Rent Backhoe for stump Removal?

[cbh]

Looking for little advice on how to proceed on this project. I have cleared a wooded area of around 2500 sq. ft. of trees and have about twenty tree stumps to remove. The stumps range from 12" to 24" trunk diameter. I have a backhoe on my Kubota B7500, but it is really too small to remove these stumps in any reasonable amount of time.

A local dealer rents tractor-loader-backhoes (New Holland LB75). I live close enough so they will let me drive it to my house. The NH looks huge compared to my little Kubota.

I am pretty sure I don't have any buried utilities (will call dig safe anyway), no overhead power lines, and the area is pretty level, so the risk seems low. I have some limited backhoe experience with my own machine, but how does this apply to a larger machine? Would stump removal with the LB75 be relatively easy? If this was a more complex project, like excavation, I certainly would hire it out. Thanks in advance.

 

[DieselD]

Stumps that big still will give you a fight, the thing you want to watch for is all the holes you'll have . You won't want to get that machine on its side in one. Plan your digging path.
Danny

 

[jmc]

Danny,

I'd rent it for a half day just to see if you can afford to do the whole job. Maybe you can pre-negotiate the extended rate in case you keep it longer. Worst thing that can happen is you'll have a lot of fun but have to take it back.

Once you start, don't waste time trying to keep the hole small. Those roots are thick near the stump and you can get them out much faster a short distance away from the stump. I keep having to relearn this trick.

John

 

[bgott]

Check out renting it on a Saturday. Usually you don't get charged for Sunday if you have it back early Monday morning.

 

[CTyler]

I don't know about that. The rental places do that on a lot of stuff like tillers, vibrating plates etc.. When it comes to tractors, excavators etc.. 8 hours = 1 a day rental. Even if you have it one day but put 16 hours on it you get charged for a 2 day rental.

 

[rmorgan]

I think this depends on what you plan to do with the ground. If you're going to be using it for gardens, then getting some of the stumps out may be necessary, but if it's going to be lawn, consider using a stump grinder to get them below ground level and giving them a couple of decades to decompose. Having 20 massive holes to fill--and 20 huge stumps to get rid of--ain't necessarily the best way to go, IMHO.

 

[cbh]

I plan on transplanting some small trees and a few mountain laurel bushes later, so I would like to completely remove the stumps. I was concerned about whether a person with limited experience could remove stumps with the LB 75.

 

[jmc]

Not familiar with the specs but see that it is 75 HP. That qualifies as a serious industrial backhoe. After a few minutes getting used to it, you're going to feel like Godzilla. How long it takes will depend on the soil, tree type, how long they've been dead, but mostly, your technique.

John

 

[jimg]

Im looking into this at the moment (removing stumps) and Ive almost concluded that grinding is most cost effective. I can rent a pretty hefty grinder for about $100/day. From what the rental compnay said I should be able to remove (to 1' below grade) all 30 in no more than a couple days (a full w/e). Granted this area will become pasture but still 1' below grade is out of the way of most everything. I also looked into renting a small excavator and while it would be great fun it would take about 3days and cost $190+/day. Thats a big price diff. Then again if price is no object would you rent the backhoe for me? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif jimg

 

[ducati996]

Find the grinder that can go 4- 6" below the surface !! that way in case you want to seed, you can...1" is not deep enough....I let this happen to me, and had to re-grind the stumps so grass could grow again...needless to say it was a pain in the ****, and 3x the work...do it right the first time

 

[jimg]

My post said 1' (1'=12') /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[theboman]

An experienced backhoe, excavator or bulldozer owner/operator may be you best choice. I kinda like the bulldozer, they can push out many of the stumps and then they are there to help level things back up. Lots of big holes that need filled or surrounding ground to be leveled.

 

[Hoeman00]

The hoe should have the same controls as your small hoe, check to make sure.
3 days to dig out w/ a small excavator ,must be REAL small.
I dig out lots of stumps and my 710 is larger than most TLB but I dig out 40" beech and anything else in about 20 minutes.
I bid on a job to remove over 100 stumps up to 2' dia.,i figured less than 1 day and haul them off for $600.
The guy found a person to do it for $400 w/ a 350 Deere dozer and old Ford hoe still a days work.
But this guy didn't haul the stumps off.
2 weeks later he called about hauling them and we said $200 but he had to pay the builder to use his track hoe to load them ($150).
Talk to the rental place and if they are slow most will rent for machine hour, guys I work w/ that want to play do this, one guy had it for a week but only used it for 12 hours so he paid for 1 1/2 days and worked at his pace.
Maybe they will let u try it to see how u can do and if it doesn't work out pay for an hour or so.
Even w/ a LB75 about 3 digs on each side of a 12" stump and it will come right out and take maybe 5 minutes.

 

[jimg]

Tim,
The controls arent the same...its a small excavator (about 3tons) on rubber tracks. Ill try again at the rental places and ask about the machines ability to remove stumps. However, I got the impression they didnt think it would be a quick operation.

Those I have to remove are a mix of *large* and small. The big ones are big and Im sure going to be very tough to remove. I recently dug an old white oak stump about 6" in dia out and it was a huge amt of work. The stinkin thing had roots as big as the truck!

In my case theres no need to haul them as I have a low spot on my property Im going to dump them along w/ some rotting pine logs. jimg

 

[Hoeman00]

Jimg I thought u were renting the LB75, sorry.
A local mower shop has a 120 class excavator (12 metric ton) that they rent for $200/day.
I look for something bigger if u dig them out.
I took out some 8-10" maples last nite.
Pushed on tree w/ back of bucket and pulled the roots out of ground .
Then reach behind roots and lift tree and roots out of ground.
Take the bucket to knock all the dirt to fill hole back in and they burn easier, took a couple minutes / tree.
Big hoes are nice except for when they get stuck.
I moved to a new job last nite, digging a 5' deep ditch thru a swampy area so we can put in some waterways and tile out the 100 acre field, it has about a foot of standing water covering it now .
If (when) I get stuck i'll get a pic of the 710 recovery team.
We have 3 Case IH 160hp+ tractors w/ duals and the D6C setting there just have to find enough operators.