Tractor Implement Question

[tasher]

Hey crew -

I'm trying to make a few trails through our 80 acres. We use the trails for hiking, getting to the wild edibles, the orchard, and bowhunting stands.

The land is relatively flat, but there are boulders often right at the surface. On average I would say a boulder every 6'. The boulders very in size to 4" to 18" in circumference. They are very hard to see though the thick growing vegetation (wild grass). Currently what we do is have someone walk in front and feel for them, and someone ride behind on the Ol' snapper. But this takes a lot of time and then the trails end up being curvy to avoid the obstructions.

If I get a tractor, is there something I can use to... I don't know... drag a trail and discover the boulders safety? Or plow them up then back blade over the trail? Then I can hand dig them out. Then I can make straight trails that I can find the next year and continue to use them and mow them.

How do other people deal this this? Thanks ahead of time for the help.

[wwubben]

Lower your tractor loader to the ground and just drive down the trail.You can load the small rocks in the bucket and dig the big boys out.

[ksfarmer]

Originally Posted by wwubben

Lower your tractor loader to the ground and just drive down the trail.You can load the small rocks in the bucket and dig the big boys out.

Better drive slow or one of those bigger rocks will aquaint you with the steering wheel, not to mention some damage to the loader. Even if you do clear the rocks, you will probably find more continually working to the surface. You might consider using a herbicide such as roundup or something better for brush, and clear the vegetation for a path that you can see to walk.

[Gray Wolf]

When I'm going to mow a new area I tip the bucket back as far as it will go and drop it down to about 6" off the ground. When I hit a rock, it just rides up and over.

I also don't drop the brushhog all the way down and keep it up a foot or so.

Then I make the first 'discovery' pass to just knock down most of the brush so I can see what's there. Then I make a second pass with the mower dropped to where I want it.

[TnAndy]

Originally Posted by wwubben

Lower your tractor loader to the ground and just drive down the trail.You can load the small rocks in the bucket and dig the big boys out.

You might get some of the small ones out that way, but you'll probably destroy a loader when you hit an 18" rock, unless they are in LOOSE sand or you have a REALLY stout loader on a 100hp tractor.

You need a small bulldozer or a mini excavator (best of the two). Rent a 5-6,000lb mini-ex and get the job done.

[Harry Chickpea]

Rent a harley rake.

http://youtu.be/VSgzBRzc5nk

[JoePa]

If you can get a lot of fill free - just cover everything with the fill - like building a road on top of the stones - you need a truck to get the fill - and a bucket to haul it around -

[Cabin Fever]

We have 40 acres and I've built about a mile of trails the old fashioned way - chainsaw, hand-held brush cutter with a carbide-tooth circular sawblade, power limber, and moving what I cut off the trail by hand.

[Oswego]

I would try a sub soiler attachment, set it the depth you want and angle it to force rocks up and out of the way. Drive tractor in lowest gear and I think it will work fine.

[Conhntr]

I use a stihl brushcutter with blade and some common sense. You can cut a trail almost as fast as you can walk. Usually i have to hack it down 2-3 times a year here jn the jungles of virginia underbrush grow really thick and thorny here. Then i just carry some hand shears when i walk the dogs and cut off anything growing across.

[rwur961615]

We have huge rocks/boulders on the property in Tenn when we cut a new trail we run a disc harrow thru first the disc rolls up and over any large rocks and chops the vegetation up then use use a sub soiler to root out bigger rocks.

[am1too]

Originally Posted by Cabin Fever

We have 40 acres and I've built about a mile of trails the old fashioned way - chainsaw, hand-held brush cutter with a carbide-tooth circular sawblade, power limber, and moving what I cut off the trail by hand.

That's basically what I did cause that's what I could afford.