Brushing equipment?

[Mantis]

Just wondering what other clubs are doing for brushing of trails? I know it kinda early still...but we are looking into getting a mobile brushcutter. In the past we've been doing it with brush/chain saws ourselves but seems like just can't keep up especially as our trail network expands. Have had a mower in a couple times also but didn't quite do the job(maybe it was too small?). It is mostly willows and brush under 3" but roads are a little rough(4 wheel drive is required). Any advice/leads for mobile equipment(new/used) would be greatly appreciated. Needless to say cost is a factor so looking for something fairly reasonable. Thanks in advance

 

[EricW]

My crew and I did some Forest Service ATV trails last year with my Ranger crew cab and a big Stihl hedge trimmer. Had 4 guys in the Ranger with the front passenger running the trimmer. I was shocked at how well that thing cut the willows and brush. Passenger hung out the side while driver drove to the edge and just swung the 30" bar up and down WOT while creeping along the road. If we got to bigger stuff we had a 2nd guy on a small saw and we jumped out and stretched our legs a bit. Had to rotate passenger cutter every 10 mins or so because we're old and fat. We had a blast that day and did both sides of 8 miles or so even getting a late start (Forest Service training, lol). It was a trail that hadn't been maintained in over 10 years. Once we got a system down it went really well. A good club type project with a few beers and dogs. I'd be glad to come up and give it a try if you think it would work. Let me know. EW

 

[Mantis]

Hey Eric, sounds like a offer we can't refuse( no dogs-steak!). I'm already grinning thinking about it-have to buy the mad bomber hat and some goggles! There is a still quite a bit of trail at the top of club side that hasn't been touched for a 6/7 years and the willows range fron 1.5 to 4 inches(and quite thick). Was wondering what equipment guys are using for the bigger stuff like that and new trail building? Have seen some rotary attachments that hook up to skid steers and others that go on excavators...just wondering if anyone has tried them. Ideally if we could get something for a frontend loader, we could use it year round- brushing and snow removal in the parking lots(Ladybird is never cleared out enough and kinda hoping we get permission to expand the club side). Any info would be greatly appreciated.