Help me decide

[Dishpointer]

Hey all. I have lurked for the last few weeks and have learned alot from everyone here. I think I have made my selection on which tractor is right for me but I want your opinions. I have 120 acres that is 95% large trees (white oak and pines). The terain is gently sloping. I will be hiring someone to clear an area, about 10 acres, so I can put up a 50 x 60 building, dig a 5 acre lake, and make room for a future house. I will be using this tractor to clear brush, haul logs/firewood, eventually mow about 5 acres, put in food plots, and plow snow. So far I have my heart set on a L5030 HSTC. What I am unsure about is whether or not to get the M5040. I want a cab because it gets really hot in the summer and cold as heck in the winter.

I know I will have to be careful with the cab around trees. Which one do you think I should get? Also, since I will be dealing with some heavy logs, should I get a 4 in 1 bucket or just add a good grappel to my bucket?

Thanks,

Doug

[Dishpointer]

Wow. I thought by now someone would have an opinion or suggestion. Does anyone have an opinion on these tractors and lifting logs with a 4 in 1 bucket?

Newbie Doug

[Woodsman308]

As far as hauling trees with a FEL, is there enough room to get them out sideways? If you have plenty of room, and a lot of trees, and a lot of money, you might want to get a regular grapple instead of the grapple fingers you add to a bucket. From what I've read on here they are the best for moving logs and brush.

[JDPN]

Here's another choice. Instead of hauling logs with a grapple, look for a farmi (or others) winch. Farmi winches are 3 pt hitch mounted and pto powered and can skid a lot of weight. It is safer than using a grapple IMO because you don't have to lift the logs as far off the ground so there is more stability.

A M5040 with a front end loader w/ standard skid steer quick connect allows the use of a 72 in bucket or bigger and any quick attach skid steer type snow plows such as FFC .
Hope this helps

[Dishpointer]

Thanks for the tip on the winch. That probably would be the safest option. As for the brush. Do you think I could get by using a 4 in 1 bucket since it's pretty versitile with other dirt tasks or should I get the regular bucket and add a grapple?

[JDPN]

Dishpointer, check out that FFC link then click on buckets grapples on the right side, and url=http://www.ffcattachments.com/products_details.asp?Product_Id=720&Category1= Buckets%252525252B%25252525252F%252525252BGrapples %252525252B&Category2=&Category3=&Cate gory4=]This bucket here might do the trick[/url] if you only have to grapple gnarly brush but for smaller trees or large branches, it could still work.
BUT the four in one bucket could be more expensive than getting a standard Kubota bucket and a grapple seperate, depending on what grapple you get. Be sure to explore all options.

[Deerlope]

With that much land I would get the M-5040, same HP as the L-5030 but a lot tougher tractor.

[texasjohn]

Welcome to TBN... glad you are getting useful info... lots of it here!

Suggest you check out the tree-bota link here

I have a 5030 HSTC and will PM you my experiences. Briefly, considering the amount of trees you will be dealing with, I would get a Quick Attach on the tractor and have a grapel separate from the bucket. Carrying around the bucket reduces your pay load by several hundred pounds since the bucket weighs more than the grappel. That said, I don't own a grappel and my experience in carrying heavy stuff is limited to 2800lb concrete culverts using special attachment points to the bare FEL with no QA implement connected.

[SCDolphin]

M 5040 not much bigger with added rear remote, quick attach increased 3 point and Fel capacity and best of all better location of Fel Joy stick. All of this for slightly more than the Grand L 5030.

I did not think I would like the hydraulic shuttle but I do vs hst. I would get the creeper gear and the factory 3rd function. Also if you don't get cab I like the down turned exhaust vs the upright exhaust.

My dealer is moving a lot of the new M tractors as well as the grand l. I think the resale value will be good on the new M's as it is with the Grand L.

Good luck. If you want a couple of places for good price send me private email.

[Dishpointer]

Thanks guys. Your tips and suggestions are invaluable. I have never owned a tractor but grew up using my dads. I figure that I might as well get one and have fun doing some work as opposed to paying someone to do everything and having to rely on someone else and their schedule. I am leaning towards the M5040 more now. For one, it is a beefier tractor and has better lifting capacities. I am also probably going to get the 4 in 1 bucket. I can't afford to buy a tractor, winch and a bucket right at the same time. I will just cut the trees in quarters and load them on a trailer or something. I agree that it would be dangerous lifting them with the bucket and it would also take a long time to drag them across the property. I will still need to haul brush and do dirt work and although a root bucket/grapple would be the ideal setup for brush, I believe I could manage with the 4 in 1. Later on(probably next year), I will have more funds available and will be able to purchase a root grapple bucket if my setup isn't cutting it.

My biggest concern is the height of the M5040 with cab and R4 tires. I am getting ready to order and build a 50 x 60 x 10 metal building and I need to know if it will fit inside the bay and what size doors I need to order. I want the buildings inside to not exceed 10' so it won't cost me a fortune to heat and cool.

John, thanks for the review you did on your L5030. You definately use your tractor for everything and have it modified just right for your applications. I will use some of your suggestions and keep the message for a reference.

Thanks again guys