jim_wilson
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2004
- Messages
- 1,781
- Location
- Northeast MA
- Tractor
- Kubota B3200 w/ BH77 & 12", 18" & 24" buckets, Kubota B50 SSQA w/ 54" & 60" buckets, LandPride FDR1660, Artillian Fork frame, Extreme 3pt rake, Concrete Mixer, MyTractorTools grapple adapter
If it was me I would start with a spreadsheet of all the tasks I need to get accomplished and maybe include things like heaviest load I will need to lift - time I need to accomplish each task, etc. The thing with a tractor is that there are usually multiple ways to accomplish the same job - although there is usually a "best" way to do each one, although that "best" way might not always be the cheapest.
For instance if you have to move dirt you can use a FEL, or you can drag it with a boxblade, or you can use a dirt scoop on the 3pt. Using the FEL is the best way because it is fastest and allows you to pile the dirt higher, etc.
Digging a shallow trench to bury a phone line? Using the trench digger like the utilities do is probably the "best" way and fastest - but using a backhoe comes in a close second and the backhoe is much more versatile overall.
If you came up with a comprehensive list of all your tasks you might better be able to make a tractor match. For instance if you had to lift hay bales and those round bales weigh in at 1000 pounds then you could rule out any tractor that did not have a FEL capacity of at least 1000 pounds.
Are you going to be swapping between say a backhoe and 3pt implements the quick backhoe changeout should be high on the list. This again will narrow down your tractor choices.
I think just comparing features with no knowledge of what you need to get done is going to drive you nuts. Since this is a business you are going to want to get tasks accomplished quickly and efficiently - knowing what those are will go a long way towards getting the right fit for a tractor.
For instance if you have to move dirt you can use a FEL, or you can drag it with a boxblade, or you can use a dirt scoop on the 3pt. Using the FEL is the best way because it is fastest and allows you to pile the dirt higher, etc.
Digging a shallow trench to bury a phone line? Using the trench digger like the utilities do is probably the "best" way and fastest - but using a backhoe comes in a close second and the backhoe is much more versatile overall.
If you came up with a comprehensive list of all your tasks you might better be able to make a tractor match. For instance if you had to lift hay bales and those round bales weigh in at 1000 pounds then you could rule out any tractor that did not have a FEL capacity of at least 1000 pounds.
Are you going to be swapping between say a backhoe and 3pt implements the quick backhoe changeout should be high on the list. This again will narrow down your tractor choices.
I think just comparing features with no knowledge of what you need to get done is going to drive you nuts. Since this is a business you are going to want to get tasks accomplished quickly and efficiently - knowing what those are will go a long way towards getting the right fit for a tractor.
