This is BLASPHEMY, but here goes...

[olPete]

You could probably make a sledge/leveller landplane sort of implement that would tow well behind your quad. Just make the drag chains long enough it so it behaves itself. I have used a quad with a 12v spreader and towed a farm gate to sow grass in places too steep to take a tractor.. beats using an airplane..
I definitely hear what you're saying, pays to have your $$$ free if you aren't getting much out of your tractor then use that capital to get stuff for what you need. Farmers in Australia and NZ have heaps of stuff to turn a recreational machine into a serious workhorse. Mowers sprayers blades balefeeders etc. If you already have a snow blade then give it a blast... you may need something like leaf harrows to loosen it up. I chain harrow behind my cattle with a canam commander, less ground pressure than my tractor and an extra cup holder.. your 750 will have plenty of tow.

 

[crazyal]

Sell the tractor unless you can't come up with more uses for it. I know others will pass out that someone else said it but I can't see any justification for having it for a once a year project. I've seen a DR road grader for behind an ATV that might be just what you need. For me I used an old ATC (3 wheeler) to pull a section of I-beam behind it to grade the driveway with good results. It was long enough so I could pull it at an angle so it would knock down any washboards. It wasn't that useful for potholes but I'm sure I could of found a way to deal with them as well.

 

[4570Man]

This website is full of members that own a tractor they rarely use. If the OP is one of them, he should be applauded for realizing his error and recouping some of the money he's invested in this rarely used equipment.

The same crowd that recommends not owing a backhoe and renting one instead.

 

[Gem99ultra]

I can understand the OP's point of view totally. I have 12 acres, largely woods but several acres of open field, and a long steep gravel driveway. My tractor mows the field, vacuums leaves, plows snow, grades the drive, chips fallen limbs, and hauls firewood. But in between it can sit for weeks unused, maybe even a couple of months. I can't image thinking it would be fun to "be creative" and find some additional jobs for it. It's purpose is to get work done when it needs doing, nothing more.

I'm not about to get rid of it, because when I need it I need it. But I can see that if someone has other tools to do what needs to be done it might not be necessary. My Mule has taken over some of my small hauling needs, including taking me and hand tools down the driveway and back to do ditch maintenance, so my tractor gets less use than it did before.

I agree with your philosophy 100%. My tractor is a tool. Tools are for getting work done, not for simple pleasure. My tractor isn't for just joy riding around the property. But - when I need it, I need it. And I want it to be ready to go to work when I turn the key, thus it is maintained properly, as are all of my tools including the 4-wheeler, saws, etc. That's the pleasure that I get from my tools - being ready to go to work when needed.

On my weaker side, I have difficulty in getting rid of tools, i.e. trucks, tractors, hammers, saws, etc. that I haven't used in years. I suppose that's the hoarder side of me. I justify that part of my personality in declaring that one never knows when they might need a particular tool. So, I won't be selling my tractor...EVER.

 

[jbwilson]

Knukey. Your idea sounds sensible to me, but I bow to the to the more experienced and wise ones here. I want to say what a nice garden you have, and ask what is the name of the flowering small tree/bush in the immediate background.

Thank you
John

 

[Steve1300]

I have lots of work that needs done, but so little time to do it; especially if I didn't have my tractor. It is both a time-saver as well as a body-saver. While it may seem foolish, I also make myself available to any neighbors who need something done that they can't do easily without tractor capability. If I used it once a year, I'd get rid of it and rent one when I needed it - maybe. I'd rather have my ability in my yard full time than at the rental company on Saturdays.

 

[knukey]

Thanks for all the input. I doubted the ratchet rake on the snow plow had been done before. I will forge ahead bravely with this experiment. I'm concerned the springs on the plow will let the rake sag and it won't work.

I've had the tractor for 4 years. When I saw the ad on CL I didn't even know it had a loader (BONUS) so I could have done without it. Like everyone I have tried to find uses for the loader. I put the ratchet rake on it and that helped a lot. Still I don't ride around the yard looking for stuff to do with it. The tractor has been relegated to mowing (5' finish mower - which is a clumsy beast to use on my 4 ac. yard), snow plowing and once a year raking/grading. I've debated taking the loader off, but I fear it would become a yard ornament.
The loader, to me, is simply in the way (I can hear the gasps!).

Since I bought the Kingquad and it came with the snow plow, the tractor lost that job. I bought a Woods 5215 60" mower (fine tool for quick efficient mowing) more because I like it than need it - another job lost for the tractor. Now I'm down to raking only.

I'm not hurting for money or anything, but I could invest the sale proceeds and invest for the kids college or my retirement.

 

[k0ua]

If you can't find a use for a FEL, then I agree, get rid of the tractor. Me, I cannot imagine life without a FEL. Seriously.

 

[skipmarcy]

2 years ago I bought a zero-turn to cut my 6 ac yard after cutting it with my tractor for 8 years. The zt cuts it a little quicker, a lot less damage to the yard, cut my weedeating time a lot but I still need the FEL on the tractor to stand the 60" heavy deck up to clean/service it !!!

I can't imagine life without my tractor, I use it for a lot of stuff around here and it makes me a little money when I do some work for neighbors. That 6' FEL bucket is the very best wheelbarrow I've ever owned ! It's rare for my tractor to sit more than 2 or 3 weeks unused, year 'round. I can understand though that if I couldn't think of anything to do with it for a year at a time I might get rid of it.

 

[zmountaineer]

Thanks for all the input. I doubted the ratchet rake on the snow plow had been done before. I will forge ahead bravely with this experiment. I'm concerned the springs on the plow will let the rake sag and it won't work.

I don't see why this would not work as long as you can get it to attach. Though I don't think I would try to use it other than for back dragging.

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