Dozer or excavator

[MattLynch]

Looking to clear a large area for farmland that was clearcut. A lot of debris and large stumps left. I can rent a large dozer or excavator for 10-15k per month and run it 20 hours a day with 2 operators. I only have time to run it for 1-1.5 months a year, but I don't need it all cleared at once. Would like to clear stumps, make big burn piles, and get the land somewhat smooth (enough to disc and plant with farm tractor) with one machine. Land consists of rolling hills, nothing too steep, wet spots won't be cleared.

Which machine would be better and why? How many acres can be cleared a week with a semi-skilled operator(experienced on smaller machines)?

 

[Tomtint]

JMO, but a excavator would make quick work of stumps. Also is quite a bit more maneuverable. If it has a thumb, even more so. My vote would be the excavator.

 

[Birdhunter1]

Excavator hands down. You have a tractor to grade dirt with and if you get stuck due to rough terrain the excavator can yank the tractor out.

With 1 1/2 months to run an excavator you will be surprised how much you can get done, how much you get done depends on the size of the stumps, how soft the dirt is and the size of the machine. Check out 'Letsdig18' on youtube to see how and what can be done with the machine.

 

[sd455dan]

times 4 have a jd 550 dozer and it works to remove stumps -
BUT an Ex is just far more versatile and when burning the stumps you can dig a pit after also digging out the stumps.
It can also push the stumps if you get one with a blade and also carry them to where ever you want if it has a thumb.

 

[boggen]

excavator with hydraulic thumb.

see if you can get a "dump truck" into the mix. for help speeding up moving of dirt, to fill in holes from stumps.

fill a few trucks loads and then using excavator bucket like a big old compactor. and place bucket on ground and just take the weight off the front of the excavator. not need to hammer the bucket down. just place it flat on ground and taking weight off tracks on one side. not really raising excavator off ground. will cause all the weight for most part be put down in one small area. helping to compact the dirt.

get it compacted at lower deeper depths, to help reduce muddy ugly holes later down the line in the field.

=============
have you called the local companies for estimates? from pond/lake builders, to basement diggers, to larger landscape companies, and like?

these companies more likely have the bigger equipment and multi equipment. they can haul in, have a small crew go at it, and get it done... from dozer, to excavators, to dump trucks, to compaction machine, to other.

getting a Professional in there, with feet down and being able to see what needs to be done / want done.

=============
at price ya renting... pending on how big of a machine. have you consider just buying a used machine? use it for what ya need it, then sell. most large big iron for most part keeps it price. granted there can be ugly repair costs / down times.

EDIT:
just caught you were in Canada. but then went over to http://www.machinerytrader.com and looked at excavators.. and there is a few in canada in the 10 to 20K range.

 

[MattLynch]

Thanks for the input! Looks like excavator it is! I would be looking at $1100+ an acre to hire someone to do it. If it was 15 or 20 acres I would hire it out. I would like to do a few hundred, and I don't mind spreading it out over 5+ years. I would buy a used one but I figure I would still need to spend 70k+ for a decent used one that isn't wore out

 

[boggen]

sounds like ya done your home work... would encourage you to read through "owners manual" perhaps "shop/service manual" second. owners manual more of what to look out for, and what and were to service things.... grease, oils, etc... , along with general track usage and doings.

shop/service manual sounds like a pretty long time! and long hours working the machine. and might be easier to do misc generic repairs / adjustments.

 

[tonyoz]

Can you post photo's of your job site as it is now? There just maybe a better way of doing it.

 

[MattLynch]

Don't have any pics on my phone, but I bet you are going to suggest mulching! I thought long and hard about mulching. Way too expensive to hire someone to mulch that much land. I really wanted to buy a mulcher and do it myself but... A good size mulcher capable of doing a decent job needs a bigger tractor then I have. Used 150+hp tractor and new mulcher I would be easily over 100 grand. I would love to mulch but can't afford to buy the gear up front.

 

[fishfactor]

Be sure to check the hour allowance on the rental. Many companies only allow so many hours per day. Go over and they charge you accordingly.

 

[rustyshakelford]

Id hire a big dozer (d8 or up) with a kg plow. He will drop that into the ground and cut all the roots and roll the trees into windrows. Then use a dozer to pile up the stumps for burning or use a hoe. The benefit of a Dozer would be leveling the dirt the hoe could pile them better and higher. I would not use either machine for the tasks you've described without the plow running thru first.

Brett

Edit--most rentals are 40 hrs per week. 160 per month

 

[bcp]

I had to look up what a KG blade was. I've seen them, just didn't know they had a name.

Bruce

 

[Code54]

I had to look up what a KG blade was. I've seen them, just didn't know they had a name.

Bruce

I also didn't know what that was so thanks for posting a photo!

I also didn't know what that was so thanks for posting a photo!

 

[4570Man]

Instead of renting a machine and taking 15,000 dollar hit I would buy a used machine. Then use it at your leisure, no need to knock yourself out trying to get it done. Then when you get done sell the machine ( or convince SHMBO that the machine is far to useful to sell).

 

[moriboy]

Those were also known as a "rome plow" in Vietnam. Very effective for clearing mass amounts of jungle.

I have cleared land using dozers and excavators. My vote goes for at least a 30,000lb excavator with a thumb. The one advantage is that you end up with really clean piles (no dirt) which burn nice.

I also didn't know what that was so thanks for posting a photo!

 

[Ken45101]

If you rent a machine, you are at the mercy of the weather. Buying used and selling later takes the pressure off of the timeline. YMMV

 

[mar5690]

grind the stumps with a large grinder.no piling of stumps and minimal dirt moving

 

[MossRoad]

The downside of any used machine is its used. How much? Who knows? And if it dies, you have to repair it. And when you want to resell it, what if no one wants to buy it? Plus side of owning is you have it when you have time to work. But there'll be times you'll be spending time doing maintenance and repairs instead of operating. That takes away from your limited operating time. Lots to consider.

 

[LD1]

I too question your rental thinking of running 20 hrs a day. Most heavy equipment rentals are limited to 160hrs a month. (40/hrs a week, 4 weeks).

Seems your current plan, if you take weekends off, is gonna put you 400+ hours a month.

Your questions on how fast with a skilled operator...no possible way for anyone to judge. We don't know the size of stumps you are dealing with, type of stumps, how many per acre, or what size machine.

Smaller machine and big stumps = not too fast

Big machine and smaler stumps =pretty fast

 

[MattLynch]

I have a 5 tonne excavator but there is no way it would remove stumps at a reasonable speed. It moves the brush just fine. The first area I would like to clear was a hemlock stand with 24" average stumps, some much larger. I'm thinking a 20 tonne excavator with hydraulic thumb should do the job. Can clean up with little excavator and tractor after.