Lifting 3in caliper tree rootballs (800lbs) with LS XJ2025H?

[rhatfiel]

Hi all - still a tractor novice, but learning a lot on this forum. I will be buying a LS XJ2025H for a new house we built on 3.5 acres. I want to plant some trees around the property, some of which will be 2-3 inch caliper with rootballs weighing up to 800lbs. I know the specs say the XJ2025H FEL can lift 1,400lbs at the pivot pins, but this would be using forks with the weight forward of the pivot pins. Any foreseen issues with this weight and what kind of ballast would you recommend? Thanks

 

[Avenger]

About the only real thing you can do is try it. Put the heaviest thing you can on the back of the tractor and try to move one. You might be surprised at what you can do vs what they say you can do.

My tractor continues to impress me. I recently lifted a backhoe plus mount with my FEL crane with an extension. The chains were about 4ft from the pins. Only had a box blade on the back, and I didnt lift it very high. But I didnt need to. It lifted it right up about 3ft off the ground (high enough for the trailer to drive out from under it) drove it about 10ft and set it down without issue. That was probably the heaviest thing I have lifted with my FEL. I dont know what the weight of that BH was, but it was VERY heavy. I knew I had a big load hanging way out in front of my tractor, but it did what I asked it to do.

Let us know how it turns out! And congrats on the new purchase!!

 

[big bubba]

try to position the load on the forks as close to the tractor as possible. should help vs having the load extended... will you dig holes by hand? bigger the better. have planted numerous b&b trees.
if the root ball has a wire cage support, might consider using bucket hooks instead. you'll need to attach the chain in several places to avoid breaking the basket. this will give you the advantage of being able to position the tree for optimum ground depth. good luck. what type of trees?

 

[stuckmotor]

I've been lucky. When the back of my MF feels like it's coming off the ground I know it's too heavy and set the load down. So far I haven't destroyed anything and I'm still alive. Others haven't been as fortunate.

 

[Diggin It]

My cautions would be to keep the load as low as possible during transport to planting spot - just barely enough to clear the ground, and move SLOW. I find when moving a FEL load of dirt, that even the smallest bump or divet in the ground is magnified through the load and makes it bounce quite a bit. That can put a lot of stress on parts of the machine - far more than a static load would.

 

[rhatfiel]

try to position the load on the forks as close to the tractor as possible. should help vs having the load extended... will you dig holes by hand? bigger the better. have planted numerous b&b trees.
if the root ball has a wire cage support, might consider using bucket hooks instead. you'll need to attach the chain in several places to avoid breaking the basket. this will give you the advantage of being able to position the tree for optimum ground depth. good luck. what type of trees?

Thanks! There's a tree tote made from lifting straps that I plan to use which will give me this same kind of control. Looking at some London Planes, Swamp White Oak, and October Glory.

 

[jk96]

Thanks! There's a tree tote made from lifting straps that I plan to use which will give me this same kind of control. Looking at some London Planes, Swamp White Oak, and October Glory.

Great choice on the October Glory. I planted a couple along with several other varieties of Maples and Oaks. The October Glory maples turn later in fall and hold their leaves and color longer than any others I've planted.

 

[big bubba]

sounds like a plan. you may also want to look @ sugar maples. best regards