Trails - Where & How

[jonbravado]

i am going through the same ideas on my place - i am about to rent a walk-behind billygoat or gravely bushhog to cut the initial trail -

wide enough to fit the tractor in w/ the bushhog.

here is a picture of the backyard

it's gonna be a task but i will probably wait until the winter comes to do the big tractoring in the back (so i can see what i am running over) there are thorns (not briars) back there that will make short work of my tractor tires.

i have about 3.5 acres in the back and then a wide creek - i want to open up a trail to the creek and maybe a small food plot or two for my 'pet' deer. i am anxious to get it done, but want to do it right. i'll be listening in on your posts.

great posts. thanks.

J

 

[rvaitor]

Thanks to all again. I'm reading with interest everyone's ideas. One thing about my area is once you get past the initial 30 or 40 feet the woods are clear - it's really incredible - still lots of trees but very little of the brush and stuff. I do plan to wait until winter to dive it. Have plenty to do otherwise.

 

[TC29-dude]

Here is a pix of a trial I cut in pre-tractor...I used a chain saw and a machete.


I am going to try the brush hog method next time...I have almost all big woods so it's
fairly open except for some small stuff here and there.

 

[Tororider]

TC29,
Nice work, that is post card-esque.

That is what I would do, start with a chainsaw and pull out any stumps that were left behind. That way I could chip up the trees as I went along and line the trail with them. But it all depends on what your goals are. I like the way you kind of lined the path with the trees, gives it a very groomed/state park feel.

 

[KentT]

You might find some of these links helpful:

American Trails and Greenways resources, articles, studies, information on planning, design, development, maintenance, and management

Recreational Trail Design and Construction

Trail Construction Related CAD Drawings and Specifications USFS R6

Publications on Trail Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance

Forestry Library Databases - Trail Planning, Construction, and Maintenance

North Country National Scenic Trail - Handbook for Trail Design and Construction and Maintenance (U.S. National Park Service)

 

[wmgeorge]

What about tires? I'm just wondering out loud, when you do the bush hog work, don't the remaining stumps put holes in your tires?? I've got turf tires on my JD 650 right now, and plan to have chains on it the woods. But thinking I should change to a better tire for of the off road work....

Determine the path you want to take. Your to-from points, mark the path with plastic flagging like they use for boundaries. Walk it a few times. Determine if it goes thru any soft areas, wet areas or other places that need to be avoided. Determine if it goes thru any areas of high value (trees, ect) or that may be affected by erosion. Determine if a small jog can make the trail easier to make. Some times it's easier to add 100 yards to the distance if it's small brush vs having to take out 100 stumps!

Modify the path and check again. When you are happy, back the cutter in if it's thick, or go forward if it's not too bad. Be wary of going forward and having to back up. Bent trees will do 'bad things' under the tractor.

If need be, us proper tools, chain saw etc.

After the trail is clear, use the FEL, box blade, rear blade to adjust the slope, pitch etc. Clear roots, rocks and stumps.

jb

 

[AlanB]

I am always concerned, but so far, I have been fortunate and the stumps have not punctured my tires. (nails, metal, all sort's of other things have though)

Anyway, I attribute it to the way a bush hog cuts, it kind of beats the tree's into submission more then a clean razor kind of cut. When you look at the end of the stumps, they tend to be kind of frazzled a bit, and not quite so likely to puncture the tires.

So, short version yes, I do expect it to happen, it has happened on my freinds tractor, but all in all it is not as bad as you would expect.

 

[coolhl7]

rent or hire out a gyro-trac...it is the easiest way to make a trail that I know of. then f/u with bushhog as time goes on.
Gyro-Trac - Technology

 

[Defective]

Wow!

I want one...

Make that three. A GT13 for the small jobs, a GT25 for serious work, and a GT50 just because.

 

[3RRL]

rvaitor,
My property must be a lot like yours, not too much brush and mostly bigger trees. Mostly Oaks out here.
I picked several trails that allows access to different parts of the property. I wanted to use them like you, for ATV, Jeep or walking. They are really enjoyable. I ran the tractor through the route where I didn't have to remove trees but went around them. I use my fel bucket, grapples and mostly the boxblade. I had a thread about it.
Pushing in New Roads and Trails
I've done several more since then and also one in New Mexico at my friends place, gugliols.