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Need Advice! Is a track steer a good option for my needs?

boatskipper

Member
Joined
Sep 25, 2015
Messages
20
Location
Oklahoma
Hey all,

So I have 30 acres of land to clear. It is mostly overgrown brush and lots of cedar trees and saplings. I'd like to clear the brush and the cedars and pile everything for burning. The land is mostly flat with half having a small grade.

I know a dozer is the best option, but I'm inexperienced at using heavy equipment and feel a little intimidated at using a dozer. The other options are a track steer, excavator (which is out of my price range) or hiring it done which I don't want to do.

Mainly I'll use the machine to clear the brush as best I can with a root bucket and brush hog. I'll also be removing all of the cedar (which there are hundreds). Most are less than 12" in diameter but some are thirty foot tall. I will not be cutting down any of the large hardwoods, I only want cedars removed.

I plan on cutting down the cedars with a saw then moving them to a burn pile with a grapple bucket.

So is a track steer an effective machine for this type of work? Any thing you'd recommend other than a track steer?

What HP should I be looking at? I've been seeing used machines in the 50 hp range for $20K, 60-70 hp $25K, and 80+ hp for around $30K, which is the top end of my budget.

I really like the idea of the track steer because of the versatility. The auger, grapple bucket, pallet forks, brush hog, stump grinder, etc... seems like a machine you can do almost anything with.

So what are your thoughts?
 

North Texan

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 25, 2007
Messages
92
Location
North Texas
A lot of it will depend on what kind of trees we are dealing with here. If you are talking about eastern redcedar, then what you are talking about might work. If you are talking about some other type of juniper that can rootsprout, then cutting won't work. You'll need something that can get to the root.

I would suggest getting the heaviest machine you can afford. The more it can lift, the less you have to try to saw up to pile and stack. You can also get a grubber, and use it to grub smaller trees, which is a constant on any type of invasive species. I would also suggest getting a cab. Going out and about in pastures is a good way to stir up stinging insects that might be nesting in or near some of those trees you are after. Won't be as fast as an excavator or dozer, but it should work. And when you get it cleared, the CTL will be a little handier for a variety of things than either an excavator or dozer.

If you can't find a good CTL in your budget, I wouldn't turn my nose up at a good skid steer at the right price. With the advent of after-market tracks and undercarriage components, the maintenance difference would give the edge to a CTL. Better balance and generally a little better ride, but either would work.
 

Hazcat

Member
Joined
May 5, 2015
Messages
11
Location
Northern California
What about a 40-50hp tractor with bucket on front and a 3pt on the rear. I think most can be ordered with a skid steer quick connect on the front so most skid steer buckets and hydraulic grapples fit. A three point is the back allows for a much cheaper brush hog, a brush hog for the ctl or skidsteer isn't cheap. Also having both the ctl with brush hog style mower and a 3pt mount brush hog on a tractor, the 3pt mounted brush hog does a nicer "mow" job but the ctl or skid steer brush hog will attack anything. What I would think about is do the easy stuff and hire a guy with a large ctl and a fecon head to clean out the rest, then use the tractor to keep it under control. Just my 2 cents.
 

check

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 1, 2012
Messages
800
Location
in the mail
That kind of work calls for a rugged machine. Asian farm tractors are too delicate. I would get a dozer, then maybe a large skid steer with a grapple, because dozer piles often tend to have too much dirt in them to burn. A dozer with a rake attachment would be good if you find one.
Dozers are easy to learn, with the exception of doing fine, smooth blade work, which takes practice. For clearing you only have to keep from getting killed by trees.
 

JS300

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2015
Messages
455
Location
Texas
Occupation
Power Plant and Cattle
Having cleared allot of land with a skid steer I would recommend the biggest you can afford. Something like a Cat 262 or Case 450/445. A saw works really good but the low flow saws do not work very well so you would need a high flow machine wich will cost more. What I eventually found was that I could pull trees with a CLFab tree puller about as fast as shearing them. You will definitely want a cab or at least make some sort of heavy screen door too. As far as a track machine vs tire machine goes you can save quite a bit by getting a tire machine, mine has done me a good job i do have OTT's for wet conditions. I really think for clearing land a tree puller, heavy grapple rake, and a mower works great and can do nearly any task. Just remember all this stuff needs to fit in the budget. If not keeping it long term you could get a higher hour machine to save some $$. A cab machine sure helps on long days. Good luck
 

stars&bars44

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 2, 2015
Messages
142
Location
Trinity NC
Occupation
Earthmoving
I agree with ericsher, Rent a CTL and then an excavator. See what works and what does not. Then you wont buy something only to leave a better option on the table.
 

CM1995

Administrator
Joined
Jan 21, 2007
Messages
13,250
Location
Alabama
Occupation
Running what I brung and taking what I win
30 acres is a lot clear with a 320 and a 953 much less a CTL. What is your timeline?
 
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