The Trail Ace

[Robert MoonShadow]

As promised a while back, I’ve taken photos of the trail ace that was invented by my boss, Bonner Brumley. Very useful for ripping up ground (especially in wilderness areas where machines aren’t allowed) for reconstruction of trails. I’ve taken quite a few photos, am including several that I hope will give an idea on the various adjustments that can be made. I’m not trying to promote this, really; just thought some might find it interesting or useful. Bonner did request that I mention that he will build one & sell for $2,000. {He just sold this used one for $1500}. The one he’s keeping (and new ones will be similar) are a bit stouter than this original one. Approximately 400 miles of trail have been reconstructed with this one. The hitch can be swung arounf/over, to offset the apperatus for left- or right-hand slopes. I hope the phots have enough details to show how the teeth can be set on the angle shown or straight down or straight out to the side. 3 teeth (various sizes – usually use only one or two at a time) & this is operated with one guy controlling it from behind while another leads the big draft mule/horse. This is because there is so much going on, and lines will just tangle. Anyways, if anyone’s interested, I can answer questions/give more details & pick Bonner’s brain for more {I’ve only used it a few times}. If someone’s interested in contacting Bonner about purchasing one or perhaps the plans, pm me. I’ve got more photos, too; when I’ve got more time (or that %#$#@$ DSL finally gets extended to here) I can post more in the photo section, if there’s interest. Trailwork might be another option to keep men & animals in the woods, making money, for those back East. [Referring to a thread about the subject, here on DAP]
I’m not sure if these will come out as ‘thumbnails’ or not… if not, someone please explain how to do it? I hope you all enjoy it!

[Robert MoonShadow]

Aahhh, good… the thumbnail thingy worked. Now I feel smart. :p

[OldKat]

@Robert MoonShadow 9570 wrote:

As promised a while back, I’ve taken photos of the trail ace that was invented by my boss, Bonner Brumley. Very useful for ripping up ground (especially in wilderness areas where machines aren’t allowed) for reconstruction of trails. I’ve taken quite a few photos, am including several that I hope will give an idea on the various adjustments that can be made. I’m not trying to promote this, really; just thought some might find it interesting or useful. Bonner did request that I mention that he will build one & sell for $2,000. {He just sold this used one for $1500}. The one he’s keeping (and new ones will be similar) are a bit stouter than this original one. Approximately 400 miles of trail have been reconstructed with this one. The hitch can be swung arounf/over, to offset the apperatus for left- or right-hand slopes. I hope the phots have enough details to show how the teeth can be set on the angle shown or straight down or straight out to the side. 3 teeth (various sizes – usually use only one or two at a time) & this is operated with one guy controlling it from behind while another leads the big draft mule/horse. This is because there is so much going on, and lines will just tangle. Anyways, if anyone’s interested, I can answer questions/give more details & pick Bonner’s brain for more {I’ve only used it a few times}. If someone’s interested in contacting Bonner about purchasing one or perhaps the plans, pm me. I’ve got more photos, too; when I’ve got more time (or that %#$#@$ DSL finally gets extended to here) I can post more in the photo section, if there’s interest. Trailwork might be another option to keep men & animals in the woods, making money, for those back East. [Referring to a thread about the subject, here on DAP]
I’m not sure if these will come out as ‘thumbnails’ or not… if not, someone please explain how to do it? I hope you all enjoy it!

Robert,

Exactly how is this tool used? Or, have you gone through all of that in a previous post? I take it that the frame can be flipped upside down, or rather that the angled blade on the top can inserted on the bottom instead and be used to srape the surface of the trail … is that correct?

[Robert MoonShadow]

Oldkat; Correct = the scraper-blade sits on top out of the way, until needed & inserted from the bottom to scrape clean the trail after using the teeth to rip the sod/ground. On an old trail that needs reconstructing, there is usually a high or inner side (when cutting across the face of a hill or slope). That’s when the teeth are angled or straight out to the side = to rip the inside edge & cut it new. If on flat ground or at least a level tread (the part you actually “tread” upon), the teeth are inserted straight down. These have several holes for adjusting depth-of-cut. These teeth will actually tend to ride up under a rock & pry it out… assuming the animal is a “digger” like Ellie-mule! She just digs down and leans into the collar & things just tend to move. A singletree is attached at the point of that triangle-frame & can be swung about to offset the apparatus from the animal, as needed. I’m probably not explaining it very well… think of a trail cutting across the face of a slope >>> the angle is say 8 degrees, and the trail has already been laid, but is now old & the upper/inside edge needs redefining. Place those teeth to the inside of the trail, choose the angle needed & place teeth accordingly. One guy leads Ellie along the old path & the other guy handles the machine, lifting up enough to slide over big boulders & roots, etc. Get as far as you’re wanting to go (usually about 100 feet or so, depending on the animal’s conditioning/strength). Turn that big girl around on the 18″ wide trail (hence her nickname “the 1700 lb. ballerina”), flop the trail ace off the low side of the trail, bring her past, swing the trail ace up & around behind her, then either switch the teeth over to the other side or bring the scraper blade into use. This works best on trail reconstruction = a good animal can do as much in 1 day as 4 fit guys with pick-mattocks. And she doesn’t get $28.50 an hour! On new trails, you’d have to cut a tread for her to get her footing on. The “shoe” you see in the center underneath, is a height-adjuster & makes it all go a bit smoother (notice that it’s curved, to allow it to be rocked up-and-over obstacles). The teeth are the same ones Bonner gets for his mini-excavator & are tack-welded on, and are various sizes, as seen in the photos (I hope).
I apologize if this is too wordy = it’s difficult for me to descibe because I’m not skilled like Jason & Carl with these types of explanations.
Both guys will be exhausted at the end of 8 hours (assuming they switch off) & the mule or horse really earns it’s pay (good grain)… but that big old red girl is ready to go the next morning… unlike some of the guys! 😀

[Rod44]

That is really slick what people can come up with!!!:)

[OldKat]

@Rod44 9581 wrote:

That is really slick what people can come up with!!!:)

… I was thinking the same thing; sure a nice tool to do that sort of work. Not that I have any use for anything like that, but it is pretty nice to know about it anyway.

After just looking at the pictures I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why the shanks came out the side of the frame at an angle (45 degrees ?), Roberts’ explanation makes perfect sense once you envision what he is saying.

Thanks for posting the thumbnails Robert.

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