The short answer

Choosing a tree spade in 2026 comes down to four decisions: tree size (caliper and rootball you need to handle), mount type (truck, trailer, loader, skid-steer, or tractor), blade configuration (angle, count, and material), and carrier compatibility (the truck, loader, or machine you’ll run it on). Get those four right and the rest, including financing, parts, and training, falls into place. This guide walks you through each decision in order, with the specs and questions that actually matter, and shows where each Big John model fits.

Why this decision is bigger than it looks

A tree spade is a five-figure to six-figure capital purchase. The wrong choice doesn’t just cost money up front. It costs jobs you can’t take, trees you can’t move, and downtime when the machine doesn’t match your work. We’ve watched buyers spend $90,000 on a unit too big for their typical job, or undersized for the trees they actually move once a year. The point of this guide is to make sure that doesn’t happen to you.

By the end you’ll know:

• Exactly what size class fits the trees you move most often, and what handles the outliers
• Which mount type matches your operation’s productivity profile
• What carrier specs you need to verify before you sign anything
• Where each Big John model lands and which alternative deserves a look

Quick decision summary

If you only read one section, read this. Match your operation profile to the recommended class, then jump to the matching section below.

Operation profile	Tree size handled	Recommended mount	Big John starting point
High-volume nursery digging, 1″ to 4″ caliper	Up to ~4″ caliper, 44″ rootball	Skid-steer	Model 28, Model 44
Landscape contractor, mixed jobs, mobile	4″ to 6″ caliper, ~52″ rootball	Trailer-mounted	55D / 55DTD
Existing tractor or wheel loader fleet	4″ to 14″ caliper, varies by model	Loader-mounted (DL series)	52DL through 100DL
Dedicated tree-moving fleet, large jobs	5″ to 14″ caliper, 52″ to 100″ rootball	Truck-mounted	65D, 90D, or 100D depending on tree size
Farm or forestry on existing tractor	4″ to 10″ caliper, varies	3-point hitch / tractor	DL series (dual-rated for tractor)

Step 1: Match the spade to the trees you actually move

Before you compare brands, models, or mounts, pin down two numbers: the caliper of the trees you move most often, and the rootball diameter that has to come out of the ground intact. Every other spec follows from these.

How tree caliper is measured

Caliper is the trunk diameter measured at a standard height. The North American convention, codified in ANSI Z60.1 American Standard for Nursery Stock, is to measure caliper 6 inches above the ground for trunks up to 4 inches, and 12 inches above the ground for trunks larger than 4 inches. If a customer or spec sheet quotes a tree size, this is the convention to assume unless they say otherwise.

The caliper-to-rootball rule of thumb

The widely used industry standard is that the rootball diameter should be at least 10 to 12 inches for every inch of trunk caliper. So a 3-inch caliper tree calls for a minimum 30 to 36-inch rootball; a 6-inch caliper tree calls for a 60 to 72-inch rootball; and so on. This rule comes from ANSI Z60.1 minimum rootball standards and is the default that arborists, nurseries, and municipal specs use.

A spade’s stated rootball size is its mechanical capacity, not the size you’ll always dig. You can dig a smaller rootball with a larger spade. You can’t dig a larger one with a smaller spade. When in doubt, size up. We have a free tree caliper to rootball size calculator that pairs caliper inputs with the right Big John model.

What rootball weight does to your equipment plan

Rootball weight scales fast. A 52-inch rootball runs around 3,600 pounds. A 90-inch rootball runs roughly 11,800 pounds. A 100-inch rootball can hit 18,000 pounds. Those numbers determine your spade’s hydraulic system, your carrier’s lift capacity, and, if you transport the tree, your trailer or truck rating. If you only think about caliper, you’ll size the spade right and the rest of the rig wrong.

Step 2: Choose the right mount type

Mount type is where most buyers either save tens of thousands of dollars or quietly waste them. The right mount is the one that matches how often you move trees, how far, and what carrier you already own.

Truck-mounted tree spades

Best for: dedicated tree-moving operations, large nurseries, municipalities, and contractors who relocate trees as a primary line of work. A truck-mounted spade is a one-rig solution, where the dig, lift, transport, and replant all happen on the same vehicle.

Carrier required: a single or tandem-axle truck depending on size class. The Big John 45D mounts on a single-axle truck with a minimum 84-inch frame and at least 250 horsepower. The 55D fits a Class 7 single-axle (no CDL required) or a tandem at 120-inch frame. The 80D, 90D, and 100D require a tandem-axle truck with a 156-inch to 186-inch frame.

Tradeoffs: highest capital cost, but lowest cost per move once you’re running consistently. Less flexible for tight urban work because the truck has to fit, but unbeatable for site-to-site relocation jobs.

Big John truck-mounted lineup: 45D, 55D, 65D, 80D, 90D, 90DAG, 90DLP, 100D. Eight SKUs spanning 3-inch caliper through 14-inch caliper. See the truck-mounted category page.

Trailer-mounted tree spades

Best for: landscape contractors and tree services that move between job sites and don’t want to dedicate a truck. A trailer-mounted spade tows behind a truck you already own, deploys with hydraulic stabilizers, and returns to the trailer when the job is done.

Carrier required: a tow vehicle rated for the trailer. The 55DTD and 65DTD weigh 10,500 and 11,000 pounds respectively, on a 236″×96″ trailer. Verify your truck’s GVWR and trailer rating before assuming compatibility.

Tradeoffs: excellent productivity-to-capital ratio, especially for contractors who run a spade two or three days a week. Slightly more setup time per job than truck-mount; not as well suited to true high-volume nursery work.

Big John trailer-mounted lineup: 44DTG, 55DTD, 65DTD, plus the Model 44 and Model 54 trailer variants. See the trailer-mounted category page.

Loader-mounted tree spades

Best for: operations that already run a wheel loader or a high-spec tractor and want to add tree-moving to that machine’s job list without buying a dedicated truck or trailer. The DL series is the workhorse here, with units that pair to wheel loaders and tractors interchangeably.

Carrier required: a wheel loader (or compatible tractor) with sufficient hydraulic flow, lift capacity, and the right pin pattern. Compatibility varies by model. Verify with the dealer for your specific carrier.

Tradeoffs: lowest capital outlay if your carrier is already in the yard, but the spade is only as productive as the carrier’s availability. If your loader is in service eight hours a day already, adding tree-moving to it forces a tradeoff somewhere.

Big John loader-mounted lineup: 42DL, 52DL, 62DL, 80DL, 90DL, 90DLLP, 100DL. Full caliper coverage from 1″ through 14″. See the loader-mounted category page.

Skid-steer tree spades

Best for: tree nurseries with high-volume digging in tight rows, urban tree work in restricted spaces, and any operator who already runs a skid steer fleet and wants to add tree-moving as a removable attachment. A skid-steer spade is fast to attach, fast to detach, and keeps the host machine multi-purpose.

Carrier required: a skid steer or compact track loader with quick-attach and 10 to 16 GPM hydraulic flow. Big John’s skid-steer line standardizes on this range to fit the vast majority of carriers in the field.

Tradeoffs: the smallest size class. Big John skid-steer models top out at 5-inch caliper on the Model 54. If you regularly move trees larger than that, this isn’t your primary unit.

Big John skid-steer lineup: Model 20 (1″ to 2″), Model 28 (1″ to 3″), Model 36 (1″ to 3″), Model 40 (1″ to 4″), Model 44 (1″ to 4″), Model 48 (1″ to 5″), Model 54 (1″ to 5″). See the skid-steer attachment page.

3-point hitch and tractor mounts

Best for: farms, orchards, and forestry operations with an existing utility tractor. The 3-point hitch mount synchronizes with the tractor’s hydraulics and lets the same machine handle tree work alongside everything else it does.

Carrier required: a tractor with adequate 3-point hitch capacity and hydraulic flow. Big John’s DL series is dual-rated for both wheel loaders and tractors. The 42DL, 52DL, 62DL, 80DL, 90DL and 100DL all show up on the tractor attachment page.

Step 3: Match the blade configuration to your soil and tree size

Once you’ve fixed the size class and mount, blade choice is the next decision. Three variables matter: angle, count, and material.

Blade angle

Big John skid-steer spades, like most modern tree spades, offer three blade-angle profiles:

• Pointed (30°): sharper entry angle. Best for rocky, hard, or compacted soils where you need to cut and not just slide. Produces a more conical rootball.
• Semi-truncated (25°): balanced general-purpose profile. The default for most landscape and nursery work in average soils.
• Truncated (22°): flatter, wider rootball. Best in soft soil where the cut is easy and you want maximum root-zone capture.

If you work in mixed conditions and have to pick one, the 25° semi-truncated profile is the safest choice. If your soil is consistently rocky or sandy, choose the angle that matches the dominant condition.

Blade count

Smaller spades use 3 blades (one stationary gate plus three diggers); larger ones use 4. Big John’s Model 28 is a 3-blade unit; the Model 44 is a 4-blade unit. Most truck-mounted Big John D-series spades publish blade configuration on the model page rather than a single blade count. The practical takeaway: more blades make a more uniform rootball but also mean more cuts to align before digging. For most buyers this is settled by model selection rather than as a separate spec.

Blade material and treatment

The blade is the part that wears, so material matters more than buyers tend to think. Big John uses cold-formed AR400 steel on skid-steer blades and AR500 on trailer spades, and the truck-mounted D-series ships with heat-treated blades as standard. The harder steel handles abrasive soils with less edge rolling, which directly translates to fewer blade replacements over the spade’s life. If a competing spade quotes only “wear-resistant steel” without a hardness grade, ask for the AR rating.

Step 4: Verify carrier compatibility before you sign anything

This is where the most expensive surprises happen. The spade arrives, the carrier doesn’t quite fit, and now you’re either re-engineering a mount or asking the dealer to take the unit back. Before you finalize a purchase, verify each of these for your specific carrier.

For truck-mounted spades

• Frame length: 84″ minimum for the 45D; 120″ for the 55D and 65D; 156″ to 186″ for the 80D, 90D and 100D.
• Axle configuration: single-axle works through the 55D; tandem from the 65D up.
• Engine power: 250 HP minimum for the 45D; more for the larger units. Dealer will confirm.
• CDL requirement: the 55D on a Class 7 single-axle stays under CDL thresholds; everything larger typically requires CDL operation.

For loader-mounted and tractor spades

• Hydraulic flow: the spade’s required GPM has to match what the loader can deliver under load, not just at idle.
• System pressure: Big John truck spades run at 2,500 to 3,500 PSI. Loader spades vary by unit; verify with dealer.
• Lift capacity: the loader needs to handle spade plus a full rootball. A 90-inch rootball weighs roughly 11,800 pounds, so your loader needs that much arm capacity at the operating reach you’ll work at.
• Pin pattern and quick-attach: the spade has to physically attach to your loader. Pin patterns are not universal; Big John can build to most standards but you must specify yours.

For skid-steer spades

• Hydraulic flow: 10 to 16 GPM is the spec range for Big John skid-steer spades. Most modern skid-steers fall inside this; verify your model is not low-flow only.
• Quick-attach standard: universal skid-steer plate is standard.
• Operating weight on the carrier: the Model 28 weighs 1,500 pounds, the Model 44 from 2,000 to 2,400 pounds depending on configuration. Confirm your skid-steer’s rated operating capacity.

Step 5: Look at total cost of ownership, not sticker price

Tree spades have wide price spreads, but the sticker is rarely where the real cost lives. Five line items decide the actual cost of ownership over a 7-year to 10-year operating life:

1. Purchase price. Skid-steer spades start in the low five figures; trailer and loader-mounted units run mid-five to low six figures; truck-mounted spades on a finished tandem rig can clear $200,000 once the truck is included.
2. Financing. Equipment financing rates and structures vary widely by lender and operator credit. Even a one-point spread on a $90,000 purchase changes a 60-month payment by $40+ per month. Talk to multiple lenders.
3. Maintenance and parts. Hydraulic systems, blade wear, water-system plumbing, and stabilizer pads are the recurring items. Big John’s parts department typically ships same-day on in-stock items, which keeps downtime measured in days rather than weeks. That matters more than buyers tend to assume. A week of downtime on a $90,000 unit during peak season is real money.
4. Downtime exposure. An unfamiliar brand with a thin US dealer network is fine, until the day it isn’t. Domestic manufacturing, full factory warranty, and a parts pipeline you can call directly all reduce the dollar-weighted risk of being stuck.
5. Resale. Big John D-series spades hold value because the platform has been “constantly improved for over 20 years” without abandoning compatibility, and because the parts pipeline keeps older units running. A spade that has good parts support 15 years out is a spade that resells.

Total cost of ownership is the right way to compare options, not sticker price alone. A unit that costs 15% more up front but has half the downtime and 30% better resale wins on TCO.

Step 6: New or used?

Used tree spades are a real option, especially for buyers who want to enter the work without a six-figure capital outlay or who need a second machine for peak coverage. Big John’s design philosophy has always been to keep units serviceable for decades, so well-maintained second-owner units are common in the market.

Buy new when:

• The unit will run as your primary spade for 5+ years
• You want full factory warranty and the latest hydraulic and gate-design improvements
• Your business model requires uptime certainty (municipal contracts, time-critical relocation work)

Buy used when:

• You’re piloting tree-moving as a service and want to validate before scaling
• You need a backup or peak-season unit
• You found a well-documented machine with maintenance records, and your dealer can confirm parts availability

Big John keeps a rotating inventory of used tree spades that have been shop-tested and warrantied through the dealer network. A used Big John from a known source typically beats a new unknown brand on TCO, because the parts pipeline is stable and the platform is already familiar to operators in the field.

Pre-purchase checklist

Before you sign, you should be able to answer “yes” to all of these:

• I know the caliper and rootball size of the trees I move most often, and the largest tree I’ll need to handle in a typical year.
• I’ve matched a mount type to my operation’s productivity profile, not just my preference.
• I’ve verified my carrier (truck, loader, tractor, or skid-steer) meets the spade’s hydraulic flow, pressure, lift capacity, and frame requirements.
• I’ve chosen a blade angle and material that fits my soil conditions.
• I’ve priced 7-year to 10-year total cost of ownership, not just sticker price.
• I’ve confirmed parts availability and lead times with the dealer.
• I know whether my use case justifies new or used.
• I have a financing structure and a deposit timeline that doesn’t pressure me into the wrong size class.

Why operators choose Big John

Big John has been building tree spades in Heber Springs, Arkansas, since 1975. Fifty years in a single American factory, with an all-welded construction philosophy and a parts pipeline that ships same-day on most in-stock items. Specific reasons buyers cite:

• Focus. Building tree spades and pod trailers is the only thing the company does. There’s no parallel product line that splits engineering attention.
• Lineup breadth. Eight truck-mounted SKUs, a full DL series for loaders and tractors, trailer-mounted units, and a skid-steer line, meaning the same dealer can match a spade to almost any operator’s profile.
• Service after the sale. Full factory warranty, in-house parts department, and follow-up support are explicit company commitments.
• Heat-treated blades, hydraulic transport lock, and onboard water systems are standard, not upgrades.
• Made in USA. All units are designed and built in Arkansas. Relevant for buyers prioritizing domestic manufacturing or who want a short parts pipeline.

For a side-by-side comparison against the major alternatives, see our Big John vs Dutchman vs Optimal comparison.

Frequently asked questions

What size tree spade do I need?

Match the spade’s rootball capacity to the trees you move most often. As a rule of thumb, the rootball diameter should be 10 to 12 inches for every inch of trunk caliper (per ANSI Z60.1). A 3-inch caliper tree calls for a 30 to 36-inch rootball, which fits a Big John Model 36 or 44 skid-steer spade. A 6-inch caliper tree calls for a 60 to 72-inch rootball, which fits a 65D or 80D. A 10-inch caliper tree calls for a 90D or 100D.

How much does a tree spade cost?

Tree spade prices range from low five figures for skid-steer attachments to over $200,000 for a finished truck-mounted rig. The largest variable is whether you’re buying just the spade or the spade plus its carrier. Big John ships truck-mounted units fully mounted and operational on the customer’s truck.

Can I use a tree spade on any truck or loader?

No. Each spade has specific carrier requirements, including frame length, axle configuration, engine power, hydraulic flow, system pressure, and pin pattern. Verify these with your dealer before purchase. The 45D, for example, requires a single-axle truck with a 84-inch frame and 250 HP minimum.

What’s the difference between truck-mounted and trailer-mounted tree spades?

Truck-mounted spades are integrated into the truck and are best for dedicated tree-moving operations doing high volumes. Trailer-mounted spades tow behind a truck you already own and are best for landscape contractors and tree services moving between job sites. Truck-mount has higher capital cost and lower per-move cost; trailer-mount inverts that.

Do I need a CDL to operate a tree spade?

For trailer-mounted, loader-mounted, skid-steer, and tractor spades, no. You operate the carrier you already drive. For truck-mounted spades, it depends on the truck’s class. The Big John 55D mounted on a Class 7 single-axle truck typically stays under CDL thresholds; tandem-axle setups for the 65D and larger usually require a CDL.

How long does a tree spade last?

A well-maintained Big John tree spade is engineered to run for decades. The platform has been “constantly improved for over 20 years” while keeping serviceability and parts availability, which is why early units are still in the field. Blade and hydraulic component wear are normal and replaceable.

Should I buy new or used?

Buy new if the unit will run as your primary spade for five-plus years, or if your business needs full warranty and uptime certainty. Buy used if you’re piloting tree-moving work, need a backup, or have a well-documented unit with maintenance records and confirmed parts availability. See our guide to buying new vs used.

Where is Big John manufactured?

Every Big John tree spade is designed and built in Heber Springs, Arkansas. The company has been manufacturing in the same American facility since 1975.

Talk to a Big John spec advisor

If you’ve worked through this guide and you want a second opinion on size class, mount type, or carrier compatibility, our team will spec a unit to your operation, free of charge. Tell us the trees you move, the carrier you run, and the soils you work in, and we’ll match you to the right model.

Request a quote or talk to a spec advisor

Or browse the full lineup at big-john.com/spades.