Bill_B
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Sep 24, 2023
- Messages
- 51
- Tractor
- Mahindra 2615
The ole 26 -HP Mahindra tractor has served me well for the past 15 or so years but it's time for something different.
Usage is 90% for snow and ice management from November to March. I have 1000' long steep driveway that goes downhill to a busy high speed road on a blind corner. There is a retaining wall on one side of thr driveway. I'd love to just go get a plow for my truck but that doesn't work for this application. I tried and it was a nightmare.
My biggest complaints with this current set up is:
No factory cab (90% of use is snow removal in the winter), under powered tractor and PTO (running a 70" blower), the ignition switch has to be replaced every few years, no rear hydro outputs, no quick detach bucket, low lift capacity, gas tank fill too high up, and I have a hard time getting the tractor to start when it is below 0F outside.
I really like this frame size but I feel like I need to stay above 35 HP. The more HP the better especially for the snowblower.
Me and my wife are really sick of backing up to snowblow!! I don't want to get a tractor and put a snowblower on the front because then I can't use my FEL to scrape and move snow around. I have been looking at cab tractors but the more I think about it we don't really use our tractor as a tractor. So why get another tractor? I considered a skid steer with a hydraulic blower. This would fit the bill well except that they ride rough as heck, the visibility sucks, and it is a pain to climb in and out of. So that is out. Then the other day I discoved the Bobcat Toolcat. OMG this would be perfect for my situation!! Well that is until I found out how much they cost. Holy crap!! $80k?? Are you kidding me!?! I love everything about this "mini-unimogs" but why do they have to cost so much? Then add to that the fact that they rust out within ten years. Is there anything else similar that is less expensive? What about an older Holder? Those seem pretty cool and I see the older ones show up for around $5k-$8k. For that price I could keep my tractor and use it for back up and for filling up the sander on the Holder.
Thoughts?
Thanks
Usage is 90% for snow and ice management from November to March. I have 1000' long steep driveway that goes downhill to a busy high speed road on a blind corner. There is a retaining wall on one side of thr driveway. I'd love to just go get a plow for my truck but that doesn't work for this application. I tried and it was a nightmare.
My biggest complaints with this current set up is:
No factory cab (90% of use is snow removal in the winter), under powered tractor and PTO (running a 70" blower), the ignition switch has to be replaced every few years, no rear hydro outputs, no quick detach bucket, low lift capacity, gas tank fill too high up, and I have a hard time getting the tractor to start when it is below 0F outside.
I really like this frame size but I feel like I need to stay above 35 HP. The more HP the better especially for the snowblower.
Me and my wife are really sick of backing up to snowblow!! I don't want to get a tractor and put a snowblower on the front because then I can't use my FEL to scrape and move snow around. I have been looking at cab tractors but the more I think about it we don't really use our tractor as a tractor. So why get another tractor? I considered a skid steer with a hydraulic blower. This would fit the bill well except that they ride rough as heck, the visibility sucks, and it is a pain to climb in and out of. So that is out. Then the other day I discoved the Bobcat Toolcat. OMG this would be perfect for my situation!! Well that is until I found out how much they cost. Holy crap!! $80k?? Are you kidding me!?! I love everything about this "mini-unimogs" but why do they have to cost so much? Then add to that the fact that they rust out within ten years. Is there anything else similar that is less expensive? What about an older Holder? Those seem pretty cool and I see the older ones show up for around $5k-$8k. For that price I could keep my tractor and use it for back up and for filling up the sander on the Holder.
Thoughts?
Thanks
