Question for experienced operators.

[montelatici]

I have a Kubota BX24 (and a BX 1850 for mowing). The BX24 backhoe and FEL are fine for general light maintenance landscaping but clearing heavy brush and saplings or removing stumps takes a long time.

I am planning to clear up some overgrown fence lines and an overgrown riding ring and I think I want to do it quicker this spring than what I could do with the BX24.

I have considered a small dozer, CAT D4 size, a tracked loader John Deere 450 size or a midi excavator like a 7000 lb.+ plus Komatsu PC40 or equivalent. I would want to also bury the junk a tear out which means I need to dig. I would want to by a used machine in any case.

I went to a local Case and my Kubota dealer and both said that for what I want to do, an excavator would be the best and most versatile tool.

I haven't decided on any particular brand but I am interested in comments regarding the most versatile type of machine for my needs.

Thanks.

 

[tlbuser]

I'm surprised the guys at Folcomer's didn't sell you something off the lot. Haven't been there since it was Well's, they had some top notch mechanics. Back to the mainstream logic - rent what you think you want. Sunbelt in Forestville can hook you up, don't bother with the one in Waldorf. Brandywine rentals has some good deals occasionally too.
An ex works nice for some things, but not all, You might be better off with a skidsteer and a root rake/grapple and a brush cutter.
You gotta be careful not to bury this stuff in pasture areas. When it decays, it'll leave voids for your horses to step in.

 

[montelatici]

Well, Folcomer's have a Komatsu PC 40 excavator trade-in on the way so they didn't try to sell me what they had. I have thought about the rental places and what they sell but I always thought they only sold things that were pretty much knackered or else they would continue to rent them. Sometimes people trade in perfectly good equipment because they want something bigger/better.

Thing about a little skid steer is that I would have to get into the brush to get it cut down. That's why I was thinking big dozer, track loader or ex that would allow me to knock the crap down without getting under it.. My last horse passed away this summer, so I am not too worried about burying stuff.

 

[Biologyman]

A bobcat (skedsteer) with a bush grinder can be rented around where I live ( N/W Ala). I see lots of over grown lots that have been cleared to the soil and the brush mulched. That might be the most economical approach to clearing. You will have another set of problems after the clearing and what machine you will use will depend upon what you intend to do. I would take my Land Pride tiller and till the soil and sow sod and let the multch rot.
Lots of woodland has the understory cleared using this method. Houses are built and natural cover is used seems to be the fad today around me.

 

[roguesam]

Picked up a 27-ton Speeco log splitter from a rental company 5 years ago @ half the new price. It's been nutz-on reliable with no repairs in the ensuing years (knock on wood!).

 

[Thomas]

If I,I go w/dozer..stumping/pushing brush,digging hole may take little longer tho,riding ring after clearing back draging blade..maybe quicker also cheaper in the long run.

 

[20 20]

check out machinerytrader.com they may have something in your area.

 

[Egon]

Go with an excavator for digging out the trees, stumps and digging the holes. Then bring in a dozer with heavy disk to move all the stuff into the holes, level things out and disk it all up well so it can be maintained in the future.

 

[DJ54]

I like an excavator for clearing brush. I learned this technique quite by accident years ago, and used it ever since.. It takes some room to do it, but sure saves getting "slapped" by brush, and a lot easier on the hydraulic lines..

You'll want to work semi flat boomed.. For smaller trees that will fit between the teeth, uncurl the bucket, and push them slightly back. Get them between the teeth, within a foot of the ground. Some slight swing left or right, depending on which side the operator's cab is on. I preferred to swing away from my side. ( See note about getting slapped by brush...) then curl the bucket a bit, and boom in.. Like sticking your fingers back through stemmy grass, slight turn of the wrist, clasp you fingers, and pull. Pops them right out... Brashier wood will snap, so you just have to practice... Works best when the ground is damp, like in the spring, or good soaking rains. Most times, it brings the root with them, and are clean.

Larger trees, cut the roots a ways back, then push away from you. Track at an angle off center. Grab the stump end, and pull out..

If there is a lot of dirt on the root ball, you can pick it off with the bucket.

On big trees, I usually left some roots on the far side, just enough to hold it, in case I slipped off, and kept it from coming back on me.

It's nice to have a dozer working with you, if you have a lot of larger trees to move to a central location, for disposal.

You can rake up the small stuff a lot cleaner than with a dozer, too. If your going to reseed, raking with the bucket, removes the roots etc. that may be kinda' hard on the disk, or whatever finish tool you use. Plus leaves you some nice dirt to work down, not pushed up in the pile to bury.

Just my two cents...

 

[montelatici]

"I like an excavator for clearing brush."

Yes, I have been using a backhoe and it allows selective clearing, but the backhoe is not mobile and it takes a long time to reset it in position and then you have to turn around and then reset up for backfilling with the FEL.

I thought the excavator might have all the advantages of a backhoe/FEL and non of the weaknesses, on the other hand the kid in me wants a dozer!!! (or a tracked loader).