puter
Member
I'm early on in the process of rationalizing the purchase of a CUT. What follows is my attempt to distill some of the salient wisdom I've gleaned from reading a few thousand TBN posts. Mind you, I haven't even sat on a CUT yet, so I'd appreciate comments and criticisms of my conclusions from those that have.
<font color=green>Overview:</font color=green> Tractor will be used to maintain/improve a 13 acre (half heavily wooded, half lawn with pond) property. Lots of tops and branches remain on the property from previous timbering.
<font color=green>Specific Objectives:</font color=green> Mowing, snow clearing (400ft flat driveway), garden prep, utility & drainage installs, lawn area prep, log/branch clean up, stump removal, dirt road/trail maintenance, landscaping projects.
<font color=green>Considerations:</font color=green> In general, for these projects, I'm willing to use a piece of equipment that is capable, but perhaps not optimal, for the tasks. i.e. I realize it may take a long time to get some stumps out. I'd like not to spend more than I have to, but equally, I'd like to not end up being disappointed in having purchased an undersized piece of equipment for my projects. I've been looking primarily at the BX22 and the JD 4210.
<font color=green>Preliminary Conclusions:</font color=green> My approach has been to try to identify the implements/attachements I require and then buy the tractor necessary to operate them.
The implements I think I need are: mower, loader, backhoe, snow blower, tiller, lawn rake with blade, and a chipper/shreader. In detail:
1) Mower: I'm torn between getting a mid-mount mower (better finish, less ground clearance) and a 3pt finish mower (worse finish, attach/detach hassle, better clearance, easier to mow pond edges).
2) Loader: The consensus seems to be that everyone should have one of these and that 2-3 chain hooks should be welded on, the bucket reinforced, and a toothbar added. It isn't clear to me whether the toothbar should be welded or bolted on. Is there a time when it would be adventageous to remove the toothbar? The BX22 lift capacity of 400+ lbs seems marginal (five 80lb bags of concrete mix max)? Should that be a concern?
3) Backhoe: Everyone that has one seems to think they're a blast... what other justification do you need? Seriously, trenching and stump removal would seem to make this a necessity.
4) Snow blower: Any concerns about winter operation of a CUT?
5 & 6) Tiller & Lawn rake w/ blade: It seems like this combination would obviate the need for a box blade. The tiller would seem to be appropriate for the garden prep, the lawn area prep (a one time thing), and for helping smooth/maintain the dirt roads/trails. The lawn rake helps with leaves and the constant branches from the "weed trees" near the pond, and the blade smooths the dirt roads that have been tilled.
7) Chipper/Shredder: There are lots of tops and piles of branches around here so this seems like an obvious answer. We can use the mulch for landscaping beds and the trails. My understanding is that the BX22 is rather small for this attachment so I'd likely be limited to chipping logs up to 4" or 5". Any reason I couldn't split and then chip larger logs that wouldn't make good firewood?
I'd be grateful for answers to any of the questions I've posed, thoughts on other things I should be considering, and the like. This forum is indeed a wonderful resource...
- Mark
<font color=green>Overview:</font color=green> Tractor will be used to maintain/improve a 13 acre (half heavily wooded, half lawn with pond) property. Lots of tops and branches remain on the property from previous timbering.
<font color=green>Specific Objectives:</font color=green> Mowing, snow clearing (400ft flat driveway), garden prep, utility & drainage installs, lawn area prep, log/branch clean up, stump removal, dirt road/trail maintenance, landscaping projects.
<font color=green>Considerations:</font color=green> In general, for these projects, I'm willing to use a piece of equipment that is capable, but perhaps not optimal, for the tasks. i.e. I realize it may take a long time to get some stumps out. I'd like not to spend more than I have to, but equally, I'd like to not end up being disappointed in having purchased an undersized piece of equipment for my projects. I've been looking primarily at the BX22 and the JD 4210.
<font color=green>Preliminary Conclusions:</font color=green> My approach has been to try to identify the implements/attachements I require and then buy the tractor necessary to operate them.
The implements I think I need are: mower, loader, backhoe, snow blower, tiller, lawn rake with blade, and a chipper/shreader. In detail:
1) Mower: I'm torn between getting a mid-mount mower (better finish, less ground clearance) and a 3pt finish mower (worse finish, attach/detach hassle, better clearance, easier to mow pond edges).
2) Loader: The consensus seems to be that everyone should have one of these and that 2-3 chain hooks should be welded on, the bucket reinforced, and a toothbar added. It isn't clear to me whether the toothbar should be welded or bolted on. Is there a time when it would be adventageous to remove the toothbar? The BX22 lift capacity of 400+ lbs seems marginal (five 80lb bags of concrete mix max)? Should that be a concern?
3) Backhoe: Everyone that has one seems to think they're a blast... what other justification do you need? Seriously, trenching and stump removal would seem to make this a necessity.
4) Snow blower: Any concerns about winter operation of a CUT?
5 & 6) Tiller & Lawn rake w/ blade: It seems like this combination would obviate the need for a box blade. The tiller would seem to be appropriate for the garden prep, the lawn area prep (a one time thing), and for helping smooth/maintain the dirt roads/trails. The lawn rake helps with leaves and the constant branches from the "weed trees" near the pond, and the blade smooths the dirt roads that have been tilled.
7) Chipper/Shredder: There are lots of tops and piles of branches around here so this seems like an obvious answer. We can use the mulch for landscaping beds and the trails. My understanding is that the BX22 is rather small for this attachment so I'd likely be limited to chipping logs up to 4" or 5". Any reason I couldn't split and then chip larger logs that wouldn't make good firewood?
I'd be grateful for answers to any of the questions I've posed, thoughts on other things I should be considering, and the like. This forum is indeed a wonderful resource...
- Mark