Any trick methods of small tree removal in lieu of a Brush Grubber?

[Robert P]

From what I see Brush Grubbers work, thinking about ordering a couple of different sizes, wondering if there's any method you know of for pulling out small trees/root balls that works about as well to save on the expense of buying a Brush Grubber or two?

 

[flushcut]

Damp soil helps.

 

[SeanKroll]

Pictures and links always help.

 

[Stumpshot]

Need the roots out? Pull with truck & chain directly, skip the trinket. (A good bull rope or ratchet strap could substitute for the attachment to the trunk instead of the gadget.) Otherwise, flush cut + drip or few of Tordon.

Mechanical advantage could be your best friend on larger diameters:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vM24klVyxFk?rel=0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
We use these blocks in our rigging efforts. Do you have a Maasdam?

 

[Robert P]

Need the roots out? Pull with truck & chain directly, skip the trinket. (A good bull rope or ratchet strap could substitute for the attachment to the trunk instead of the gadget.) Otherwise, flush cut + drip or few of Tordon.

The thing is getting the chain to grip the trunk hard enough to pull it and not slip - which of course is what the Grubber does.

On the trunks big enough, I'm thinking cutting a notch with a chainsaw that a loop of chain would catch on would work. I don't have a lot of them to do, probably fewer than 20.

 

[Stumpshot]

Are you good at rigging knots? You should be able to create sufficient friction to grab the sapling and not slip, esp. if tied off in 2 places on the trunk (higher up and at the base).

 

[Burnham]

Two words.

Warn winch.

 

[Robert P]

Two words.

Warn winch.

I have no doubt it'd work but that's more than the Grubber(s), what I was looking for is doing it for next to no money.

 

[Wood Collector]

How big are the stumps? as you could always dig around them and then burn them out

 

[Al Smith]

Cut the stump low,sprinkle it with powdered milk,cover it with a tarp for about a week .Uncover it .The mushrooms will eat it up in a year or two .

 

[MasterBlaster]

Powdered milk? Cool.

 

[flushcut]

Interesting!

 

[Cobleskill]

I remember reading about powdered milk. Seems like some rich top soil and some nitrogen fertilizer were ingredients as well.

 

[Tree09]

Learn something everyday here!!!

 

[Merle Nelson]

There is this. I think another brand is called a root jack.

https://youtu.be/VUGR5A8FJlc

 

[Stumpshot]

By the time you buy 2 Brush Grubbers, you could just rent a mini excavator for a few hours or full day and pull them out, dig them out if needed. Or buy a winch, as Burnham recommended -- Harbor Freight has some cheap ones. Depends on what you want to invest in and what you have to work with (4x4 truck? Small tractor?).

 

[MasterBlaster]

God bless Harbor Freight!!!

 

[Stumpshot]

We were initially going to call our business Arbor Frieght, but figured we would get sued or cease-and-desisted right away.

 

[treebilly]

God bless Harbor Freight!!!

If it’s something you need once, I’ll agree. Daily use is a no go. Of course I’m still using tape measures from ten years ago that were bought there. My brother gave me a dozen of them for Christmas one year. He had a coupon that made them a buck a piece.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Just cheap Chinese shit. Accept that for what it is and enjoy!!!

 

[Burnham]

The thing about a good winch installation is, it offers pretty much unlimited options for useful applications to arb work. None of those other things do.

 

[Stumpshot]

If it's something you need once {from Harbor Freight}, I'll agree. Daily use is a no go.

For sure that's our take on things -- great for infrequently used tools, or disposable applications. We have this 1" air impact from them, use it about 2x a year and it works just great for that frequency of application. Why tie up $500 in a better brand one for that level of use?


But we're not likely to buy a Harbor Freight winch for our trucks, as we would want something 100% dependable for pulling trees over or rigging use in our demanding work applications. So like Burnham suggested, we'd go with a Warn winch. But for Robert's application, I think that would be good bang for his buck.

 

[SeanKroll]

An appropriately sized chain, with many wraps/ turns should grab onto a lot.

A sawzall goes a long way, and a cutter mattock, as well.

 

[stig]

Put an electric fence around the area, set some wild boars loose and after a couple of weeks you can pull those trees and scrubs out by hand.

Then toss the boars on the grill.

 

[Burnham]