Buying 25 acres of woods....

[msjwebb]

Thanks guys! We have found the "Billy Goat" one for rent for $202 a month or $567 a month, so we are going to see how hard they are to use and how quick things grow back and go from there. That way we can figure out where we do not want to use the tractor for possible drain fields. Anyone have any recommendations on a light weight TLB that has a good hydraulics system that will hold up to major backhoe and front end loader use? We have been looking at the different ones and the price differences. Would a 27HP do or would we need to go with a 32+HP? I am leaning towards a Kubota but my DH says there hydraulic lines are under sized from what he has read? There is a ditch that will need digging out and maintained and the driveway will have to be put in and maintained. The driveway will be crush and run. The property is not muddy but there is 6 inches of topsoil, dead leaves, and what not, then 24-36 inches of sandy stuff and then clay.
We plan on building in the middle area of the property as that has the best soil, topography, and drainage. Also you can not see the neighbors from there!

 

[dodge man]

Hydraulic lines undersized? Thats crazy, if that was the case they would put bigger ones on. Kubota, along with other name brand tractors, make a great machine. If I were you I would be looking at a larger Kubota B or L tractor. If you want to save money, look at used ones. Kubota makes a true TLB, which is an industrial grade unit. They are very heavy duty and stand up to alot of abuse, but the problem is that the FEL can't be removed, which may or may not be a problem for you.

 

[newbury]

From CL
NEW KIOTI LK 30 TRACTOR LOADER BACKHOE COMPLETE. - $22000 (Ashland, VA)

However I suspect it's the dealership in Ashland, which is fairly small.

 

[CurlyDave]

...The driveway will be crush and run...

Actually, it is "crusher run", which means all the material which comes out of the rock crusher, in the proportions it is generated by the crusher.

We plan on building in the middle area of the property as that has the best soil, topography, and drainage. Also you can not see the neighbors from there!

One of the things I did on planning out where to put my house was to think about how and where to divide off another building lot if zoning ever allows it. The finances of this are compelling, so think about it ahead of time and don't do anything which would prevent it.

 

[ONJ]

Since your going to be a building a driveway.. I would invest in some non woven geotextile.... by far one of the best things made for any kind of gravel drive or parking lot

 

[ruralruss]

Thanks guys! We have found the "Billy Goat" one for rent for $202 a month or $567 a month, so we are going to see how hard they are to use and how quick things grow back and go from there. That way we can figure out where we do not want to use the tractor for possible drain fields. Anyone have any recommendations on a light weight TLB that has a good hydraulics system that will hold up to major backhoe and front end loader use? We have been looking at the different ones and the price differences. Would a 27HP do or would we need to go with a 32+HP? I am leaning towards a Kubota but my DH says there hydraulic lines are under sized from what he has read? There is a ditch that will need digging out and maintained and the driveway will have to be put in and maintained. The driveway will be crush and run. The property is not muddy but there is 6 inches of topsoil, dead leaves, and what not, then 24-36 inches of sandy stuff and then clay.
We plan on building in the middle area of the property as that has the best soil, topography, and drainage. Also you can not see the neighbors from there!

You got a big job ahead, been there. It will be worth it however. When we got our 15 acres without a flat spot on it and finished the house it quickly became obvious that we had to have more that a mower. We picked up a DR 12.5 hp walk behind brush hog. That was somewhere around 14 yrs ago. It is still going strong, it looks a bit rough these days but it will cut amazing stuff. It also is very maneuverable which is nice around trees and such. I now have a Kubota B3200 with a 5 ft brush cutter but I will always have a DR to get close to stuff. I checked out the beast and it looks pretty big, and heavy, and possibly high maintenance. It is probably a good machine though so make sure and let us know what you think of it.

Russ

 

[msjwebb]

DH had read about the hydraulics somewhere.
I am really looking forward to getting to work on this place! I am doing the research now so we try and avoid any major mistakes.
Do tractors have titles?

 

[49tandc]

Some people here do not like "Gub'ment" interference, but I've had only positive experiences from the North Central Florida guys. Contact your D.O.F or FWC. My local forester & FWC Biologist came out and walked my 30 acres. I told them of my plans (homesite, pasture for horses & rest natural). It met their criteria for a "mitigation burn" (eliminating an uncontrolled fire spreading to others in the area). We came to an agreement - the DOF dozed / roller chopped to reduce the fuel and burned 18 acres for free! The expense was minimal if it would not have been a mitigation burn and I would have gladly paid.

The FWC guys developed Landowner Incentive Plans (LIP) for a lot of us that included the FWC sharing some of the expenses - $ for herbicides and seedlings (not JUST longleaf pines) if I follow the plan. I now am on a 3 year prescribed burn schedule to restore the hard woods and grasslands. Our little group of landowners meets with the FWC guys a couple of times a year. They invite speakers (Law enforcement to discuss trespassing/property owners rights; Wetlands specialists; Arborists to discuss controlling invasive species of plants/trees; Endangered species (we are ate up with gopher tortoises here); NWTF guys to discuss wild turkey habitat, and we have hands-on workshops - hack & squirt versus girdleing trees for applying herbicides; Predator control (mostly coyotes), etc. You get to see how passionate these guys are about their field of interest when they have an audience that listens and then we go and apply what we learned.

It has made me a smarter and more observant landowner. Give your local guys a call - it costs you nothing.

Interesting site: PLN Conservation Resources

49T&C

 

[msjwebb]

Some people here do not like "Gub'ment" interference, but I've had only positive experiences from the North Central Florida guys. Contact your D.O.F or FWC. My local forester & FWC Biologist came out and walked my 30 acres. I told them of my plans (homesite, pasture for horses & rest natural). It met their criteria for a "mitigation burn" (eliminating an uncontrolled fire spreading to others in the area). We came to an agreement - the DOF dozed / roller chopped to reduce the fuel and burned 18 acres for free! The expense was minimal if it would not have been a mitigation burn and I would have gladly paid.

The FWC guys developed Landowner Incentive Plans (LIP) for a lot of us that included the FWC sharing some of the expenses - $ for herbicides and seedlings (not JUST longleaf pines) if I follow the plan. I now am on a 3 year prescribed burn schedule to restore the hard woods and grasslands. Our little group of landowners meets with the FWC guys a couple of times a year. They invite speakers (Law enforcement to discuss trespassing/property owners rights; Wetlands specialists; Arborists to discuss controlling invasive species of plants/trees; Endangered species (we are ate up with gopher tortoises here); NWTF guys to discuss wild turkey habitat, and we have hands-on workshops - hack & squirt versus girdleing trees for applying herbicides; Predator control (mostly coyotes), etc. You get to see how passionate these guys are about their field of interest when they have an audience that listens and then we go and apply what we learned.

It has made me a smarter and more observant landowner. Give your local guys a call - it costs you nothing.

Interesting site: PLN Conservation Resources

49T&C

Good point lol. I have already talked to the local state forester. He is going to come out in the fall to help us with managing the property for "personal and recreational use" ie. filling the freezer with deer.

 

[schmism]

find an old L gravely (or Li)

30" brush mower is great in the woods. A rebuilt trouble free electric start version from someone who knows them will set you back about $1500. a bargain for what you get.