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pushing/pulling over trees
QUESTION:I'd like to remove a couple large oaks to clear some space for a workshop.
I want to push the trees over to get the roots up and (for other reasons)
I've been thinking of buying an old tractor of sorts. 2 questions:
- What is the minimum size (hp/torque) machine I need to do this sort
of thing?
- Alternately, I read somewhere that you could pull trees over with a
come-along attached to another (larger) tree. Has anyone done this?
ANSWER: I have pulled bushes, small trees, etc. with an 8000 lb winch on a truck.
In my experience, I see no way that will pull over a large oak. I had my
truck stuck once in a real tough situation. I had to double the line to
double the pull to get unstuck. I used a 18" diameter oak ( don't know
which type of oak), and the 16,000 lbs didn't even shake the tree.
If you are looking for a relatively cheap way to do it, and your time isn't
valuable, I would try the following: cut down the trees, rent a backhoe
and dig out the stumps. It will take quite awhile to dig, and as you uncover
the large roots, the backhoe will not be strong enough to break them, so
you will need to cut them. Remember that the quickest way to ruin a chain
and bar on a chainsaw is to run it in dirt, so use an axe, or clean the root
before cutting. Once the big roots are all cut, the backhoe can break the
smaller ones and get the stump out of the way. Obviously cutting a 12"
root with an axe is alot of work, but you don't have to cut all the way
through, just enough so the backhoe can break it.
If you really want the tree pushed over, and are willing to pay for it,
a large dozer, track loader, wheel loader, or excavator will be required.
THe previously mentioned excavating contractor I talked to told me the
story of his neighbor that wanted him to doze out a hedge row. The neighbor
asked him how much he would charge. The contractor told him, $600 for about
2 hours work, and there was no trucking fees, since the nighbor was just
across the lane. The neighbor was pissed, and found a guy with a large
tractor backhoe who said he would do the job for $300. It ended up taking
the backhoe 4 full days, and he ruined 2 rear tires. Each tire he ruined
cost more than the entire job. So, don't expect to get the trees pushed
over cheap.
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