Tools for dealing with heavy brush while off-roading?

Curious what tools everyone brings to deal with outgrown brush, branches, etc. while off-road? I'm dealing with a $10,000 body shop bill for scratches after going hitting a nasty set of bushes while turning around on a very narrow shelf road. (Not saying I'm going to pay for all of it. Insurance may cover some...) Basically there was no avoiding it. It was an emergency bush situation.

But I want to avoid this in the future. Apart from chain saws, what do people bring with them? Any recommendations? I feel bad chopping down branches, but also, this is typically done by forest service workers on main FS roads so it could be seen as helpful for other drivers.

 

A stout set of loppers is your friend…

 

$10k for scratches? Damn that seems excessive.

 

Silky saw, loppers and chainsaw. Silky lives in the truck, the loppers and chainsaw are only used when I know the trail is heavily blocked.

 

A Silky folding saw. There are various sizes.
https://silkysaws.com/folding-saws/

 

Thanks! Any recommendations on which size and model?

 

Another good option. I’ve carried one for years & it’s still plenty sharp

 

Machete.

Good for quick chopping and can be used as a weapon (you never know).

 

I have the Katana boy 500. You have to keep an eye on the price, because sometimes the price gets ridiculously high, but then it will come down.

Same.

 

I'm having a hard time. Imagining how some scratches are going to cost $10,000 to buff out. Unless they are repainting the entire vehicle?

 

Look into the bigboy and katanaboy, get whichever size suits you.

 

Machetes are useful. And yes, I carry 2 when in the deep woods.

 

Any model/brand recommendations?

 

Mine are Gerbers. Nothing super fancy, but they get the job done.

 

40 volt battery powered chainsaw, Kobalt, 14". no gas just bar oil. store with bar off. Charge batteries off the inverter in the back.

 

I use the AEV branded Silky BigBoy. Folded its a better fit in my kit. Have never brought loppers, but use a Husqvarna 16" mounted to my previous roof rack on my JKU. Next purchase is a roof rack for my ORP. We have a cabin in NM that I use the Husky every time we go. Downed trees and branches across the roadway, fire wood, etc. I've had this one for about 12 years. Stone cold perfect.

https://www.morris4x4center.com/aev-big-boy.html

$260 Husqvarna 130 Gas Powered Chainsaw, 38-cc 2-HP, 2-Cycle X-Torq Engine, 16" Chainsaw with Automatic Oiler, For Wood Cutting and Tree Pruning

https://www.amazon.com/Husqvarna-In...gid=pla-775690972043&ref=&adgrpid=71716338209

 

Good choice on the Husky! I love mine!

Edit: I have the 135. Little workhorse!

I just put it together for the first time since last spring and it started right up. I've used it once or twice a year for 5-6 years and still haven't done any maintenance.

 

I like the Milwaukee M18 IF I need one But haven't bought one. I would only need that on my ATV rides. Don't take 4Runner on that kinda trails.

 

I really like my electric chainsaw. Starts every time, quiet, still legal even under fire restrictions. Plus that time I used it to jump start my truck. Here's my everyday carry, plus a folding saw in my wheel well.

Sometimes I'm not ready to go home and still have energy, so will work on clearing trail. My little contribution to the community.

 

For bigger branches and roadkill??????? Are you like gutting a dead raccoon to eat its liver, or WTF does that mean????

 

You ever encounter the results of a car vs horse/cow/elk/moose/etc incident? Even if BLM "says" they're going to come remove the corpse, it can take them hours. If you're on a trail, they may not be coming at all. The vehicle may well have been moved by the victims friends, but that still leaves the corpse to deal with.
If it's just you, or even you and some friends, being able to cut the corpse up into smaller pieces is a very good thing to have. Those clippers look like they'll cut through bone with ease. Everybody has a knife of some kind with them, but the bones can be problematic. A decent way to cut through them can be a huge benefit.

Does that answer the whole "ROADKILL????" question?
Pat☺

 

I assume I'm misinterpreting this, but it sounds like you're talking about cutting up a human corpse.

 

Maybe raccoon liver is a delicacy in some cultures.

 

No it does not.

Maybe I'm alone in the broverlanding community, but I have never had to chop up a corpse on the trail to continue on my way. I don't think I've ever seen my hero Clay "Laura" Croft do it either.

 

Anyway we can see a picture of these scratches?

 

I have seen the Fuel used for clearing a down tree off a trail. If you have the batteries already, it's tough to beat the convenience. I might get one eventually. But, I really do like my Husky.

 

+1 for pictures!

@xmt037 , could you have backed up until you got somewhere wide enough to turn around? I find myself backing out occasionally, and usually just back up until I find a decent spot to turn around. Sometimes it's all the way back to the last intersection. I've gotten quite good at backing up.

 

I missed the replies somehow, my apologies.

I have a Native American friend who uses deer legs for some Native American kind of thing, so he appreciates the occasional leg. And another time a different friend wanted the tail off a coyote. Raccoon tails are good for arts and crafts, too.

And then there was the time I bagged a turkey, 4runner full of kids on our way to school and work. My son wanted to take a leg to school for show and tell, so I removed the leg right then and there for him. I called the teacher to make sure it was ok, and she said sure, but I don't think she really understood what I had asked, because later I heard back.

 

Oh well in that case, that checks out

:0

 

Way late to this party, but I can't imagine your pinstripes are worse than this. I buffed 'em myself with zero experience. Not too bad.


It took 20 hrs over 4 days (and a case of beer) It ain't perfect, but is presentable.