CobaltSky
Bronze Member
We just moved to a 35 acre property in Colorado. The land is rolling pasture with some widely spaced evergreens and a pond. The property was vacant for almost 2 years so the lawn, if there ever was one, is non existent. We have an 800ft gravel drive, that comes down a moderate grade. I am looking for a tractor that can handle mowing about 5-6 acres of this pasture, with the goal being an acre or so of decent lawn around the house and the rest of that 5-6 just infrequently cut and kept looking decent. It is pretty arid here, so we don't get a lot of weed trees and thick stuff.
I also want to plow (or blow) that driveway, and keep it graded. I may want to till a garden at some point or use a tiller/grade around the house as a basis for establishing lawn.
Snow here can be deep at times, and drifting is the main problem. However snow is dry and powdery (that famous Colorqdo powder), and the sun usually melts off a lot of what the wind doesn't blow away within a few days of a big storm.
To date, I have been focused on Kubota, with my main interest appearing to fall in the B series, specifically the B 2650, but I am open to all suggestions. I think the 2301 might not power everything I want to power, and I like some of the upgrades of the 2650 over the 2601. I looked at the L2501 briefly, but my gut says it might be too heavy for the mower type use around the house. I went in thinking BX, but the more I thought about it and researched, I think I just need something bigger than that. I'd love a cab to protect from the wind driven snow here, but I just can't stomach the extra $$$$ of that glass bubble.
My concern with the 2650 is whether the MMM, which is ground contact will work for mowing my 5-6 acres of pasture. For that matter I don't know if the suspended MMM on the 2601 would be any better, or if I should just get a 5' rotary cutter for the job. If I go with the bush hog now, I'm wondering if the MMM is even worth the extra $$$ to get with the package, thinking I might use it later closest to the house, or if I should just plan on getting a finish cutter for the 3pt later... Or I could get the 60" MMM now and try it to see if it will do the job before I decide on adding the bush hog. So much indecision.
Now for snow, I was wondering if the 60" FEL would do the job, combined with a rear blade, or if I should get a front snow blade or a blower. I don't want to do a lot of forward/reverse/turn/dump on the single lane driveway, but if I can just float the FEL on the gravel and blast through straight a few passes using the rear blade to divert th spillage, I'd be happy (until the wind drifted it all closed again, that is).
Is the rear blade all I need for grading the drive, or should I look into a box grader or scraper?
Not sure what models of or sizes of blades, tillers, or cutters to go with, so any advice is appreciated.
So, I bow to your collective wisdom. Please recommend a tractor and implements. Pictures are attached so you can get an idea of the property.
Thanks!
I also want to plow (or blow) that driveway, and keep it graded. I may want to till a garden at some point or use a tiller/grade around the house as a basis for establishing lawn.
Snow here can be deep at times, and drifting is the main problem. However snow is dry and powdery (that famous Colorqdo powder), and the sun usually melts off a lot of what the wind doesn't blow away within a few days of a big storm.
To date, I have been focused on Kubota, with my main interest appearing to fall in the B series, specifically the B 2650, but I am open to all suggestions. I think the 2301 might not power everything I want to power, and I like some of the upgrades of the 2650 over the 2601. I looked at the L2501 briefly, but my gut says it might be too heavy for the mower type use around the house. I went in thinking BX, but the more I thought about it and researched, I think I just need something bigger than that. I'd love a cab to protect from the wind driven snow here, but I just can't stomach the extra $$$$ of that glass bubble.
My concern with the 2650 is whether the MMM, which is ground contact will work for mowing my 5-6 acres of pasture. For that matter I don't know if the suspended MMM on the 2601 would be any better, or if I should just get a 5' rotary cutter for the job. If I go with the bush hog now, I'm wondering if the MMM is even worth the extra $$$ to get with the package, thinking I might use it later closest to the house, or if I should just plan on getting a finish cutter for the 3pt later... Or I could get the 60" MMM now and try it to see if it will do the job before I decide on adding the bush hog. So much indecision.
Now for snow, I was wondering if the 60" FEL would do the job, combined with a rear blade, or if I should get a front snow blade or a blower. I don't want to do a lot of forward/reverse/turn/dump on the single lane driveway, but if I can just float the FEL on the gravel and blast through straight a few passes using the rear blade to divert th spillage, I'd be happy (until the wind drifted it all closed again, that is).
Is the rear blade all I need for grading the drive, or should I look into a box grader or scraper?
Not sure what models of or sizes of blades, tillers, or cutters to go with, so any advice is appreciated.
So, I bow to your collective wisdom. Please recommend a tractor and implements. Pictures are attached so you can get an idea of the property.
Thanks!