Stupid Question?

[cedarman]

They say the only stupid question is the unasked one so I'll test that statement. When clearing land (my only experience is with a skid loader) will a TC33 push over trees (oak) and if so, what diameter do you begin to have trouble with? How much rear ballast do you need? Is this type work too much for a TC 24? I realize soil and root ball have alot to do with it but am asking in general. Most heavy clearing I just have my dozer man come in.

 

[SteveH_CT]

Let me offer an opinion.... Be Careful! Picture some large rotted piece falling off the top right onto your head... worse yet, your lap /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif. When I first got mine I pushed some trees over and got a real power rush - then some debris fell from one and I thought about it... no roof, no protection = bad idea.

With that said, I pushed over trees in the 4" size range. No more though, the little stuff (1 to 2") I find easier to hit with my blade trimmer first and then clear out the small roots. The Chainsaw works just fine on anything bigger.

 

[Youare]

As you have stated ground conditions dry vs. wet, hard vs. soft and root size are major factors. As a rule of thumb the root structure is equal to the branch structure in area.

You can bend the cutting edge of your bucket pushing over a tree if you are not careful, don't ask me how I know I don't want to talk about it. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Trees are designed to withstand winds that would do just what you want to do so pick the side of the tree where the roots seem to be to your advantage.

Sometimes the tree will shatter and break above the ground as you try to push it over. I have had the best results from digging all around the tree locating the major roots and cutting them before pushing the tree over. It is easier to pull one root out of the ground than the whole root ball.


Randy

 

[jinman]

Cedarman, I have found that you can push over one tree and then try another one 5' away and you can't budge it. Postoaks and blackjack oaks are notorious for that. Also there are little trees that have more roots below the ground than above. I push brush all the time with my TC45D and it seems I never have all the power I need (or want).

I don't think a TC24 is going to be a very good tree pusher. Of course, there will be some trees that you can push, but most of the time you will need to dig around the trees first and cut the roots as Youare suggested. for this, a toothbar is a necessary tool. You can do it without the toothbar, but you will spend a lot of time being frustrated.

On a TC33, you'll have more success at pushing trees, but also you will want to have a toothbar. After just one weekend of using a toothbar, I will never go back to not having one.

I think we ask a lot from these little tractors and they perform very well, but tree pushing of any substantial size is best left to dozers. Even digging around a tree with a backhoe is slow compared to a dozer. Unfortunately dozers are also big and they aren't suited too well to thinning. I use my tractor because I can sort and thin trees an not make a complete mess in my woods like a dozer will. Sometimes nothing works quite as good as a chainsaw. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[cedarman]

I hear that about falling debris. I've been in the home building business for 25 yrs and have watched the dozer clear plenty of trees and the first thing I noticed a the operator pointed out later was no matter how healthy the tree, sometimes things come down and without cab protection the downfall can be fatal. I've seen thing fall and kick back it the cab, so even a cab doesn't assure you of total safety. I've done a lot of bushhogging with an 8N and when I first began my step daddy told me if you can run over it with a tractor the bushhog will cut it but I quickly learned that wasn't always the best approach. I was mostly wondering about the 4" and under stuff but hadn't considered the bent bucket thing. I have some stuff that has been cut 3' above the ground and wondered if the tractor had more push factor than a skid loader. I've used a skid loader to rip the roots and then shove over the stumps but would prefer to rent equipment rather than abuse my own, not that I go out to abuse anything, talking wear and tear, mostly.

 

[Egon]

Different tree species have different root characteristics which make for great differences in removal.

One good way to avoid the falling hazards is to cut off the tree about 5 or six feet above ground. This still leaves you with a taller stump for leverage.

Egon

 

[SteveH_CT]

/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif OK - Now that I've made it clear I don't push over the larger trees anymore - I will relate how much of a "cowboy" I was trying to be - I even loaded the bucket with some fill for extra weight/momentum... Good Gosh I had some of my trees swinging at the top - thats when the deadwood fell - and thats when I had a lucid thought... dangerous - I get them occasionaly. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

I do use the FEL to help clear, and if a tree is pretty small I'll clear it - I just don't do the bigger ones anymore. I'm picking up the toothbar tonight - I can't wait to see how that improves my clearing ability.

 

[Cliff_Johns]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif OK - Now that I've made it clear I don't push over the larger trees anymore - I will relate how much of a "cowboy" I was trying to be - I even loaded the bucket with some fill for extra weight/momentum... Good Gosh I had some of my trees swinging at the top - thats when the deadwood fell - and thats when I had a lucid thought... dangerous - I get them occasionaly. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
)</font>

I recommend you read this about my experiences in pushing down trees if you haven't already.
Experiences thread

Cliff

 

[AndyMA]

One thing I've noticed that I don't think anybody has mentioned is the number of trees than when being pushed come over sideways and then either come back at the tractor or tend to tip the tractor oversideways. Yes, I've pushed over a number of trees, but now I find it much easier to digout some of roots wiht the backhoe first to control the direction of fall.

Andy