Excavator Question

Mathieu18

Mathieu18

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So after all the indecision, looks like we're just renting an excavator to clear 3+- acres. Friend's husband has said he'll do it if we get the equipment. Rental place is recommending a CAT320. Friend said anything from 312-320 is fine. I'm tempted by a 315 with the front blade, I could use it some after he clears to grade it a little better. But the 320 will obviously clear quicker. Most of what needs cleared is 4-6" pine, about 15' at most.

So just generally looking for another opinion, I'm thinking the 315 will get it done, blade will be useful and it's cheaper to boot, but if the 320 is what I need...
 
You trying to clear and grub or just remove vegetation?
 
For that size and pine either should work fine and not be much of a chore. If much hardwood thats when I would look toward the heavier machine. i would look to see if both have a thumb or a hydraulic one that will help more than size of machine if your friend is a good operator.
 
Ikarus1 said:
I went with forestry mulching and letting the stumps rot in the ground
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The mulcher is a great way to go, better for everything.
I wish I could let the stumps rot in the ground.
Mine are too big and plentiful for that to happen in any reasonable amount of time.
I would love to get farming that property soon, but it’s not looking good.
 
Ikarus1 said:
The diesel to run those will cost more than the rental. I went with forestry mulching and letting the stumps rot in the ground
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I did the same. Pretty amazing how fast what was left of a stump to rot.
Gonna get the guy back to do a perimeter path for the Mule.
 
Bloodyhands said:
I have tried to find someone to clear stumps on 10+ ac and put in a road.
If anyone shows up the price has been ridiculous.
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Yea, his company charges $6k-$8k per acre. I'll have to pay him on top of the rental, but should be 1/4-1/3 of that, why I want to take advantage!
Jp8819 said:
For that size and pine either should work fine and not be much of a chore. If much hardwood thats when I would look toward the heavier machine. i would look to see if both have a thumb or a hydraulic one that will help more than size of machine if your friend is a good operator.
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Yea, looking at the rental with a thumb on both to pile it all up. Once I get water I'll burn it. Also plan to conveniently pile up a backstop...
 
I'm curious why you'd use a trackhoe instead of a dozer with a rake on it? With horses in the future you want all the roots gone right?
 
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Catfish said:
I'm curious why you'd use a trackhoe instead of a dozer with a rake on it? With horses in the future you want all the roots gone right?
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Cause the friend that does clearing said that's what he needed and that's about the extent of my knowledge (hence why I'm here). Also, once we figure where the pasture would go I could see renting a dozer with a root rake, but still want most of the stumps etc. gone.
 
I've cleared a lot of land in the past. Family was in the grading hauling business. For pasture rip them out with and excavator with thumb and never put a root rake or shank type plow in the ground or you will be picking up roots and rocks if they are there, for a long time. Disc it and disc it again and again and plant grass roots will rot under the ground and life will be good.
 
Bloodyhands said:
Yes Sir, and it is ridiculous. Afraid to think what adding a pond will cost. Much less the well and septic.
Probably just enough left over for me and the wife to go to Wal-Farts and buy a damn tent.
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Have you priced tents. Better just use leftover packing boxes.
 
Someone mentioned a dozer, but you would need a dozer with a regular blade at least first before a root rake is needed since a root rake cannot take the abuse of pushing over trees. The excavator is most versatile and reason many use it, it can pile, dig stumps and pick up and rake roots.

For fuel usage the smaller one will be better on fuel usage than a larger one if not needing the power.

Mulching has its place but not where there is to be any grading done or your grading contractor will stick it to you more than likely if they have to go behind and still get out stumps and roots left behind. Also you mentioned horses I would be hesitant in a horse pasture since stump holes can come about when things start rotting out. And brud720’s advice was spot on dont plow unless you want to bring up more roots.
 
Cat 315 should work, 320 will make quicker work of it.

Depending on how many trees and the terrain. Have you considered a track loader? Like a Cat 953 or bigger. Push over the trees, root ball and all. Buck up the logs, haul off stumps, then backfill the stump holes.
 
You won’t notice a huge difference in 315 vs 320 imo, but a blade is helpful sometimes.

If you want pasture land in future don’t let a mulcher touch it, worst mistake I made on my property. I now own some of the bumpiest ground in my county because of that.
 
Ikarus1 said:
The diesel to run those will cost more than the rental. I went with forestry mulching and letting the stumps rot in the ground
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I had someone come out last Saturday to mulch a path around the majority of the property we bought. 37 +/- acres logged over woods. 8ish clear. I will have to go in and cut some stumps down to the ground to be able to run over it with the bush hog. Actually I managed to get around the front half of it with the bush hog while avoiding stumps that needed avoiding. Had it forestry mulched as it would be cheaper and I did it as a necessity. Surveyor wanted to charge a crazy amount because it was thick and "We'd have to go in with a machete. Not a problem now. Actually found another survey marker (already knew where 2 were).

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Brandon1 said:
You won’t notice a huge difference in 315 vs 320 imo, but a blade is helpful sometimes.

If you want pasture land in future don’t let a mulcher touch it, worst mistake I made on my property. I now own some of the bumpiest ground in my county because of that.
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Not true. My pasture is perfect after 2 years post mulching. If your ground is bumpy, run a disc, ripper plow or tiller thru it. Or just let hoof action from animals work its magic. What you add to soil from the mulched trees helps add organic material instead of scraping off topsoil and compacting it with heavy equipment ground pressure. A skidsteer with rubber treads has way less ground pressure than a trackhoe.

Maybe you had someone do it that didnt know what they were doing. My guy is the best around and my land looks awesome after his work. You can look at his work on FB or IG.

20220726_094322.jpg
 
Bloodyhands said:
The mulcher is a great way to go, better for everything.
I wish I could let the stumps rot in the ground.
Mine are too big and plentiful for that to happen in any reasonable amount of time.
I would love to get farming that property soon, but it’s not looking good.
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Get a ripper plow and pull em out
 
I used a D8 with a single shank ripper and a root rake. Worked incredibly well at removing stumps expeditiously, including some 36” oak stumps.

Bill_d84.jpg

If you rent an excavator be sure to get one with a hydraulic thumb. Bigger is better in terms of excavator size when it comes to stump removal. I‘d personally go with the bigger excavator and forego the blade. You can grade it by using the side of the bucket.

Expect that you may have to regrade in a couple of years if the backfill settles.

if you plan to have horses in the cleared pastures, IMO total stump removal is a better course of action versus using a forestry mulcher. FM’s are great machines, but the stump remnants left behind will rot over time, leaving a potential void that can cause a horse to break a leg.
 
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Ikarus1 said:
Not true. My pasture is perfect after 2 years post mulching. If your ground is bumpy, run a disc, ripper plow or tiller thru it. Or just let hoof action from animals work its magic. What you add to soil from the mulched trees helps add organic material instead of scraping off topsoil and compacting it with heavy equipment ground pressure. A skidsteer with rubber treads has way less ground pressure than a trackhoe.

Maybe you had someone do it that didnt know what they were doing. My guy is the best around and my land looks awesome after his work. You can look at his work on FB or IG.

View attachment 502738
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Uh yeah, very true. Giant Tigercat mulcher muclched trees, D6 pushed off the mulch, Deere 7830 with an Athens cutting disc and then seed and fert. Initially a nice pasture but over time the stumps rotted and have created dips or depressions in the pasture.

It’s horrible. Never again.
 
Brandon1 said:
Uh yeah, very true. Giant Tigercat mulcher muclched trees, D6 pushed off the mulch, Deere 7830 with an Athens cutting disc and then seed and fert. Initially a nice pasture but over time the stumps rotted and have created dips or depressions in the pasture.

It’s horrible. Never again.
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I see the issue:
Mistake #1 Pushed off the mulch instead of letting it improve your soil
#2 compacting the soil with a dozer

#3 planting anything before whatever nature sprouted whatever was in your soil before the tree grew.


Someone didnt know what they were doing. And sounds like it was rushed to get "grass"


What we did was mulch in September, didnt touch anything until March and mowed whatever grew for a year. Then put out goats to eat poison ivy and resprouted sweetgum stumps, mobile chicken tractors to improve nitrogen, and then cows. Done. Nobody around us has a pasture that looks better or soil that is healthier
 
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Ikarus1 said:
I see the issue:
Mistake #1 Pushed off the mulch instead of letting it improve your soil
#2 compacting the soil with a dozer

#3 planting anything before whatever nature sprouted whatever was in your soil before the tree grew.


Someone didnt know what they were doing. And sounds like it was rushed to get "grass"


What we did was mulch in September, didnt touch anything until March and mowed whatever grew for a year. Then put out goats to eat poison ivy and resprouted sweetgum stumps, mobile chicken tractors to improve nitrogen, and then cows. Done. Nobody around us has a pasture that looks better or soil that is healthier
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Sounds like you are the expert then and your way worked perfectly, congrats on your success.
 
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The hardest thing I have done around the homestead is to get grass to grow in clay.
It took several years to get a good stand.
And that was with soil tests, lime trucks, fertilize spreaders and every implement known to man.
 
Tailhunter said:
The hardest thing I have done around the homestead is to get grass to grow in clay.
It took several years to get a good stand.
And that was with soil tests, lime trucks, fertilize spreaders and every implement known to man.
Click to expand...


At a certain point it's easier to just haul in topsoil and stop fighting the clay.
 
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