How to drag brush to burn pile with an ag tractor?

Bill Crowell · Sep 30, 2018

Sure wish I could think of a good way to drag large bunches of smallish oak branches over to the burn pile with my 8N. Can anybody suggest a good way of doing it? Thanks very much.

centash · Sep 30, 2018

Front end loader with a prong bucket on, tipped forward and acts like a rake when held close to the ground.
Ben

mj · Sep 30, 2018

(quoted from post at 20:29:28 09/30/18) Sure wish I could think of a good way to drag large bunches of smallish oak branches over to the burn pile with my 8N. Can anybody suggest a good way of doing it? Thanks very much.

back up with a 3-point forklift?

JLeus · Sep 30, 2018

I've had good luck with a landscape rake. Find one that the tine bar spins around and you can push it up the pile. Have done it with a 2n and a 641.

Dean · Sep 30, 2018

I use my 52 8N almost exclusively to drag brush to burn piles. Too much trouble to install heavy grapple bucket on FEL of one of the larger tractors.

I simply bundle and wrap with chain.

Works great.

Dean

Dan in North Houston · Oct 1, 2018

Until I got a tractor with a front-end loader, the best thing I found was a 8' x 8' chain harrow. I would throw the brush on the harrow, drag it to the burn pile, and then throw it off. A section of chain link fence with a pipe across the front to hitch to would work for this. This way, you don't have to pitch stuff up on a wagon or truck. Even now, I occasionally use this method when I have a lot of small stuff. I use the front end loader on the other tractor to push it off the harrow.

Geo-TH,In · Oct 1, 2018

I have a chain with a hook on end so chain will tighten as I pull on it. Not sure what you call the hook. I call it a choker chain. I also use choker chain to pull small brush, roots and all out of the ground.

Here are pics of how I cleaned up a fallen tree with little effort. Having landscape rake on the loader, I can add down pressure and can push large branches into a pile. My forks aren't rigid, so landscape lake can float and a corner won't dig in.

An old guy is got figure out how to get-er-done without working hard.

BarnyardEngineering · Oct 1, 2018

I have multiple "log chains" which have a slip hook on one end, for just such a purpose.

I lay the chain on the ground, stack the brush on top of it, then wrap the chain around and hook it with the slip hook. As I pull forward with the tractor, the chain cinches down on the brush and holds it as I drag it.

As you're dragging you will see that the pile does not follow you perfectly. Remember to swing wide if you're trying to avoid hitting things like fences, mailboxes, houses, trees, etc. It will kind of lag behind as you turn, which you can use to your advantage if you're trying to pull it up on to a burn pile.

showcrop · Oct 1, 2018

My tool will work well for your "smallish" branches. I drilled holes in the bottom of my bucket and I bolt in a pair of "tee" fence posts. I load it by hand, drive to the pile and dump.

RobCons · Oct 1, 2018

I also use a choker chain for branches. Think it is called a c hook or loggers hook. I use a box blade and landscape rake too. Box blade works good for pushing the pile up. As you back into it lift the blade and the debris will roll up on the pile.

Traditional Farmer · Oct 1, 2018

To push up brush I bought a large snow plow blade off a big truck that's about chest high welded on a 3pt hitch and can use a tractor to push up brush and other loose things.

wjytexas · Oct 1, 2018

I use a hay fork with a third spike welded in.

rustyfarmall · Oct 1, 2018

(quoted from post at 04:56:44 10/01/18)
My tool will work well for your "smallish" branches. I drilled holes in the bottom of my bucket and I bolt in a pair of "tee" fence posts. I load it by hand, drive to the pile and dump.

I LIKE that idea! Wish I had known about that a few weeks ago when we seriously trimmed up the lilac bushes.

WNYBill · Oct 1, 2018

Box blade with the scafiers all the way down and the box tipped forward. Get close to the pile, lift box and back up, turn around and push brush onto pile. Slow but painless.

Bill

Bill Crowell · Oct 1, 2018

Thanks for the really good suggestions! I have a spike-toothed harrow and a landscape rake, so I'll try those. You guys are very helpful, as usual.

DoubleO7 · Oct 1, 2018

30/35 feet of 1" rope on tractor drawbar with a fence post sized (at base) sapling about 15 feet long on the end of rope.

One guy operates the pole, other guy operates tractor.

Make a pile, rope over pile with guy and pole on far side.
Angled pole point gets aimed under center of pile by pole guy.
Away you go to burn pile, let go of pole when you get to where you want it.

Geo-TH,In · Oct 1, 2018

Before I bought a dump trailer, I would put a chain across the
middle of my 16 ft landscape trailer. Stack brush on trailer.
Move trailer to burn pile. Back up to a tree. Connect one end of
chain to grabber hook and the other end around a tree. Pull
forward and chain pulls brush off trailer.

4xMF · Oct 1, 2018

I used to have a winch on one of my MF 35. I pulled out the wire along the hedgerow or the edge of the woods I wanted to trim and piled up the branches on half the length of the wire closest to the winch gradually as I cut them down. Pulled the other half of the wire back toward the winch on top of the bunches of branches and hooked the hook around the wire. When activating the winch the wire would strangle all the branches into one huge bundle that I could drag to wherever I wanted it.

JMOR · Oct 1, 2018

Dragging with chain or rope can save you from sticks thru grill/radiator when trying to push with FEL or from broken valve stems when trying to push backwards or drag forward with blade.
Have experience with all 3.

C.Amick · Oct 1, 2018

Wrap a chain all the way around it.

How to drag brush to burn pile with an ag tractor?

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