Grapple Yet another grapple question, Specific to the Pacific NorthWet

smitesmash · Jun 17, 2014

My old JD 650 with a toothbar was able to take down up to about 6" alders. but got stumped (ha) on anything larger.

my new tractor I can pull out up to 10" stumps pretty quickly with the backhoe, but clearing out a 30'X30' clearing, I spent more time repositioning the tractor than actually digging.
and then getting the stumps cleared out actually took more time that it reasonable should have.

BGigHarbor · Jun 17, 2014

For me a 12 inch alder is pretty well into the ground. Up to maybe 7 inches I have best luck just leaving a long trunk then then pushing or pulling them over with the bucket (or grapple). Then I use the grapple to round them up and stack them.

Bigger ones are a pain. My best luck is setting a cinch line at least 10 ft high (20+ in a say 14 incher) and using a long chain to my drawbar and yank it in a couple directions to get it to pop out of the ground. Then round up with grapple.

Piston · Jun 17, 2014

The best way to take out large saplings/small trees is to push them over with the grapple, then push out the stump after the tree goes over. There is some helpful pics/techniques here....

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/282691-whats-your-technique-removing-trees.html

Nothing in the pictures you posted looks difficult to remove with the grapple. The best part is, it's actually a really lot of fun.

EDIT: These techniques work very effectively for small trees. For anything that proves too stubborn to come out with a push, you can dig around one side of the stump with your backhoe. You have a huge advantage that I don't have-the backhoe always on the tractor! I can't see any reason to get off your seat and use a chainsaw.