Felling a Tree w/ Rope or Come Along

My apologies if this is the wrong thread. I need a little advice and guidance. I've got a patch of 4 oak trees all growing from the same trunk. These trees are all dead and for sometime it looks like, termite infested, all the limbs are gone off of it, they are just bare trunks. Their diameters aren't very wide 10-14 " they get pretty skinning going up on some as alot of bark is missing. They are pretty tall I'd say 60ft range but am no expert at judging. I have the room to drop them as my home backs to the woods, however they are close up against my neighbors fence. They are leaning favorably except one but it's the thinnest by far hoping I can direct it easy.

My biggest fear is them falling the wrong way into the neighbors fence. I was going to anchor a come along to the base of a tree close by 20-40ft range I have a few choose from. Get up on the tree as high (my ladder is only a 16ft) as I could and wrap a rope or heavy duty strap around it and attach to the come along and have a friend apply some pressure. As I am cutting a notch keep the pressure tight and eventually do my back cut.

Couple questions. First am I on the right track? What should I do better or shouldn't be doing. I guess second is can I use a rope vs. a heavy duty strap? If so do I need to use a very heavy heavy duty rope what would be working load on the rope I'd use. Am I over thinking all this? Would a decent rope with a man putting pressure do the job? Just nervous going to fall wrong way. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for any help.

Tried to attach a pic to give an idea but kept getting a security error! I'll keep trying!

 

You would want to anchor your come along farther away than what you estimate to be the height of the tree. If you don't the reason why you should will become plain obvious when the tree falls over.

You'll also need to be very careful of the tops breaking off as you cut. Pulling or shaking the tree might be enough to cause them to fall.

 

You sound ok to me. The only thing I would add is: dont put pressure on the rope until the front notch is complete; Fall all the "safe" trunks first; Use a wedge if possible; use a substantial rope; If there is enough room, pull the rope with a truck or tractor. Good luck.

 

I've used some aluminum tubing in eight foot sections to raise a rope pretty far up a tree - you might try to figure out a way to guide a loop up as high as possible. Good advice above - be especially careful of those rotted tops when you cut - as stated above, you never know if they might let go and possible hit you - not good. Probably a good idea to have a second person on the come-along while you cut - adding tension as you work the back cut. Good luck! Cheers!

 

How much do you think it would cost to replace your neighbor's fence if a tree or branches fell on it? Could you afford to replace it? How pizzed off would your neighbor be? Is it worth it to generate this type of friction with your neighbor? Could you take down the fence temporarily?

I'm not saying that you will mess it up, but just wondering if you can manage it in the worst case scenario. Based on the fact that you are asking about how to handle this job on FHC suggests that you are not a full-time professional tree faller. My personal rule is that I don't ever fall a tree that could ever possibly damage any property. It's just not worth it for me. Your mileage may vary.

BTW, are those chestnut oak? There has been something killing them around here. Fortunately for me, I only had one within "range" of the house that I had to pay a professional to remove. The rest (2-3 dozen) are all far away from our house and fences.

 

This is worth repeating. Say it to yourself several times as you contemplate this project.

It's not going to take much for those tops to break off and the person doing the cutting will be in a REALLY bad spot when they do.

 

Using a rope length 150% the height of the tree is S.O.P. for safety sake. Or so da book say.

As others have said the tops could snap off with just the vibration of the saw. Also, do you know if any are hollow? Carpender ants could have invaded the tree and hollowed one or all of them. If so that makes it a whole different game.

Good luck and weigh all your options carefully before pulling the string on a saw.

After taking a closer look at those trunks you may want to hire that job out to a reputable professional. There appears to be a substantial amount of rot/bug damage. This could get terminal real fast.

 

Spend some bucks and hire it done. Looks like a poor place to get some initial tree felling experience since you seem to have some doubts. Rotten trunk, dead upper, property damage, but, it is your choice.

 

Thanks Fella's for all the advice! The rotted hollow part is what scares me it's got major major bug damage, that makes it unpredictable.

 

[QUOTE="mike bayerl, post: 624247, member: 193

BTW, are those chestnut oak? There has been something killing them around here. Fortunately for me, I only had one within "range" of the house that I had to pay a professional to remove. The rest (2-3 dozen) are all far away from our house and fences.[/QUOTE]

I believe they are White Oaks, but not 100% sure!

 

I believe they are White Oaks, but not 100% sure![/QUOTE]
That bark looks more like chestnut oak with very deep grooves. Chestnut oak, Q. prinus is considered a type of white oak, just not true white oak Q. alba. I'm no expert but I have been trying to figure out what's going on with my trees dying.

 

Mike, you might be onto something because I have heard from a ton of people about the tree's in our area getting a disease and dying. They get this green stuff on them and eventually die out. Tons of my neighbors who have lived here for years been talking about it.

BTW: I backed out on doing it, called a guy for an estimate and they showed up an hour later. Worth every penny the one leaning towards my neighbors yard which was the thinnest was the hardest of all. That thing was swaying so bad not sure how it didn't land on my neighbors yard and house....! I was literally $hitting myself, was thinking all this and this guys is gonna hit the fence and I was worried about me. It worked out but I have few grey hairs for sure! Thanks for all help and advice there are plenty behind my house to play with little more safely

 

Wise decision. I'm plenty happy paying a tree guy when there is a hanger or house in the picture. Especially the tree guys who leave loads of logs in my yard.

So did you make friends with the tree guy and is he now going to drop off loads of wood in your yard?

 

Hahaha I probably should have but I've slowed my wood hoard down a tad just until I get that insert. Also most of my wood is still too wet, burning terrible. I've got about a cord and half drying out and now these four tree's. Next winter should be pretty good!

 

That bark looks more like chestnut oak with very deep grooves. Chestnut oak, Q. prinus is considered a type of white oak, just not true white oak Q. alba. I'm no expert but I have been trying to figure out what's going on with my trees dying.[/QUOTE]

Here's a pic of an identical tree that I had dropped. Chestnut?

 

Here's a pic of an identical tree that I had dropped. Chestnut? View attachment 118989 [/QUOTE]
Looks like chestnut rather than true white oak. The heart wood was a nice rich brown?

 

Yes the center def has a brown tint to it. Glad you pointed out, I have a ton of these around. The deep groves makes it stand out. I use to get confused because some have those deep deep groves and others not so much or at all, def a difference.