At-a-glance comparison
Every machine below drives itself under its own power. "Width" is the transport/chassis width — the number that decides whether it fits through a standard 36-inch backyard gate.
| Machine | HP | Drive | Width | Grinding wheel (type / size) | Cut depth (below grade) |
Cut height (above grade) |
Weight | Backfill blade | Price (new) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toro STX-26Compact / rental class | 26 (Kawasaki) | Tracked, hydraulic | 34" | 19" wheel · 16 carbide teeth · 0.75" thick | 12.5" | 33" | 1,200 lb | No | ~$14,000–17,000 |
| Barreto 30SGBCompact / all-hydraulic | 31 (B&S Vanguard) | Tracked, hydraulic | 35.5" | 19.2" wheel · 16 green teeth · 0.75" thick | 12" | 32" | 1,700 lb | No | ~$18,000 |
| Vermeer SC30TXCompact / pro brand | 25 (Kohler) | Tracked, hydraulic | 35" | 16" Yellow Jacket wheel · 16 teeth | 12" | 25" | 1,500 lb | Not standard | ~$25,000–30,000 |
| Rayco RG37 TracMid / commercial | 37 (Vanguard) | Tracked, hydraulic | ~35" | 17.25" × 1" wheel | 12" | 37" | 1,850 lb | Yes (hydraulic) | ~$28,000–41,000 |
| Bandit SG-75 TrackHeavy commercial | 74 (Kohler) | Tracked, hydraulic · radio remote | 35" retracted / 55" expanded | 27" Bandit wheel · Greenteeth or New Revolution hex teeth | 23" | 80" swing* | ~4,500 lb | Yes (radio remote) | ~$60,000+ |
*Bandit publishes an 80" cutting swing; a discrete above-grade cutting-height figure is not listed by the manufacturer. Prices are blended new/street ranges (dealers commonly quote "call for price"); confirm current pricing with a local dealer. Used machines typically run 40–60% below new.
Grinding wheel & tooth systems, explained
The "wheel" is the spinning disc; the "teeth" are the replaceable carbide cutters bolted into it. Bigger diameter and thicker wheels handle larger stumps and last longer between tooth changes. The tooth system determines how easy and cheap teeth are to replace.
Greenteeth
A widely used pocket-and-tooth system. Round, indexable carbide teeth rotate in place so one tooth wears evenly on all sides before replacement. Common across many brands.
Yellow Jacket (Vermeer)
Vermeer's own cutter system with reversible pockets and two index positions per tooth, extending tooth life. Standard on the SC30TX.
New Revolution / hex teeth (Bandit)
Bandit's optional hex-shaped tooth wheel. More cutting edges per tooth for aggressive, high-horsepower grinding on large stumps.
Wheel diameter & thickness
Larger diameter reaches deeper per pass; thicker wheels (e.g. 1") resist flex on big stumps. Compact machines use 16–19"; heavy units run 27"+.
How to choose
- Backfill blade: Only the mid-and-up commercial units (Rayco RG37, Bandit SG-75) include a blade that pushes chips back into the hole. On compact machines the operator rakes the hole by hand.
- Horsepower vs. terrain: 25–31 HP handles typical yard stumps; 37 HP+ speeds up hardwood and large-diameter work. Tracks (all models here) give stability on slopes and soft ground while limiting turf damage.
- Cutting depth/height: 12" below grade suits standard grinding-to-fill jobs. Deeper reach (Bandit at 23") matters for full removal or replanting.
- Weight & transport: Lighter compact units (1,200–1,850 lb) tow on a small trailer behind a half-ton truck; the 4,500 lb heavy class needs a heavier tow rig.
- Buy vs. rent: Ownership pays off with repeat/commercial volume. For one-off jobs, the compact machines are widely available as day rentals.
Buying vs. hiring it out
A new self-propelled machine is a five-figure purchase before you touch a tooth, and teeth are a consumable — a single rock strike can cost more than a homeowner-sized job. The honest breakeven for most property owners sits somewhere north of a dozen stumps a year. Below that, hiring a grinder out is cheaper, and you are not the one repairing a hydraulic line.
If you landed here trying to price a single stump rather than a machine, our stump grinding cost and FAQ page lays out the per-inch pricing formula and typical ranges by diameter, and our stump grinding service page explains grind depth, gate access, and what “stump removal” actually means today.
We grind stumps across western Oakland and eastern Livingston County, Michigan — see our stump grinding service and full service area.