Forestry use of a tractor:

FRIZ · Nov 22, 2008

Most of you guys speny a lot of time to convince me that I need two machines. A big one and a small one. O.K. for the big one I like the Kubota Grand L40 series and John Deere 3000 series. (I'm still open to other manufacturers.) As most of my land is wooded, I need to learn about forestry use of a tractor. I'm not planning to clear my land but I would like to:

1. Maintain the wooded 65+ acres.
2. Maintain my hiking trails (1.5 miles).
3. Clear the gravel road (800 yards) from snow.

And maybe do the following:

1. Maintain the gravel road.
2. Mow the 10 acres of meadow.
3. Expand the trails.

What attachments do I need for the tractor? I am looking for quality products which are easy for a newbie to use.

Thank you for the education.
Regards,
FRIZ

dillo99 · Nov 22, 2008

I have 27 wooded acres and about 3 miles of trails. Also use my tractor to clear snow. I think you will want:

bush hog
backblade or boxblade or both (I use a backblade)
maybe a snowblower - that's a pretty long road (might be better off with truck/blade for that)
loader (of course)...and get a tooth bar...great to have
chipper - if you can afford it - nice to have to chew up stuff around trails and keep mulch on them

I also own a backhoe which was nice for situation - I had to make quite a few changes to improve drainage on the property and the trails. This really depends on your situation

radioman · Nov 22, 2008

Looks like most of your uses due to acreage you have will be with the grand L, mowing fields with bush hog, clearing snow, maintain driveway with box blade, and go in woods for firewood or whatever you planning to do.

Your hiking trail is something else. How do you want to maintain your hiking trail ?
Hiking trail means there a path folks walk on no matter what the terrain is. How wide are you looking ? 2 ft ?(small lawn mower size) ,4ft ?(bx series size) 8 ft ? (grand L and up) Are you looking for a flat area for leisure looking, wheelchair access or just for abled bodied folks looking for a good time and a workout? In my mind, a hiking trail at my parents means using the path where tractor goes. Sorry - not sure what you have in mind. If it was me, and I already have a BX24, I would use the BX24 to make the trail with 4 ft bush hog and maintain. This would be a good size trail and i would go only where its stable. If not stable in that area, its got a backhoe and FEL to level the area or add. Since it would a be a cash issue from here since i already have BX24, i would get a used tractor/FEL with 8 ft bush hog. Either tractor would be good for your other tasks you mentioned and you can hop on whatever the situation called for.

coobie · Nov 22, 2008

FRIZ said:
Most of you guys speny a lot of time to convince me that I need two machines. A big one and a small one. O.K. for the big one I like the Kubota Grand L40 series and John Deere 3000 series. (I'm still open to other manufacturers.) As most of my land is wooded, I need to learn about forestry use of a tractor. I'm not planning to clear my land but I would like to:

1. Maintain the wooded 65+ acres.
2. Maintain my hiking trails (1.5 miles).
3. Clear the gravel road (800 yards) from snow.

And maybe do the following:

1. Maintain the gravel road.
2. Mow the 10 acres of meadow.
3. Expand the trails.

What attachments do I need for the tractor? I am looking for quality products which are easy for a newbie to use.

Thank you for the education.
Regards,
FRIZ

I was looking at a grand L 4240 last year and ended buying a Kioti DK40se.I burn wood pellets to heat my home.I buy my wood pellets by the ton so I needed a loader that would handle 2000 lbs.The Kioti with the KL401 loader lifts the pellets with ease.I found the kioti tractor seemed more heavy duty built verses the Kubota.Before folks here think that I do not like kubota products please check my signature I own a few.I found the Kioti fit my needs better than the Kubota did.I would get at least a 7-8ft heavy duty back blade(woods,landpride,befco brands)to clear your road and 5-6 ft. HD brush hog to mow and clear small trees and brush.coobie

scott_vt · Nov 22, 2008

Good Mornin FRIZ,
I think the previous posters pretty much covered your question. Dillo addressed the implements question quite well also. I would only add this. Tractors at best are only marginal in the woods ! Especially if where your located is very hilly. You dont give your location or what type of terrain you have so Im only guessing here.

I realize many TBN members on here have logging winches for their tractors, but if your land is really hilly, you need to be very careful. Any serious tree removal on hilly terrain needs to be done with a skidder.

SnowRidge · Nov 22, 2008

dillo99 said:
............I think you will want:

bush hog
backblade or boxblade or both (I use a backblade)
maybe a snowblower - that's a pretty long road (might be better off with truck/blade for that)
loader (of course)...and get a tooth bar...great to have
chipper - if you can afford it - nice to have to chew up stuff around trails and keep mulch on them

I also own a backhoe which was nice for situation - I had to make quite a few changes to improve drainage on the property and the trails. This really depends on your situation

I have similar property and agree on those items, except for the back blade as I don't have any experience with one.

If you can afford it and are a decent mechanic, I recommend a Power Trac as the second tractor for the wooded portion, especially if you have any hilly trails. I would look at a PT-1430. You don't want its sibling, the PT-2430. The 2400 series machines don't have the stability you need.

If the PT-1430 is too expensive, then look at the PT-425.

Oleozz · Nov 22, 2008

Just a few other thoughts if you want to do any firewood cutting:
1) add-on grapple for picking up brush and logs.
2) winch for dragging logs or tops.
3) 3pt hitch wood splitter.
4) pallet forks for lifting logs.

Northland · Nov 22, 2008

I have 16 acres of maple wooded and very hilly, uneven and rocky forest.

My Kubota B7800 is an inexpensive and effective tool for my logging and trail maintenance needs because:

1) it isn't too big to move around in the trees 2) it has a a bucket grapple 3) 14.7" of ground clearance 4) a box blade 5) I use chains and sling-chokers for skidding trees out.

I like the Power-Tracs but with 9" of ground clearance they would get caught up in my uneven ground.

A 3PT logging winch, like the Farmi would great but I don't have enough use for it to justify the $3K+ price.

FRIZ · Nov 22, 2008

scott_vt said:
...Especially if where your located is very hilly. You dont give your location or what type of terrain you have so Im only guessing here...

NW Indiana, everything is flat...

Regards,
FRIZ

SnowRidge · Nov 22, 2008

Northland said:
..........
I like the Power-Tracs but with 9" of ground clearance they would get caught up in my uneven ground.
..................

The relatively short wheelbase helps to prevent that. They are also totally flat on the underside. They just don't hang up. It's one of their strengths, of which there are many. There are more than a few weaknesses, too.

ToadHill · Nov 22, 2008

I maintain 87 acres, 60 of which are wooded. For years I did all the work with a Ford 8N, you'd be supprised how much work that little tractor can do. 3 years ago I bought a Kioti Dk35, I run a 75" snow blower to keep my 400 ft drive clear. Mow about 22 acres of old hay field, use the FEL

gryphon · Nov 22, 2008

I live south of Valparaiso,and with the amount of snow we get a backblade should be sufficient. If you live farther east,LaPorte Co. then the snowblower would be worth the extra cost.

A Woods bushog will do the trick for mowing and your trails if you have the room to move in the woods to swing it.You can cut grass and weeds real short with a Woods. Run from King Kutter and the lower priced hogs. I own both and there is no comparison between the two.

Good Luck

EddieWalker · Nov 22, 2008

Maintaining trails is one thing, adding to them and making new ones is something else altogether. First, you have to know how wide you want your trail.

I like to go for walks with my wife on our trails. We walk side by side and look for things to take pictures of. With trees and plants growing out sideways onto your trails, pruning gets to be allot of work. My trails are about ten feet wide and I mow them in two passes with my 6 ft rotary cutter. I have a Landpride and it's been very good to me. Six feet is just too narrow for both of us to walk on it and not walk into branches of some kind.

For making trails, I've had good luck with just running over the small saplings and cutting them up with the rotary cutter. Sometimes I'm lucky and I can get where I want with this method. It's tough going and things have a way of breaking, but once through, it's easy to maintain it and make it wider. Over time, the stubble on the ground just disapears. Doing this type of clearing requires a really good cutter. If you get to an area that you just cannot get through, then it's either time for the chainsaw or in my case, the backhoe. Getting those bigger trees out works with a chain, and dragging them out.

Eddie

AKfish · Nov 24, 2008

Just plowed my ~400' of driveway and side areas today in 18F breezy weather! Like to freeze my cajones off...! (The local Kubota dealer has a Beautiful, L5740 cab-model that would be so FINE on a day like today!)

I've got a 7' rearblade and 72" FEL bucket that I use for snow, etc. (If I had a cab - maybe a snow blower would be the way to go, but most of front mount skid-steer types are ~$7K, too.)

Nonetheless, I'm on board with all the previous poster's that opined: 1.) FEL 2.) FEL grapple 3.) rear blade 4.) brush hog.

In addition, talk with your dealer and/or look for skid plate protection for the underside of your tractor. Crawlin' around in the woods is a great opportunity to snag hydraulic lines and electrical wires as well as knockin' off a low hanging filter or two!

Also, get the best grill guard you can order (and prepare yourself to reinforce it with heavy welded screen) for your tractor. Limbs, branches and small trees have a knack for finding their way into your new, fancy grill and punching holes in it... and your $400 radiator, too!

Best of luck.

AKfish

Northland · Nov 24, 2008

AKfish said:
Crawlin' around in the woods is a great opportunity to snag hydraulic lines and electrical wires as well as knockin' off a low hanging filter or two!
Also, get the best grill guard you can order
Best of luck.
AKfish

Good advice AKfish

ground clearance and a skid plate make for safe and secure forest work.

Another TBN member used heavy wire mesh screening from Home Depot for the space between his ROPS. I had more then one occasion where wood on my rear carry-all came down through the ROPS opening towards me

so I copied his design using industrial zip ties to hold the mesh in place. I use the leftover mesh to screen in the front brush guard.

For $20 it was good insurance and gave peace of mind

john_bud · Nov 24, 2008

Your requirements are pretty broad and open to interpretation. That's why you will be seeing a lot of differing opinions based on the experience of the poster. Here's my experience. Not quite 300 acres of woods with 15 or so miles of trails. 8 or so acres of food plots. Log skidding on occasion and firewood gathering in the fall. Lot's of cleaning of tops, branches and blow downs.

I use an L3410 hst 4x4 with R4's. It's a little small for some things, and a little big for others. It can pull a 66" industrial box blade at 950 pounds. Power a BrushBull 600 medium duty cutter at 1100 pounds. Pull a 2 bottom plow or a 6' disc. It could also pull a 7' back blade. Those attachments are about all that are size dependent. Post hole digger, sprayer and others can be used on about any size tractor. One that size 34 engine hp and 28 pto, is all that is needed to maintain your property. I wouldn't want to be much smaller at all. A little bigger would be good on occassion, but would be a PITA in the woods at other times. (Ever had to walk 3 miles for a chain saw so you could get your tractor out?)

Now, if you want to run new trails, you need a MUCH larger tractor. I can push over 4" soft wood and 3" hard wood, but it's a chore. It takes a lot of time and beats the snot out of the machine and operator. But, it does leave a nice person size path. If you want a new road, paying a dozer for a day will get literally miles of road produced. And at a lower cost than doing it yourself -- even if you only pay your self a dollar an hour! Your machine costs will exceed the dozer costs.

Or you can get a 80+ hp tractor and have that extra cost to purchase, maintain etc. But the implements are 3-8X as much as those for a 30 pto hp machine. It's all a trade off between your time and your money. Just remember that maintaining is much easier than creating when talking about paths, trails and roads.

AKfish · Nov 25, 2008

A tractor with 35hp at the pto will handle the size of attachments that nearly everyone has recommended as the ones to buy.

6' rotary mower. 6' box blade or 7' rear blade. FEL with grapple.

If you have no future plans to expand into hay production, etc. -- a 50hp pto tractor is overkill for the kinds of work you've outlined.

There's a good number of cab models out there just waitin' for a demo!

Best of luck with whatever you decide.

AKfish

forester2 · Nov 25, 2008

I have a Ford 2120 and a Kubota B3030 but the Ford does virtually all my real work on 230 acres of 90% forestered land. Ag tires are a MUST if you experience any snow or wetness. A front end loader is indispensible. I have constructed miles of trails and a back hoe attachment to trench and get hard fill up has made that possible. That being said, the larger tracter you have the bigger the backhoe you can use hence productivity. Brush hog, grader box are also indespensible for my trail maintance. There was an outfit in Canada who were modifying Kioti tractors for forestery use including protective caging and well shielded tire valve stems (carry a spare; spraying calcium is no fun).

Northland · Nov 25, 2008

forester2 said:
I have a Ford 2120 and a Kubota B3030 but the Ford does virtually all my real work on 230 acres of 90% forestered land. Ag tires are a MUST if you experience any snow or wetness. A front end loader is indispensible. I have constructed miles of trails and a back hoe attachment to trench and get hard fill up has made that possible. That being said, the larger tracter you have the bigger the backhoe you can use hence productivity. Brush hog, grader box are also indespensible for my trail maintance. There was an outfit in Canada who were modifying Kioti tractors for forestery use including protective caging and well shielded tire valve stems (carry a spare; spraying calcium is no fun).

Here it is-http://www.payeur.com/En/products/LeForestier.htm

Very nice