Small machine suggestions. Max machine width 40", speedy (6 kph/4 mph or more), good side slope ability, wider mower/rotary cutter, snowblower, etc.

[LeoB]

In my previous post, I meant to say "Bust out a 4 wheel ATV...." not a 4 week ATV. More coffee please...

 

[Thomas173]

Quick update. I'm now looking at the Avant articulating loaders because they have several models that are 40" narrow (to pass between the motorized mitigation boulders) with attachments that are wider, such as 59" wide mower deck. I used one to mow (finishing and flail) as well as move boulders with success. It's a more versatile solution than a stand-on mower. For instance, you can get a cutting bar (sickle style) that might be good for trimming the side of the trail. An Avant articulating loader could replace my Thomas skid steer and be much more functional for trail work.

 

[Hundreddollarbill]

Sounds like a ventrac is what you want.
Maybe an Terex/ASV PT30 track skid, I have one for sale in Iowa, just sits in the shed until I get it out to play with it. Cute lil thing.

 

[MX727]

I don't really understand your desire to mow wider than the restrictions on the trail. It sounds like you can't getting anything wider than what fits through the boulders, so I'd just let the entire trail remain at that width. I have a similar situation, although mine is wider. My narrowest restriction just allows a full size CTL (~74") but I only mow it at 60". Much quicker and easier to maintain, plus the more natural aspects keep it looking nice. I've even considered getting a much smaller machine to further reduce the width. I'd prefer single-track, but that is just too much to maintain by hand for me in my forest.

 

[Thomas173]

@Hundreddollarbill, the ventrac is a great machine but too wide for my narrow access. Same for the Terex/ASV PT30 track skid steer.

@MX727, the trail access is narrow because it is for pedestrians, cyclists, etc. and not motorized ORVs but the trail itself was built 3 metres wide, so enough space to walk, run or cycle two wide for conversation, etc. So a 5 foot mover deck, cutting one side heading out and cutting the other side on the way back results in a 10 foot wide cut, which is thereabouts 3 metres. All good. I too prefer single-track but the trail is a double wide.

 

[MX727]

You don't have to use all 60" on the way back. I did just run through mine with a 72" disc mulcher, but that was just to get all the down trees from the winter.

You have any way to make a "secret bypass" to get your bigger machine in and out?

I'll assume you either have a gate or balusters that limit the width that can enter the trail. If you have balusters, make them removable for getting the equipment into the trail.

 

[mrbb]

I agree, since its been 2 yrs and you haven't been able to find a machine that will do what you want, (basically due to again there just not made )
I think I would be looking at finding a way to get a moveable gate or likes, that can allow a proper machine to get access to trail , for maintenance, I would have to think at some point in time, the trail has to get repaired, , be it from erosion or storm damage or? just for safety, in case of an accident or health issue!
so, having access to open a trail for larger machines, would be something that comes in handy , I know every trail I have even been on in the USA, , has some access for full sized vehicles, due to liability issues alone!
trails here can be blocked to only have access to certain size access to the public, but for up keep and maintenance , they allow full sized machine access!
and again for emergency's if needed!

SO, I would be speaking with the trail system leaders and asking for a way to get larger machines on for general maintenance!, and use the fact that NOT having a way to access things is a safety issue!
should a medical emergency happen and no access point, could be opening the trail system up to a law suit!
normally fear of such things as law suits, tends to find funding to get access points! , or does in my experience!
question next though might be if, you have legal permission to be doing trail maintenance, as here in the USA< , most trails can only be maintained by folks working for the trail systems at hand, or, a volunteer organization that meets the criteria(mostly a legal permission deal so if a worker gets hurt, its not the trails fault, be it a permission slip wavier or covered by some insurance from the trail , or the like's)
we sadly live in a world where good deeds , some times, cannot be done due to fear of law suits and legal issues, a shame IMO< but is what it is, here in the USA any how!

I been doing trail work for close to 40+ yrs, and been using and part of many clubs and trails all over the USA,
I have seen and heard a bunch how many things work , attending meeting and so on!

again only in the USA on trails, but access with a full sized machine/vehicle, is a standard here for reasons listed above!
YOU should be able to get them to have moveable gates or such, if you speak to the trail systems leaders and point out the reasons!

 

[Thomas173]

Thanks @MX727, good point, "you don't have to use all 60" on the way back."
There are mitigation boulders so more difficult to open/move than gates and balusters.

@mrbb, thanks for your input. An Avant articulating loader works well and solves the narrow access and provides trail maintenance attachments. I previously tried getting the trail authority to install gates, then removable balusters without success. I'm a believer in your points, they are not. The Avant loader is my solution. I used an Avant demo machine last year with success.

 

[mrbb]

If you don't mind me asking, are these trails owned by the town/government or are they private
and who is legally responsible for trail maintenance?
who is paying for the machine to be use?

as if there government owned, they must have someone there that runs things on the trails, and must be responsible for up keep and again safety!

as if a normal machine doesn't fit, they must know this as well, and I cannot see why they wouldn;t want access for safety!

I also, if you don't mind, would be interested in knowing who is paying for a machine to maintain these trails??

are you just a volunteer that is willing to spend your own funds to buy a machine and do the up keep?

or is there an actual job title for things,
as ifs its the latter, I again cannot see how they wouldn;t want a proper machine to be used, over a more specialized one!

I have zero experience with the Avant loader, but every small loader I ever sen or used, was not very good on off camber or slopes, due to narrow wheel stance and short wheel base, not saying there isn't one that works for you, I just saying by design, there not really made for off camber or basically anything besides level ground

and that brings things back to safety, should you get hurt or someoen else, who from these trails would be liable?
as that is something if I was you I'd want to know before doing any work on these trails, as it can be a huge deal if anything ever went wrong!

 

[Thomas173]

Thanks for your concern.
Trail is managed by a trail association. It's a combination of public and private lands. There are legal agreements with the landowners. Part of the gate and balusters is the landowner agreements, but cost is the biggest factor.
Trail association has insurance.
The trail association does some trail maintenance but hasn't shown any real interest in the section I maintain. I've repeatedly asked but there is politics beyond my interest. Some of the trail has an active club with resources.
I volunteer and spend my own money.
I have little experience with the Avant loader but I'm looking at a side shift attachment to keep the machine in the middle of the trail where it is level. With the side shift the mower deck can cut the side of the trail while keeping the machine on level in the middle.
In an ideal world, things would be different. Thanks again for your good points.

 

[mrbb]

Thanks for your concern.
Trail is managed by a trail association. It's a combination of public and private lands. There are legal agreements with the landowners. Part of the gate and balusters is the landowner agreements, but cost is the biggest factor.
Trail association has insurance.
The trail association does some trail maintenance but hasn't shown any real interest in the section I maintain. I've repeatedly asked but there is politics beyond my interest. Some of the trail has an active club with resources.
I volunteer and spend my own money.
I have little experience with the Avant loader but I'm looking at a side shift attachment to keep the machine in the middle of the trail where it is level. With the side shift the mower deck can cut the side of the trail while keeping the machine on level in the middle.
In an ideal world, things would be different. Thanks again for your good points.

OK I hear you on this, I also belong to a trail that is privately owned, but does get some government funding, it also travels thru a mix of private and public lands(about 200 miles of rails)
and its a handful at times to deal with inner politics's of members and land owners and then add in the government side of requirements,
99% of all trail maintenance is done by volunteers, and most do at there own costs,
some times there is a little help or kick back on costs but most isn't!

and I agree, having a side cutter sounds to em like your best option then, one that can maybe be lifted up to travel, or get thru narrow gates and such! keeping the machine on more level ground then!

its too bad you cannot use some chemicals to help control things too,a s that would be a easy way to control small things from growing and holding new stuff back, and you can travel faster on a simple machine with a small tank sprayer
I know many hate the sound of using chemicals, but honestly were in q world full of them, some times the good they do can out weight any harm! but I also know its a personal deal at times as well!

 

[mrbb]

have you seen this??
or maybe this?? then you can use any vehicle that fits and can drive and work remote,, ,but would be really safe as you won't be on it, and should have a super low center of gravity, now costs wise?? I
'd think cheaper than a loader, but never know? on that!

Gravely Lawn Mowers | Commercial Lawn Mowers, Commercial Zero Turn Mower, Atlas JSV

Gravely’s high performance commercial lawn mowers, including commercial zero turn mower, walk behind, or stand on lawn mowers in addition to the Atlas JSV UTV.

www.gravely.com

 

[Thomas173]

Starting to forget all that I have looked. I'd have to check my files.
The Kunz (40") 10.5HP Finish Cut Pull-Behind Mower is a pretty good solution.
I've seem something similar online to the Gravely Ovis 40 RC brush mover but I've never inquired about the pricing.

 

[mikelv]

Hmm, I suggest accidentally backing in to one of the balusters with your trailer and or loader every time you do maintenance. After a year or so that baluster will either become removable or will be in need of replacement. If replacement is called for then you volunteer to do the work. Replace it with a removeable one or a gate section. Sence funding for maintenance is limited I am sure they would be happy to allow you to do the replacement.

Option 2. Trees some times mysteriously die and then of course need removal to preserve the environment in case they are diseased. Remove the strategically dead tree that was between you and the last baluster. If needed add a new removable baluster or large rock.

 

[MX727]

I didn't think of boulders, so I see the issue there. Too bad the trail association doesn't.

I guess the alternative would be for the obstructionist to have to clear the trail a couple of times a month with string trimmers. I bet they'd start to see the benefit of machine access REAL soon.

 

[ward]

In my previous post, I meant to say "Bust out a 4 wheel ATV...." not a 4 week ATV. More coffee please...

umm, I like the 4 week ATV and more coffee idea better.

 

[mrbb]

Hmm, I suggest accidentally backing in to one of the balusters with your trailer and or loader every time you do maintenance. After a year or so that baluster will either become removable or will be in need of replacement. If replacement is called for then you volunteer to do the work. Replace it with a removeable one or a gate section. Sence funding for maintenance is limited I am sure they would be happy to allow you to do the replacement.

Option 2. Trees some times mysteriously die and then of course need removal to preserve the environment in case they are diseased. Remove the strategically dead tree that was between you and the last baluster. If needed add a new removable baluster or large rock.

OR if the barriers are moveable, maybe have a machine large enough to move them and then put them back after entering the trail, or when done?
,

 

[Dave1234]

The direction no one seems to be talking about (maybe for good reason) is something custom made or custom adapted. You may or may not have the skills or tools. I noted some years back that many farmers are moving away from sickle bar mowers to rotary disk mowers--ones with horizontal disks with some sort of cutting fingers. No idea if something along those lines might work for you, nor how thick or woody your materials might be. But something analogous (but made for thick materials) to a sickle bar mower that could swing up for narrow areas, and swing down and do your cutting to the side of the trail doesn't seem out of the realm of possibility. Try these for food for thought:

555kg Drum Hay Rotary Disc Mower CE 100hp Gear Driven Cutterbar

High quality 555kg Drum Hay Rotary Disc Mower CE 100hp Gear Driven Cutterbar from China, China's leading 100hp Rotary Disc Mower product, with strict quality control Cutterbar Rotary Disc Mower factories, producing high quality 555kg drum hay mower products.

www.tractorflailmower.com

or perhaps something more conventional click on the pic below showing one disk mower in a farm environment. Perhaps there is a narrow enough tractor and some sort of side disk cutter already manufactured, or a cutter that could handle what you have to cut that could be made for or adapted to a bobcat quick attach system and hydraulics. If there isn't, there should be--there are an ever growing number of trails, and all present maintenance problems.

Another thought, but one not likely to fly--is there a possibility of gaining access through someone's private land bordering each trail segment? You would wind up starting somewhere in the middle, but the round trip distance for a given segment would be the same, and you could hopefully use a machine off the shelf..

BTW, many years ago I tried a sickle bar mower on genesta (~Scotch Broom) which makes woody stems 1-2" in diameter. It quickly broke some of the sickle teeth so I moved on to a brush hog. If you need to cut woody materials I would go to some other method, but if herbaceous because you cut things every year, something driving a sickle bar might work and could be relatively low horsepower (hence more likely to be small). Also, manufacturers used to make tiny versions of their full sized machines for university experimental use. Perhaps something might exist not normally seen.

 

[mrbb]

The direction no one seems to be talking about (maybe for good reason) is something custom made or custom adapted. You may or may not have the skills or tools. I noted some years back that many farmers are moving away from sickle bar mowers to rotary disk mowers--ones with horizontal disks with some sort of cutting fingers. No idea if something along those lines might work for you, nor how thick or woody your materials might be. But something analogous (but made for thick materials) to a sickle bar mower that could swing up for narrow areas, and swing down and do your cutting to the side of the trail doesn't seem out of the realm of possibility. Try these for food for thought:

555kg Drum Hay Rotary Disc Mower CE 100hp Gear Driven Cutterbar

High quality 555kg Drum Hay Rotary Disc Mower CE 100hp Gear Driven Cutterbar from China, China's leading 100hp Rotary Disc Mower product, with strict quality control Cutterbar Rotary Disc Mower factories, producing high quality 555kg drum hay mower products.

www.tractorflailmower.com

or perhaps something more conventional click on the pic below showing one disk mower in a farm environment. Perhaps there is a narrow enough tractor and some sort of side disk cutter already manufactured, or a cutter that could handle what you have to cut that could be made for or adapted to a bobcat quick attach system and hydraulics. If there isn't, there should be--there are an ever growing number of trails, and all present maintenance problems.

Another thought, but one not likely to fly--is there a possibility of gaining access through someone's private land bordering each trail segment? You would wind up starting somewhere in the middle, but the round trip distance for a given segment would be the same, and you could hopefully use a machine off the shelf..

BTW, many years ago I tried a sickle bar mower on genesta (~Scotch Broom) which makes woody stems 1-2" in diameter. It quickly broke some of the sickle teeth so I moved on to a brush hog. If you need to cut woody materials I would go to some other method, but if herbaceous because you cut things every year, something driving a sickle bar might work and could be relatively low horsepower (hence more likely to be small). Also, manufacturers used to make tiny versions of their full sized machines for university experimental use. Perhaps something might exist not normally seen.

main issue here really is width restriction, as just 42 inches wide, doesn't leave many machine capable of powering a mower, and or sure footed enough to handle off camber slopes and uneven ground!
when you get into machines that narrow, they just tend to be small and , well, not very useful for maintaining several miles of trails! then add in again terrain it needs to mow on and its a hard game being played here!

if better access was allowed, this would be a pretty easy thing to solve!, but it appears that isn't an option!