What do you use your FEL for?

[SonnieP]

I've been tractor shopping and initially I insisted I did not need an FEL. Every dealer I've spoken with (several), I've expressed that I don't want an FEL and don't want to ever know what I'd done without one... as many people claim they don't know how they ever lived without it.

Anyway... today I was cutting the normal 10 acres of our 63 that I cut each week with my Z mower and started spotting things that I could possibly do with a FEL. It's ridiculous!

I passed by that old tree limb/brush pile that I've been putting off moving to the back of the property for a couple of years now (FEL could just pushed that stuff right on back to the back).

I passed by those 2 dead trees that are constantly dropping dead limbs in my way that I have been putting off cutting down with a chain saw for a couple of years now (FEL could just push those right on over and move them to the back... stump and all most likely).

I passed by that big ole pile of dirt and stumps that I've been going to somehow move for several years now (FEL could move that right on out of the way and haul it off easily).

I thought about how easy it would be to move all those railroad ties lying in that bottom between our house and my parents so we can cut between there with no problems of running over them (FEL could move those easily with no strain on the back).

I thought about all those huge sections of concrete that were piled up that we could push down into a ditch close by (FEL could handle that).

I thought about how there are several spots on the property that are unlevel and need dirt hauled in and leveled up. They have irritated me for years having to cut through that unlevel area... how aggravating (FEL could grab some surface dirt out of the back field and dump in those unlevel areas and smooth that right on out).

I thought about not having to rent that skid steer when they bring in that 100 tons of crusher run... (FEL can spread those piles out just as easily as that skid steer can or at least I'm thinkin' it can).

I'm just scratching the surface here.

What do you use your FEL for?

 

[gmsssi]

Presently digging out for a garage!
Yesterday was stumps.....
Day before that I spread gravel....
Day before that I put the pallet forks on and did some organizing in the barn.........
Can't remember the day before that...........

SEE

 

[Boomerang1]

I used it the other day to haul away our old washer and dryer. I put the forks up to the back steps and slid each one out the door and onto the forks. I carried each one to the pickup and dumped em in. I then carried the new ones to the back door. Of coarse I had to drop the old ones a couple of times (by accident) on the way to the pickup and smash them a few times and then raise them way high in the air and drop them a few more times. My wife just shook head and said "did you get it all out of system now?" When I took them to the landfill, the attendant asked me "what the heck happened to those things?"

 

[gmsssi]

That's cool, now I'll have to go to the the family dump cause I know there's an ole water heater and dryer there!

Hey practice makes perfect........... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MikePA]

Sonnie, you've described very well why many people on TBN recommend a FEL. When you don't have one, there are many chores that don't ever make it to the 'To Do' list because they'd be very difficult, or impossible, to do manually and we've just resigned ourselves to living with the situation. Sometimes I think we even stop 'seeing' them. Once you have a FEL, or are about to get one, a whole new world of chores are there to be handled.

In my situation, the two most common chores have to do with moving/spreading material out, e.g., stones, sand, dirt, mulch, and yard work, specifically, trimming trees, taking out shrubs (intentionally /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif ). Before the FEL, I'd look at a tree that needed trimmed and think, "Yep, I could cut that up with my chain saw but then what would I do with the logs and brush pile?" and I'd forget about it. With the FEL, dump the logs into the bucket as they're being cut, hop on the tractor, take them to a far corner of the field, near the woods, and dump them (no fireplace to burn 'em in), drive back to the tree and cut some more. Same with the brush, except when I dump the little stuff, I get to mash it down with the FEL after I dump it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Wife had some Rose of Sharon bushes she wanted removed. Horrible job to do by hand. With a FEL, I waited until after some rain, when the ground was soft, cut them down close to the ground (used the FEL to take the limbs to a burn pile), then used the FEL (with toothbar installed) to dig the stumps out of the ground. Took about 3 hours to take care of four, 10 foot high bushes.

I know situations, as well as budgets, are different and a FEL is an expensive attachment. Plus, if someone does a lot of finish mowing a FEL can get in the way, then you're faced with either taking it off (where to keep it) or learning to be careful. I don't use my tractor to mow the yard any more (initially had a mmm, but the tractor was too heavy for our soft ground - sold the mmm) so my FEL stays on all the time. I also use it to plow the driveway in the winter.

So, in my situation, the FEL is the most essential attachment I have for my tractor.

 

[johnday]

Sonnie; Welcome to TBN!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

On the loader. Well, a tractor without a loader is,,,,,,,,,,,,Great for pulling things. As you discovered, you, yourself have found many things to use one for. Besides what others have mentioned, I use mine to load and unload trucks and trailers alot. No, not big trucks, but pickemups, and the accompanying tag. Raise bundles of shingles to the roof, and with the boom pole I'll get around to building, trusses too. My weldor weighs 350#, my generator probably 250#, the loader doesn't care like I do. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

One of the first thing it seems guys do is to weld up some chain hooks on the top edge of the bucket. Many different setups on here, but they all do the same thing.

Sounds like you may be looking in the 35-50 HP range, you can do some very serious damage with one that size, the smaller machines you can too, just takes a minute or three longer.

Enjoy your stay, and don't be afraid to post! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[RonR]

* Moving Dirt.
* Filled up swimming pool hole after pool removed.
* Used chain (via chain hook) to pull out old unused sprinkler system. Admiral drove the BX while I hooked the chain. She'd lift and move, then I'd reattach--made it simple!
* Loaded HEAVY old unused dog house into pickup for a buddy.
* Makeshift chair to sit with my sweetie and enjoy a cold one.
* Loaded several thousand pounds of broken concrete into trailer from removed patio.
* With added hitch mount to the bucket, moved sailboat and trailer EASILY.
* Pushed snow (Still waiting for a foot or two someday.........)
* Admiral wants a tree or shrub out, no problem, FEL to the rescue!

My FEL hasn't come off yet, other than when the dealer showed me how simple it was to remove/install.

 

[have_blue]

Sharpened the bucket lip, use it to shear off 3" and smaller trees flush with the ground.

Carryall for anything heavy

Big water bucket

Digging a pond (actal digging is with a disk harrow, FEL is used to scoop and load the dirt)

Hasty vehicle lift

Hasty scaffold

Box Blade

Endless other uses

 

[Hypernix]

LOL! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif I have few of those things rusting behind the shed so maybe I'll start the tractor and have some fun also! LOL /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Hypernix

 

[Noland]

I used mine for lifting my new rear blade off of the truck bed. Having a FEL makes it easier to get more tractor toys, .. I mean tools. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

It also worked great for removing some fence posts the other day.