the exact model? would it work on my 55 hp? I'm so tickled you like it---that's what I prefer the stump grinder and then fill in holes later. Has it torn up your PTO at all since using it. I have about 40 stumps to deal with this time, and they range from 8 inches to 18 inches all pines and one large oak stump. The LS is hydrostatic. Do I go back to the dealer to find the attachment or do I look for it used to save money?
Newbie

NewbieUgh · Jan 28, 2018

so backhoes are hard on the tractor AND stump grinders are hard (been reading on this forum) doggone. guess I have to go with which are harder? any suggestions on brand or size for either? I can start some researching?
you guys rock for getting back to me so quickly! this forum is amazing.
Newbie (aka Terri)

NewbieUgh · Jan 28, 2018

my tractor is the XR4155H

TSO · Jan 28, 2018

I have a Worksaver SG-26 3pt grinder... I've done several hundred stumps with it. Works fantastic. More refined than the Woodland Mills grinder, but more expensive too. There are a handful of companies now that make 3pt grinders, so you'll have your choice. I drove out to Iowa to get mine, they sell on eBay. Your XR4156 has the same HP as my machine, you'll handle it well.

Richard · Jan 28, 2018

Could you buy/rent some industrial equipment, get it done, then sell/return it?

When I did my first stump ever, it took me somewhere around four hours to dig it out. I was using a Kubota L-35 and was trying to not break anything. I also had no clue on best way to attack the stump.

Later, I bought an industrial backhoe/loader that will run circles around the L35. Same stump today would probably take 20/30 minutes. (again, part of reason first time took so long is it was in fact, my first time.....learned a lot since then)

Anyway, I bought the backhoe for around $13K and it will dig to a depth of 15.5 feet.... front bucket will do something around 6,000 pounds.

If I sold it today for $1.00 (single dollar) I would have made the money back for all the work I've done (over about 14 years)

So my point is....could you buy a machine.....use it for 2-3 years, then sell it, keeping your tractor for tractor work?

BTW, hello from someone who grew up in Hamilton.

Been debating a trip back up there so I could go by Chesters (Route 4) and grab a pizza.

kthompson · Jan 28, 2018

I use a 5 ton excavator (mid size) I have use to remove many stumps. Pines stumps are deep, slow to dig and slow to rot (if you use grinder). If you are able to dig the stump before the tree is cut much easier, but you need to do so before the tree is dangerous to be under. The tree will help pop the stump out the ground. As has been ask do you remove them one at the time or have many different suggestion. Removing one or two is not bad if not say over two feet in diameter but if say twenty long slow work with my size machine. My suggestion would be to hire a large machine to remove them. Unless you have a friend who is experienced with excavator to run it then rent the machine. Rental per week or month is not bad when you compare the long term cost owning one in repairs.

4570Man · Jan 28, 2018

I don’t think a subframe backhoe is going to hurt your tractor. The problem is they’re weak and painfully slow to dig stumps. The second problem is they’re expensive. I came out ok on mine but I only had 4K in it. We need a little more information on your plan. I sold my tractor in favor of buying a full sized backhoe.

CincyFlyer · Jan 29, 2018

4570Man said:
I don’t think a subframe backhoe is going to hurt your tractor. The problem is they’re weak and painfully slow to dig stumps. The second problem is they’re expensive. I came out ok on mine but I only had 4K in it. We need a little more information on your plan. I sold my tractor in favor of buying a full sized backhoe.

I agree on the slowness, and the stoutness if the BH has its own subframe; my tractor has a sub-frame with the FEL on one end and the BH on the other, and the tractor between the main rails.

CincyFlyer · Jan 29, 2018

NewbieUgh said:
Cool on the grinder. Talk to me about the woodland mills grinder! What is the exact model? would it work on my 55 hp? I'm so tickled you like it---that's what I prefer the stump grinder and then fill in holes later. Has it torn up your PTO at all since using it. I have about 40 stumps to deal with this time, and they range from 8 inches to 18 inches all pines and one large oak stump. The LS is hydrostatic. Do I go back to the dealer to find the attachment or do I look for it used to save money?
Newbie

I've done more than twice that many stumps, including some walnut, some up to 48" the long way, and am still on the first set of cutter teeth. I ended up with many FEL buckets full of free mulch! And if you adjust the slip clutch it won't hurt your PTO (I've "stuck" it a couple of times.)

BufordBoone · Jan 29, 2018

I have both a backhoe and a Woodland Mills stump grinder.

The grinder is the way to go.

I adjusted the slip clutch and have not experienced any wear problems. I ground about 26 large pine stumps and lots of other, smaller stumps.

Recommended the grinder to a friend and he is just as happy with his as I am mine. Purchase without concern. I'd do it again, in a heartbeat.

TX Chris · Jan 30, 2018

Another nod here for the stump grinder. I've ground somewhere around 45 stumps from 4" to 36" or bigger and it's never missed a beat.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/361702-stump-grinder-woodland-mills-wg24.html

Stimw · Jan 30, 2018

For the prices I am seeing for stump grinders to basically use it one time seems like a poor decision.
I bought a 3 pt hoe for $3300.00 on sale to upgrade from my older one a month ago.
A backhoe has many uses verses a grinder being single purpose.
Try to put in a drain field or install water, sewer or electrical with a stump grinder!
I would buy the hoe and rent a grinder!

BufordBoone · Jan 30, 2018

A stump grinder, for me anyway, is not a one-time use item. Even if it was, paying someone to grind the 26 stumps would have cost more than I paid for the grinder.

Therefore, it has paid for itself.

My backhoe (BH92) was painfully slow at removing stumps and left a deep hole which required filling. A backhoe will do lots of things a stump grinder cannot. However, for getting rid of stumps, I believe it is a poor second choice.

Jw5875 · Jan 30, 2018

Since you have 30 acres, once all the stumps are removed, do you plan to plant more trees? My 36 dense acres has plenty of trees, some blow downs, disease etc.
My back hoe is the choice for removal, cut trees about 4 - 5 ft high, dig and push / pull for leverage.
I use the back hoe with thumb to move stumps. A grinder would be nice, but as others have said
a one time tool and hope that you could sell it when done.
It' your money, and learn more before you spend!

JW5875

brown40 · Jan 31, 2018

If its an annual ritual a genuine Vermeer might be the best. I have a subframe hoe now (woods 7000), and it can eventually work a stump out of soil, but it won't do much on rocky stuff and takes forever.

milligan36 · Jan 31, 2018

I have logged for most of my life, and used backhoe/grinder. They are both rough on equipment and body. The best way i have found is to dig around tree with hoe and then push it over causing the tree to do most of the work bc the the root wad mostly comes out when tree goes over.