8ntruck 7,383 #1 Posted May 16, 2021 I've got 20 wooded acres in Kentucky that I am planning to build on. Step one to finalize building plans is to get a good survey of the immediate build site. To do that, I need to build a driveway to it. Timber was cut on the land maybe 10 years ago. The trees range from thick stands of saplings (3/4 to 2 inch dia) to full grown trees, plus the usual variety of underbrush. I checked into renting a skid steer with either a big rotary cutter or a forestry attachment. That turned out to be about $100 per hour! I am now looking for lower cost options. I do have an 8n with a bush hog, but the ground is rougher than I feel comfortable operating it on. Has anybody used a DR type walk behind brush cutter? They claim to be able to take out brush up to 2" in diameter. True? False? Any other comments? Would this be a good tool to break open a trial? I'm planning on cutting walking paths first to get clear lines of sight for elevation measurements, then come back with a larger equipment to widen things up and work on grading. Thanks in advance. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
c-series don 9,425 #2 Posted May 16, 2021 I would spend the money on a tracked skid steer with a forestry unit on it. I’ve spent many hours using one of those and let me tell you those things WILL GET THE JOB DONE! The one I used would shred a 6” diameter tree pretty easily. Underbrush, I don’t care how thick it is is now match for a good forestry unit. They are really amazing, and when you’re done it looks like you put down wood chips! I’ve been using a tractor mounted brush hog since I was about 18 and they’re great for cutting fields or light brush, but if you want to clear heavy thick underbrush and tall saplings I’d get a skid steer. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Digger 66 3,488 #3 Posted May 16, 2021 (edited) 6 hours ago, 8ntruck said: Has anybody used a DR type walk behind brush cutter? Yes , I have . These things will chop up everything in their path for sure , but they also beat the living heck out of you ! After a couple hours you will feel like you jumped out of an airplane without a chute . Imagine coming to every 2" sapling , the front of the machine rides up on it yanking the handles down toward the ground ..... My opinion ? "How do you eat an Elephant ?" I would rent the walk-behind brushcutter but first , I would walk and knock everything down with a Sawblade on a hand-held then go over the areas with the walk behind . JMO of course . Edited May 16, 2021 by Digger 66 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeM 7,925 #4 Posted May 16, 2021 Another option is a track mounted excavator with a thumb attachment. A friend with the excavating company prefers leaving all uncut and knocking them down on the way in coming up root and all. Or just plain hire it out, those guys that do that stuff for a living can do much better job and in half the time safer. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
