Best equipment to open up / clear a trail
- Thread starter Spcamno
- Start date
Got Juice?
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Peoples Republik of Kanukkistan
Here’s my take on this topic: It all depends if you want to do high or low impact trail clearing/building. For high impact, something like a tractor with a brush hog/flail mower, or a CTL/mini ex with a mulching drum.
I’ve done mostly low impact work. I use a combination of a machete, Milwaukee chainsaw, and a Husqvarna 555fx brush saw. I’ve made km’s of trails throughout my property.
The brush saw is great for trimming stumps right at ground level. It can cut full size trees and is only limited by the blade diameter.
I’ve done mostly low impact work. I use a combination of a machete, Milwaukee chainsaw, and a Husqvarna 555fx brush saw. I’ve made km’s of trails throughout my property.
The brush saw is great for trimming stumps right at ground level. It can cut full size trees and is only limited by the blade diameter.
350tracker
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Interlake Manitoba
I just had my trail cleared this fall with a brush mulcher and did an excellent job. Just left shavings behind and was able to take care of trees up to 16" dia. It wasn't cheap but had it done within 6 hours. This trail was made with a dozer back in 2015 and had all grown in. My plan now is to get a 6' rotary mower ( brush hog ) for my tractor to keep up with any growth. Rotary mowers can cut take care of trees up to 4" dia. depending on the pto hp of the tractor. They come in different size to work with small or large tractors.
As for spraying, 2-4-D is a herbicide that will take care of trees and broad leafs but will leave the grass alone. This herbicide is one of the less expensive ones and does a good job on broad leaf weeds compared to Roundup ( glyphosate ) witch will kill everything, except I don't think trees. I spray herbicide on my farm land all the time and have no special license although this is farm land and I also spray at work as well.
As for spraying, 2-4-D is a herbicide that will take care of trees and broad leafs but will leave the grass alone. This herbicide is one of the less expensive ones and does a good job on broad leaf weeds compared to Roundup ( glyphosate ) witch will kill everything, except I don't think trees. I spray herbicide on my farm land all the time and have no special license although this is farm land and I also spray at work as well.
Or bring your kids for a life lesson. There's only two kinds of people in life, Cutters and Carriers.
Otherwise, get a Brush Hog in and be done with it.
Last year I helped my parents making a driveway to their "retirement home/cabin" site. Used the chainsaw for stuff bigger than 2" and the brush trimmer on everything else. We had two operators and two people cleaning the carnage. It worked well.
I have cleared a few trails in my day, and as soon as the snow melts I am about to clear a whole lot more. A decent medium size chain saw is all I ever use. You'll want good sturdy boots, foam ear plugs, leather work gloves and in your case a real good pair of Kevlar pants so you don't cut your legs off. You'll also want a heap of common sense when running the saw and a strong back for clearing the cut brush and logs. If you have never run a chain saw you best go take the course to help save body parts, and slices in the Kevlar pants. Don't buy a cheap chain saw. I have a pair of Stihl's both commercial grade. My go to saw is the little 260 now a 262 with a 16 sprocket nosed bar. Hell of saw, you won't wear it out if its cared for and you won't be replacing it in a few years.
Don't mean to be arrogant but if you have to ask how how to brush back a kilometer of old logging road how do think your going to build a cabin at the end of it. Good luck.
Don't mean to be arrogant but if you have to ask how how to brush back a kilometer of old logging road how do think your going to build a cabin at the end of it. Good luck.
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Having someone to clean up after you makes a WORLD of difference. After running a saw until you run out of steam the last thing you want to do is start hauling brush out of the way, you just want to sit down and drink some gatorade.
Gonna try one of these too. Think I’m getting a couple 6ah batteries for it. Beats hauling a small saw with gas/oil around!
rocklobster
CGN Regular
- Location
- FREEDOM CONVOY
Careful with the Swedish axe (Eugene) though, I was using one a while ago for a day for some quiet work and I was lopping down lots of 2" trees and did it ever hurt my wrist after. Bad idea... Back to the brush hog, chainsaw, and clearing saw for me...
257Roberts
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Peterborough ON
Trail clearing is hard back breaking work. If there are existing skidder trails a loader tractor with a bush-hog is the answer unless you opt for one of those tracked skid-steers with the mulcher attachment, they are great.
