Casimir
Gold Member
Well, I have been drooling over the new TC33DA for quite awhile, and I finally got the OK from the wife to trade in my 1520. The 1520 has been a good tractor for our operation, so I wanted the same physical size (fit thru my 6' gates), but have been wanting a little more horsepower, FEL capacity, Top-in-Tilt and quick attach on the loader, so I could switch quickly between the standard bucket, pallet forks and a grapple bucket.
I really liked the 4-in-1 bucket on the 1520, but found that I was mostly using it to pick things up. Some things, like piles of branches, tended to squeeze out of the jaws. I am hoping the grapple will do a better job on this stuff.
The tractor was delivered a week ago, and after about 20 hours, the controls are feeling more comfortable. The grapple is on order, so I won't know for a couple more weeks if I have made the right decision on the grapple vs. a 4-in-1. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Love the hydraulic toplink. I have a big leveling job in process, and it really is handy to be able to change the box blade angle on the fly. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
The dealer gave me about $1000 less on trade-in than I paid for the 1520 a little over a year ago. Since I had put 570 hours on the 1520, I figure it cost me less than $2 per hour to own it, not counting fuel, oil, filters and grease. Sure better than renting /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Here's what I got:
TC33DA HST w/ 14LA FEL
Skidsteer-compatible quick attach on FEL
ATI Pallet Forks
ATI Grapple w/ Bucket
2 Rear Remotes
Hydraulic Top and Tilt cylinders
Bushhog Squealer SQ600
$16,750 plus my 1520 w/ 4-in-1, pallet forks, Hardee Brush Cutter and old, beat-up box blade
(Oh, yeah, Tax added another $760, but I didn't want to argue about whether our small horse operation was a "Farm" -- I don't think the wife has ever sold a horse in the 40 years we have been married. She keeps them 'til they die of old age.)
I really liked the 4-in-1 bucket on the 1520, but found that I was mostly using it to pick things up. Some things, like piles of branches, tended to squeeze out of the jaws. I am hoping the grapple will do a better job on this stuff.
The tractor was delivered a week ago, and after about 20 hours, the controls are feeling more comfortable. The grapple is on order, so I won't know for a couple more weeks if I have made the right decision on the grapple vs. a 4-in-1. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Love the hydraulic toplink. I have a big leveling job in process, and it really is handy to be able to change the box blade angle on the fly. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
The dealer gave me about $1000 less on trade-in than I paid for the 1520 a little over a year ago. Since I had put 570 hours on the 1520, I figure it cost me less than $2 per hour to own it, not counting fuel, oil, filters and grease. Sure better than renting /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Here's what I got:
TC33DA HST w/ 14LA FEL
Skidsteer-compatible quick attach on FEL
ATI Pallet Forks
ATI Grapple w/ Bucket
2 Rear Remotes
Hydraulic Top and Tilt cylinders
Bushhog Squealer SQ600
$16,750 plus my 1520 w/ 4-in-1, pallet forks, Hardee Brush Cutter and old, beat-up box blade
(Oh, yeah, Tax added another $760, but I didn't want to argue about whether our small horse operation was a "Farm" -- I don't think the wife has ever sold a horse in the 40 years we have been married. She keeps them 'til they die of old age.)