stump removal equipment

[that-guy]

looking into renting a small excavator in a few weeks to remove the stumps from where my garage location will be. will a 1.5 metric ton mini excavator with a digging force of 2600lbs be ideal for pulling up stumps upwards of 3' in diameter? or should i opt for the larger size 2.5 metric ton excavator with 4819lbs. of digging force?

they are roughly the same in price to rent, however i don't want to have to tow an extra 2000lbs if i don't have to

 

[dubber]

Think you may have posted this in the wrong section...

 

[that-guy]

i figured i would post it here since i am removing them to clear way for my garage

 

[LXCam]

That smaller unit is about equal to my skidsteer and hoe attachment. Its a cool toy and if you take your time, will do what you're looking for. But if you expect it to be able to rip any major tap roots out without having to ax'em, don't hold your breath. I'd suggest the larger unit.

 

[porschedude996TT]

Bigger is better if the price is about the same...

 

[that-guy]

so what i found is this

1.5 Metric ton $179 a day with 2593lbs. digging force

2.7 Metric ton $199 a day with 4819lbs. digging force

3.5 Metric ton $215 a day with 5855lbs. digging force

5 Metric ton $265 a day with 8914lbs. digging force

they offer delivery, but i am unsure what that price will be yet...would be alot easier on me since it would be roughly a 45 minute haul, and i don't know how well my truck would hold up to pulling the 3.5 or 5 MT units

 

[theoldwizard1]

Whatever you do, you must get ALL of the roots out ! Any left behind will eventually rot and the concrete above it will fail.

 

[themiller]

5MT + get it delivered. I've never had "too much" when getting trees/stumps out.

 

[RSOllie]

it if were in the uk i would go for the 3.5t one

will u be driving it?

 

[that-guy]

Whatever you do, you must get ALL of the roots out ! Any left behind will eventually rot and the concrete above it will fail.

true...this stage is primarily for getting up the stumps throughout the entire backyard...i will pay extra attention and dig deeper around the area where the garage will go

 

[that-guy]

yes, i will be operating the excavator...1.5 or 2.7 and i will go pick it up, 3.5 or 5, and i will have it delivered

 

[jpinca]

I learned this the hard way digging 300' of trench: when in doubt get the biggest piece of equipment you can.

Assuming they all fit in your workspace, the bigger guy can do what the 'lil guy can, but not the other way around. The delivery charge will probably be the same.

If you're only doing stumps though, you may want to consider a stump grinder instead. If so, make sure to get one with full hydraulics rather than manual.

 

[that-guy]

I learned this the hard way digging 300' of trench: when in doubt get the biggest piece of equipment you can.

Assuming they all fit in your workspace, the bigger guy can do what the 'lil guy can, but not the other way around. The delivery charge will probably be the same.

If you're only doing stumps though, you may want to consider a stump grinder instead. If so, make sure to get one with full hydraulics rather than manual.

we got a grinder before, it had hydraulics for all of the moving parts, but an electric switch for the teeth and manual steering...it was fine except for the steering...worst design ever

we rented that for a weekend, but the switch burned out at some point and we had to return it. used it for 8-9 hours straight and only paid for 4

biggest reason for digging now instead of grinding is time. it will be a ton faster to dig them all out than to grind them

 

[buldozr]

The bigger unit will be much faster, thereby saving you money in the end.
I had stumps removed recently and thought about doing it myself but very glad I hired it out. An experienced operator with the right equipment can make short work of what would take most people a very long time. Mine were 3-4+ foot Douglas fir stumps and the biggest trackhoe I could have rented would have had a very hard time with these. What you see is the tip of the iceberg. getting them out of the ground and into a truck isn't easy. A couple filled up a 15 yard dump truck each.

 

[Professur]

As I recall, you can assume that the root span is equal to the branch span. Then you pray to hell it hasn't intertwined with another tree's roots.

 

[Andybull]

The money you think you are saving with a small machine will be spent in more time and then some.

 

[rockchucker]

The larger unit will save you time and money in the long run. Unless it is too big to get into the space and/or if you don't know how to operate the machine. I would do a little hand digging first to expose some of the Tap Roots so you know what you are dealing with also. a few hours of digging and laying out a plan can save some time in the long run.

Be prepared. Get all of your Tools out before the machine arrives that you even possibly think you are going to use. Cords laid out. Sawzall, Chainsaw, Axe, Pick etc... This way you are not wasting your time that you are paying for with the machine. ALWAYS have a second job that *could* be done if you get the first job done in a timely manner. If the neighbor needs something done then let him know that IF you have time you could possibly do something for him if you get you stuff done first. This can help you pay for the rental cost.

Just things to think about. Like Pops always said... It's all about the 5 P's...

Piss Poor Planning Prevents Progress. =)

 

[Rookie2]

rent a stump grinder ! The bigger the hole you dig, the more chance a novice will leave a uncompacted area to later settle and you'll will have cracked concrete !
Rent a compactor with the excavator !

 

[HOTFR8]

Think you may have posted this in the wrong section...

i figured i would post it here since i am removing them to clear way for my garage

Topic moved.

 

[Kevin54]

rent a stump grinder ! The bigger the hole you dig, the more chance a novice will leave a uncompacted area to later settle and you'll will have cracked concrete !
Rent a compactor with the excavator !

You don't want to leave the stumps and just grind them. If you are building over the top of where trees used to stand, you want to remove as much of the root ball as possible. A few hair roots won't make a difference, but a complete root ball, when it starts decomposing, can leave a hell of a void.

Dig them out, back-fill with stone, tamp, and be done with it.

 

[wedge40]

I've done this. Get the 3.5 or 5 have it delivered. Also, if you're a beginner it may take a stump or two to get the hang of it. Holes should be filled and sit for a year to make sure things settle good. Wouldn't hurt to get a load of back fill delivered before hand. Last thing you want is pockets under your slab.
Oh and dont get a wide bucket.

 

[bran1har]

i've done it with an engine hoist

 

[NUTTSGT]

Do you live in a rural area ? If you do, get a 55 gal barrel with the ends cut out and start burning them out. You have a few weeks before you rent the excavator, make some easy progress.

If you live in town and are allowed open burning for "cooking fires" put your fire ring on top of the stump (cut at ground level) and start roasting marshmallows with the kids in the evenings.

 

[Dustball]

will a 1.5 metric ton mini excavator with a digging force of 2600lbs be ideal for pulling up stumps upwards of 3' in diameter?

You didn't mention what kind of trees you're dealing with but here's an idea of the root ball size of a 24" dia trunk poplar tree.

The trailer in the background is 82" x 18' to give you something to compare it to.

 

[WhyMe]

Dynamite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Blow up the stumps!!!

 

[excavator]

I do this for a living. The best advice I can give is have them deliver bigger machine. Fill and compact holes with ROAD STONE every 8 inches and the concrete will never crack. Concrete can be poured the next day if compacted..

 

[kevin47]

Why not use a stump "grinder"...?

 

[excavator]

Why not use a stump "grinder"...?

If you look at the pic of tree that fell over you see all the roots that spread out for many feet and go down deep. Most stump grinding contractors just cut off standing log and grind down about 6 inches but all roots are not cut and thet just take years too decay and concrete will not hold up

 

[wedge40]

One other thing I didn't think of was where to put the stumps or what to do with them. I had 15 or 20 16" or so stumps. I live in the middle of the woods wasn't too big on burning them. I found spot to put them and maybe in the next 20 or 30 years they'll rot.

Kevin47. Stump grinder will eventually leave a hole when the chips rot. If you're going to put a slab over any of the stumps, this is not a good thing.

Wedge

 

[that-guy]

well, going over things with my wife and doing alot of research, i am hiring out. met with a few different removal companies last night and found a local that is willing to complete the job in 1-1.5 days. pulling them out, loading them, hauling them away, and delivering 50 tons of fill dirt at what i think is a really good price. licensed and insured doing this as a side business. there's no way i could do it myself for that price given my lack of self-owned equipment...job will be done at the end of the month, i will return with pics

 

[wedge40]

Some things are just better left to the experts. Not as much fun, but way more efficient.

Wedge

 

[91FE]

Good call. I think the biggest hassle would have been disposing of the stump and roots once out of the ground.

 

[sberry]

Good call is right, with a little effort shopping you got to a price less than you could do it yourself. Big expensive difficult time consuming part gone.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Make sure the fill is well compacted !

 

[that-guy]

Make sure the fill is well compacted !

the fill will go in and graded, then it will sit for a few months. come October or November, i will have the footers for the slab dug, prepared, and the concrete poured, then lay my top soil/seed mixture to hopefully have a beautiful yard come this time next year...looks like i need to find a riding lawnmower now hahaha

 

[JMURiz]

I agree with what Dustball said. Here's a picture of my stump...from a large oak tree that was where my garage is now:

Rootball was about 5' high after all the large bits of root were cut off. Somehow they got it out with this small backhoe...not sure how though.

 

[Carbine]

Man, I was wishing I had a track hoe or some dynamite when I tackled this stump over Memorial Day weekend....

View media item 31172

I got the thing out finally, but I still haven't hauled it off . . .

 

[jpinca]

the fill will go in and graded, then it will sit for a few months. come October or November, i will have the footers for the slab dug, prepared, and the concrete poured, then lay my top soil/seed mixture to hopefully have a beautiful yard come this time next year...looks like i need to find a riding lawnmower now hahaha

Are you putting the footer over the fill?

You're not going to get any real load bearing unless the fill is either all non-compactable (sand, rounded river rock, etc) or it is systematically compacted.

My BIL is a geotech and when helping with my project mentioned that soil can take centuries to naturally settle again after being disturbed. He then described the incredible efforts that bigger construction projects/roads go through to get the spec'd compaction.

 

[Perrorojo]

If the stump bulb is 3' in diameter you won't need much excavator. If the part sticking out above the ground is 3' you're gonna need a bigger machine. It also depends on the tree as to how embeded the roots are. Can you post a photo?

 

[that-guy]

i'll get pics up when the excavation begins in about 2 weekends (Saturday the 29th)

he is going to flatten and pack down everything the best he can. only one or two large(er) stumps around where the garage will be, but they will be in a corner or edge, so there is no concern of disturbing the dirt around that area to cause later problems

at this point i am more concerned about getting a good level yard for my dog and kids to play around in, then worry about the garage, but even that still isn't seeming like a terribly daunting task