VTSasquatch
Member
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2008
- Messages
- 42
Thanks for the advice on the Ford tractor.
The more I think about things I am now wondering if I should be looking at a skid steer instead of a tractor. Here is my situatuation: I bought a 130-acre property in the mountains. It is mostly forested but has a powerline right of way that cuts through it that is brush and weeds. I am looking to create wildlife openings and foodplots, maintain the gravel driveway, move dirt and gravel, clear some stumps, big rocks, brush and small trees and possibly clear some snow. I would also like to clear an area of young woods (logged about 10 years ago) to plant a small orchard of maybe 10-12 standard apple trees. While the property is fairly big, only an acre or two will be worked. There are some pretty steep places on the land in case that makes a difference. This is a forested plot, not a farm.
I already have a 4x4 atv (Brute Force 750i) with a trail-behind roughcut mower and a disc harrow. The atv is capable of mowing what little I do mow but I imagine a bush hog on a compact tractor would work better. The tractors I am looking at are from about 20 hp - 30 hp diesels weighing about 2,000 - 2,500 lbs. I don't want to spend more than about $7,000 since I will leave this at the camp (several hours away) and already have too many "work implements" (since we aren't supposed to call them toys). I noticed that some New Holland skid-steer loaders can be bought used in my price range that have 40+ hp and weigh over 4000 lbs. I imagine these would do a better job clearing woods/brush into fields. They are probably considerably less versitile though, and you never know what attachments you might want (like a bush hog, a log splitter, box scraper, etc.) that are more readily available for a tractor. Also, I am going to have to find a big trailer to get a 4,000 lb machine to the property (right now I have a single axle rated for 3,000 lbs gross and 2500 lbs net - enough for some compact tractors).
I have operated small tractors before (wheel horse and old cub cadet) but never one with a loader or a skid steer. What are the benefits and drawbacks to each. What would you do? Thanks
The more I think about things I am now wondering if I should be looking at a skid steer instead of a tractor. Here is my situatuation: I bought a 130-acre property in the mountains. It is mostly forested but has a powerline right of way that cuts through it that is brush and weeds. I am looking to create wildlife openings and foodplots, maintain the gravel driveway, move dirt and gravel, clear some stumps, big rocks, brush and small trees and possibly clear some snow. I would also like to clear an area of young woods (logged about 10 years ago) to plant a small orchard of maybe 10-12 standard apple trees. While the property is fairly big, only an acre or two will be worked. There are some pretty steep places on the land in case that makes a difference. This is a forested plot, not a farm.
I already have a 4x4 atv (Brute Force 750i) with a trail-behind roughcut mower and a disc harrow. The atv is capable of mowing what little I do mow but I imagine a bush hog on a compact tractor would work better. The tractors I am looking at are from about 20 hp - 30 hp diesels weighing about 2,000 - 2,500 lbs. I don't want to spend more than about $7,000 since I will leave this at the camp (several hours away) and already have too many "work implements" (since we aren't supposed to call them toys). I noticed that some New Holland skid-steer loaders can be bought used in my price range that have 40+ hp and weigh over 4000 lbs. I imagine these would do a better job clearing woods/brush into fields. They are probably considerably less versitile though, and you never know what attachments you might want (like a bush hog, a log splitter, box scraper, etc.) that are more readily available for a tractor. Also, I am going to have to find a big trailer to get a 4,000 lb machine to the property (right now I have a single axle rated for 3,000 lbs gross and 2500 lbs net - enough for some compact tractors).
I have operated small tractors before (wheel horse and old cub cadet) but never one with a loader or a skid steer. What are the benefits and drawbacks to each. What would you do? Thanks
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