Stump pulling with your SD ?s
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 9,303
Likes: 48
From: Lyndonville, Vermont
I have a winch and use it for some stumps but its really hard to pull stumps. When I cut a tree I leave the butt about 4-5 feet long so as to attach the cable high up...for leverage. One caution Don't use a nylon strap with steel hooks....Use Steel cable or chain. don't go jerking on a stump that is solidly in the ground or you could break something...make sure its alittle loose in the ground first. Small tree's like 2-3 inches will come right out but anything larger if its alive is pretty tough, you have to dig alot.. Good luck leverage is the key!!!
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
From: Seattle
Oh this is ultimate truck combat, my old diesel CC dually was great for this (heavy). Dittos on the leverage. I've also found that having some slack in the chain, get the truck rolling so that the weight of the beast is applied as a shock to the stump as opposed to just gradually getting the chain tight then applying throttle. Don't do this method with an airbag equipped truck! Chain must be attached to frame not bumper or suspension components. Also helps to put a half yard of gravel or sand in the bed. Don't try to do it all at once! As roots start to show cut 'em off. Pull hard - soon come!
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 15
From: Nutter Fort, WV
Hire an excavation contractor with a backhoe or dozer. His price will seem high but could wind up being very cheap in the long run.
Gears are not cheap, neither are frame repairs.
Using a winch is the best way, but broken winch cables or chains can kill you and may damage your truck. If you have never seen a cable break, I will assure you it is not something you want to be close to when it happens.
Gears are not cheap, neither are frame repairs.
Using a winch is the best way, but broken winch cables or chains can kill you and may damage your truck. If you have never seen a cable break, I will assure you it is not something you want to be close to when it happens.
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
If you really want to use your truck you may want to try the out farm trick of running your chain or cable over an old truck wheel between your truck and the stump. This way you pull up and not sideways.
If you do decide to use your truck, dont be surprised if something goes out soon down the road, like your ujoints - be there and done that.
Be surprise how tough some stumps are. If you really dont need to have the out immediately, either a 55 gallon drum as a chimney and some charcol to burn them out, or salt them down real good to let the salt kill off the stump and rot it out.
If you do decide to use your truck, dont be surprised if something goes out soon down the road, like your ujoints - be there and done that.
Be surprise how tough some stumps are. If you really dont need to have the out immediately, either a 55 gallon drum as a chimney and some charcol to burn them out, or salt them down real good to let the salt kill off the stump and rot it out.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 761
Likes: 0
We are talking about manual transmissions here right?
As well as modern auto trannys accelerate under heavy loads, I cant see them holding up to this type of abuse, especially not with that shock tactic, I imagine the tranny would be well cooked and bleeding before too many stumps have been pulled.
As well as modern auto trannys accelerate under heavy loads, I cant see them holding up to this type of abuse, especially not with that shock tactic, I imagine the tranny would be well cooked and bleeding before too many stumps have been pulled.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
From: Seattle
The gentleman asked a question . . . hey, I realize that modern trucks have evolved into refined pieces of transportation that are becoming increasingly expensive to buy, maintain and repair. Furthermore I'm assuming the fella that asked the question would quickly realize the stump extraction process I was describing is something that he would immediately decide to take a pass on (if he's smart). However, it really is too damn bad that a modern truck owner can no longer have the expectation that he can pull stumps with his rig without tearing the frame out from under the body. My '86 diesel CC dually stick would jerk stumps all day with no more damage to anything on it than when a flea bites a pooch on the butt. Oh well . . . trucks used to be trucks.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,181
Likes: 3
From: Eastern CT.
Are you guys serious ???? Pulling out stumps with a pick-up truck what are ya thinking !!
Maybe a 3" tree stump, possible up to a 6" stump cut 4' above the ground,,but I would'nt even consider anything bigger then that with out alot of digging !! Why do that to your $ 40,k truck ??
I have a 15 ton CAT Excavator that works hard at it,,, even a 12" tree stump is one tuff sucker to dig out, specially if it is a Hickory stump, (main tap root).
The Excavator is the way to take stumps out,,the bigger the machine the better !
I also have a JD, 450 E dozer, which weighs like 15,000 lbs (7.5 tons) and when you come up to a 6" stump, still in the ground it will just plain stop the dozer, until you tilt the blade and dig alittle and then pluck it out with the corner.
Anyone who does Excavation, where the trees grow big like here in southern New England knows what I am typing about.
Lets face it, if you can afford a SuperDuty, you can afford $100.00 bucks or so (probobly more),,, for someone with a backhoe to come over and dig it out.
Just my Opinion,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Later,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Mark
Maybe a 3" tree stump, possible up to a 6" stump cut 4' above the ground,,but I would'nt even consider anything bigger then that with out alot of digging !! Why do that to your $ 40,k truck ??
I have a 15 ton CAT Excavator that works hard at it,,, even a 12" tree stump is one tuff sucker to dig out, specially if it is a Hickory stump, (main tap root).
The Excavator is the way to take stumps out,,the bigger the machine the better !
I also have a JD, 450 E dozer, which weighs like 15,000 lbs (7.5 tons) and when you come up to a 6" stump, still in the ground it will just plain stop the dozer, until you tilt the blade and dig alittle and then pluck it out with the corner.
Anyone who does Excavation, where the trees grow big like here in southern New England knows what I am typing about.
Lets face it, if you can afford a SuperDuty, you can afford $100.00 bucks or so (probobly more),,, for someone with a backhoe to come over and dig it out.
Just my Opinion,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Later,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Mark
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New User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh
I have pulled a lot of stumps, but only after they were loose. You can pull and pull, but never Jerk the truck. Also, use a chain instead of a cable or rope. I have seen guys break their windshields and dent some metal when the cable or rope breaks. Also, it is real dangerous for any one that might be standing around. Pull slow and use a chain
CraigFire
CraigFire
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,833
Likes: 4
From: Jefferson, Iowa
I would use a tow strap, i used a chain, and it almost went through the back of my head. Our hooks were pointed down and it is plane unsafe. If i were using a tow strap at the time, it would not have left a big hole in my cab, just a little buff mark. Chains are just as bad as cables. I have never broke my tow strap yet, and it gets some good abuse. I would never use a chain, i did use propor safty procutions, and still almost killed 3 people, its not worth it. Go out and get a 20,000 lb tow strap, i can do everything i want with that, i will never use a chain again.
New User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh
Interesting !! I have broken a lot of ropes and a few cables, and I realize how dangerous they can be. But I don't believe that I ever broke a chain. <P>So I really don't know how they would react when they finally give away. I thought because the chain had the least amount of stored energy, that the ends would travel the least distance. <P>But maybe that's not true. I will try and check into that and post here If I find anything of real value to report.
CraigFire
CraigFire
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
From: Texas
I would say it's true that trucks use to be trucks. Still are just cost more. But with all the other ways to get rid of a stump. I would not use my SD for it.. Will it do it sure. But cables, straps, ropes, chains I have seen them all give out. They almost alway cause damange or more. Burn or rot it out. If I did not have time for that. It would be worth it to me to pay someone with a dozzer or something.
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: Shadow Hills, CA
I use mine to tow a small excavator to the site and dig out the stump. As it has been said you can break a lot of real expensive parts real easy trying to pull out something that has "grown" from the ground.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Ct
Hey Guys. I own my own tree co. And I would have to say that anything over 10" is going to be time consuming it was for me with the soil allready nice and loose. I rigged up pulleys to get even more power and leverage and it took me half the day to do two of them. If you can get a stump grinder to it that is the way to go. You can rent one for about two hundred a day out here, its self propelled and will chew up a 10" stump like nothing ( make sure you cut it as low as possible ) a big stump like 3ft will take about 45 min. Going about 6 " deep. I would never ever try to pull a stump that big with my 30,000.00 truck. Just plain stupid. Yeah if you want to be a " Tuff Nuts" and have a story to tell. I wouldnt do it. I work to hard to pay for stupid repairs.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From all the stumps I've pulled the excavator is the right tool for the job. Any size will be able to atleast dig out around the stump. Like someone said earlier the bigger the better. I was using a 20000 lb excavator it it would have trouble with some of the bigger stumps. Atleast untill you dug out around them.