Okay the ratchet rake check, I just watched a video that's brilliant a blackberry patch destroyer. This post really flip flopped my thinking, that grapple yeah way better idea than a thumb for the backhoe bucket. I also have 10 fir trees a minimum of 24" in diameter, I'm going to have some of them felled I can see the grapple coming in handy dealing with the logs and debris. Fortunately I can afford the tractor and the impliments so there's no reason to trade HP for them. I was going to buy a 2013 GT 500 for my 50th birthday, instead I'm buying a tractor, way more useful.
I think the Max 28 is going to be just about the right size for me. Also and I just thought of this, my sister and her husband have 3 acres and a tiny riding lawn mower. They have been talking about getting a Kubota for years but can't really afford one, my guess is I'll be over there working their property from time to time so now I'm up to 4 acres.