[ElWood]

Hey Guys, spring can't get here fast enough! After seeing nothing but cold weather in the 10 day forecast, I found myself looking at some pictures of the road project I started last fall. Before the snow hit, I took my shiny new Deere out into the woods and figured there was no better way to learn how to be a skilled operator then to jump in grapple first

I never knew how much fun I could have all by myself out in the middle of the woods!!!

The plan is to clear a 400' access road into the woods. At the end if the road, I'll clear a 400' by 100' section, leaving a few trees. The path will then continue another 200' out to a clearing. Out in front of the 400' by 100' clearing, I'll be digging a one acre pond.

Pond site...



Here's a couple pics from last fall. I started in the back mowed area and pushed forward toward the front. Man was it thick! I pushed and uprooted brush with my grapple and then backed over the downed stuff with my MX5.

Before...





After...




After getting about 400' feet in, the trees really started closing in around me. I also started seeing the "!" flashing on the dash board. I kept stopping and would usually find a big stick wedged in my wheel well or stuck up underneath. I didn't want to put too many scratches in my new machine...

At that point I decided it was time to call in for reinforcements....



I decided to wait till winter as the dozer is a little cheaper. It sure was fun watching those trees come down!!

I'll post some more pics as the work continues.

-Pauly

 

[herbertperform]

That looks great! I've got some clearing to do too. I used my 3320 last year with a BXpanded Pirhana tooth bar on my 73" bucket and it worked nicely to uproot small saplings. What size is your Deere? What are you using for a grapple and what's the width on it? I've got a 3320 and I'm hoping to get a grapple this summer. You're right, a person never knew they could have so much fun out in the woods. As a kid we played with Tonka toys, as adults we get life sized ones to play in.

 

[ElWood]

That looks great! I've got some clearing to do too. I used my 3320 last year with a BXpanded Pirhana tooth bar on my 73" bucket and it worked nicely to uproot small saplings. What size is your Deere? What are you using for a grapple and what's the width on it? I've got a 3320 and I'm hoping to get a grapple this summer. You're right, a person never knew they could have so much fun out in the woods. As a kid we played with Tonka toys, as adults we get life sized ones to play in.

I just picked up a tooth bar a few weeks ago but haven't had a chance to use it yet. I can't wait to try it out! I could see how it would be good at attacking small saplings.

My grapple is a JD AV20H Root Grapple. I use it for all sorts of stuff. It's my favorite attachment. Check out the root grapples on Deere's site. There's a few different sizes. I don't know the exact width of mine off the top of my head but I can measure it for you when I get home. I started a thread, "Show Me Your Grapple." It has a lot of good info and pics.

How much clearing do you have to do?

 

[ElWood]

I went out today to check on the progress. It's looking good and starting to take shape. The light brown grassy area is where the pond is going.

I have some big piles to burn. I always get a little nervous burning brush piles as there is poison ivy in the area... I heard that breathing the smoke can be deadly.

 

[herbertperform]

I am thinking about a 60" so it covers the width of my tractor. I have 40 acres and I have some trails that have grown in and need to be widened out. I want to make some new trails and make a couple small clearings. I did a fair amount of work last year. Much more to do this summer. Here's a pic of my BXpanded Pirhana tooth bar, this along with my pallet forks have been my favorite attachments. I plan on adding a thumb to my forks so I can pick up brush piles and grab things on the forks a bit easier. A grapple is on my shopping list.

 

[ElWood]

I am thinking about a 60" so it covers the width of my tractor. I have 40 acres and I have some trails that have grown in and need to be widened out. I want to make some new trails and make a couple small clearings. I did a fair amount of work last year. Much more to do this summer. Here's a pic of my BXpanded Pirhana tooth bar, this along with my pallet forks have been my favorite attachments. I plan on adding a thumb to my forks so I can pick up brush piles and grab things on the forks a bit easier. A grapple is on my shopping list. View attachment 15585

I like the look of that tooth bar. From the look of the teeth, it looks like it would be an effective brush cutter. Have you done much digging with it? About how much does one cost?

I plan on getting some forks this spring. It's the next item on my attachment shopping list. What type of forks did you get? I didn't know you could get a thumb on a set of forks although I already have the grapple so I will probably leave the forks as is.

 

[ralphtt]

. . . I plan on getting some forks this spring. It's the next item on my attachment shopping list. What type of forks did you get? . . .

Be sure to visit Artillian Tractor Attachments while you are shopping for forks. He is a sponsor of GTT who offers good advice as well as good hardware! :good2:

 

[kabic]

I'm looking into getting one of these tooth bars as well.

Here is the price quote I got a few weeks ago for my 53 inch bucket was $269. Shipping is $37.07. Total: $306.07.

He requires a you to verify the inside width of the bucket to make sure it is sized correctly.

 

[ElWood]

That looks great! I've got some clearing to do too. I used my 3320 last year with a BXpanded Pirhana tooth bar on my 73" bucket and it worked nicely to uproot small saplings. What size is your Deere? What are you using for a grapple and what's the width on it? I've got a 3320 and I'm hoping to get a grapple this summer. You're right, a person never knew they could have so much fun out in the woods. As a kid we played with Tonka toys, as adults we get life sized ones to play in.

Here's a good close up of the grapple on my 3320.

 

[herbertperform]

I like the look of that tooth bar. From the look of the teeth, it looks like it would be an effective brush cutter. Have you done much digging with it? About how much does one cost?

I plan on getting some forks this spring. It's the next item on my attachment shopping list. What type of forks did you get? I didn't know you could get a thumb on a set of forks although I already have the grapple so I will probably leave the forks as is.

The BXpanded Pirhana tooth bar is awesome! I tried digging into some large dirt piles that have been sitting for a number of years and with no tooth bar on the bucket it did not work. I am so glad I bought the Pirhana over any others. It digs extremely well. I moved alot of dirt last Fall and the tooth bar was required to get the dirt loose. You can also back drag with your bucket and get a flat surface much better than the other tooth bar styles.

The teeth on it work so well for removing brush which is what attracted me to it initially. The brush gets caught in between the teeth and it yanks it right out of the ground roots and all. The Pirhana tooth bar takes a good beating. I pried out some rocks from the ground and smashed some think ice that was in my way and it didn't dent the teeth in the slightest way. I think I paid $375 - $400 range including delivery. The price was very fair I thought. The customer service there I thought was very good too.

As far as pallet forks, I have the Frontier 48" model. They seem well built. I certainly have no complaints with them. You can buy a thumb from some aftermarket companies to put on your loader bucket of forks. I'm going to make one that I can take on and off quickly for my forks. It would make moving the brush piles a little easier. I use my forks for alot firewood work. I carry the logs out of the woods with them, they hold up the tree a little so I don't dig my chain in the ground while cutting, and it's nice to get the trees and logs up to waist height to save from bending over and killing my back while you cut them to size.