Im looking at clearing a right of way at my sisters backyard with a D#39P Komatsu. About 40' xx 800' long. Trees are saplings to 15" diametor and at least 30 to 40' tall and pretty thick, and not much room to turn with out knocking down trees. Thinking about making a narrow trail on one side 50-100" long at a time then pushing the trees over and back towards the opening. Wondering about not tangling toppled trees with standing trees. Been moving dirt and not much trees. What you think?
Free firewood ... you cut... must take all.. A sign or ad in the paper might just get the area cleared for free but stumps are a pain to to remove sometimes
It will not be easy cleaning that up without the trees getting tangled up, especially if there are any obstacles you have to work around. What I would do is start knocking down trees closest to the opening so you have room to work then work your way back. It is hard to say without seeing it though. I have cleaned up hundreds of acres of nasty, overgrown CRP and it can get messy quick if you don't have a good plan.
When you push a tree down, ride it down all the way. This will disentagle it from surrounding trees. You do need to select the direction to minimize hitting directly other trees. Than push out the stump in the same direction for a few feet to separate it from the ground. Before pushing other trees hook up a chain and drag the tree to an clear area for delimbing and stump cutoff. If you methodically do this one tree at a time you will take some time but it will look good when done.
I would push tree down in opposite direction or away from your exit that way you wont get stuck behind a tree and you can hook stump end and pull out.
Thanks for the ideas. The firewood sounds good but in south louisiana firewood is not used as much as other places. Power line tree contractors are ready to give timber away just to get rid of it. Some things I hadnt thought of though, thanks. At about 3/4 of an acre if you have to drag each tree with a chain could take a while. Dont have an excavator but would it be more effective?
Yes, an excavator would be the best machine to do the job. If you have to "run what you brung", then it is doable with your dozer. Are you salvaging the timber, piling and burning, hauling off or grinding the trees? The method of disposal will affect how you tackle this.
Would try to make piles but might have to windrow. There is room to clear a wider path, might have to consider.
Piling and burning would be prefered and probably easiest.
I'd clear the area I was going to stack them and work my way back from there, one tree at a time with the bigger trees, pushing everthing inwards.
morning...take your saw and be safe. clearing in small dozer is dangerous work. if you have time fab up a quik rake fopr the front. push it up and burn it over a sip of c.r.