Using a high lift jack for jacking over trees

[2treeornot2tree]

So today, I was thinking about this land clearing job I am helping my friend with. Got alot of trees that lean towards the road. I was thinking about trying to use a high lift jack (instead of a bottle jack) to jack over trees. What you guys think about it. I figured I could just cut a notch for the farm jack to fit in at the back cut and cut it to the hinge and jack it over. Most of the trees are only 14" and less. No more then 40' tall. Most of them have a slight back lean. Could almost wedge them over. I was trying to think of a way that would be faster to get these trees down other then sling shotting a rope into the tree and pulling them over with a comealong. What you think?

 

[superjunior]

Damn 2tree your always up to somthin lol. If they're that small just put a rope up off an extension latter and run it through a block somewhere on the ground where ya want them, no?

 

[mattfr12]

So today, I was thinking about this land clearing job I am helping my friend with. Got alot of trees that lean towards the road. I was thinking about trying to use a high lift jack (instead of a bottle jack) to jack over trees. What you guys think about it. I figured I could just cut a notch for the farm jack to fit in at the back cut and cut it to the hinge and jack it over. Most of the trees are only 14" and less. No more then 40' tall. Most of them have a slight back lean. Could almost wedge them over. I was trying to think of a way that would be faster to get these trees down other then sling shotting a rope into the tree and pulling them over with a comealong. What you think?

We use the Stalpen tree jack a lot which works close to the same way other than it leaning on angle and digging in to the bark. And it works very very well. It will push over a pretty big tree with some back lean. I made a video of it just gotta get around to editing it. It beats throwing a rope up in it ten times over. Way way faster.

 

[2treeornot2tree]

Damn 2tree your always up to somthin lol. If they're that small just put a rope up off an extension latter and run it through a block somewhere on the ground where ya want them, no?

That may work. I got a power company fuse pulling pole. Extends to 27' or something, so I could use that to set ropes too. I was just thinking outta the box. There is some other trees that are away from the road, that I am gonna give it a try on tomorrow and see what happens. Got a forestry attachment coming Friday for a skidloader to mulch all the trees tops up and stumps. I thought it would save time by cutting as much as we can to the ground. Less time with the machine grinding and pushing over trees the quicker we can get it out of there and save $ on the rental.

 

[climberjones]

Faster yes safer no! Might work fine if you put down a piece of 2x8 or something to keep it from sinking to bad.I am assuming your going to punch a bore cut bout 4inches into the tree bout 1ft above intended back cut ? Might want to ratchetstrap jack to trunk so when the tree moves forward the jack stays with through the fall so it doesnt slip out! Be safe good luck!opcorn:opcorn:

 

[2treeornot2tree]

The jack has a little of a j hook turned up on the end and it should sink into the wood. The jack also has a 4" x 8" plate on the bottom. I have used it to pick up my skid loader to change tires on it on dirt without a problem. Plus the jack is gonna be right above the root ball. I was thinking about placing the jack in the back cut. Your idea about the plung cut above is a good idea, at least worth a try. The only thing that concerns me / will need to be watched is that the tree starts to move and that your not just gonna lift your hinge up till the braking point. The jack should act very simular to a wedge. Gonna give it a go tomorrow and I will take some pics / videos and let you know how it works.

 

[mattfr12]

Faster yes safer no! Might work fine if you put down a piece of 2x8 or something to keep it from sinking to bad.I am assuming your going to punch a bore cut bout 4inches into the tree bout 1ft above intended back cut ? Might want to ratchetstrap jack to trunk so when the tree moves forward the jack stays with through the fall so it doesnt slip out! Be safe good luck!opcorn:opcorn:

as long as you use it within reason its safe i wouldn't go out and use a device not designed for tree work and start trying to take over 60 inch oak with a heavy back lean. but for what he's talking about your not messing with real big stuff. i welded a bill on a bottle jack so it goes in behind the bar and cut a hole sometimes for the jack to sit and pump them over. i found a duck bill porta power in my garage that works pretty good you have to beat a wedge in first to make it fit but as long as your not trying to do anything extreme with it, it works.

 

[2treeornot2tree]

I fully understand its not a tree jack by all means. Just thinking outta the box for the small stuff. After all, ideas like this are how this industry got all its cool tools.

 

[Zale]

Check Aerial Mason's video collection. I believe he used the same method. Personally, I like having a rope in the tree if there is a back lean. Good luck.

 

[mattfr12]

Check Aerial Mason's video collection. I believe he used the same method. Personally, I like having a rope in the tree if there is a back lean. Good luck.

he used a floor jack not even close to what he is talking about. its about impossible to cut a floor jack into a tree 14" in diameter, bottle jack, and high lift jack we are by far not the first people to try this. they actually still sell jacks for felling large trees. sometimes airbags are used.

 

[2treeornot2tree]

I am a little offended to be compared to aerial mason and his wacked ideas. Just saying.

 

[Zale]

I am a little offended to be compared to aerial mason and his wacked ideas. Just saying.

Didn't mean to offend. If I am trying something I have not done before, I won't do it on a job site. If something goes wrong, the client won't be watching me. Setting a line doesn't take me that long and it gives added leverage.

 

[2treeornot2tree]

I normally wont do it on a jobsite either but this job is a exception. Nobody will be watching and nothing to hit with the test trees. The jobs in the edge of the woods. They are converting a old yellow freight yard into a auto auction. Its funny looking at the steel scrap guys equipment. They must spray bomb there loaders and track hoes. They barely look like they would run. BTW I am not really offended. I am a professional and he is just a hack.

 

[superjunior]

Like you were sayin 2Tree, think outside the box.. Think "yarding" in a residential application..

 

[treemandan]

I am always VERY leary with those jacks. As you jack the angle will change, to much angle and the bottom will pop out like a SOB.

I would put ropes in.

 

[2treeornot2tree]

We use the Stalpen tree jack a lot which works close to the same way other than it leaning on angle and digging in to the bark. And it works very very well. It will push over a pretty big tree with some back lean. I made a video of it just gotta get around to editing it. It beats throwing a rope up in it ten times over. Way way faster.

How do you like the jack? Would you buy it again?

 

[formationrx]

to op... quick time flopping...

i think your logic is sound.... but to me i havent come across too many trees i could not fell with a couple of technical cuts and wedges.... it dont take no time to tie them off if you need too... you could even use a few pulley setups to give yourself a mechanical advantage.... you could use that same setup for a bunch of trees along the road-- that might be faster then cranking on a come along.... also in situations like you are describing i've felled the trees parallel with the road if i couldnt fell them away from the road...

 

[2treeornot2tree]

I have a fiddle block setup with a 150' of rope I use to pull over smaller trees. I never thought about felling them parallel to the road. Might give that a try. The time comsuming part is getting the throwbag into the exact crotch I want. Somedays I am just great at hitting it first or second shot, and other days I could get it to save my life. I think its I get frustrated after not getting it in a few trys. I use a big shot alot, and the other day it seem like it was just one thing after another. Throwline knots up on way up outta the cube or I bounce the dang thing off the limb I want. Then sometimes I cant get the weight to thread down around branches I want. I hope its a on day today.

 

[sgreanbeans]

I have done this once. It did exactly what Danno said, popped out on me, when it did, it had a lot of pressure, I just turned my head and it flew out, the handle hit me in the back of the head, HARD, right below the helmet. It freakin hurt! I was probably doing something wrong, but it was enough for me to give up, shot a line and laid the SOB over. Be careful!

 

[tree MDS]

I'll stick with my tractor winch.