My wife and I have recently purchased a 12 acres old horse farm. The previous owner stop taking care of it over 10 years ago and it is now very over grown. It is mostly brush, thorns and small trees (pine). We are wanting to clear out the underbrush of about 8 acres, which to us means leaving trees about 1 ft in diameter and larger. I've received estimates from dozer guys all around $10,000 to do the job. But since I have not purchased my tractor yet all I can think about using putting that $10K into an even better tractor. I have not purchased my tractor yet but would be getting a Kubota Grand w/cab either L4240 or L4740 4x4 w/HST, FEL, 6' bush hog and 6' ft box blade. If you were to do this job would you suggest grapple, reinforced blade on bucket, teeth on bucket, or the dozer attachment??? Or am I just flat out crazy? I'm not scared of hard work and know this would take some time. Suggestions...... Thanks in advance and don't be afraid to really let me have it if I sound like a crazy man.
Clearing land, stupid or crazy?
- Thread starter andyz171
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Degolyerent
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Get a real good heavy duty bush hog like a landpride RCR 2672 you will not regret the investment, also a good heavy box blade, and a backhoe to bury roots and grass & weed clumps, small stumps etc. With that combination you can take it on in good shape and if you have the cash a grapple is great!
WayneB
Elite Member
Just curious as to where you are located? I agree you can do most of the work with a tractor and time. Get heavy equipment though as mentioned by Degolyerent
20 20
Elite Member
go with your own tractor, plus it is an investment that keeps giving back to you.
we have 24 horses.If you think you may be getting some just fence around the trees you want to keep,they will make short work of the rest.By heavy bushhog he means an actual bushhog with a clutch and chain skirt,mine will eat any tree my fel will push over.If you do let the horses do the land clearing ensure none of the tree species name starts with black such as black walnut.
k0ua
Epic Contributor
I think the tractor you described is big enough to take care of the brush and less than 1 foot trees.. sure it will take a long time.. but it almost fun., well actually it is fun, when you are an office worker like me,, it is therapy.
James K0UA
James K0UA
nybirdman
Super Member
I tried a dozer...huge mistake..pushed off all the top soil.If you are going to hire out;use a bobcat with a forestry head(mulcher).I am in the process of doing 90 acres(long term job for sure) with my L4240,grapple,tooth-bar and brush-hog.Chain saw the larger stuff.We are leaving the mature trees that we want,trimming the apple trees etc,using the junk trees for firewood.
Plow or boxblade the open areas and plant buck-wheat.(buck-wheat kills the brush root systems and adds nitrogen to the soil.
Plow or boxblade the open areas and plant buck-wheat.(buck-wheat kills the brush root systems and adds nitrogen to the soil.
TripleR
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I am pretty much in agreement with Degolyerent and use a Land Pride RCR2672 with out L5030 HSTC and it is very tough and will cut just about anything. I believe it is supposed to cut 3", but I have cut thicker stuff with it though I acknowledge it is not a good idea to do so regularly.
We have found it more economical to rent an excavator when needed rather than spend the money on a back hoe attachment. We have come to this point by owning a back hoe and literally running out of things to do with it. For some a BH is essential, but for us it is not. We have also rented a tracked skid steer a time or two which really came in handy.
I agree, clearing land, at least for me is enjoyable and is doable with the right equipment.
We have found it more economical to rent an excavator when needed rather than spend the money on a back hoe attachment. We have come to this point by owning a back hoe and literally running out of things to do with it. For some a BH is essential, but for us it is not. We have also rented a tracked skid steer a time or two which really came in handy.
I agree, clearing land, at least for me is enjoyable and is doable with the right equipment.
Fxfymn
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Do the math on cutting 8 acres 6 feet at a time. To say you will be there a while is an understatement.
Another option would be to contract out bush hogging the property for the first cutting. Let someone who has the heavy duty cutter that is wide enough to do the job in a reasonable amount of time get it knocked down for you. After that the combination of whatever critters you keep and your cutter can try to keep it under control.
Another option would be to contract out bush hogging the property for the first cutting. Let someone who has the heavy duty cutter that is wide enough to do the job in a reasonable amount of time get it knocked down for you. After that the combination of whatever critters you keep and your cutter can try to keep it under control.
Jay4200
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Don't even think about it. Really. That is a dozer/excavator job. You'll spend 2 months and destroy your tractor in the process. A dozer will do the job in a couple of days. Regardless of what some may say around here, a tractor is a ground maintenance tool, it is NOT good at raw site work.
Do yourself a favor - spend the $10k and BUY a small dozer. Use it to do your job, then sell it for the same $10k. THEN go out and buy your tractor.
JayC
ssmith general
Bronze Member
Where are you? I will help for 65 bucks an hour, tractor and all.
TripleR
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No one said it would be quick or easy. I agree if you want quick you need much bigger equipment, but what fun would that be? We have an M8540 HDC with a ten foot Woods DS1260 bush hog yet still use our L5030 and get quite a bit of work done with it.
I would not be a bit concerned taking on a project like that with my L5030 and rental units as mentioned.
bigbull338
Elite Member
hire a D9 cat to clear the 8acs an be done with it.as said you will tear a tractor an heavy duty shredder up trying to clear it.an in the end youll have alot of stress an headaches.lets see big dozers here work 8 to 10hr days here for $100 to $125 an hr,an thats $800 to a $1000 a day an up to $1200 a day.so with a $10,000 bid on the job sounds like they are saying itll take 8 to 10 days to clear the brush an trees an bury or burn it.if you do it itll take you 3yrs or longer to get it clear.no to mention tore up equipment in the process.
ssmith general
Bronze Member
How big are the trees? I can push over and uproot anything under 10" or so. DOnt let these guys scare you. I have 6.5 that was untouched for over 20 years and cleared most of it a week with a chainsaw and L4400 with a loader.
just push them over and roll them to a fire pile.
just push them over and roll them to a fire pile.
TripleR
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Man, growing up, we cleared land with axes, cross cut saws and sometimes a Ford 600. Don't tell me it can't be done with a little hard work and a 40-50 HP tractor.
When my sons were growing up, we cleared grown up areas with a Stihl chain saw and Ford NAA. My dad wanted to buy a dozer, but I wanted my sons to know what real work was like.
The OP indicated he knew it would take time and it will take months if not years depending on how much time you can or are willing to put in.
If you can't handle hard work and/or you are in a hurry, hire it done, if not, you can do it yourself.
When my sons were growing up, we cleared grown up areas with a Stihl chain saw and Ford NAA. My dad wanted to buy a dozer, but I wanted my sons to know what real work was like.
The OP indicated he knew it would take time and it will take months if not years depending on how much time you can or are willing to put in.
If you can't handle hard work and/or you are in a hurry, hire it done, if not, you can do it yourself.
DANOCHEESE
Gold Member
A good dozer operator will strip the brush and leave most of the top soil. A root rake would work great. Call a couple more guys and get bids. You don;t need finish grade, just the brush uprooted and piled.
Or get a heard of goats and a small chain saw
Or get a heard of goats and a small chain saw
MarkV
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Wow a D9 to clear 8 acres of material under 12". I think I have been doing it all wrong with a 40 hp tractor. I also wish I could get a D9 and operator for $125 per hour. At 49 tons people tend to be reluctant to move them for an 8 acre job.
MarkV
Gator6x4
Super Star Member
A small dozer with a root rake and a toothbar on the bucket could probably make the eight acres tractor workable in 2-3 days at a cost of $2,000-$2,500. By tractor workable I do not mean when he leaves you sow grass seed and wait for the grass to come up then turn the horses loose. If you decide to try it with a tractor and shredder, price tires at the time you are seeking a price on a tractor. Shredder stubble is very tough on tires. Tractor tires are expensive. They are not covered by warranty. Equipment damage caused by land clearing is not covered by warranty. You also have to transport the tractor to have equipment damage or tire damage repaired or call a field fleet maintenance truck to the site. This is very very expensive. They want their money when they leave. Again not covered by warranty. Explain to the dozer operator what you want. Have him remove and pile the large tractor damaging stuff. You can then cut the small stuff with the shredder and fine tune. If you ask for and demand a turn key job, be prepared to pay a turn key price.
Degolyerent
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andyz171 said:
The man said it is mostly brush,thorns and small pine trees what part of that is to tough to do with a tractor w/ heavy duty bush hog, FEL and box blade?
If you take your time you will have no problems just watch out for large pieces not shredded up good as it can flip up under the tractor and damage belt or radiator and blades
When the going is rough always keep a eye on tempature gauge, go thru with FEL close to ground and use as a dozer to knock down growth before tractor with bush hog goes over it. If you can save small trees for last and just take them out roots and all with FEL or box blade, push them to the side and burn or bury them
The main thing is to have a tractor in 45-55 horsepower range and work smart
Use a low range maybe 3rd gear to mow and a high range 1st to box blade out small pines , I have a MX 4700DT and I do this type of work for a living,it is not always rough going but sometimes it is.
Don't let some of these people that has lots of money to throw at projects or little to no patience to achieve their goals scare you just go slow and use common sense
I have pics of some jobs I can post that are just about what you are talking about I believe
