trail clearing technique and tools

[sd455dan]

That's some really tuff stuff you had to clear. I'm not sure if I'd even give that at try. Congrats on your tenacity.

Well, that is one advantage of old well used equipment.

If I had bought a new cabbed tractor or TLB there is No Way I would have attacked that brush by just going for it. Every scratch in the paint and mark in the tires would have bothered me along with pushing a new brush cutter that hard out of the gate. Also while brush cutting end of day one in reverse and not paying enough attention, I caught the right front of the bucket on a large tree at full PTO speed. BAM.
Stopped in its tracks 14.9 x 28 Ags still spinning and hopping in reverse before I got the clutch in.

Lots of choice words spoken and a good dufus move on my part as well. I did treat Both TLB and Rhino to a good wash and re grease once I roaded them home.

 

[airbiscuit]

After pics when you can please

 

[ArlyA]

Just got home from a property searching, camping and trail clearing weekend. Will post pics after they are processed.

 

[LoudonNH]

If I could locate a good used JD 3033r or 3039r tractor at a reasonable price I'd be ticked pink. I'd go for a Kubota as well but I don't know there line very well. Here is one I used View attachment 882306View attachment 882332

I’m just about to trade my 2016 3039R, H165 loader w/61” HD bucket, 385A backhoe w/18” HD bucket, 900 hours.
The dealer is giving me $30,000. I’d be happy to sell it privately.

 

[ArlyA]

I’m just about to trade my 2016 3039R, 165 loader w/61” HD bucket, 385A backhoe w/18” HD bucket, 900 hours.
The dealer is giving me $30,000. I’d be happy to sell it privately.

Thanks but you are quite some distance from Houghton MI.

 

[ArlyA]

Knocking weeds down and sawing just a bit on the NCT over the weekend. I'm having grief holding strings in my newer echo heads. It was clean out with paint thinner and air which made no difference. I am investigating this.

 

[airbiscuit]

I was out creating the last 250' of of a 20 acre boundary trail the last couple of days. It's not really a trail that I need, but the OCD in me wanted to identify a mid-40 line. It reminded me what I like and don't like about making trails.

Don't likes:
Working in slashing/cutover areas with so many branches embedded every which way
Mostly uphill
Going in too soon after a rain so everything is wet
Big old blow down trees

Likes:
My old 34cc Echo Top Handle chainsaw (In most cases anymore, I prefer lightweight over more power)
Seeing tangible progress as I go along
Interesting way to get exercise
Satisfaction of finishing the job

Now all I have to do is go over it with my rough cut mower, and it will be domesticated enough for now. It reminded me how much effort it takes to create a new trail.

 

[jkahan]

Fascinating thread; love reading all the info; obviously got a ways to go. I maintain 10+ miles of trails. All 8 - 10' wide but a lot are quite steep. FWIW - here's core stuff in my toybox. I built the trails mostly with my mini excavator (Kubota 161 and now a 057) over the last 10 years. Also used a Kubota B3200HSD (tractor) with a tilt and level 3 pt hitch and box blade (game changer). Stihl Kombi tool is a must have for me - I have one that I keep a chainsaw bar on, and another with a chainsaw wheel. I also have a bunch of Stihl saws. I use a Rut Mfg Tree Slayer (brush cutter) on my mini but it is impractical for extended mowing use as it is a sit and sweep type tool. Just purchased a Kunz brush mower to tow behind tracked ATV.

Here's the obligatory Kubota photo.... I love Kubota (diesel of course) - their RTV is heavy and slow but with the Camso tracks is amazing; have used their stuff since the 80s. Kubota reliability has been phenomenal. My ATV is a Can-Am Outlander 1000 with Camso tracks- use it mostly in winter for xc ski trail grooming.

 

[John_Mc]

...Stihl Kombi tool is a must have for me - I have one that I keep a chainsaw bar on, and another with a chainsaw wheel.

I didn't realize Stihl made a Combi tool that is rated for a round saw blade.

I don't own a Combi Tool, but do own their FS250 and use it often with a saw blade on it - mainly for cutting Buchthorn (an invasive tree that I'm overrun with.) Before that, I owned a similar Jonsered brush cutting saw for many years (until I lent it to a friend who straight-gassed it.) I much prefer the Chisel tooth blade (or the similar Maxi blade sold by other manufacturers) to the one that looks like a circular chainsaw wheel. The chisel or Maxi cut more efficiently.

 

[ArlyA]

Fascinating thread; love reading all the info; obviously got a ways to go. I maintain 10+ miles of trails. All 8 - 10' wide but a lot are quite steep. FWIW - here's core stuff in my toybox. Put in mostly with my mini excavator (Kubota 161 and now a 057) over the last 10 years. Stihl Kombi tool is a must have for me - I have one that I keep a chainsaw bar on, and another with a chainsaw wheel. I also have a bunch of Stihl saws. I use a Rut Mfg Tree Slayer (brush cutter) on my mini but it is impractical for extended mowing use as it is a sit and sweep type tool. Just purchased a Kunz brush mower to tow behind tracked ATV.

We have stihls kombi and echos version of that.