Whats the best equipment for stumping?

[biggkidd]

I need to get up about 20 acres of stumps. Have been pricing this job. If I'm gonna spend that kind of money why not buy a used piece of equipment and do it myself. I see some older used track loaders and mini excavators for around 10,000. Working on minor breakdowns wouldn't be a problem for me.

What have you used for this kind of job? What does fuel per hour cost? Maintenance?

Thanks
Larry
A World Away

[Grumpy old man]

Find a used 4x4 back hoe Many to be had for less than $10,000.00 and there is no way you could hire that job out any cheaper . A track hoe all tho great for steep work can get very expensive to fix the under carriage which is what will take the most abuse turning frequently around stumps ,20 acres is a lot of stumps , A large bulldozer would be the fastest way but very expensive . What are you planning to do with the stumps ? here we burn them can you do it there ? the smoke from our burn pits flies right over your area anyway A few pictures of the land to be cleaned could give a better idea of the right machine to use , Is it flat or steep ?? pictures ?

[Darren]

A lot depends on the size of the stumps. The other factor when buying used equipment is not the initial price but how much the unexpected repairs will cost. If you lose a hydraulic pump or drive, it will be pricey. It's one of those things where once you're in for a penny, you may be in for a pound. The www.tractorbynet.com website is good for asking those kind of questions. They have a construction equipment forum.

[jwal10]

1 track hoe
2 backhoe
3 bulldozer

Size of stumps makes a difference, smaller stumps, backhoe will get the job done. Also depends on how much time you have. What else do you want to do, bulldozer will level better, with a root rake you can grouse all the roots to the top to pickup and burn. With the right attachments a track hoe is the fastest and gets more jobs done, easier. But expensive, parts, fuel and initial cost....James

[FarmboyBill]

Dinamite? lol

[Gray Wolf]

Originally Posted by FarmboyBill

Dinamite? lol

It was so much fun as a kid watching my dad blow stumps. Explosives were cheap and any adult could buy as much as they wanted. Dad always said "if a little's good, more's better". Quite a show.

[Gray Wolf]

But seriously, how big are they and how "out" do you need them? Cut or ground down to level may be all you need for such things as pasture.

Depending on size, how tall,they are and age, you might be able to pop them with a regular farm tractor. Around here, I can push over and pop out a fir or pime stump up to about 8"-12" if I let them sit a few years. But I cut trees about 3'-4' above the ground for just that reason.

[Oswego]

Get or rent an excavator large enough for the size stumps with a "thumb" to assist with loading or stacking the stumps for burning.

[biggkidd]

Wow lots of replies THANKS . Yes I can and will burn where I am. The land has an easy slope fairly steady. Nothing that would bother my 35 hp tractor. I have a backhoe that mounts on the THP but way to slow & week. It digs ok if there are no roots but not stumps, I know I have gotten plenty of them up with it. The timber has yet to be cut waiting on est. now. First offer is in but I rejected it. The stumps in question are mostly hardwood, some pine , and cedar. They range from small up to 30" the majority are 10"-24" so that would be my target zone. Bad news is GUM trees too they are a pain! If we were talking mostly pine & cedar I would let them rot. But hardwoods will continue to grow back way hard to kill.

Renting is an option but I would rather buy. A track loader could be handy for many things, like a future pond and basement when I build the other house in a few more years.

Their is a 755 john deere track loader with 4 in 1 bucket for 8,000 on CL guy says it was running when he parked it two years ago. I've been thinking of looking in to it. There are a few others too.

This is a place where bigger is going to be better IMO. I just paid someone to clear three acres. Didn't much enjoy that. The old saying if you want it done right do it your self kept coming to mind. He had terrible work ethics 15 min break for 45 min work & charged for a whole hour. You could set your watch by the guys breaks.

Thanks
Larry
A World Away

[Yvonne's hubby]

Originally Posted by FarmboyBill

Dinamite? lol

Thats always been my preference, but its hard buy these days... too many worrywarts... black powder can still be bought, at least for now.

[FarmboyBill]

Yeah, that's the way with ads for tractors/ (They wuz running when I parked it 2yrs ago) lol. U couldn't start it with dynamite.

[biggkidd]

Originally Posted by FarmboyBill

Yeah, that's the way with ads for tractors/ (They wuz running when I parked it 2yrs ago) lol. U couldn't start it with dynamite.

lol haha

[1shotwade]

O.k. so a lot of things come to mind here! To start with , just how big of a hurry are you to put the land into row crop? If you want pasture,we had a row of sassafras we cut as low as possible and just bought rock salt to put on each stump and the deer did the rest.Also a product called tordone(? spelling) is available from farm suppy stores. Apply it to the ring of inter bark once you cut the tree and it does a great job of keeping them from growing back. Also we "Hack" a section below the first green,treat it and walk away and the tree dies period. Faster than "ringing" and does a good job.With the tree standing dead it's an easy job to produce firewood or if cut in the first year you can still get good lumber out of it.
Like gray wolf said , blowing them is a lot of fun but it's agood thing we can't do that anymore. It's quite dangerous! You can also burn them out. We use keresene and used motor oil. after drilling the centers of the stump.
My brother uses goats to clear his land and one of the other methods for the remainder that is too large.
Just some thoughts!

[Tabitha]

Okay, we did not clear 20 acres, but DH cut them as low as possible and just drives the bush hog over. Most have disappeared. They rot in the ground. For pasture I would leave them in the ground. You have to bush hog it once a year anyway.

[Ramblin Wreck]

I pushed up about 15 acres of stumps with a small Cat loader, but a track hoe would have been better for the job. A skid steer with a grapple was used to move them. Some stumps I burned with other debris, and some I had hauled to a site that needed filling. Stumps by themselves don't burn very well.

As others have noted above, if you can cut the stumps low and live with them for a few years, the problem will take care of itself for a lot less money and effort.

Best wishes however you choose to tackle it.

[biggkidd]

Thanks Guys,

I was going to leave the stumps but several strongly suggested getting them out would be better. I am sure they are correct. It will allow the pasture to carry more animals sooner. Not to mention much safer for both humans and stock.

Part of the reason this question was asked was because I cannot afford to get all the stumps at once if I have to pay someone to do it. The financing of the first pasture, fencing, water lines, etc., and heifers will come from the timber sale. And sweat.

I was thinking that I would just get the stumps up and seed grass. Save up more money and buy fencing etc.. Then someone pointed out maybe I should start with half cleared and pay for the other stuff now so I can start raising cows sooner. Then finish clearing after. That sounded pretty good so thats what I started planning. A friend then ask why I was going to pay someone else to do something I could do. I quote why don't you get the equipment clear it then sell or like you usually do, keep it and make money. My reply was now why didn't I think of that.

Plus renting is still an option. If I can't find anything worth buying for what I can afford.

Thanks
Larry
A World Away

[jwal10]

Track loaders do not have very wide tracks and very little grousers so not a lot of traction. They are top heavy too. Undercarriage wears bad and is expensive to repair. I would use a trackhoe, clear for the fence and then work across the field as you have time, planting smaller paddocks as cleared. This way you can use a smaller trackhoe....James

[Grumpy old man]

I didn't know you had a tractor with a loader and hoe attachment and that changes everything . Get a large dozer in for a few days and attack the piles produced by the dozer as you have time this would be the fastest and lowest cost option and you don't have to buy anything but fuel for a machine you already have , also advertise you do it for sale fire wood as the loggers will leave most of the tree behind and you could make a good amount of money plus the fact they are clearing the mess for you !

[biggkidd]

Thanks James. Still checking all options, advice and ideas are most welcome. Everyone seems to lean toward a trackhoe as best. So I will check prices for used and rentals near by.

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

I didn't know you had a tractor with a loader and hoe attachment and that changes everything . Get a large dozer in for a few days and attack the piles produced by the dozer as you have time this would be the fastest and lowest cost option and you don't have to buy anything but fuel for a machine you already have , also advertise you do it for sale fire wood as the loggers will leave most of the tree behind and you could make a good amount of money plus the fact they are clearing the mess for you !

Yep I do have a small 35 hp diesel 4x4 with FEL and BH. Other att. include bushhog, auger, box blade, two bottom plow, landscape rake, and home made att. include forks, finish grade box, and root rake.
Around here I would be lucky if people will come get free firewood. Also try to keep to many people from knowing exactly where we live. Out of site out of mind type thing.

Thinks for all the tips guys. Now that I have an idea what needs to happen just have to wait for the timber guy to come back with a second offer or get others in to look. Time marches on.

Larry
A World Away

[biggkidd]

After all the great replies here and after talking with people who do this for a living.
1) track hoe / excavator with grapples
2) track loader w/ 4in1 bucket
3) dozer

With any of these the bigger the better, within reason. My understanding is that a excavator will do the best job taking the stump with the least amount of dirt attached. Also use less fuel per acre cleared. It also looks like renting will likely be the way I have to go.

Numbers crunch

Hire out job 1,000-2,500 per acre = 20,000 plus
Using equ. I already own cheep but take years = NO
Buying used equ. 10,000 and delivery 500 plus 2,000 for fuel and unknown repairs minimum 12,500 and up = scary
renting the right equ. up to 3,000 per week plus delivery 1,000 and fuel 2,000 taking a week off work to do it myself 350 = 6350 + insurance for any damages?

All these are close estimates not exact figures. Renting the right equipment looks like the best way to go as far as up front costs go.

Thanks
Larry
A World Away