Clearing brush or blowdowns

[Ken45101]

If it is going to be a roadway, the less the soil is disturbed, the better. A lot of digging to remove the roots will leave soft spots unless you are going to fill and compact the roadway.

Ken

 

[J_J]

How about something like this.

 

[Runner]

Loader buddy looks good. Pallet forks might also be used to pop the trees out, but would be slow going.

 

[Ken45101]

How about something like this.

The first two are probably overkill for the small saplings and would probably leave sharp stubs. The third and fourth may work well but he is going to have a large brush pile to dispose of. That's the advantage of a rotary mower or a mulcher, they chop up what they cut.

Ken

 

[beenthere]

For the OP's task, a rotary cutter (brush hog if you will) would easily do the job. Handy to have a FEL with bucket or forks or tines to move large objects (fallen trees, or boulders) to the side as well. But to me, it would clearly be just rotary cutter work ($1-1.5k).
(if the tractor will handle a rotary cutter a bit wider than the rear wheels, and if 3 ph with PTO are available on the J5 bombardier tractor)

Anything else, more expensive and/or more tractor seat time.

 

[pat32rf]

Brush hog, if the terrain is level enough. You might have to use a chain saw on the bigger stuff, but once you get it done the secret is to maintain it every year or two. It gets easier each time.....
I made a small side mounted hog out of an old 3' mower deck with longer blades so it cuts 4' swath out behind the right rear wheel. Dangerous as heck, but I don't run it when there are bystanders. Biggest problem is keeping the soft steel blades sharp with all the rocks.

 

[Rio_Grande]

HAving used the asv 100 with a forestry package If I had any amount of this type work to do I would hands down go with a rental. They make short work of this type of project. I cut several propertys over one summer laying out 4 wheeler trails and drives. I can say we charged 100.00 an hour with a 10 hr minimum. I never spent more that 20 hrs on any of the propertys and was done.
My rentals ran me 700 a week but in the end we had it for almost 2 months and ended up getting it cheaper because of a month price.

There are definately cheaper ways to do it. If I had a smaller amount to do no way would I lay out 700.00 but cutting a mile and a half road through the woods,,,, it is a no brainer.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I was wondering whats out there, available to cut alder trees maybe 1.5 inch in diameter or maybe younger trees or spruce samiplings 6 ft in height. has anyone made such an outfit, if so whats required. What available ont he markets for this and how much would one cost. I was wondering if i could set it up on a J5 bombardier tractor. Thanks.

From what I can find out the J5 doesnt have PTO. Does it have hyd output of near 20gpm to drive a mower hydraulically? ... Doesnt seem the ideal setup. ... A decent bushog on a 45pto hp tractor would run thru what youre talking about at 4mph and leave a near clear path. Using nice dull blades at 1mph at scalp level would cut, loosen, and frazzle the stumps leaving a clear tire safe path in one pass.
larry

 

[VroomVroom]

Has anyone ever made a homemade version? What speed is that rotating, how much torque or flow rate does something like that mulching head have? How much would an attactment like that cost?

 

[J_J]

You could use one of the small stump grinder heads with a hyd motor and get the job done.