Real World experience of skid steer mulchers

[jall55]

Guys
Any real world experience of skid steer mulchers ?

Saw them a few years at CONFOR and they look great - but just wondered how they cope with the real lumps - bumps and holes in the woodland

I clear felled some woodland 6/7 years ago and the regen has been so successful it needs a few rides creating - the digger i have is too brutal really as i dont want to damage the soil and the flowers therein

Also if anyone who does think its good - has a contact that would be great

 

[deerstalker.308]

We use one locally on a very sensitive site which is pock-marked with small ponds (these are glacial ponds called pingos and require very sensitive management), they also contain great crested newts just to add extra complexity, we have had a programme to remove the majority of historic crop of conifer to revert it back to wood pasture to let light into the forest floor and facilitate grazing, so have phased removal of timber and subsequent mulching over a long period of time. The skid steer mulcher was invaluable for getting into the slopes of these ponds without causing damage but being safe to use and mobile enough to get into tighter spots, probably not the tool for large stump removal but they used a bird-eye on a 360 for those, the skid was used for the more delicate and harder to access areas so I would suggest it would suit what you’re asking about.

 

[jall55]

We use one locally on a very sensitive site which is pock-marked with small ponds (these are glacial ponds called pingos and require very sensitive management), they also contain great crested newts just to add extra complexity, we have had a programme to remove the majority of historic crop of conifer to revert it back to wood pasture to let light into the forest floor and facilitate grazing, so have phased removal of timber and subsequent mulching over a long period of time. The skid steer mulcher was invaluable for getting into the slopes of these ponds without causing damage but being safe to use and mobile enough to get into tighter spots, probably not the tool for large stump removal but they used a bird-eye on a 360 for those, the skid was used for the more delicate and harder to access areas so I would suggest it would suit what you’re asking about.

Thanks and thanks very much for PM too

 

[Kalahari]

Do the manufacturers of these (what seem to me a fantastic boy's toy as I get ready to start thinning for the year after next's firewood) supply useful stuff like the ground pressure and max slope crossing ability as well as the maximum feed size of cut timber? Just asking out of nosiness. I don't really need one/can't afford one.

David.

 

[jall55]

Do the manufacturers of these (what seem to me a fantastic boy's toy as I get ready to start thinning for the year after next's firewood) supply useful stuff like the ground pressure and max slope crossing ability as well as the maximum feed size of cut timber? Just asking out of nosiness. I don't really need one/can't afford one.

David.

Hi David
Yes im sure they do - but as we all know - REAL world and desk top can be so so different
Sometimes better - sometimes worse

I will be using one of some description next year - whether thats a head on the 360 or a stand alone skid steer time will tell

 

[lw woodlands]

We hire one for a week or two most years. Just had a 100hp bobcat here to open up some rides, doing some pretty thick scrub/shrubs.
Very maneuverable and low ground impact. They'll mulch through smaller stumps if your steady, being a tracked machine care needs to be taken where there are stumps etc or you'll have a track off.
Will cope with slopes and uneven ground but bear in mind being hydraulic driven your splitting power between driving tracks and powering mulcher.
They're easy to drive, too easy! Needs a careful and considerate operator to get the best out of them and has the potential to make a real mess if your clumsy with it.
Speak to Jeff at Skidsteer hire solutions.

 

[lw woodlands]

This was thick thorn/dogwood to the height of the thorn tree left standing. Big stumps were willow, felled with chainsaw and logs moved after opening up with mulcher.
Biblical rain all week too, you can see the limited ground impact

 

[jall55]

View attachment 390796This was thick thorn/dogwood to the height of the thorn tree left standing. Big stumps were willow, felled with chainsaw and logs moved after opening up with mulcher.
Biblical rain all week too, you can see the limited ground impact

Thats what i want !
Brilliant - want to create some rides for woodcock - we are lucky to have them roding each year and something like that will make a difference - Also very handy for the shoot too - so a win win

May i ask how long it took to do that piece ?

 

[lw woodlands]

The area pictured up to the remaining thorn tree, prob 20-30mins max.
Quite a bit of back and forth to make a tidy job, and that was quite slow as it was so wet it was dragging a lot of mud and grass into the head saying a lot of power.

We'll now allow the scrub to regen at the ride edges and cut it on a 2-3 yr rotation at a size which our tractor flail can cope with.

 

[jall55]

The area pictured up to the remaining thorn tree, prob 20-30mins max.
Quite a bit of back and forth to make a tidy job, and that was quite slow as it was so wet it was dragging a lot of mud and grass into the head saying a lot of power.

We'll now allow the scrub to regen at the ride edges and cut it on a 2-3 yr rotation at a size which our tractor flail can cope with.

Thats brilliant

May i ask what is your plan with it - is it to use it for access or feeding ?

 

[lw woodlands]

It's a new woodland, the ride had been planted with 'shrub patches along its edges. They had grown rather large, restricting access and shading the ride. And also hindering visibility for deer control.
So just a restructuring of the ride profile really.

We will now manage the ride as a 2 or 3 zone ride with a central strip cut annually and scrubby edges bordering the trees. The two edges will be cut back on alternate years giving a variety of structure/habitat, flowers/fruit nesting cover etc.
It's also an option in higher tier stewardship so we get payments for doing it.

 

[243varmint]

We were lucky enough to have the use of a Votex remote controlled tracked flail mower/mulcher on our small shoot a couple of years ago. Great bit of kit and sorted out the rides and cut new rides .

 

[jall55]

It's a new woodland, the ride had been planted with 'shrub patches along its edges. They had grown rather large, restricting access and shading the ride. And also hindering visibility for deer control.
So just a restructuring of the ride profile really.

We will now manage the ride as a 2 or 3 zone ride with a central strip cut annually and scrubby edges bordering the trees. The two edges will be cut back on alternate years giving a variety of structure/habitat, flowers/fruit nesting cover etc.
It's also an option in higher tier stewardship so we get payments for doing it.

Just sorting our updated woodland plan now TBH and indeed the farmland
We are in the HLS for the farmland and looking at options for both now

 

[Rake Aboot]

I know nothing about them other than two shoots I help on used them to great success opening up rides

What I do know though is that I’d love a go with one !!! How satisfying would that be