Moving trees in Illinois has challenges—from sticky clay soils to unpredictable weather. Whether you’re replanting for land development, growing a tree farm, or preserving mature trees during construction, your job requires great effort. You need strong, reliable equipment that won’t slow you down or damage your trees.

At Big John Manufacturing, we’ve been building dependable tree transplanting solutions for nearly 50 years. Our tree transplanting equipment for sale in Illinois can make your work faster, safer, and more efficient. Backed by expert support and a track record of success, we help you work smarter with tools that are built to last.

Model 40 skid steer tree spade

Explore Our Full Line of Tree Transplanting Tools

We design every product with durability, performance, and ease of use. If you're looking for dependable tree transplanter machines Illinois professionals trust, we have what you need:

Tree Spades

Our tree spades offer toughness and precision. Available in multiple sizes, they let you safely dig and move trees without damaging root systems. Whether you’re relocating small trees or large ones, these machines handle the work smoothly and efficiently.

Attachments

Add flexibility to your setup with custom-built attachments. These tools make your tree spade equipment more versatile and help you adjust to different job sites. From loader mounts to quick-change features, our attachments save you time in the field.

Accessories

Our accessories are designed to improve performance and extend the life of your equipment. We offer control upgrades, hydraulic kits, and safety enhancements so your machines stay in shape.

Tree Pods

Protect your trees during transport with our rugged tree pods. These pods support root balls and minimize transplant shock. Whether you're driving across town or out into the field, they keep trees steady and safe.

Big John Manufacturing: Proud to Equip You

At Big John Manufacturing, we proudly provide the highest quality equipment and services for your agricultural needs. Here’s what sets us apart:

  • Trusted nationwide since 1975
  • Built to handle Midwest soil and seasons
  • New and used options available
  • Expert support from start to finish
  • Easy-to-use, heavy-duty designs
  • Fast, reliable shipping to Illinois
  • Proudly made in the USA

Get Professional Equipment That Works For You

Using worn-out tools or gear that doesn’t match the job can lead to broken roots, stalled projects, and extra costs. With Big John’s tree transplanting equipment for sale in Illinois, you get tools built to solve those problems—not create new ones. From durable designs to helpful service, we make every transplant easier. Explore your options today!

Features on all Models

Control your skid steer tree spade with ease inside the skid steer with cabled controls or from anywhere with a wireless remote that allows for easy operation.

Gate hinges designed for stressful conditions, our skid steer spades feature heavy duty gate hinges that beat the competition for longevity.

Add on stabilizers or other optional features to make your skidsteer tree spade more robust with an extra valve section for add-on hydraulic components.

Anyone can learn how to operate a BIG JOHN spade with minimal instruction and successfully dig a tree in a matter of minutes. Maintenance requirements are simple, quick, and affordable with a minimal time commitment to keep your spade at peak performance.

Made with top grade plastics for heavy duty use, our slide blocks dig for thousands of tree moves with ease and simplicity. Fewer moving parts, no bolts to rust, and no small plastic parts to keep track of make the simple design of BIG JOHN spades last decades longer.

Our blades are cold-formed from AR400 steel, making them durable and strong for all kinds of digging conditions and maintain their integrity for decades. The blades are also fluted to distribute the stress of digging better in tough conditions.

Get the level of digging speed you need with adjustable valve bodies on all our skid steer tree spades. Slow spades down for safety with new operators or speed up for seasoned spade users for efficiency.

Features on all Models

Control your skid steer tree spade with ease inside the skid steer with cabled controls or from anywhere with a wireless remote that allows for easy operation.

Gate hinges designed for stressful conditions, our skid steer spades feature heavy duty gate hinges that beat the competition for longevity.

Add on stabilizers or other optional features to make your skidsteer tree spade more robust with an extra valve section for add-on hydraulic components.

Anyone can learn how to operate a BIG JOHN spade with minimal instruction and successfully dig a tree in a matter of minutes. Maintenance requirements are simple, quick, and affordable with a minimal time commitment to keep your spade at peak performance.

Made with top grade plastics for heavy duty use, our slide blocks dig for thousands of tree moves with ease and simplicity. Fewer moving parts, no bolts to rust, and no small plastic parts to keep track of make the simple design of BIG JOHN spades last decades longer.

Our blades are cold-formed from AR400 steel, making them durable and strong for all kinds of digging conditions and maintain their integrity for decades. The blades are also fluted to distribute the stress of digging better in tough conditions.

Get the level of digging speed you need with adjustable valve bodies on all our skid steer tree spades. Slow spades down for safety with new operators or speed up for seasoned spade users for efficiency.

Proven results from Proud BIG JOHN Owners

I would definitely recommend the Big John tree spades to anyone looking for a reliable, efficient and robust digging machine. The style and design of the Big John 90D proved to be way better and allowed for more down pressure in much harder ground than the other manufacturers’ spade.

Stephen Jones

Friendly service, straight to the point type. Check’m’out!

Robert Dobbins

Amazing and reliable machines.

Lukáš Kaprál

Big John has been the back bone of our company for 30 years now. They are high in quality, durability, dependability, and affordability. Great response from parts and service if needed. Still moving trees in north east Florida.

Keith Kirker

Quality-built Tree Spades made by an American company with a proven track record since the 1970’s.

After owning 3 different manufacturers of Tree Spades I realized I needed to use the Big John brand so I could be more efficient No other manufacturer offers the tree pod capability of taking multiple trees to the job site with 1 trip. Fuel is expensive and time isn’t cheap!

Fred Heckman

Fantastic company with people who care about your business and their products are first class with the service to back them up.

Bryon Rahn