Your Ultimate Guide to the Best Land Clearing Equipment

Performing an efficient and quick land-clearing process requires using the correct equipment. Uprooting, eliminating unwanted vegetation, grading, leveling land, tilling, and preparing soil for agricultural activities. All the tasks mentioned above require the use of the right land-clearing equipment. Whether you are a landowner or contractor, use your machines, or rent land clearing equipment, getting appropriate machines and attachments is the most crucial factor in the operation's success. That is why you need a comprehensive guide on the equipment, when to get it and what are the best way to clear the land. We are on it! Read on you can find answers to all your land-clearing questions and choose the best solution for your needs. 

Table of Contents:

1. What To Consider While Planning Land Clearing Tasks 
2. What Are the Types of Land Clearing Equipment? 
3. Types of Land Clearing Attachments 
4. Summary

What To Consider While Planning Land Clearing Task

Every operator should prepare thoroughly before performing any land-clearing job. To do that successfully it is useful to ask yourself some simple questions. The answers will guide you on the steps of the process, and the type and size of the equipment you will need. 

Below, you can find a list of questions that will help you prepare for any land-clearing project: 

1. What type of machine do I need? 
2. Does clearing land require me to obtain a permit? 
3. What factors may stop me from clearing land (eg., animals, vegetation, type of soil, landmarks)? 
4. What type of land am I cleaning? What material do I want to clear away (eg., trees, large rocks, overgrowth, brush, weeds)? 
5. Do I need special clearing equipment to remove large trees? 

Another aspect the operator should consider is the aspects regarding the land-clearing machines and equipment. They involve their durability, maintenance costs, efficiency, digging power, lifting capacities, and many more. The operator also should adjust the power to the type of project they want to perform. 

What Are the Types of Land Clearing Equipment?

To start any land clearing jobs you will need to establish which land clearing machine you will need. There are several types you can choose from depending on the job you are planning to complete. 

Tractors and Backhoe Loaders

Tractors are typical machines for farming areas. However, with appropriate attachments, you can use them for various other jobs. The same goes for backhoes. Typical jobs you can complete with them are rock, and stump tree clearing, as well as getting rid of dirt, and debris. Tractors are also useful in digging. 

Backhoes are also great for digging and minor excavation applications, or simply for transporting loads between locations. 

Thanks to their versatility they can help start any land-clearing project. Some advanced works will require you to swap backhoes for another type of equipment but most basic clearing jobs can be completed only using backhoes or tractors. You can choose from different sizes and adjust the machine to your application. 

Skid Steer Loaders

Skid steers, similarly to tractors, are used to transport loads, such as rocks, dirt, and debris faster than manually. Thanks to their buckets, the operator can easily push and lift heavy objects to move them from one place to another. One of the biggest advantages of operating in the skid steer loader is having the ability to reach even the tightest spaces. 

Another significant benefit of skid steers is their versatility. This can be achieved thanks to the modifications made with various attachments. The regular bucket can be replaced by a backhoe, tiller, auger, or wood chipper, perfect for land-clearing activities. Finally, bobcat loaders are available in different sizes so no matter the size of objects or area you are clearing, you can always find a machine size suitable for the job. 

Excavators

Mini excavators are the type of heavy equipment you use for larger areas and larger scales of land-clearing activities. You can dig, remove debris, and move earth thanks to their specific build. Similarly to other types of machines, you can also use a variety of attachments with them to clear land. The most useful will be buckets with teeth, mulchers, clamp attachments (for tree stumps and concrete), and augers (for digging and drilling holes). 

Excavators have a special chain-wheel system that allows them to operate on an uneven surface, for example on slopes. Therefore, if you work on such type of terrain, an excavator will be a great choice. 

Bulldozers

Bulldozers have a characteristic scoop on their front. You can use them for digging, pushing, and leveling. A special type of bulldozer, called crawler bulldozer, is used for applications that require operating on uneven terrain. 

Larger jobs require using big-wheel bulldozers, which allow for greater maneuverability. Bulldozers allow for the use of various blades, which you can attach to the front. These are: 

1. PAT blades- use them for scraping and leveling 
2. angle blades- perfect for shaping and stumping 
3. semi-U blades- designed for backfilling and crowning. 

Types of Land Clearing Attachments

As already mentioned, apart from the machines, various attachments enable us to perform almost any land-clearing job. Therefore, after selecting the right type of machine, the time has come to choose the right attachment for your application. 

It is crucial to remember that choosing the right attachment must also be based on several factors, such as the type of area to clear and the type of job. Using the correct attachment allows you to complete the job faster and more efficiently. Below, you can find the most common attachments needed for specific land-clearing jobs. 

Grapples

Clearing may involve removing rock and debris of various sizes and demolishing structures and buildings. A regular bucket may often not be sufficient for scooping and hauling away. They work well with uniform material, otherwise they often make more mess than the actual clearing. 

Therefore, grapples are a better choice for larger material clearing as you can pile it up or simply load it into a truck. Thanks to that it is quicker and easier to go through loads of materials, deal with roots, and transport large quantities of material of an irregular shape. Grapples are often also used in clearing forests. 

Stump Grinders

When it comes to land clearing, tree stumps are one of the most difficult objects to remove. Cutting down the tree is not a challenge, but the remaining stump along with its root system requires a specific approach. One of the most efficient ways to deal with the stumps is to grind them. To do that, you can use a stump grinder attachment. 

No matter if you are using a skid steer, tractor, or excavator, the stump grinders work straightforwardly. They consist of a hydraulic-powered blade that moves back and forth and grinds stumps to below ground level. 

Mulchers

After cutting brush or tree pruning, there is a lot of debris left. Instead of trying to get rid of large and often heavy pieces, consider mulching them. Thanks to mulching brush, you will provide a biological waste that nourishes the soil. Thanks to a good mulcher attachment you will do the soil a favor and at the same time make your land-clearing job easier. 

Flail Mowers 

While clearing land you often need to cut brush and overgrown grass, however, it needs to be done precisely. A heavy-duty flail mower attachment comes with help. Thanks to its independently swinging teeth you can provide an even and close cut. Thanks to the row of chains it contains, a flail mower attachment processes limited material at a time and prevents the extreme spread of the material processed. With such precision, it is a great attachment for work alongside roadways as it does not scatter material. 

An excavator flail mower attachment allows to clear away brush and grass on the slopes, as the excavator provides unmatched stability. 

Brushcutter 

A dense and stubborn brush is a significant problem during your land-clearing process. Thankfully a brushcutter attachment solves all problems connected to eliminating plants, vines, and even small trees. It has a rotating disc with durable blades that effortlessly shred the overgrowth. It can even work well on uneven terrain, providing you choose an appropriate land-clearing machine to attach it to. Want to save time and cover a larger area? Choose a brushcutter attachment. 

Land-Clearing Techniques 

Once you have the right machine and attachment chosen, it is time to choose an appropriate technique for your land clearing. There are a few different land-clearing techniques. The most suitable method depends on several factors, such as the type of terrain, and the material to clear. Have a look below to find out which methods you can use to clear the land: 

Manual clearing: It is one of the least expensive methods, as it only requires using small hand tools and equipment, such as axes, and chainsaws. You can use it to clear out smaller areas of land and debris as it requires a lot of manual labour. 

Pushover: this method involves pushing bushes, large trees, and objects with the use of heavy machinery (excavators, skid steers, bulldozers). 

Mulching: this technique involves shredding bushes and small trees. It is beneficial to the environment and typically involves using forestry mulchers or mulching attachments. 

Cut and grind: this technique consists of three steps and helps to get rid of weeds and brush. First, you cut them down, then pile them up and place them in a different forest area or a dumpster. 

Skidsteers.com - Just the Equipment You Need for Your Land-Clearing Projects

You might be asking yourself a question, how to get access to land-clearing equipment. Usually, there are two options, you can either use one of the land-clearing equipment rentals or purchase the equipment you need. Renting land-clearing equipment has many benefits, however, the biggest downfall is the inability to work whenever you need to or want to. You will always have to schedule the rental and therefore the work. If it is a one-time clearing job, then rental is a valid option. However, if you do it more frequently, you should aim for an equipment purchase. The biggest advantage of this solution is the versatility of the machines which come with the opportunity of simply switching attachments. If you need land-clearing equipment for your next big project, there is no better place than Skidsteers.com. All our attachments are made of the best American steel and are proudly made in the USA. We carry a variety of skid steer attachments, mini skid steer attachments, excavator attachments, and tractor attachments that will help you successfully clear land. Do not hesitate to contact us if you need any assistance in the matter of land clearing or related equipment. We are always happy to help our clients make the best equipment-related decisions.