Brush grubber

[crazyal]

This weekend's plans have changed and on Saturday I'm going to be going to the other house to remove a number of dead bushes. I think most are less than 2" in diameter. I was just going to try and wrap a chain around them but a local farm store has a couple of versions of the Grubber in stock. They have both the standard and heavy duty version that clamp onto the tree and the standard version of the chain one that looks like multiple tire chains. Any opinions if one of these will save time? Normally I would do a little research but I'm most likely going to be short on time.

 

[Bill Groom]

I have both, and rarely use the clamp on. The chain works very well for me.

 

[jeff9366]

Run the chain over a tire wheel rim to change forward motion of tractor into vertical pull on bushes.

3/8" or 5/16" chain will slip on small diameter verdure. A smaller chain will grip.

 

[JPRambo]

I have the small standard clamp version. I used it to pull small 1 1/2" or less trees from the 3ph on my Kubota b7100 and it works but is a lot of off and on the tractor to hook up and remove from tree. Unless you have a good helper.

 

[s219]

I wouldn't necessarily use a brush grubber on bushes unless they have a tall trunk. The whole concept is effective when you are able to get leverage from running the gripper 16-24" above the ground. Then the horizontal pull easily pops out the roots like flipping the cap off a bottle. Vertical pull is not nearly as effective.

 

[crazyal]

These are 4' pine shrub/ trees. They have to be pulled up and there's no room to use a wheel as there's a wooden retaining wall they are up against. The only way to get to them is from the other side of the retaining wall. I don't think they will be hard to pull out of the ground with the tractor. Where most of them are I should be able to pull 4 or 5 without moving the tractor. I will have help but I'm thinking of just setting the brake and doing one at a time without getting on the tractor. I was thinking the chain would work well, maybe wrap it twice. I do have plenty of 5/16" chain but since I don't have a lot of the stuff I normally would have here (I would just use my backhoe and in one scoop they would be gone) and I don't want to spend time running around so I figured a few bucks on the way and have an extra option. If everything goes well it'll take a few hours.

 

[dlctcg]

I have the clamp-on version... worked pretty good for us (it will slip if not positioned correctly)... A good ground helper is needed to make it efficient (as JPRambo stated).... with one person it is tedious.. on & off the tractor.... unless you are really going to be able to pull them with just the 3PT & not move tractor... (but just might use chain or a strap then)

We finally broke down & purchased a tree post puller... so the Grubber doesn't get used much anymore.... but for years prior the puller it was....

We spend weekends pulling saplings on our property.... If you think it is only a few hours work... I don't think I would bother with the Grubber....

 

[Underdog57]

I bought the Super heavy duty one (BG 24) And it is a beast, but it is way too heavy ( 36# ) to be lugging around, it will wear you out. I'm thinking of buying the smaller one for pulling bushes out of the swamp, just don't know which one yet.
The one I have works good but is just too darn heavy!!!!

The BG 16 is 4' long and weighs 6.25# with 1/4" chain and the BG 19 is 6' long and weighs 17# with 7/25" chain.

I will probably get the BG 19.

Edit: these are the chain versions!

 

[Xfaxman]

Several years I bought the BG-20 Brush Grubber. It was the biggest one made then, weighed 35 pounds. Worked great, especially if you had a helper.

On the bucket:

Also good for pulling roots broken off when the tree was pushed over:

 

[i7win7]

I have both as pictured in post #1. Chain is best for anything under 1" BG-08 for 1 to 4" range, don't clamp trunk, place it around trunk and let it wedge/dig in.
I also have this for small hillside stuff BrushGrubber | Metal Handled Brush Grubber

But I prefer using this tool when possible