clearing land with a brush hog

[TejasNW]

Fellas,

I have never run a brush hog. Would like some advise from the more experienced in the matter.

I have about 2 acres I need to clear. It is mostly saplings, vine, and 'underbrush'. Nothing over 3". Most of it is yaupon and small trash trees. Have cleared some trails with a walk behind Billy Goat mower, but it really was a pain. The vines run up into the canopy, so the mower cuts ground level but the trucks just pull until the mower can't push any further.

Can get a shredder/brush hog; but don't know if it will shred 2-3" inches without tearing up the equipment. Can a 40hp tractor and a 5 ft shredder handle this job?

[Stan R]

You will need a heavy duty shredder for 3 inch stuff 2 in should be okay.

[bowhunterchris]

I run over 3" Huisache all the time. Just got to sit on top of it for a little bit to make sure it gets all the way to the ground.

[tex4k]

Just make sure there's no t-post or 100# boulders hiding behind any brush or under some vine, not only will it scare the peewaddin' out of you it's pretty rough on equipment too.

[BTLowry]

My personal stuff I am not running over anything bigger than about 1"

If it is a random 3" sapling I would mow around them and then cut off close to ground. If it is solid 3" saplings I would suggest a mulcher

[Skinny]

Give her hell. Just make sure your shear bolts are exactly that.

[Lungbustr]

My personal stuff I am not running over anything bigger than about 1"

If it is a random 3" sapling I would mow around them and then cut off close to ground. If it is solid 3" saplings I would suggest a mulcher

Yep, no need to trash your stuff. It sure wont last getting treated like that.

[Drycreek3189]

Depends on how heavy duty your mower is. I run a Rhino 6' cutter behind a 57 hp Kubota and will cut 4/5" pine or sweet gum , but elm and oak I don't quite go that big. More like 2/3". The trouble with yaupon is, it's pretty tough and usually bigger right at the ground. Start small and work into it, you will soon get a feel for what's too big to cut.

[dbelcher269]

For two acres hire someone with the right equipment to do it (hydro axe or heavy shredder) That's only a days worth of work and then they are out repairs to equipment if needed. Problem with just shredders on those sappinlgs is the stumps left over are heck on tires.

[arrowdiger]

Rent a brush mulcher and a sked steer.

[TejasNW]

All really good advise. Thank you.

I really like this thing, a Ground Shark on a skid steer. Will cut and mulch up to 7 inches. Even have a local shop that will rent it to me for about $600. BUT the kid behind the counter wants to charge me between $400 and $500 EACH WAY to deliver it the 45 miles to my place. A thousand bucks to haul a unit that rents for $600 is a bit much. I think his buddy must have a truck and a trailer. When asked if I could pick it up, I have a class V hitch, he was quoting 12,000#, which is gooseneck heavy. Looking at other options. May just buy a tractor and shredder.

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[texasdeerhunter]

I've got a 30 horse John Deere with a 6' shredder. My personal philosophy is, if I can drive the tractor over it, I mow it lol. Pines and sweet guns cut a lot easier than your hard woods, so I don't mind cutting 2-3" pines or sweet gums with my tractor.

[Atfulldraw]

carry a bag of shear bolts and get after it!

as Grandpa used to say when he taught me to drive a standard, "Grind it up and tear it up, they sell it new by the pound!"

[hellbndr23]

I don't know which cutter we have but it has a dragon logo on it. 6' behind a 40 horse Mahindra. If u can push it over with the bucket it will cut it. You may have to clutch in for a sec to build up rpm, but run it. All these guys are taking it easy for no reason.

[Huggybear]

carry a bag of shear bolts and get after it!

as Grandpa used to say when he taught me to drive a standard, "Grind it up and tear it up, they sell it new by the pound!"

^^^^^ you will be surprised what a tractor will do! Just don't forget the bolts!