Truck VS Tree

[Wal]

I haven't done this before, so tell me if I'm crazy. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif
I am just starting to clear an area for a 10x16 equiptment shed on our new five acres of woodland. I need to remove several white oak trees of about 3-6 inches in diameter at the base. Here is what I have in mind. Cut the trees off at about 3 feet high, then hook up a logging chain towards the top of what is remaining and pull the stump out with my Dodge Dakota (I don't have a tractor yet /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif I was thinking I could attach the chain to where the trailer saftety chains normally go on my cat. 3 hitch. Unfortunately, my Dakota does not have 4wd, but it does have a limited slip differential. Does this have any possibility of working???

 

[Bird]

<font color=blue>Does this have any possibility of working???</font color=blue>

That's one of those "may or may not" situations./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif You'll never know until you try it; depends on type of soil you have, how much moisture is in it, just how big the tree is, etc. In your situation, I'd go for it and find out.

Bird

 

[cowboydoc]

Wal,
Be careful. I once saw a guy do that and pulled his bumper right off of his truck. Also if you use chains make sure and put a blanket or something over the chain so if it snaps it doesn't come through your back window and knock you in the head.

 

[ejb]

I doubt it will work...you would be suprised how much more pulling power a tractor has, even a relatively small one, versus a pickup. Sure the truck will have more hp, but the low gear ratio on a tractor gives it the edge...no harm trying though.

 

[Wal]

Cowboydoc,

I'm going to be attaching the chain to the safety chain holes on the hitch, not the bumper.
If I pull my hitch off, I'll REALLY be unhappy. /w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif What I'm kind a'thinking is that
I will lose traction and spin my wheels before I do anything
serious to the hitch or chain. I just hope the tree gives up first /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[TerryinMD]

Wal,

I would suggest that you either get a rental backhoe or a contractor to get those stumps out. Oak trees have a pretty good tap root and can be a pain to get out.

Look around where you have your property to see if any contractors are doing work. If they have equipement in the area, ask them to remove the stumps. This will save you the drayage charges. I just had a small area cleared on my property and did what I just suggested. $65/hr for the backhoe and $15/hr for a helper to watch. $80-$120 to remove some Box Elders and Black Oak trees and stumps.

How much will it cost to repair your truck if something breaks??

Good Luck!!!

 

[Joesgoats]

Walter, I have a Ford F150, 4wd which I used to pull out some overgrown forsythia (sp?). These were very old bushes, and each one was about 10 ft. in diameter (the branches I mean, the trunks were about 1-2", but each bunch had many small trunks).

What I found is that I would have to make a running start to get the mass to move, then it pulled OK. But I was slipping quite a lot even so. And they have very shallow, but broad roots.

I would worry that by attaching high up on the tree you will be pulling up on your rear end and increasing the chances of slipping.

Joe

 

[Gomez]

I've pulled out many small stump with my F150, 4x4. Here's a few things I've found that help.
As Joe noted, a running start is usually required. Of course, be extremely careful when doing this. I use a snatch strap which has some elasticity to it. I'll idle forward until the line tightens up, back off and do it again, repeat this several times. You should get a feel if the stump is moving. Another thing I've done is take a pressure washer to the roots and try to get as much root to dirt contact washed away as possible. Also, cut whatever roots you can get to. Finally, it helps if you have a good (1/2 ton) amount of weight in the bed.

Make sure any spectators are well away.

Good Luck

 

[JonE]

I pulled out a half dead crab apple tree about 4" in diameter with my toyota 4x4. The truck was on pavement and in low range. I still spun all tires. Then I backed up (a little) and it came out. I would be impressed if those oak trees came out with a p/u truck. But you have the right idea, leverage.

 

[Youare]

Years ago before the days of trucks and tractors stumps were pulled by animals. One of the ways they used to do it was place a large diameter wheel next to the stump to be pulled, run a chain over the top of the wheel down to the base of the stump. As the chain is pulled the wheel transmits the lateral or horizontial force to vertical lift as well as a little side pull. Most tree stumps will resist a laterial or horizontial pull but can't withstand the vertical force.

I have also used what is called a handyman's jack with good results. You have to dig around one of the larger roots, wrap a length of chain around it and the lifting tounge of the jack. I place a large piece of wood under the foot of the jack to keep it form sinking too far into the ground. I have removed several hardwood stumps of trees which were over 12" in diameter.

Good luck.