Cutting trails

[Ski]

It sucks but has to be done

Making a trail inside one of my tight hollers. Can't get a tractor in here without getting a dozer in to cut me some switchbacks. So for now it's my UTV and chainsaw. I don't know why i love this stuff, because I hate it while I'm doing it lol

 

[JCDEERMAN]

The work itself sucks while doing it, but also enjoyable after looking back after every 10-15 yards seeing the progress, which may be slow, but you can see it. And then when the hunting comes, that's when you have full relief and appreciation

 

[BSK]

Although it was a steep learning curve, renting a midi-excavator allowed for some great road-building (mostly repairing old skidder roads). And renting it for a month wasn't crazy expensive. Although, next time it will be a small road-building dozer!

 

[Ski]

The work itself sucks while doing it, but also enjoyable after looking back after every 10-15 yards seeing the progress, which may be slow, but you can see it. And then when the hunting comes, that's when you have full relief and appreciation

Yessir I'll be happy happy happy when it's done. Been wanting to do it for years but keep putting it off. Might have been smart to wait until winter but I want to hunt in there this fall.

 

[Ski]

Although it was a steep learning curve, renting a midi-excavator allowed for some great road-building (mostly repairing old skidder roads). And renting it for a month wasn't crazy expensive. Although, next time it will be a small road-building dozer!

Those look fantastic! Nice job.

I've been kicking around renting a mini-x but I'm a bit afraid. The UTV in 4wheel doesn't even like it. I have to cross a steep hogback ridge to access the holler and the last 100ft before the top gets stupid steep. I'm working up the nerve to try. Sure would be nice. I could get a lot done in very short time.

 

[BSK]

I personally found extremely steep slopes to be unnerving in an excavator. They feel like they're going to roll over, and maybe they will.

That's why I want to rent a small bulldozer next time. They are far quicker and more efficient at cutting roads across or angling up steep hillsides.

 

[BSK]

My goal with the excavator was to open up the network of old log-skidder trails that exist on my place. They are very old roads, 50+ years old. Most were completely grown up in trees with lots of places eroded out, making them impassable even to an ATV. At that job, the excavator was excellent. However, for cutting new roads where none exist, the bulldozer is the only way to go. It can be done with an excavator, but it is very slow going and requires considerable skill.

 

[lafn96]

Putting one of these on a weedeater makes cutting the saplings and bigger weeds much, much easier

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y32ZM58

 

[DoubleRidge]

We have several old roads that need cleaning up. Can get those with tractor and bush hog. Have a few that are in good shape and just need a little trimming.. And one or two locations we want to add a road. Would love to get a small dozer in there.....also, listening to a Mossy Oak Game Keeper podcast last year I think.and they were talking with Mark Thomas, well known wildlife and forestry expert and he was talking about a sprayer rig he built for his ATV where he could spray out and up on each side of old logging roads and dont remember the chemical name but he called it "chemical pruning"....kills small saplings and limbs on large trees but doesnt kill mature trees. He mentioned the limbs die back and eventually fall off....need to go back to podcast and listen again while taking notes...sounds like a process that could be helpful keeping roads open and helpful building new roads.

 

[Ski]

Putting one of these on a weedeater makes cutting the saplings and bigger weeds much, much easier

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y32ZM58

I have one of those and it's amazing!

 

[Ski]

I personally found extremely steep slopes to be unnerving in an excavator. They feel like they're going to roll over, and maybe they will.

That's why I want to rent a small bulldozer next time. They are far quicker and more efficient at cutting roads across or angling up steep hillsides.

Yeah I need to hire in a dozer. I would rent an excavator to install culverts and such but for cutting roads on steep hillsides a dozer with knowledgeable operator would be worth paying for.

 

[Chaneylake]

on steep slopes go up hill in reverse and use your blade to help level up the mini.
go down hill in forward and again use the blade to help level up
I never travel sideways on any steep slope
A John Deere 60G mini excavator will flip over if the boom is fully extended and the bush hog is attached. I did this in 2022

 

[BSK]

Yeah I need to hire in a dozer. I would rent an excavator to install culverts and such but for cutting roads on steep hillsides a dozer with knowledgeable operator would be worth paying for.

I thought the same until I took bids on a dozer and operator to open and create the roads I needed. Lowest bid I got for a week's work was $10,000. Instead, I rented the excavator for a month at less than half that. And now that I have that experience under my belt, I'm itching to try renting a dozer.

 

[Ski]

I thought the same until I took bids on a dozer and operator to open and create the roads I needed. Lowest bid I got for a week's work was $10,000. Instead, I rented the excavator for a month at less than half that. And now that I have that experience under my belt, I'm itching to try renting a dozer.

Dozers can be rented?

 

[BSK]

Dozers can be rented?

Yup. And they're not as expensive to rent as you think.

 

[Ski]

Yup. And they're not as expensive to rent as you think.

You're gona get me killed lol

 

[buckbstr_1]

Be very careful when on a bulldozer. I had a coworker injured by a bulldozer. It was a small one without a cab. He stood up and put one leg on the track and the other foot hit the left track handle. He was pulled in between the bulldozer and the blade and then run over. He was broken up and flattened at his lower abdomen. He is probably the toughest dude I know. He survived and has had multiple surgeries on his foot. The story is remarkable at how God positioned everyone that saved him.

 

[BSK]

Be very careful when on a bulldozer. I had a coworker injured by a bulldozer. It was a small one without a cab. He stood up and put one leg on the track and the other foot hit the left track handle. He was pulled in between the bulldozer and the blade and then run over. He was broken up and flattened at his lower abdomen. He is probably the toughest dude I know. He survived and has had multiple surgeries on his foot. The story is remarkable at how God positioned everyone that saved him.

Be carefully on ANY large piece of machinery, including tractors.

 

[DoubleRidge]

Another thing to watch for and consider are small trees that load up and spring back...or break and fly back into the cab area....that goes for running any equipment in the timber, tractor, excavator or dozer...been there and its spooky when there is a close call....but I'm with yall....I want to get a small dozer on our place for some interior road improvements.

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]

I do it every late winter and summer. I try to get done before green up and up stopping because I don't want to run the turkeys off and then have to fight the heat. I feel your pain!

 

[Popcorn]

I thought the same until I took bids on a dozer and operator to open and create the roads I needed. Lowest bid I got for a week's work was $10,000. Instead, I rented the excavator for a month at less than half that. And now that I have that experience under my belt, I'm itching to try renting a dozer.

There are few things I enjoy more than climbing up on a dozer and getting busy. One of the few toys where you must destroy to build. I cut and built trails and roads all around and throughout 1600 acres a few years back, would work all day then walk back thru my work to proof and enjoy, next day my UTV would take me to the machine and I would walk back to it at the end of the day.
I leveled 3 holes of a duck property 3 years ago and set each hole lower than the previous so I could fill from a single source and drain all out the other end. Level grading 8, 16 and 6 acres respectively is BORING AS HAIL!!! No matter how much you love the machine

 

[Popcorn]

Dozers can be rented?

Yes, renting one is much cheaper than owning one and you get to play with newer equipment!! For small jobs I love the JD 650 and the 750 is great for larger tasks. Those new machines are nimble and responsive beyond belief. I work a lot of low wet ground so I rent the wide track machines (LGP) for low ground pressure they come with a wider foot print and a wider blade but lack the traction of a standard machine.

 

[Ski]

Yes, renting one is much cheaper than owning one and you get to play with newer equipment!! For small jobs I love the JD 650 and the 750 is great for larger tasks. Those new machines are nimble and responsive beyond belief. I work a lot of low wet ground so I rent the wide track machines (LGP) for low ground pressure they come with a wider foot print and a wider blade but lack the traction of a standard machine.

I will try to work up the nerve. Steep terrain with huge trees and I've never operated a dozer before. I'll be buying insurance for sure, both for the equipment and my life lol

 

[BSK]

I will try to work up the nerve. Steep terrain with huge trees and I've never operated a dozer before. I'll be buying insurance for sure, both for the equipment and my life lol

Took me a week to get comfortable on the excavator in hilly hardwoods, and they are much trickier than a bulldozer. Just make sure the dozer has a 6-way blade.

 

[Ski]

Yes, renting one is much cheaper than owning one and you get to play with newer equipment!! For small jobs I love the JD 650 and the 750 is great for larger tasks. Those new machines are nimble and responsive beyond belief. I work a lot of low wet ground so I rent the wide track machines (LGP) for low ground pressure they come with a wider foot print and a wider blade but lack the traction of a standard machine.

Looks like I can rent from a Cat dealer. Would a D1 or a D3 be most appropriate for steep hills with big timber? I'd prefer minimal damage to to my trees. I need a road large enough and gentle enough to use my tractor and UTV. Looks like around $2k/week rental and I need less than 2mi of road cut. I reckon a week would be enough???

 

[Popcorn]

D-3 would be the smallest I would consider and a 4 or 5 would be more appropriate.
Size is time!
Go sit on one and take the largest you can imagine getting they where you want to go.
If you estimate 2 weeks plan for a month. If you are done if you are done in 2 weeks turn it in. Make sure the rental includes delivery and pickup!
2 miles in rough terrain is a lot of work, be on the machine every available hour you can see to work.

 

[Ski]

D-3 would be the smallest I would consider and a 4 or 5 would be more appropriate.
Size is time!
Go sit on one and take the largest you can imagine getting they where you want to go.
If you estimate 2 weeks plan for a month. If you are done if you are done in 2 weeks turn it in. Make sure the rental includes delivery and pickup!
2 miles in rough terrain is a lot of work, be on the machine every available hour you can see to work.

Exactly the kind of experience I was hoping to hear. Thanks!